8th Grade Study Skills & U.S. History
Course Syllabus     Mr. Van Slooten    Fall 2007 

Contact Information
Email: cvanslooten@covenantschool.org
Voice Mail: 220-7350 ext. 4135

Study Skills Course Description & Purpose 
We are going altering the Study Skills curriculum. In the past, we devoted the first nine weeks of the Fall Semester to Study Skills. This year the Study Skills curriculum will be taught throughout the year within the United States History curriculum. Students will periodically be introduced to a new study skill and they will practice that skill within the context of our historical study. As a reminder, the purpose of Study Skills is two-fold:
•	To help students grow in their understanding of their learning styles and how this knowledge can give them more control over their learning. 
•	To offer instruction in specific techniques and strategies which have proven effective to most learners. 

This new strategy of teaching Study Skills does have a couple of challenges. First, students will be given two grades on some assignments; one for Study Skills and one for History. Each student will receive a “Grade Tracker” to place in their binders to keep track of their Study Skills grades. The second challenge is to cover the Study Skills curriculum. Students will be given a monthly overview which shows what we are studying. In addition, I highly encourage you, and your child, to regularly check the history web page. www.geocities.com/covenantschoolhistory

Very Important (Grade Weighting)
With the new changes to Study Skills, the course will appear on your report card as History/Study Skills 8 (or something similar). Study Skills will account for 20% of your overall grade leaving 80% to history. What this means is if you earned a 100% on a Study Skills assignment, it equates to a 20%; a 100% on a history assignment will equate to 80%.

Study Guides 
Students will  prepare  study guides  for  the Fall Trimester exams in four courses:  Math,  Earth Science,  English  and  Latin.  Class time will be provided before exams to help students adequately prepare for their exams. These study guides will be graded and factored into the Study Skills grade. There is NO exam for History/Study Skills.

Calendar for the First Week of School

Monday, August 27		Mr. Van Slooten’s Class Vitals/Study Skills Syllabus
Tuesday, August 28		Small quiz on Mr. V’s Vitals/Study Skills: Basic Organization – 					Habit I (Habits 1-3 are applied to organization)
Wednesday, August 29		Habit II: Begin with the End in Mind
Thursday, August 30		Habit II: Put First Things First
Friday, August 31		Quiz on Study Skills syllabus

Classroom Expectations 

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:2-6

The following are three expectations I have of every student who enters my classroom.  My classroom expectations are, of course, in addition to all of the expectations and procedures in the Student-Parent Handbook….
•	Honor: (Leviticus 19:32 and Deuteronomy 5:16) Honor the God-given dignity of each person and endorse community building behaviors.
•	Respect: (2 Timothy 3:16) You are expected to respect your classmates, staff, and facilities.
•	Discipline: (Leviticus 19:32) You are expected to take care of your business before class and be seated at your desk when the bell rings with notebook ready to learn.

Turn in assignments on time.
There is a one letter grade reduction per day on all assignments that are turned in late up to three days.  I do not give any credit where it is not deserved.  In other words, expect a zero on an assignment if you never hand it in.  The assignments and tests are your responsibility.  I love teaching you – but I AM NOT YOUR NANNY! 

Focus Correction Areas
All written assignments, essays on tests, and project summaries will have Focus Correction Areas. These are the skill areas that I am specifically looking for in the assignment. Each Focus Correction Area will have a points (within the overall point total) attached to it. Make sure you check your assignments using the Focus Correction Areas.

Early Dismissal
The student is expected to get the assignments for class missed before leaving school.

Passes
Each student will be give two passes (hall/bathroom) each trimester. These passes are not transferable from one trimester to another. You will have to sign the “Pass Log” when leaving and entering the classroom.

United States History: Course Description and Purposes

“He that only studies men, will get the body of knowledge without the soul; and he that studies only books, the soul without the body. He that to what he sees, adds observation, and to what he reads, reflection, is in the right road to knowledge, provided that in scrutinizing the hearts of others, he neglects not his own.”
						-Caleb Colton

Eighth graders embark on an American history tour founded on Biblical truth that all men are created in the image of God and therefore capable of making moral decisions. The “cause and effect” principle so evident in history further testifies to the fact that actions and choices have consequences, a principle illustrated numerous times in the Bible and one that has implications for students faced with numerous decisions in their young lives. This tour commences with a survey of the United States Constitution and ends with a survey of the challenges ahead for the 21st century. Highlights of this journey include: westward expansion, the Civil War, Reconstruction, Manifest Destiny, World War I, the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression and the New Deal, World War II, Cold War America, Vietnam and the Civil Rights Movements, and the new issues and challenges facing America today.

National History Day
Beginning in October, students will be introduced to National History Day, and each student will complete one project on a theme of his/her choosing.  The mission of National History Day is to provide students with opportunities to learn historical content and develop research, thinking and communication skills through the study of history, and to provide educators with resources and training to enhance classroom teaching.

Each student will complete a project centered on the theme for National History Day. I will break the project down into small manageable pieces and provide each student with a calendar of due dates. Students may demonstrate their understanding of their topic through historical paper, exhibit, media presentation, or a performance. Students will present their projects at James Madison University in March/April with the top two in each category receiving an invitation to the state competition in Williamsburg. Finally, each student who finishes with honors at the state competition will be invited to the National Competition at the University of Maryland. 

Please be sure to check my website for further information. You may also visit the National History Day website at: www.nhd.org

Grading Information

The grade you earn represents your achievement and understanding of the concepts/skills taught in this class. Students will be assessed in tests, quizzes, homework and class work.

Grading Scale

97-100 = A+			77-79 = C+
93-96 = A			73-76 = C
90-92 = A-			70-72 = C-
87-89 = B+			68-69 = D+
					83-86 = B-			66-67 = D
					80-82 = B			64 or below = F

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Signature Section
Please sign below confirming that…
	“I have read, understood, and accept the policies and procedures presented in this syllabus.  Return to Mr. Van Slooten.

Parent(s): ______________________________________________________________________

Student:   _______________________________________________

Parent email: ____________________________________________