Ms. Soltys 

Social Studies Class 2023-2024 Expectations

Welcome to 8th grade!  In Social Studies this year we will be studying important people and events in the United States and South Carolina from early colonization to the present day.  We will be covering a lot of material for this class so you will need to be prepared every day both at home and in school.  Below are guidelines and expectations for this class.  It is crucial that you follow these in order to be successful in this class.

***It is the expectation that when you arrive at the building for school that you will have all work completed to that point. ***

Class EXPECTATIONS:

Follow the classroom rules:                                                                               Consequences:

1. Respect everyone and all property.                                                         1.Verbal warning

2. Be on time and prepared for class.                                                          2.Call or email to parents

3. Raise your hand to speak or leave your seat.                                  3.Referral

4. Do not touch anything on my desk or in my corner.

5. Obey all school rules.

***we will review these expectations as well as school rules your first week of school

Google Classroom & DIN: Digital Interactive Notebook

We will be utilizing Google Classroom this year. This will keep your learning consistent for when you are absent as well. You will typically receive at the beginning of each week or Unit a “Digital Interactive Notebook”, also referred to as a DIN. Within the weekly DIN, there will be a mixture of notes, videos, photos, and other information for the lesson each day. There will also be activities mixed into the notes. Make sure you read each slide carefully and follow ALL instructions on each slide. We will work through these both as a class, small groups, large groups and individually. There will be a DIN your first week to help you understand how they are set up.

* If you turn in an assignment past the due date, it is late. After 7 days I will no longer accept the assignment. You must turn it in and notify your teacher that you have turned it in (email or submit a comment on the assignment in question). If you do not tell me you turned it in, I will not know it is turned in and cannot grade it until I do. It is up to you, the student, to check backpack and make sure you do not have any NHI's. 

*Parents will not be able to access the actual pages, but can link to see them.  The  students have all been taught to go through google classroom to access the links ****

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Everyone should attend school everyday. If you are absent you are still responsible for making up the work you missed. It is the students responsibility to go to the teacher and ask what they missed for the day. Many of the assignments are going to be through google classroom and the student should check there first for any work, readings, and assignments that                                  would have been done that day. 

*Parents will not be able to access the actual pages, but can link to see them. The students have all been taught to go through google classroom to access the links ****

Grading Scale:

A=90-100

B=80-89

C=70-79

D=60-69

F= 59 and below

Grading Terms to be Familiar With:

NHI—Not Handed In;  INC—Incomplete;  GFA—Grading Floor Applied

ABS—Absent;  EX—Excused (acts as if the grade were not there)

Tips for a Successful Year:

Follow these basic tips for a successful year:

• Always check Google Classroom. We will be using Google classroom everyday. You should be familiar with how it is set up and discuss with your teacher their expectations on how to find assignments/notes/attendance checks.

• WAKE UP ON TIME EVERYDAY. Set an alarm, don't hit snooze. If you ride the bus, make sure you are at the stop on time. This will help you set a routine and be more prepared.

• Be a Problem Solver. Try to figure out how to help yourself while working on homework at home. Check teachers websites and the Google Classroom first. Look around for directions, steps, or use GOOGLE before asking a teacher. This will expand your knowledge and give you self-confidence. 

• Ask Questions. If you truly do not understand a concept / assignment, ASK your teacher via email or in class. We are here to ultimately help you be successful, but if we do not know that you are struggling we cannot help you! So please ask and communicate with us.

• Be Organized. Know when assignments are due, have a system for your Google Drive if you have lots of documents. If you email a question, be sure to check your email again for the response.

• Do not fall behind. If you have assignments & lessons to complete each day, DO THEM. It can be easy to push off something onto tomorrow, but your work will pile up and become overwhelming.

• Attendance. Be here. Everyday. And when you are here, make sure your brain is here too! (Pay attention in class!)