UNITED STATES HISTORY

Mr. Nelson's United States History Disclosure

Welcome to Mr. Nelson’s class. I am very excited to have you in my class and am looking forward to a great year with you and your student. During class we will be implementing the Eight expectations for living; in our school. (see below). This will keep our classroom a healthy learning environment.My deep hope is that every student who leaves my class will be a better person because of it.

Eight Expectations for Living

1. We will value one another as unique and special individuals.

2. We will not laugh at or make fun of a person’s mistakes nor use sarcasm or putdowns.

3. We will use good manners, saying, “please,” “thank you,” and “excuse me” and allow others to go first.

4. We will cheer each other to success.

5. We will help one another whenever possible.

6. We will recognize every effort and applaud it.

7. We will encourage each other to do our best.

8. We will practice virtuous living, using the Life Principles.

(http://www.greatexpectations.org)

Required Materials

-Blank Notebook

-Writing Utensils

Attendance: See the school handbook.

Phones and Electronics: See school handbook. Phones may be used, at times, in class but only with teacher permission. 

Bullying: There is a zero-tolerance policy for bullying.

Starters: It is planned that everyday as you come into class you will sit down, stop all conversation, and answer the question/s on the board. Label your answer with the title and number of each prompt. Once finished remain quiet so that others can finish. 

Quotes :  We have the awesome opportunity to memorize a series of quotes that relate to our class. Following the starter, it is expected that you recite the quote we are memorizing. We will do this as a class. 

Ending class:  Each day at the end of class we will have an ending procedure. This will involve cleaning and packing up your things etc. Once all things appear to be in order the teacher will dismiss you. 

Projects: There will be multiple projects throughout this course. I have found that in my own education I have learned the most from projects and teaching, to others. As a result, we will do teaching projects throughout this course. In other words, we will do projects and then teach each other what we have learned. 

Course Description:  We will study the geography, history, and government/laws of the United States. Everything that we study will have the goal of preparing students to be good, well-educated citizens of this country. 

Expectations:

Follow the Eight Expectations! Come to class with all required materials, be respectful to everyone, participate, work hard, follow all rules, and have a good attitude!

Misbehavior:

         I believe students are wonderful. I am grateful for the creative energy they bring to class. That being said, sometimes students forget to channel their creative energy in the right way. If this happens, the educational opportunities of all the students, in class, are affected. Therefore, it is of extreme importance that students do behave properly. Upon entering class students agree to abide by all classroom rules. 

Grading Scale:

Mr. Nelson’s Class Rules and Procedures

Respect Yourself and others at all times: All of my rules are appendages to this one.

0. Use common sense!

1.  Be in your seat when the  bell rings. 

2.     At the start of class, we will do a starter and then a quote.

3.     Turn things in on canvas.

4.     Follow the Eight Expectations.

5.     Clean up and put away your materials before class ends. 

6.   I will get your attention through __“Hook em’ Horns.”______ This means that when I call “Hook em’ Horns” to the class you stop speaking and look to the teacher for direction.

7.     To get my attention, raise your hand. Wait until you are called on to address the teacher.

8.  Most needed materials are provided through canvas. All you must bring are writing utensils and a notebook.

9.  Do not sharpen your pencil when I am talking.

10.   Re-try policy. You may re-try any class work, up until the term cut-off date,

for full credit. (Be careful, don’t get behind.) 

11.  Do not be tardy. (see school tardy policy) 

12.  Do not eat or have food in the classroom. There are approved exceptions. 

13.   Follow the school dress code.

14. Do not bring toys to class.

15.  Follow teacher instruction on voice levels.

16. If you miss class consult canvas, before talking to me. 

17. If you don’t finish something in class, it is homework. 

18.  Reading quizzes, and other pop quizzes, may be given.

19. Drills: Follow the schools procedures during drills.

21.  When you finish your work, work on something else, or read. 

22. Technology must be treated with respect. You must follow the school

handbook technology policy. Only take your computer number on lab days. Rules on personal electronics must be followed.

23. Everyone in a discussion or group needs to participate.

24. In order to leave class, you must properly sign out.

25. Be in your seat unless told otherwise. 

26.  I try to avoid it but you may have homework. If the class wastes time in school then homework may be needed to make up missed learning opportunities. 

27. I assign work orally at times. Listen.

28. Grading will be based upon the instruction I give you, and effort. I may

also grade on things that are assumed. (Example: Is it legible?) Grades will be

put into the handbook’s scale. 

29. Grades will be posted on the computer as soon as I can get to them. 

30.  I may allow the opportunity to have extra learning opportunities. This is a way you can get more points. However, extra learning opportunities generally will never outweigh the work that should have been done for the class.

31. I may post student work in the classroom. There will not be a visible grade on a posted assignment. 

32. I may contact parents, if it is needed. If parents wish to contact me they are free to do so. (My contact information is below.) 

33. Any other reasonable classroom expectations.

34.I make mistakes. If you feel I have made one, feel free to contact me and we will work it out.

