Ms. Melissa Gillespie

Room 233: Civics and Economics & Honors Civics and Economics

School Phone Number: 910.350.2089 ext. 349

Email: melissa.gillespie@nhcs.net

Tutor Day: Thursday 3:45-4:30

Class Web Page: http://teacherweb.com/NC/LaneyHighSchool/MGillespie/

Classroom Expectations

1. RESPECT AND ACADEMIC RESPONSIBILTY: Respect yourself, your classmates, your teacher, the school, and any other individual who may come into our class.
2. BE ON TIME, PREPARED, AND READY TO LEARN: Please have all materials ready to start class and be in your assigned seat when the bell rings. Morning detentions will be assigned for tardiness.
3. MAKE UP WORK IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY: It is your responsibility to complete any work missed due to an absence. You may see me before or after school to schedule time to receive the missed assignments or you may refer to our class webpage. Make-up assignments and tests should be completed within 7 school days after the missed day of school (I stay after school on Thursdays to address such issues).
4. LISTEN TO INSTRUCTIONS: This will save us both time and energy. Please DO NOT talk during classroom instruction.
5. I will dismiss the class at the end of the period, not the bell.

If you ever need any extra help, please let me know. I can be contacted through email or by calling the school.

Grading Policies

This class adheres to the grading scale set forth by the school and county.

CHEATING is not tolerated.

1. Tests: You will take a test approximately every week (See Class Syllabus). Test days are Tuesday and Friday. Tests will be a combination of multiple choice, true/false, matching, short answer, & essay. All class/group projects will count as test grades. An absence the day before the test is not an excuse to “miss” the test. Tests are announced in advance (See Class Syllabus).

2. Projects: Individual and group projects will be assigned. These projects may require in-class and out-of-class time for completion. Projects will be described in detail and announced in advance.

3. Quizzes: An identification and/or quiz may be conducted (unannounced) at least once a week. All other quizzes may be scheduled or unannounced.

4. Classwork: These assignments will vary. Some possible assignments are maps, individual and group work, organizational tools, in-class essays, and Computer/Internet tasks.

5. Core 100: It is important that we familiarize ourselves with correct Social Studies terminology. Therefore, we will review the Core 100 Concepts used throughout the Social Studies Department. Identification of these terms/concepts may be in-class or out-of-class assignments. Index cards are a suggested method of recording the Core 100.

6. Homework/Questions to Consider/Blog: This class requires nightly reading assignments with questions to answer for the next day’s class (See Class Syllabus). Approximately 10% of test questions are from the readings. I may assign additional homework.

* LATE WORK WILL BE PENALIZED—I WILL TAKE 10 POINTS OFF FOR EACH DAY THAT YOUR WORK IS LATE (UNLESS THERE ARE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES)*

**It is your responsibility to keep an organized notebook.

***The midterm exam percentage (15%) is determined by the school & county.

****The Final Exam counts as 25% of the overall semester grade.