US Government and History
Matthew Egnew
matthew.egnew@husd.org
8th Grade
Cooley Middle School
Webpage Link: http://www.husd.org/Page/2738
Objectives of this course:
In this class we basically do 4 things. We read. We think. We speak. And we write. The goal is
to become proficient in all of the things that a Historian does. In fact our motto or belief is that
in here we are “Historians in Training”. Students will meet all content and skill standards for
the course. This includes AZ standards for 8th grade and Common Core.
Units of Study this school year:
First Semester
US Citizenship
American Revolution
US Constitution
World War II
Second Semester
Cold War
Civil Rights Movement
Vietnam War Era
Modern US History
Communication: I am an email person. My email is listed above but if necessary you can leave
a message on my phone at 480-279-8300 xt8342. My plan for communication between
students, parents, and teacher include the following:
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Weekly updates will be in email blasts to notify students and parents about
assignments, tests, and upcoming class expectations.
All issues related to the student’s progress and behavior will be emailed to parent.
Grades will be posted to Synergy weekly. Grades can be checked through link on my
webpage titled “Student Grades”
My teacher webpage will also be updated weekly with all of the assignments and
documents and notes and projects that the students will be doing in the class.
Make Up/Absences Protocol: Students are expected to make up missed work. Students can
utilize my teacher webpage to access materials missed on the occasion that they are not at
school. This includes all notes, readings, and assignments. Make up tests must be scheduled
before or after school with me ahead of time. If that is not possible, then the student will be
expected to make up the test on the next test day along with the current test.
Redo/ Retake Guidelines for Assessments/Projects:
*
The Student is responsible for making all arrangements with me to determine the date and time
to retake/redo the assessment.
*
The most recent score will be the one in the grade book. For example, if you do worse on the
retake, then the score will be changed in the grade book for the worse score and vice versa.
*
If a student does not meet the standard on an assessment, they will be required to retake
the assessment. This will be done either before/after school or during class on the next
test day.
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Students are encouraged to redo assessments even if they meet the standard. This is all about
growth and continuing to work hard to constantly improving.
Required Materials:
Donations of any one of these materials is much
appreciated:
-
1 inch binder
-
Filler Paper
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One 5 pack dividers
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One White Poster Board
Copy Paper, Lined Paper, Kleenex, Hand Sanitizer,
Clorox Wipes, Glue Sticks, Scissors, Colored Pencils,
Sticky Notes, Dry Erase Markers, Construction Paper,
Sharpies, Colored Markers, Scotch Tape Refills, Paper
Clips, White Poster board.
Tutoring and Extra Help: I will be available for extra help before school on most days. Please make prior
arrangements to come in and get help so that I can check to make sure that I do not have a meeting to
attend. There is no late bus this year, so students will need a ride to attend these sessions. Tutoring is a
fantastic time to get additional help and to demonstrate that tou have grown and improved your learning.
Classroom Management: Although a majority of the time student behavior is exceptional, there are
occasions when students can be inappropriate or out of line. In those occasions, here is my protocol:
1st step: I will have a private conversation with the student about classroom expectations.
2nd step: I will contact the parent and assign the student a lunch detention with me.
3rd step: I will refer student to the administration and they will handle it from there.
Ipad/Electronics Expectations:
Students will be taking a school ipad home with them daily. Students are expected to have their pad
every day ready to go and charged if needed. Tampering with the ipad or using it to view or do
inappropriate things will obviously be cause for them to lose their privilege of having access to an ipad. In
that case, they will be give alternative reading and writing assignments to complete when appropriate.
Growth and Learning Scale: (this is the grading scale)
Exceeds the Standard
Meets the Standard
Approaches the
Standard, but not yet
Not yet to standard
4
3
2
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
50%
NY
Absences
AB
0%
Entered into grade book
Entered into grade book
Entered into grade, but required to redo
and retake assessment.
A grade of NY will be entered until
improved by student to meet standard,
becomes 50% at grade reporting time if still
not yet at standard.
A grade of AB will be entered and the
student will have a zero on that
assessment until it is made up.
This class is meant to be rigorous and challenging, but it is all about the effort and the learning. We look
at mistakes as opportunities and not failures. The students are encouraged to continue to grow and learn
all year and always strive to meet and exceed on all standards. That is why there grade will be blank if
they have “NOT YET” met the standard and they will be required to redo assessments
“If it is not great, it is not finished.”
“Mistakes are proof that you are trying.”
“Smart is not what you are, but what you do.”
Parent Contact Form
Cooley Middle School
8th Grade Social Studies (Please fill out and detach this form and return to school)
Student Name
Parent Name
Parent Email
Parent Phone
Parent Name
Parent Phone
Parent Email
***Please put an “X” next which contact you prefer.***
Video Permission
In 8th grade this year we will be watching portions of these in school. Please read
about and find out how to research these movies on the bottom of this page. Thank you. Sign on line yes
or no for each movie.
1776
Yes
No
Separate But Equal Yes
No
102 Minutes
Yes
No
Thirteen Days
Yes
No
1776 The film version of the Broadway musical comedy of the same name. In the days leading up to July 4, 1776, Continental
Congressmen John Adams and Benjamin Franklin coerce Thomas Jefferson into writing the Declaration of Independence as a
delaying tactic as they try to persuade the American colonies to support a resolution on independence. See Website for details.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068156/
Separate But Equal A dramatization of the American court case that destroyed the legal validity of racial segregation. See website
for details. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102879/
102 Minutes A documentary that details the moment by moment events of the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01. See Website for details.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1312203/
Thirteen Days The film is set during the two-week Cuban missile crisis in October of 1962, and it centers on how President John F.
Kennedy, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, and others handled the explosive situation. See Website for details.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0146309/
Student/Parent Signatures (Please sign and return to school)
By signing this document, I acknowledge that I have read and understand all of the material within this syllabus and
agree to the guidelines of this class.
Student
Date
Parent
Date