2013-14 Civics & Economics Honors
Mr. McCracken’s Classroom Procedures and Expectations
matthew_mccracken@abss.k12.nc.us
Work: 336-570-6400
Home: 919-563-0124
Welcome to my classroom! I look forward to helping you understand civics, economics and financial
literacy. There are eight units for the course. There will be a Measures of Student Learning MSL state
test that will count and will be administered towards the end of the course. There is a final test that will
account for 25% of your total semester grade. Remember, always do your best in my class and seek help
right away when you need it. Have a great quick semester!
1. Enter the room quickly, quietly, sit down, pencil sharpened, focused for class and READ THE
BOARD. Check the agenda and homework when class starts. If you finish early, read ahead or read
your own personal book while waiting for the teacher to begin the new lesson. When the bell rings then
its class time which means mouths closed, ears open, eyes focused and minds ready for your education.
2. You must be seated before the bell rings or you will be counted as tardy. On the first tardy your
parent will receive a phone call. Two or more tardies and you will be referred to SAH & ABSS
attendance policy (check online on SAH site).
3. Raise your hand to answer a question or to move or communicate in the room.
4. Bring all required tools (materials) to class. Yes, I do hold surprise inspections when I see fit. These
are your learning tools and you can’t learn anything if you have nothing with you. Sorry, I don’t loan out
my tools.
5. Help is available before & after school (no Fridays or Mondays) by appointment only and this
includes tutoring and retesting.
6. All work is due when it is due. Sorry, late work is not accepted at all. If you have an excused absence,
then you must make the work up (including tests) within three school days or you will receive a zero.
Don’t ask at the end of the quarter if there is a way for you to make up any missing work. YOU will
remind the teacher after the current class lesson and the teacher will explain. All unexcused absence
work is a zero.
7. Use the restroom before or after class. There is a three passes each quarter rule. There is no restroom
use during the first 15 or last fifteen minutes of class. Sign clipboard with time and date, grab the blue
lanyard; don’t leave B-Building.
8. Progress Reports every three weeks and check grades online as well weekly (76% or less get PEPs).
9. Remember, this is an honors course and you will have to work hard to earn that A grade.
10. The grading scale (100%) is set as follows:
1. TEST
2. QUIZZES
2. PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENTS/PROJECTS/PARTICIPATION
3. CLASSWORK/HOMEWORK/BLOGS
11. Remember, your semester grade is based off three percentages out of 100%
40%
20%
20%
20%
1st Quarter 37.5 %
2nd Quarter 37.5 %
Final Test 25%
12. Tests: There are eight unit tests, State MSL test and a final test worth 25% of your semester grade
at the end of the semester. For all unit tests you can retest up to the day we test the next unit and it must
be retested after school by appointment only. For example, if we started Unit 3 today, you have until the
end of unit three to retest Unit 2 after school only.
13. Performance Assessments/Projects: Every unit (1-8) will have a performance assessment
and/or test. There will be various projects throughout the course as well.
14. Classwork/Homework/Blogs. We must complete work throughout each class. Your main
homework will be to study and review the day’s lesson. Blogs must be answered by the assigned due
date. Students will blog by logging into the school website: www.sah.abss.k12.nc.usAgain, check with
Ms. Moser at the Media Center for directions on logging on for the first time. Media Center is open
before and after school and my computer is available before and after school by appointment only.
15. Exit Ticket. Every day, the students will have a Journal entry when entering the class. They will
answer the Learning Target for the day by the end of that class in three-five sentences. I will collect each
day or each unit. Be ready each day at the end of class with the question answered.
16. Quizzes: There will be various quizzes throughout the semester for each unit (some units may
have more). I will also quiz you on tools, progress reports and other items for class.
17. Teams/Groups: As an honors class, you are expected to hold an individual and group maturity
level as you will be exploring ideas and concepts at a higher level. When working in groups, you will
need to work hard and be responsible and complete your share of the group’s work. Your grade could
fall into any of the categories listed depending on the assignment.
18. Participation is mandatory and progressive. You will earn twenty points each day for
participating. That means that you will bring all required items or materials to class each day, and you
will raise your hand for questions and answers. You will not disrupt the class (go off-task) for any
reason or get out of your assigned seat (unless it is part of the lesson or group work).
Daily Grade
20 points
10 points
5 points
0
Criteria How Asks and answers
Works quietly,
Missing two items.
No required
the teacher
questions by raising
missing one item,
Did not complete
classroom
gives out the hand, works on lesson does not raise hand
homework/classmaterials, no
points for
during group work, or and/or gets out of seat work. Off-task and
homework,
participation individual work
without permission or disrupting other
and/or no
each day
quietly, brings all
missing homework
people once, playing, class work.
required TOOLS
However, does
not participating with Completely
(materials) and
complete class work
class. Minimal work
off-task. No
and follows rules
completes all work
work at all.
19. Extra Credit: I may assign extra credit to those students who complete all work, have no missing
assignments, retested, and basically have done everything possible in class to help their grades.
Otherwise, it will not be offered.
SEEK HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT AND DON’T EVER GIVE UP!
SEEK HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT AND DON’T EVER GIVE UP!
I
have read, understood and agreed to the
classroom procedures and expectations set forth in Mr. McCracken’s Civics and
Economics course. I agree to work hard and seek help when needed.
Student Sign:
Date:
As a parent, I
also have read, understood, and
agreed to Mr. McCracken’s procedures and expectations.
Parent Sign:
Best Contact Number & Email:
Date:
SEEK HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT AND DON’T EVER GIVE UP!
I
have read, understood and agreed to the
classroom procedures and expectations set forth in Mr. McCracken’s Civics and
Economics course. I agree to work hard and seek help when needed.
Student Sign:
Date:
As a parent, I
also have read, understood, and
agreed to Mr. McCracken’s procedures and expectations.
Parent Sign:
Best Contact Number & Email:
Date:
SEEK HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT AND DON’T EVER GIVE UP!
I
have read, understood and agreed to the
classroom procedures and expectations set forth in Mr. McCracken’s Civics and
Economics course. I agree to work hard and seek help when needed.
Student Sign:
Date:
As a parent, I
also have read, understood, and
agreed to Mr. McCracken’s procedures and expectations.
Parent Sign:
Best Contact Number & Email:
Date: