8th Grade US History
Class Daily Structure
Do Now - Our class will begin with a Do Now each day. The do nows will usually review topics we’ve discussed and will often be primary sources. Scholars are expected to enter class, pick up their daily packet, and begin silently working on the Do Now once they are seated.
Lesson Preview - We will talk our way through our lesson’s title, objective(s), and the agenda after the do now.
New Stuff - We will introduce new content through notes, discussions, and video clips each day. This section will be brief, but it is essential that you are engaged.
We will not have time for traditional note taking in class. Instead, you will complete short writing prompts called “stop and jots” during notes.
Class Practice - We will practice applying the new content we learned while reading texts (primary and secondary sources), analyze non-print texts (maps, images, graphs), and while writing. We will also use this block for group work, simulations, and role playing when applicable.
Independent Practice - Scholars will individually complete activities to prove they’ve internalized the content taught and practiced today. On most days, this will be in the form of an exit ticket or DBQ (document based questions). On other days, this will be work time for a project or a formal assessment.
Grading in Class
Ext Tickets
Exit tickets are brief 3-5 question assessments on the material taught in class on the day the exit ticket is assigned. These will be graded for accuracy.
DBQs (Document Based Questions)
These activities will include several questions and primary sources. They will also test your argumentative writing skills. We will begin this in class and you will finish them at home. These will be graded for accuracy.
Simulation/Role Play Worksheets
There will be days in class when we engage in a simulation or role play activity. I will grade the worksheets that go along with these activities as completion grades.
NewsELA Quizzes
These assignments will consist of 4 questions that test your ELA skills in relation to a secondary source from NewsELA. These will be graded for accuracy.
Quizzes
The quizzes will cover terms and topics covered in our notes. These will usually be open-note quizzes, meaning you can refer to your notes for help. These will be graded for accuracy.
Unit Assessments
These assessments will cover the essential information learned during a unit. We will review in class for these assessments and scholars should study their notes at home. Students will not be allowed to ask questions or use notes during these exams (similar to TCAP/TNReady). These will be graded for accuracy.
Interim Assessments
These assessments will test scholars on all the content taught during quarter 1 (IA1), quarter 2 (IA2), and quarter (IA3). We will spend a day prior to these tests reviewing the content. I will use the data from these assessments to inform what content we review in Do Nows. Students will not be allowed to ask questions or use notes during these exams (similar to TCAP/TNReady). These will be graded for accuracy.
Projects
These assignments will vary in expectations and will be completed in an out of class. These assignments can include map activities, poster creation, essay writing, and narrative writing. We will end the year with a Memphis History Project. These will be graded for accuracy.
Stop & Jots
Once per unit I will collect your binders to ensure that you have been completing stop and jot prompts throughout the unit. This will be a completion grade.
Binder Checks
Once per unit I will college your binders to ensure that you have been keeping organized with your notes and daily packets. This will be a completion grade.
Retakes, Make-Up Work, and Late Work
Retakes
Make-Up Work
Late Work
Binder Organization
We will be sharing a binder with science this year. Below are the sections for our class’ portion of the binder.
Syllabus
Keep this packet in your first section. You will be able to review the class expectations and see the class website.
Calendar for 8th SS
You will keep the current quarter’s calendar in this section. You can use this to keep track of when assignments are due and when assessments are.
Notes
You’ll be expected to keep your current unit PowerPoint slides in this section of the binder. We will use them each day, reference them for stop and jots, and use them on quizzes.
Daily Packets
You will keep your daily packets, in order, in this section.
Do Now - Our class will begin with a Do Now each day. The do nows will usually review topics we’ve discussed and will often be primary sources. Scholars are expected to enter class, pick up their daily packet, and begin silently working on the Do Now once they are seated.
Lesson Preview - We will talk our way through our lesson’s title, objective(s), and the agenda after the do now.
New Stuff - We will introduce new content through notes, discussions, and video clips each day. This section will be brief, but it is essential that you are engaged.
We will not have time for traditional note taking in class. Instead, you will complete short writing prompts called “stop and jots” during notes.
Class Practice - We will practice applying the new content we learned while reading texts (primary and secondary sources), analyze non-print texts (maps, images, graphs), and while writing. We will also use this block for group work, simulations, and role playing when applicable.
Independent Practice - Scholars will individually complete activities to prove they’ve internalized the content taught and practiced today. On most days, this will be in the form of an exit ticket or DBQ (document based questions). On other days, this will be work time for a project or a formal assessment.
Grading in Class
- All graded work is collected on Mondays. This means that all of Week 1’s graded work will be collected on Monday, August 12th. Here’s another example - the DBQ we start in class on Tuesday, August 13th, will be due on Monday, August 19th. (Work will be due on Fridays during the weeks before breaks from school).
- Graded work can be turned in early. I will keep baskets with labels so you know where each assignment goes.
Ext Tickets
Exit tickets are brief 3-5 question assessments on the material taught in class on the day the exit ticket is assigned. These will be graded for accuracy.
DBQs (Document Based Questions)
These activities will include several questions and primary sources. They will also test your argumentative writing skills. We will begin this in class and you will finish them at home. These will be graded for accuracy.
Simulation/Role Play Worksheets
There will be days in class when we engage in a simulation or role play activity. I will grade the worksheets that go along with these activities as completion grades.
NewsELA Quizzes
These assignments will consist of 4 questions that test your ELA skills in relation to a secondary source from NewsELA. These will be graded for accuracy.
Quizzes
The quizzes will cover terms and topics covered in our notes. These will usually be open-note quizzes, meaning you can refer to your notes for help. These will be graded for accuracy.
Unit Assessments
These assessments will cover the essential information learned during a unit. We will review in class for these assessments and scholars should study their notes at home. Students will not be allowed to ask questions or use notes during these exams (similar to TCAP/TNReady). These will be graded for accuracy.
Interim Assessments
These assessments will test scholars on all the content taught during quarter 1 (IA1), quarter 2 (IA2), and quarter (IA3). We will spend a day prior to these tests reviewing the content. I will use the data from these assessments to inform what content we review in Do Nows. Students will not be allowed to ask questions or use notes during these exams (similar to TCAP/TNReady). These will be graded for accuracy.
Projects
These assignments will vary in expectations and will be completed in an out of class. These assignments can include map activities, poster creation, essay writing, and narrative writing. We will end the year with a Memphis History Project. These will be graded for accuracy.
Stop & Jots
Once per unit I will collect your binders to ensure that you have been completing stop and jot prompts throughout the unit. This will be a completion grade.
Binder Checks
Once per unit I will college your binders to ensure that you have been keeping organized with your notes and daily packets. This will be a completion grade.
Retakes, Make-Up Work, and Late Work
Retakes
- You may only retake quizzes and tests that you scored 0-69% on.
- You may only retake assessments once.
- To retake a test or quiz all you need to do is return your graded test/quiz to me after reviewing it. I will then give you a week to study and notify you which day you will retake your assignment.
- Retakes will occur during Choice.
Make-Up Work
- When you are absent from class I will gather any and all materials you missed into one packet. I will put your name on the packet and hand deliver it to you when you return.
- You are expected to turn in any make-up work by the following Monday.
- If you lose your make-up work, you will need to find the work on my class website. You can either print it out to complete it or write only the answers on a separate loose leaf sheet of paper (please label which lesson and questions the answers go to). I will not reprint work for you.
Late Work
- You will receive turnovers whenever work is turned in late (remember, work is due on the Monday of the following week).
- If you lost your late work, you will need to find it on my website. I will not reprint work for you.
- All late work is due by the end of the current unit. This means all of Unit 1’s missing work is due on the last day of that unit. No late work from Unit 1 will be accepted during Unit 2.
Binder Organization
We will be sharing a binder with science this year. Below are the sections for our class’ portion of the binder.
Syllabus
Keep this packet in your first section. You will be able to review the class expectations and see the class website.
Calendar for 8th SS
You will keep the current quarter’s calendar in this section. You can use this to keep track of when assignments are due and when assessments are.
Notes
You’ll be expected to keep your current unit PowerPoint slides in this section of the binder. We will use them each day, reference them for stop and jots, and use them on quizzes.
Daily Packets
You will keep your daily packets, in order, in this section.