Teacher: Mr.Reuss
Phone: 466-0336
Best time: 8:30 - 9:15
and after 2:50
dreuss@bridgmanschools.com

Social Studies may very well be one of your most interesting classes - if you allow yourself to enjoy the class. We will be dealing with issues that affect your life and your world both now and in your future. We will also learn a great deal about many things that have happened in our country in the past that directly affects your life right now.
So - how do you allow yourself to have fun in the class? It's really very simple:

-participate and be willing to voice your opinions;
-listen to what others have to say and be willing to support or differ with
their opinions;
-be willing to defend the stands you take;
-be informed about our subject material;
-keep up with all assignments; and,
-be willing to use your imagination.

Social Studies is a class with much variety. Some of the subject material includes:

-U.S. History: American Revolution to the 20th Century;
-Government;
-Civics;
-Geography;
-Economics;
-Current Events; and,
-Development of thinking skills.

Classroom Expectations

-Be in attendance every day - mentally and physically.
(Make-up any work missed due to excused absence.)
-Listen when others have the floor.
-Participate in all class activities.
-Be prepared with textbook, paper, pencil, etc. each day.
-Turn in all assignments when due.
-Respect yourself and others.

- No felt-tip markers allowed!

Classroom Discipline
If problems should arise, every attempt will be made to first solve the problem within the classroom. This will take care of the vast majority of most situations that will come up. However, if that should fail, or if the problem is more serious, then parental contact will be made. Any disciplinary steps beyond that will follow school policy.

Grading
Your grade in Social Studies is determined by an accumulation of points that you receive for every assignment, quiz, and test that you have in the marking period as well as class participation. Some extra-credit points are also available.
For example: if there are 500 possible points in the marking period, your grade will depend upon the percentage of points that you earned. Under this system, every assignment is important because every point counts!

LATE WORK POLICY: All assignments must be turned in on the stated due date. There will be a one day grace period with a 10% grade reduction. No assignments will be accepted for credit after the grace period.

Classwork
What work can you expect to have to do in Social Studies? Some typical assignments for each marking period follow:

l. Current events: you will need to be looking through, newspapers or magazines for current topics of national or international significance.
2. Book Report: A written report may be assigned for the marking period. Your book can be fiction, non-fiction, or biography. There are only 2 requirements: it must be related to a social studies theme and it must be at your personal reading level.
3. Reaction Papers: written reports on various topics discussed during class.
4. Projects: some will be group projects and some will be done individually. Subjects will vary depending upon our class topics.
5. Research Papers: if assigned, a research paper must be typed and documented with all reference sources.
6. Debates: we will have some structured classroom debates in which you are graded on your preparation and participation.
7. Tests: tests will include essays and multiple-choice.
8. Extra credit: you may earn extra points by doing additional work, such as, a report; bringing in outside materials related to our topics; doing an extra reaction paper; or anything that shows extra involvement with social studies materials. Extra credit points cannot exceed 10% of the total points for the marking period.

"Office Hours"
Mr. Reuss will be available to help any student or to talk to any parent. Time will be available immediately after school unless there is a previous commitment that must be met. Please feel free to make an appointment. Students should not hesitate to just stop by Mr. Reuss' classroom at any time.