Welcome to World History!

About Me My name is Melissa McDonald-Lowe and this is my third year teaching history at Skirball. I went to college at UC Berkeley and got my master’s degree from LMU. I am excited to work with all of you this year! My Hobbies Are: Cooking Travelling Reading Gardening Knitting Favorite History Topic: Mythology

Class Philosophy Be REAL. No excuses, no exceptions. Respect this class and everyone in it, including yourself. Enter this class on time and prepared to get to work. Ask questions when you don’t understand something. Learn from your mistakes.

Class Rules Respect yourself, your teacher, and your classmates. No food, drinks (except water), or gum allowed in this room. Raise your hand to speak (This includes asking questions, don’t blurt out thoughts!!!) Cell phones must be kept on your desk where I can see them at all times. Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself. Fighting, cursing, or disrespectful behavior is prohibited Class assignments and homework assignments are to be turned in by the date assigned or they are late.

Consequences If you break a rule... First time = Warning Second time = Phone Call Home Third time = Sent out of class or detention at the teacher’s discretion. (Teacher’s discretion means I decide, you don’t. Please don’t waste your time or mine arguing or whining about it.) I reserve the right to skip any of these steps if I believe your behavior is extremely out of line.

Cheating Cheating in college usually results in automatically failing a class, but it can even get you kicked out of school! You aren’t in college yet, so the consequences won’t be that severe, but I do hate cheating. If you get caught cheating (including copying homework or in-class assignments that are supposed to be independent) you will receive a zero for that assignment/test/quiz for that day. Then two more things will happen. I call your parents to tell them you were cheating. You have to come after school or at lunch to re-do the assignment in this classroom alone with me.

Class Materials Please bring these things with you every day. We may not always use them, but it is what you need to be prepared to learn in this class. Something to write WITH (pencils, black or blue pens ONLY please) Something to write ON (small composition book is my suggestion) A place to keep notes, maps, vocabulary words, or other class paperwork Earbuds or other headphones A flash drive

Standards-Based Grade Grading 4 Point Scale Letter Grade Standards-Based Grade 4 A Advanced 3 B Proficient 2 C Basic 1 NP Below Basic/Far Below Basic

Digital Agenda, Websites, and Email Digital Agendas will be posted by 8PM Sunday night on both the class and school websites. Class Website: www.msmcdsms.weebly.com I will use this website to post any PowerPoints or Prezis, homework assignments, worksheets, video clips, or anything else that we use in class School Website: http://skirballmiddle.org My email: msmcdonaldsms@gmail.com or mmcdonald@laalliance.org Your Email: firstname.lastname@blastla.org Your Password: Skirballstudent *It is YOUR responsibility to remember your password if you decide to change it!!!

Class Procedures Do Now: Your Do Now will start the same way every day. Download the digital agenda for the day Check your email – There will often be a writing prompt or review question activity to complete that I will send to your mailbox Review Whiteboard Direct Instruction (between 15-30 minutes) Independent/Collaborative Stations (about 1:15) Check for understanding – This will include brief discussions, exit slips, and review questions There will be a vocabulary and reading quiz every Wednesday starting in 2 weeks

Regular and Mandatory Tutoring There will be a regularly scheduled opportunity every week for those of you who need help to come and get it. I will let you know when that starts in about two weeks. You are always welcome to come to my room and ask questions if you have them. This year, if you miss an assignment you will be required to complete it in tutoring either at lunch or after school. I will notify both you and your parents when this happens.