Contact Information 7th Grade Eastern Hemisphere & Geography Student and Parent Information Packet Teacher: Mr. Mark Bernabei Office Hour: 4 th Hour (11:18 am 12:57 pm) Phone: (586) 797-3173 Email: mark.bernabei@uticak12.org Website: www.mrbsclasss.com (pass: mrb123) Guidelines/Expectations: 1. Be RESPECTFUL! Treat everybody how you would want them to treat you. 2. Be on TIME! The first 10 minutes of class is called Bell Work and is designed to access prior knowledge about the day s lesson. You will be responsible for the work/discussion during this time. Every tardy will result in either a writing assignment or lunch/ afterschool detention. 3. Bring MATERIALS to class everyday: three-ringed folder with dividers and lined paper, textbook (must be covered), pencil, pen, and homework to class every day. You will not be allowed to go back to your locker for these items (homework will be considered late if it is left in your locker). 4. Bring your agenda book to class every day. Your agenda book is your pass once signed by the instructor and is the only way you will be excused from the room. Consequences: 1. Verbal warning, teacher/student conference 2. Verbal warning, teacher/parent conference and/or detention 3. Verbal warning, teacher/parent conference, counselor referral, and/or detention 4. Administrative referral Grading: Your grades will be determined by averaging the grades from the following weighted categories. The grade in each category is determined by dividing points earned by total point possible. Ten Week Grades: Hmwk/Proj: 50% of your grade Semester Grades: 1 st 10 wk Grade = 45% Exam/Quiz: 50% of your grade 2 nd 10 wk Grade = 45% 10 wk grade: 100% Exam Grade = 10% Final Sem. Grade: 100% Take special note of the weighted categories. As shown, exams/quizzes are worth 50% of your grade. It will be imperative (important) for you to be ready for these assessments. You WILL HAVE to spend time reading, taking notes, and reviewing new vocabulary in order to learn the material and not just memorize some facts to pass a multiple choice test.
Scale: 100-93 = A 87-89 = B+ 77-79= C+ 67-69= D+ 59-0 = E 90-92 = A- 83-86 = B 73-76= C 63-66= D 80-82 = B- 70-72= C- 60-62= D- Plagiarism will not be tolerated and will result in NO CREDIT for the assignment. This includes copying from any book, the Internet, a fellow student or any other sources not your own. Late Work Assignments must be turned in on time for full credit. Having it in your locker and not with you is still considered late. Late work will be reduced 50% for up to two days after due date if you fill out a late homework form, have it signed by parents, and attached to you late assignment (NO SIGNED NOTE = NO LATE CREDIT). Do not leave late assignments on my desk or place them into any of my files or give to another student to give to me. You must hand them to me personally or I will assume you did not turn it in. No Name Work Papers without names have become epidemic in the past few years and have taken up a lot of valuable teacher time that could be used in more productive ways. Consequently, any work without a name will be kept for one week. After one week, unclaimed assignments will be THROWN OUT. Make sure to check powerschool. Absent Work When a student is absent it is his/her responsibility to collect and turn in the missing work. You will have as many days as your excused absences to make up your work with the exception of larger projects or assignments which will have been assigned in advance and before the absence. Extra copies of assignments will be kept in a box on my bookshelf. Please do not ask me for a missing assignment unless you already checked box. It is your responsibility to find the assignment and turn it in. Extra Credit I offer test corrections as extra credit. When a test is given back, you have a few days to make test corrections and hand it back in. I will give you ½ points back for each wrong answer IF you follow the test correction procedures. Progress Reports With the implementation of Power School, a web based program, parents and students now have instant on-line access to grades and attendance as soon as the teacher enters it. I will attempt to post grades in a timely manner (within a week of due date) but may be delayed for circumstances beyond my control. Please be understanding when this occurs. In addition, please do not email, call or ask me for missing work or grades.check online.
Course Outline: The following is a general course outline the teacher will be following during the school year. Units may overlap or be presented out of order then what is shown below. Semester One Outline: Unit One: Introduction to Geography and History Unit Two: Southwest and Central Asia: History Unit Three: Southwest Asia: Geography Unit Four: Southwest Asia: Modern Day Unit Five: Africa: History Unit Six: Africa: Geography Unit Seven: Africa: Modern Day Mid-Term Exam is Cumulative (keep everything) Semester Two Outline: Unit Eight: South & East Asia/Pacific: History Unit Nine: South & East Asia/Pacific: Geography Unit Ten: South & East Asia/Pacific: Modern Day Unit Eleven: Europe and Russia: History Unit Twelve: Europe and Russia: Geography Unit Thirteen: Europe and Russia: Modern Day Final Exam is Cumulative but only covers 2 nd Semester Online Textbooks and Resources: The seventh grade curriculum is online and available to all students. Mr. Bernabei will be giving you a username and password. You CAN NOT log on without the school provided codes. This resource will greatly enhance Eastern Hemisphere and Geography experience. The following website includes a full version of the textbook, resources, skill builders, and practice tests: After School Help http://my.hrw.com Mr. Bernabei will be available to those students needing extra help, explanation or review afterschool. The days and times of afterschool help will be forthcoming. Teacher/Parent/Student Communication One of the areas we all need to strengthen to ensure student s success is communication. Apart from the traditional phone, email, and PowerSchool modes, I signed up for a free service found on the net called Remind 101. If you follow the directions to sign up, I will be able to send you a one-way reminder via a text message about upcoming due dates, projects, tests etc. Directions can be found on my website (Students will have an opportunity to sign up in class). Having said all that, please come to me first regarding any issues (class, instruction, grades, subject material, other students, and conflicts). I believe face-to-face communication is the best, quickest, and the one with the least chance of misunderstandings. Organize My Binder.Why? Keeping a neatly organized binder is an essential component of keeping good notes. A complete binder also aids in studying for quizzes and exams, and provides the necessary documentation if you ever need to verify your grade in the class. The maintenance of your binder will be checked several times throughout the year for a grade; make sure you keep EVERYTHING (the Mid-Term and Final Exams are both cumulative).
After the First Class Meeting 1. Get a large binder (approximately 2 inches) that is sturdy enough to withstand heavy use and will last the entire year. Buy sufficient amounts of loose leaf, college-ruled binder paper, and a set of 6 dividers. 2. Place the dividers in the binder. Label them in order from front to back: Bell Work, Notes (from lecture/ discussion), Class Work, Activities, & Handouts, and Returned Work. 3. Place sufficient amounts of binder paper in the two notes sections (Class and Reading). SECTION ONE: Bell Work 1. This section of your binder is used for writing the Bell Work Question (typically posted on the white board every day) and answer. Bell Work is a short discussion to lead class into the day s lesson. It will be collected periodically for a grade. So make sure to be on-time for class. SECTION TWO: Notes (Class/Text) 1. This section is self-explanatory. You take notes on what is relevant and important during class discussions or lecture. 2. Here are some ideas to get you started. a. Before previewing current reading assignment, you should review previous section to remind yourself of what material was covered so you can make better connections. b. Before reading, preview the section. Look at the pictures, maps, and graphs. Read the colored headings within the section. c. Under each heading, take copious (many, numerous, ample) notes. However, DO NOT re-write the book, but take enough notes so you both get some specific details and get the overall idea of the paragraph. d. Be sure to make a note or two about the pictures, maps, graphs and any bolded words. e. Mentally summarizing and writing down only what you need to is a skill that is developed only over time and with diligent practice. SECTION THREE: Class Work, Activities and Handouts 1. Keep all activities, worksheets, reflections, and handouts completed in class in this section. 2. Keep this section in the order they were received (by date or unit). SECTION FOUR: Returned Work 1. Keep all returned homework assignments, class assignments, group work, worksheets, tests, quizzes, etc. in this section. 2. Keep all work in the order in which they were returned (by date or unit). FINALLY Have an AWESOME semester filled with fun, facts and friends! Please complete and detach the following Agreement from the rest of the packet and return to me by the due date given. Keep the top portion in your Social Studies binder. This is an assignment and will be collected for 5 points. Failure to complete and return this agreement will result in the loss of points and parent contact.
Teacher Student Parent Agreement of Understanding WE HAVE READ THE GUIDELINES AND EXPECTATIONS FOR MR. BERNABEI S 7TH GRADE EASTERRN HEMISPHERE & GEOGRAPHY CLASS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IS EXPECTED. Student Name (print) Student Signature Date Parent/Guardian Name (print) Parent/Guardian Signature Date Parent Contact Information: Contact Name : Cell Number : Home Number: Work Number: Email Address: Alternative Contact Information: Contact Name: Cell Number: Home Number: Work Number: Email Address: