Class Update

• The in-class Regions Project presentations have been postponed to Thursday, 9/4 (A-Day) and Friday, 9/5 (B-Day). 
• Students will be given a U.S. Regions Graphic Organizer assignment after their Civics CGA #1 on Thursday, 8/28 (A-Day) and Friday, 8/29 (B-Day).  This assignment will be due as a 15 point home learning assignment on Tuesday, 9/2 (A-Day) and Wednesday, 9/3 (B-Day).  
• Study Guides for the Unit 1 Test will be handed out after our Regions Project presentations on Thursday, 9/4 (A-Day) and Friday, 9/5 (B-Day). The study guide will not be due for a grade.
• The Unit 1 Test (Chapters 1 & 2) will be on Monday, 9/8 (A-Day) and Tuesday, 9/9 (B-Day). 

Weekend Update

• The Landform Dictionary assignment will be due for all B-Day classes tomorrow (Monday, 8/25).  Any A-Day students that forgot their assignment on Friday will have a chance to earn half-credit by turning it in on Tuesday, 8/26, as will B-Day students on Wednesday, 8/27.
• All A-Day students began working on our in-class Regions Project this past Friday. B-Day students will begin working on their project tomorrow.  Any additional research duties divided up among group members should be completed by Tuesday (A-Day) and Wednesday (B-Day).  Project presentations will take place on Monday, 9/1 (A-Day) and Tuesday, 9/2 (B-Day)
• We will be taking our Civics CGA Test #1 on Thursday, 8/28 (A-Day) and Friday, 8/29 (B-Day).  This test will not be counted as a grade.

Online Textbook & Landform Dictionary

• All students will be required to have access to their online Civics textbook throughout the year (we only have a classroom set of textbooks at school).  In order to gain access to the online book, please follow the directions below to register.

1. Create a New Account at the Log-In Page - Civics Textbook Log-In (This Log-In page will also be located under "Helpful Links" on the right-side of my blog throughout the year)
2. Enter the student redemption code 19S7-THDM-JZGO (Also will be located on the right-side of my blog throughout the year)
3. Enter your first name and last initial (student number not needed).  From this point, the website will give you a username a password.  WRITE IT DOWN IN YOUR PLANNER!  If you lose it, you will have to register again.

• Each student will begin working on their Landform Dictionary classwork assignment on Wednesday, 8/20 (A-Day) and Thursday, 8/21 (B-Day).  This assignment is worth 15 points and will be due at the beginning of the next class period (Friday, 8/22 for A-Day & Monday, 8/25 for B-Day).

Welcome to Civics!

Welcome to Mr. Schemer's Civics class!

This blog will be a useful place for both students and parents to keep up with what’s going on in our classroom from week to week.  Important reminders and dates regarding homework, tests and projects will be posted as often as possible.  If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me via email (schemerm@duvalschools.org) and I will do my best to respond in a timely manner.

All students should have received their parent contact form by now for an easy 10 points to start off the year.  This form is due back to me as soon as possible!  Also remember to bring in a spiral notebook and two 3-pronged folders with your name on them.

Below is our classroom syllabus.

 

7^th Grade Civics

Mr. Schemer

2014-2015

Course Description:

The primary content of this course pertains to the principles, functions, and organization of government; the origins of the American political system; the roles, rights, responsibilities of United States citizens; and methods of active participation in our political system. The course is embedded with strong geographic and economic components to support civic education instruction.

Materials:

Required	Wish list items:
Spiral Notebook 2 3-pronged folders (any color but red) Red folder with pockets 1 pack of Note cards Pens Pencils Notebook paper Markers	Copy paper (PLEASE!) Color copy paper Tissues Clorox wipes Hand sanitizer Paper towels

Grading Policy:  Point Based

Tests

Projects

Civics Journal

Homework

Class Work

Bell Ringers/Exit Slips

Rituals/Routines:

1. Students are to come prepared every day to class. This means bringing their Civics notebook, homework, and other needed materials.
2. Students do not need to bring in their Civics workbook.  Students will occasionally be asked to bring in certain pages.
3. Respect is required by all! You may not like or agree with everything, but you must always respect your teacher, classmates, and yourself. Rudeness will not be tolerated, and will result in disciplinary action.
4. Please respect the items in our classroom. Tops need to go back on the markers. Items should be placed back in the correct spots. Please do not play around with, draw on, or break our rulers, scissors, textbooks, or any other classroom necessities.   Students who fail to respect classroom materials will be asked to replace the items or bring their own for the remainder of the school year.
5. To ensure your understanding of material being taught in class, bring all homework items in on time. Late homework will only be accepted during the 1^st and 2^nd quarter for up to 50% credit.  It must be turned in within 2 school days of the original due date.  No late homework will be accepted during the 3^rd and 4^th quarter.
6. Tests, projects, and other major assignments are to be returned in a timely manner. Students who receive lower than a 70% on a test will be encouraged to “recycle” their test grade by completing additional activities related to the benchmarks tested in order to earn up to a 70% (C). 
7. Projects are assigned for each unit of study. Some projects will be done in class. Some projects students will need to complete at home. Projects that are done at home will be individual projects.
8. Extra credit is assigned at least once each nine weeks. However, opportunities for extra credit may appear at many times during the nine weeks.  Extra credit opportunities will occasionally appear on the blog without being announced in class to ensure students are keeping up-to-date with the blog.  It’s always a good idea to complete extra credit. You never know when you may need it!

Parent Contact:

Email is the best way to reach me (schemerm@duvalschools.org). I will try to respond back as soon as possible.  My blog is updated at least once a week with important information on what is going on in our class along with items that are due and major projects (mschemer.blogspot.com).  I will send home progress reports approximately every 3 weeks. Please sign and have your student return it the following class. If you would like to schedule a conference, please call Mrs. Cameron in guidance (346-5650 ext 114).

Please complete the following sheet and return to me as soon as possible.

I look forward to a wonderful year!

Sincerely,

Mathew Schemer

schemerm@duvalschools.org

346-5650 Ext. 139