Texas History Course Syllabus

Areas of Study:

Geography of Texas ◦ The First Texans ◦ European Exploration and Settlement ◦ Colonization and Settlement ◦ The Texas Revolution ◦ The Republic of Texas ◦ The Lone Star State ◦ Civil War and Reconstruction ◦ The Close of the Frontier ◦ The Twentieth Century ◦ Texas Government and Politics

Textbook & Supplies:

“Texas History” from McGraw Hill (online only)

Charged Ipad, History Folder, 1-Subject Spiral, & Map Pencils.

Classroom Policies and Rules

Classroom management policy will follow the student code of conduct handbook and all WRMS school rules and policies. Students are expected to come to class prepared, to be productive, polite, and prompt.

Due to Texas State Legislature HB 1481 students are prohibited from using a personal communication device while on school property and during the school day.  Students are required to keep their iPad on Apple Teacher during class and to use the iPad as a tool for class purposes only.  

Grading:

Eanes ISD Middle School teachers are committed to grading and assessing in the best interest of our students. We believe grades and assessments communicate content knowledge, guide instruction, and reveal opportunities for enrichment and intervention. Daily assignments grades are final. 

Tests & Major Projects: 60% 

Students should check the 7th grade testing calendar regularly. 

Skill Development : 40% 

Skill development will include daily grades, learning checks, and any other class work or assignments.

Retest Policy: 

• Reassessment is intended for the occasional difficulty with content mastery. 

• Any student will have the opportunity to improve for up to 70% on an assessment where the student scores below a 69% 

  • A student must notify the teacher of the plan to reassess within one day after receiving a graded assessment.

  • Students are encouraged to schedule a tutorial time with their teacher. 

  • Students should complete any necessary remediation work. 

  • Students must then complete the reassessment process within five school days.

  • If the reassessment score is lower than the original, the higher of the two grades will be recorded. 

• When students re-do major grade assignments regularly, parents will be contacted and a study plan will be developed if needed.

Absences & Late Work

Absences:  Per district policy, students have one day for each day they are absent to make up missing work. 

Late work:  

• Assignments will have 10 points deducted per day.    

• If an assignment is missing or late, students and guardians will see a “1” in the gradebook on Skyward.  

• It is the student’s responsibility to talk with his/her teacher to determine the best approach to make up the missing or late assignments.  

• If you see a ‘1’ in the gradebook it means you have a missing/late assignment and you need to turn it in or make it up for credit.

  • Work that is more than three days late can receive a maximum of 70%.

• It is the student’s responsibility to check Google calendar/Google classroom to obtain and complete missing assignments when absent. 

• No late work will ever be taken after the unit is over.

AI Expectations Acceptable Use:

Eanes ISD supports the thoughtful and responsible use of AI tools to enhance teaching and learning. In this class, approved AI tools may be used to support instruction, provide practice opportunities, and offer feedback. Students will be clearly informed when AI use is allowed on an assignment. All AI use must follow district policies, including protecting personal information and using only district-approved tools.

Academic Integrity:

WRMS ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY

Academic honesty and integrity are basic to creating an effective learning community. The student who cheats is harmed because he or she is not learning the material. Other students are harmed when those who cheat gain an unfair advantage in the classroom. West Ridge Middle School suffers when the climate of trust and mutual respect is undermined. Society pays the price when the taking of shortcuts becomes an accepted norm.

The most common forms of cheating or plagiarism occur when a student:

• Submits a paper written entirely or partly by another person.

• Copies another student’s homework (even with permission from peers).

• Copies from another student during an assessment.

• Obtains and submits a paper on the Internet or other electronic media.

• Takes a picture/screenshot of a quiz, test, or assignment and shares with others.

• Uses “Cut & Paste” instead of original production.

• Copies a published author’s words, phrases, sentences, or ideas (published authors, periodicals, encyclopedias, and internet sites) without citation.

• Obtains a copy of an assessment OR talks to another student before or during an assessment or about the assessment, thus providing an advantage to the student before taking the test.

• Changes an answer after the paper/assessment has already been graded.

• Uses technology or electronic devices to access information during an assessment.

• Creating a Google Education tool to impersonate any staff member or student via any avenue, social media, or other.

• Forging a signature that is not their own.

Violation of Academic Integrity Policy: Major Grades

If/When a student makes the mistake of academic dishonesty on a graded assignment or assessment, the following policy will be implemented in all grades and content disciplines: 

1st Offense = The content discipline teacher will write an office referral, informing the administration of the incident and communicating the incident with the parent/guardian. The Student will be allowed to follow the department's retest policy. The administration will assign appropriate consequences.

Subsequent Offenses = The content discipline teacher will write up an office referral, informing administration, who is now tracking the incidents so that a pattern is now created. The student will be allowed to follow the department’s retest policy. In addition to contacting the parents/guardians, the administration will continue the progression of restorative practice and consequences.

Discipline Management Plan

First: Redirect/Reminder

Second: Student/Teacher Conference

Third: Parent Communication/Discipline Referral

Tutorial Times for Texas History: 

Tutorials will be a time you can touch base as needed for any classroom needs, tutoring, make up work etc. Please make an appointment for additional times.

Skyward Family Access: 

All parents in Eanes ISD receive access to student grades through Skyward Family Access. Parents are encouraged to register for Skyward by going to the district website Skyward Family Access. In an effort to help students learn self advocacy, we encourage parents to first allow their child to consult with their teachers if a question regarding grades arises. Teachers will enter all grades into Skyward within one week of the assignment due date except for major assignments, tests, and/or projects.