Social Studies Survival Guide

I offer the following pieces of advice to parents and students to help guarantee the best opportunity for success this year. Some of the following bits of information are intended only for students, others for only parents, and some for both. These are not intended to be a substitute for the team rules but advice on how to adjust to the 8th grade and take responsibility for learning.

1. Virtue is its own reward. Do the right things on a regular basis and you won’t have to seek compliments, praise or prizes. Good things will happen naturally.
2. Time is a valuable commodity. Be sure to use yours wisely, in and out of class.
3. Have your materials every day. You can’t use your time effectively if you don’t have your other resources.
4. The school policy is that you are to use a planner. Information will be written on the board for you to include in your planner. Since it is also your pass out of the room it helps to have it with you.
5. Nothing is more important than completing your assignments and getting them turned in on time! Paying attention in class and studying on a regular basis run a close second and third. Nothing destroys a grade faster than a zero. Work is expected to be complete and in your notebook on the assigned day. If it is not, it will be marked missing and you may complete it for 70% of the grade if it is finished by the time the notebook is collected again, usually one week. If it is not the score will become a permanent zero.
6. Students are responsible for finding out what work they missed any time they are gone from class. This should be done after class or after school on the day they return. Use your Calendar in the notebook to learn what you missed in class and check for the appropriate folder on the table at the front of the room. Or, use the category section of this web site to click on the class you have.  Work must be made up in a timely fashion. This includes TESTS!

7. Parents should ask to see the interactive notebooks frequently. By looking at the calendar they should be able to determine what work has been completed by their child. Pages which are blank or worksheets left incomplete should be signals that something is missing.

8. Parents are encouraged to check the class web page,

http://wp.lps.org/pomeara

to find information about the class and homework for the week. This may also be accomplished by calling the homework hotline.
9. All work that is individually assigned must be completed on your own. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have but please don’t ask others. You are not allowed to work together on individual assignments.
10. Grades are based on points. To determine your grade you must divide the total number of points you have earned by the total possible points. This will give you a percentage.