Mr. Langdale's 11th Grade U.S. History

Welcome to U.S. History!

Hello! I would like to start off by welcoming you to your junior year at Warwick Valley High School! I hope that during this pivotal time in your lives, I can do my best to help you how I can. That being said, I'd also like to welcome you to the class you will be taking: U.S. History! In this course, you will learn to analyze, understand, and identify key figures, concepts, and events in the beginning of our nation's history, from the colonial period to the Reconstruction Era.

“Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
- George Santayana

Materials

For this class, you will need the following materials:

  • Notebook or 3-Ring Binder
  • Planner (Recommended)
  • Writing Utensil
    • Pen or Pencil, As Long as You Can Write It Makes No Difference
  • ​Textbook
  • Journal
    • ​For creative writing, project drafting

Attendance Policies

Your ability to participate, and therefore learn this information will certainly depend on your attendance in this classroom, and it is strongly recommended that you follow the following policies.

  1.  Come to class on time. You can’t get good grades for attendance and participation if you don’t show up to class now can you?
  2.  Showing up late within 10 minutes will earn you a warning.
  3. Repeat offenders and those who come to class later than 10 minutes will be asked to stay after class to discuss further actions.
  4. If you missed class due to illness, obligations, or any other excused abscense reason, please request notes from another student before you see me. Also,before you ask, yes, you did miss something.

Classroom Policies

Once you are in our classroom, you are entering a place made for all students of all backgrounds. Here are things that I will permit and will not permit in this room during our time together.

  1. Food and drink are permitted in this classroom, as long as it doesn't distract you or others from learning and paying attention to the lesson.
  2. Unless permitted to do so, there will be no use of electronic devices during class. Please put away your smartphones, MP3 players, computers, game consoles, etc. while class is going on.
  3. Always come to class prepared with all necessary materials
  4. When you enter, please submit your homework assignments in the bin near the door. I will collect them when the bell rings, and will only accept "late work" from late students.
  5. Please answer the Critical Thinking Question on the board when you take your seat. You may collaborate with your fellow classmates and discuss your answers.

Class Policies

This might not seem different from Classroom Policies, but there is a distinct difference. These policies relate to decorum in the classroom while we are together, and they include the following.

  1. Respect is the most important thing to keep in mind in this classroom. Respect for me, as your teacher, and for your fellow classmates will be shown at all times during class.
  2. Some discussions we will have in class may be hard to talk about, so if you would like to be excused from the discussion, just ask to be excused before we begin and you may sit in the hallway. We can discuss why after class.
  3. Some class discussions may be converted into informal or even formal debates. In events like this, refer to Policy #1. Personal attacks will not be tolerated.
  4. Please raise your hand when you wish to ask or answer a question or make a comment as it pertains to a certain idea.
  5. Know that there is no such thing as a silly/stupid question or answer in this room, so don't feel discouraged to participate in class.
  6. Cheating will NOT be tolerated here. 
  7. Please save side conversations for before or after class and not while the lesson is in progress unless permitted to do so.

Assignment Policies

I'm almost certain that you all hate to do homework. Despite this knowledge, I believe that this homework is beneficial for your learning so you can better understand issues and events. When it comes to these assignments, please abide by the following.

  1. As said before, please drop off your homework in the bin near the door when you come in. They will be collected when the bell sounds and class begins. From there I will only accept work from students who are late to class.
  2. Extra credit will be given to boost your grade in the form of bonus questions on quizzes and tests.
  3. Remember, cheating will NOT be tolerated.
  4. For projects, I ask you to use your creativity to the best of your ability. As long as it is appropriate, you may use any means to accomplish the goal for the project.
  5. Please put your full name, the class period, the date, and the assignment title at the top of the assignment before handing in so I may avoid confusing your assignment with those of another class.

Grading System

10% = Attendance

10% = Participation

10% = Homework

20% = Quizzes

30% = Tests

20% = Projects

 

 

 

 

 

Have Fun!
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