Welcome to Mrs. Hopkins’ American History Class!

“Can you imagine how dull the world would have been without an America?”
-Louis Jourdan, French movie star of American movies

My expectations for academic growth and achievement are high. It is my goal that every student be successful. A cooperative effort will be made between parent, student, and teacher in order to ensure student success. One of my most important goals this year is to keep the lines of communication open with you. My teacher web page may be accessed from the Bush webpage at https://www.neisd.net/bush. Please do not hesitate to e-mail me at shopki@neisd.net. You may also call me at (210) 356-2900. If I am not readily available, please leave me a message and I will return your call as soon as possible. I am excited to have the opportunity to teach your child. Lastly, please provide me with your e-mail address (as well as your name / your student’s name) so I may better keep you informed of upcoming classroom events and major assignments. Everyone deserves the most positive education environment in order to reach his or her full potential. The following class rules and procedures have been developed to ensure success for all students.

Agenda / Warm-Ups:
1. Each day an agenda and sometimes a warm-up will be displayed in Google Classroom or on my Whiteboard, which students are to copy or complete at the start of class. 
2. If a student is absent, he/she is responsible for obtaining the information missed by accessing the information on google classroom for the days missed.

Class Materials:
1. Ballpoint pens (blue/black, red for grading) and pencils with erasers.
2. Map Pencils and markers
3. Notebook and notebook paper. 
4. A section in a three ring binder that is dedicated for History

Classroom Rules:
1. We must work diligently from the beginning to end of class. Please be on time and seated at your desk with all materials when class begins.
2. Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
3. Students will wait to be dismissed by the teacher at the end of each class period.

Homework Rules/Grading Procedures:
1. If absent, students are responsible for finding out what they missed in class during their absence and making up the work. If the student missed a test, it is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements to make up the test before / after school, or during AIM or lunch.
2. Daily grades are 30%, Quizzes are 30%, and Tests are 40%. I drop the lowest daily grade per nine weeks. 
3. Zeroes Aren’t Permitted (ZAP)! A 20% deduction from the total grade earned will be taken for late assignments. Late work is not accepted after the summative assessment, or three week grading period, whichever comes first.
4. Tests may be re-taken within five days of receiving the grade. Corrections are to be completed before or after school, or during AIM. The maximum grade improvement is a 70.
5. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. I define academic dishonesty as providing and/or getting answers, and it results in a zero and a “u” in citizenship.

Expectations for Maps done on paper:
1. Print information 2. No Abbreviations 3. Use map pencils. 4. Provide a legend

Academic Tutoring:
• Academic Tutoring is available with an American History teacher each morning of the week.  Please make arrangements with me as needed so that I make sure I am in the classroom, and not in a meeting, coaching XC, or engrossed in my own lesson planning or grading. I want to honor your time as well as mine.
• Test Reviews will be given prior to each exam by the eighth grade American History teachers - Schroeder, Fain, and myself.

This is going to be a fantastic year!