CLASSROOM GUIDELINES
Mr. Murphy
History—Room I-3
CONTENT: The focus of this History class will be for the student to review and strengthen skills
in communicating (reading, writing, speaking, listening), to practice productive study habits,
to recognize and apply different levels of critical thinking, and to strive to achieve to the
best of his/her ability. Students in Eighth Grade U.S. History will study the history of the
United States from about the 1750’s through 1914.
GRADING: The semester grade will be determined by the total points earned on homework, class
work, special projects, tests, and quizzes. Points earned for the entire semester will be
totaled and converted to a percentage. Letter grades will be based on a standard scale: 100%-90%
=A; 89%-80%=B; 79%-70%=C; 69%-60%=D; below 60%=F. A plus (+) or minus (-) is given if the
average score is within two percentage points of a cutoff (example: 82%=B-; 78%=C+). Progress
reports will be sent home every six weeks and will reflect accumulated points to that date.
Extra credit is not available. Special note: Students who receive a grade of “D” or “F” on a
quiz or exam will be allowed to retake that quiz or exam.
MATERIALS: Each student should come to class each day with the tools for learning: a well-
organized binder with plenty of binder paper, two pens (preferably with erasable ink), two
sharpened pencils, assigned books, and current assignments. Students should have one section of
the binder reserved for History.
ASSIGNMENTS: All assignments are to be turned in neatly completed and on time. Assignments that
are not complete or that are completed in a careless manner may not receive credit or may be
returned to be completed correctly for reduced credit. If a student is unable to complete an
assignment on time due to a family emergency, the teacher may choose to give work full credit if
the assignment is turned in with a note from the parent explaining the need for a short
extension of the due date. Assignments are posted in the classroom.
LATE WORK: All work is expected to be turned in on time. Unless otherwise agreed to by the
teacher, any work turned in more than one day late will not receive credit. Work turned in one
day late will receive no more than 80% credit.
HOMEWORK HOTLINE: Students will be expected to have a school planner and to write down homework
in their planner for each subject every day. In addition, homework assignments will be posted
on the homework hotline. To access the hotline, phone 781-9631 or 781-9526, and then enter
extension 1291.
ABSENCES: It is the student’s responsibility to see the teacher at the beginning of lunchtime,
or before or after school, on the day of his or her return to school, to discuss work missed due
to an absence. A new due date will be issued at this time. If this is not done, students will
not receive credit for work missed due to an absence.
BEHAVIOR: BE SAFE, BE RESPONSIBLE, AND BE RESPECTFUL. In order to have a class that is safe
and conducive to learning, students are expected to follow classroom and school-wide rules.
School-wide rules can be found in the student/parent handbook. Classroom rules will be posted
in the room. The overriding rule for each class is to BE SAFE, BE RESPONSIBLE, AND BE
RESPECTFUL. This will include: 1) KEEP YOUR HANDS AND FEET TO YOURSELF—This means you are not
to touch, in anyway, another person or his property. 2) BE APPROPRIATE AND CONSIDERATE—This
means that any comments made in class should be positive. There should be no cruel teasing.
Your behavior in class should reflect the fact that you are in a junior high school classroom,
not a playground. 3) LISTEN!—This means that only one person should be speaking at a time in
class. To ask questions or make appropriate, positive comments, you should raise your hand and
wait to be called on. 4) KEEP YOU FEET ON THE FLOOR—This means the desk in front of you is not
a footrest. 5) STAY IN YOUR SEAT—This means you should not be out of your assigned seat for any
reason without the teacher’s permission. Sharpen all pencils before class begins. Students are
to be in their seats until dismissed by the teacher. This means the teacher dismisses the
class, not the bell. 6) NO THROWING ANYTHING—EVER! 7) FOLLOW SCHOOL RULES—This means that you
need to follow all school-wide rules, such as no eating or drinking in the classrooms, no gum
chewing, no hats, etc.
TARDIES: Students must be in their seats, ready to work, with their materials when the bell
rings or they will be marked tardy. On the third tardy, a student will be referred to an
administrator and will be placed on the “tardy list”. Please see the student/parent handbook
for information on the tardy list.
EXPECTATIONS: Students are expected to be respectful by working quietly, raising a hand to
receive permission to speak and avoiding actions which hurt others, to be prepared by coming to
class with materials, to be on task by following directions and focusing on the activity of the
day, and to be on time.
CONSEQUENCES: The consequences for breaking classroom rules, school-wide rules, or failing to
meet the above expectations could be any of the following, depending on the seriousness of the
student’s misconduct: 1) warning; 2) after school detention/phone call home; 3) parent
conference; 4) referral to an administrator.
SPECIAL NOTE: I am available to discuss any problems or concerns, and am available for parent
and/or student conferences. Please feel free to contact me by email (mjmurphy@pet.k12.ca.us) or
by phone. The best time to call would be between 2:45 and 3:15 P.M. You may be asked to leave
a message, and your call will be returned as soon as possible. The phone number for Petaluma
Junior High School is 778-4724.