35. Follow covid 19 guidelines and rules.

Retry Policy:

I believe in a policy of correcting failures rather than accepting them. As a result, students are free to retry anything we do in this class. Any redone work will not be graded with a late penalty. However, I strongly suggest keeping up with class. There will be a large amount of in-class work that will be very difficult to make up near the end of this course. I can’t accept late work after the end of a term.

Grading Scale:

 As part of teaching United States History, it is my job to address a myriad of historical issues. Many of these issues are extremely controversial. To name only a few of many, slavery, racism, the role of government, religion and its affect on the U.S., wars and political reasons for them, various interpretations of people, their lives and ideas etc. Obviously, I will never try to push your student to a certain political viewpoint, but please realize that again, history and its many interpretations are controversial. The units that guide, but do not define, my course are listed below. 

By signing this disclosure you give consent for your student to be educated in, and discuss any topic reasonably (We will not engage in a serious study of the history of the snickers bar.) related to American history. 

1 Pre-Columbus-1607

2. Non-English Colonies

3. Southern Colonies

4. New England Colonies

5. Middle Colonies

6. The American Revolution

7. The Articles of Confederation and The Constitution

8. Early Years

9. The Civil War

10. Reconstruction and Jim Crow Laws

11. Gilded Age

12. Westward Growth

13. Progressives and WWI

14. The Roaring 20's and The Great Depression

15. WWII

16. The 50's

17. The 60's

18. The 70's

19. The 80's

20. 90's to current

Movies and Video Clips

Many educational films have been produced by history experts. Furthermore, millions of dollars have been spent upon many educational films and series. I believe we would be foolish to ignore this great resource. However,  I do not usually just turn on a video and let it play. I prefer to take segment clips of videos to help with understanding and to bring about discussion. Below is a list of videos and series which I will show clips from or possibly show in their entirety. You do have the option of opting out of these clips or videos. If you decide to opt out there will be a fair alternative assignment provided. Below there is a place to make note of and clips/videos/series you may want to opt out of. However, I do want to state my opinion that everything I will show is educational and is probably much cleaner than national television/youtube/facebook, popular films of today, and tiktok etc. Furthermore, I am a parent, like you, and many would consider the standards to which I hold films cleanliness to be extreme. On that note I hope you will consent for your students to learn from the films/series below. 

-Possible films/series which will probably have clips shown from them but may be shown in their entirety. Please keep in mind we will not be watching all of these in their entirety. I plan to mostly show (10-15 minute clips) from them.

-America The Story Of Us: History

- The Pilgrims: PBS

-Cold War: CNN

-The Century: Americas Time: ABC

-Slavery by another name: PBS

-Eyes on the prize: PBS

-America 1900: PBS

-The Gilded Age: PBS

-Remember the Alamo: PBS

-The Iron Road: PBS

-World War II in HD Color 

-Any history related Public Broadcasting Service film or series.

Primary Documents: 

I truly believe that rather than solely rely upon what historians have to say about history that we should also go to the source of said history. As a result, in my class, we will study primary documents quite frequently. A primary document is essentially a work created at the time of the event or by someone who has had a first hand experience in a historical event. For example, we will study a veterans memoirs of WWI, important speeches such as George Washington Farewell Address, The Gettysburg Address, the sermon “A City Set Upon A Hill” by John Winthrop, old photographs of New York and Chicago, accounts of life as a slave and the environment on a slave ship, images from today of old Tycoons homes, political cartoons, memoirs of combat,  letters and diary entries of Homesteaders on the great plains, etc. Ultimately the list of primary sources is inexhaustible. Students should be prepared to read such documents, analyze them, answer corresponding questions, and discuss them in depth. 

Capstone Project:

The Final project is the capstone to our year long learning in U.S. History. It should be taken seriously and great effort should be put into it. There are three sections to this final project. All are required. If you feel that you cannot accomplish certain tasks please, let me know. 

1. History of a family member who influenced U.S. History: Choose any family member that has, in some way, contributed to U.S. history. We will research and report on this person. Said person does not need to be someone who has been politically involved. Simply by living in the U.S. a person contributes to it, in some way. This person may be alive or deceased. 

1. What I learned and what I will do because of it, presentation: This section requires you to give a summary of what you have learned this year in history. You present on what you felt was important. This is not a quiz to see what you remember; this is a way for you to explain what you learned that matters to you. Furthermore, we must present what we will do because of what we have learned. If we knew everything there was to know about U.S. history but did not use it to improve our lives, our descendants' lives, and society it would not have helped us at all.

1. Your three historical heroes: This section requires you to choose three people, who you have learned about in this class, and choose three as a hero. If you do not feel three people are worthy of hero status, contact me and we will figure something out. This requires you to do significant research. This will be done in essay format. Requirements include one typed page on each of your three heroes

Please, feel free to contact me.

Email: jnelson@scholarcarter.org

Website: https://jnelson.scholarcharter.org

​Room: #3

I apologize for the length of this disclosure. However, I strongly feel that you, as parents and students,  have the right to know what is going on in your students' class. This disclosure must be returned, with corresponding signatures.

I have read, understand, and agree to, all content in Mr. Nelson's United States History Disclosure

Parent Signature: _______________

Student Signature: ______________

Please list any Videos/films/and documentary series you may wish to opt out of: