Course Guidelines Grades 8

2023-24 School Year

Welcome to Mr. Cully's class for the 2023-24 school year. While I understand that this year is going to present new challenges to you, our goal is the same as always: to practice the skills that we need to become better students, and to grow as scholars and historians. You are already more than capable of meeting the expectations of set here, and ultimately you are responsible. If you have issues this year, I would like to hear about it from you, not your parents (*under most circumstances*). Given that I teach 8th grade, we should be transitioning to the point where you are advocating for yourself at this point. I'm here to help, I'm here to listen, but ultimately I need to hear from you!   

General Classroom Structure

Mr. Cully's classroom will be a mostly paperless classroom. Almost all assignments will be digitally submitted through Google Classroom.  We will take some days early on to work with our technology to master some different ways of doing things. We will frequently be using Google Slides this year to allow for some more flexible formatting, as well as Google docs extensively for writing. You may choose to use pencil and paper to take notes, etc, but those will be for you. All my "handouts" this year will be digitized and posted in Google Classroom or digital resources posted on this website. This is being planned as a benefit for you in case you are absent and keeps a clear track record of what has been submitted or is missing.  In order to keep Google Classroom and Aspen synced on the same days, assignments in Classroom will be set to "due by before the beginning of the next class meeting". Work submitted after class has begun during the next class period will be marked as late in Google Classroom, and subsequently be marked late in Aspen. 

All classes will have a digital textbook this year. There is a link to the pages on each grade level webpage here, as well as posted in Google Classroom. I highly recommend making a bookmark folder containing all the links to direct sections to save yourself time. 

We will be using the white boards hanging around the classroom for collaborative work. If possible, I would recommend a personal set of expo (dry erase) markers that you have in your bag for this time. I have some available, but if you want your own colors, less shared materials, etc. I would recommend having your own. 

Classroom Expectations

General Classroom guidelines are the same for all of my students. 

Use technology intentionally in our classroom. My goal this year is to treat you all as young adults whose lives I understand extend beyond the classroom. Bringing and using our Chromebook effectively will be a daily part of our class. I understand that it presents you with great opportunity to deviate from what we are working on. Part of beginning high school is learning to balance the distractions while using our tools effectively. Music and headphones are fine when we are doing independent work so long as they don't become a distraction. Please pause/remove headphones while we are going over directions/doing group work, etc. If you can't handle this, I reserve the right to take away that privilege. I understand that you might get a text from time to time- a quick check isn't a problem, but please refrain from drawn out conversations.  Any other use of your cellphone (SnapChat, Instagram, Tiktok, etc.) will be considered off task, and handled accordingly. 

Make decisions in the best interest of your learning. My goal this year is to empower you to have a clear understanding of why your grade looks the way it does. You official grade will be transparent throughout this year in Aspen, and updated regularly. Any grade in Google Classroom is unofficial, but I generally enter grades in both Classroom and Aspen at the same time. If there is a discrepancy between Classroom and Aspen please let me know ASAP.  You are the single most important factor in your grade. If you are choosing to be engaged, ask questions, stay for extra help when needed, email me as needed, etc. you are going to do really well in this class- This class is designed for your success based on effective effort. With prior notice, I can stay after most days for extra help (September/October I coach golf so my time is a little more limited), but talk to me before the end of the school day to confirm. I'm happy to do this, and will work with you on whatever you need. The new WIN! block this year will also be a resource for extra help for you, I will certainly make myself available. I generally respond to afterschool/overnight emails in the morning when I get in (around 6:45 am), so do what you can first- ask a friend from class, search Google Classroom, etc. 


Grading

         Grading this year will be organized into Major and Minor Assignments with cumulative total points based marking. Major assignments are projects and papers which will usually (although not always) be graded via a rubric. They are generally worth between 50 and 200 points each depending on length and scope of the assignment. Be ready to expect more assessment of your work through projects and writing assignments rather than tests. Focus will be placed more on skills and abilities over content knowledge. I would rather see you demonstrate your historical thinking skills/sourcing/analysis/etc. at the sacrifice of content as opposed to the other way around. As always, academic integrity is of paramount importance in these assignments. You are expected to cite your work when using other resources, and making sure to use specific quotes when possible. If you run into a situation where you aren't sure how to properly cite something, let me know- I can help walk you through it. Minor assignments are classwork activities, entry/exit tickets, videos, etc. These assignments will generally range from 10 to 45 points and may be individual or combined grades.   

Homework

Generally, students only homework will be to finish any remaining classwork. Occasionally, if there are significant disruptions to the class rotation/schedule (snow days, assemblies, field trips, etc), there may be the need to have a homework assignment. If this becomes the case, it will be clearly explained as an expectation and graded accordingly like classwork. 

Late Work

Work is marked late in Google Classroom automatically if it is submitted after the submission time. For late work, you can only earn up to half credit if it is submitted within the unit. It is your responsibility to keep track of deadlines and make sure that you hit "turn it in" or "submit".  Once we have completed a unit with either a test or a project, that work will become a permanent zero- Cutoff dates will be communicated to you by email and/or posted on the front whiteboard. If something comes up that poses an issue- communicate with me early and often (once again, preferably you, not your parent). We can work something out ahead of time if an issue or potential issue arises, but avoiding situations and letting problems linger make it harder for me to help you. LATE WORK HALF CREDIT IS NOT DESIGNED TO TRULY FIX YOUR GRADE. IT IS DESIGNED TO KEEP YOU FROM FAILING. CONTINUAL SUBMISSION OF LATE WORK WILL MAKE IT CHALLENGING TO EARN ABOVE THE BARE MINIMUM TO PASS. 

Extra Credit

Standalone extra credit is not offered in my class. There will be some extra credit opportunities built into some of the larger projects, but it is not enough to move full letter grades. Extra credit will not be scored on late work.