Centennial Middle School

2016-2017

WELCOME TO

AMERICAN STUDIES 7
Mrs. Judkins | room 58 | malloryj@provo.edu | (801) 370-4621

Class Overview
This year, we will work together
to become better
communicators and achieve
success. Designed to meet the
unique needs of gifted
students, this class combines
the study of English with Utah
History in an interdisciplinary
double class block, fulfilling the
state requirements for both
subjects. This combination will
help students understand both
subjects better and prepare
them to become citizens who
understand their heritage and
the importance of the future.
We will also practice
mechanical skills, good
spelling, and effective
vocabulary choices within the
context of reading and writing
with an emphasis on writing
analytically and for argument.
Students will dig deeply into
themes and topics. Students
will learn the language skills
necessary for them to
appropriately impact their own
future and that of their
communities. This class will
cover themes and topics found
in all genres of literature,
especially writings that pertain
to the historical periods being
studied.
Judkins American Studies 7

Key Assignments and Readings

The following assignments will occur weekly/monthly and more
information will be given in class.
Goodreads
Biweekly Articles
Current Events
Vocabulary
We will be reading excerpts from the following novels:
The Primrose Way by Jackie French Koller
Light in the Forest by Conrad Richter
These Is My Words by Nancy Turner
The Devils Paintbox by Victoria McKernan
Other readings will be posted on the class website and prior notice
will be given.
Each novel and unit will conclude with a final assessment (test).
There will also be quizzes and other formative assessments.
Other assignments can be expected throughout the year; however, I
will give adequate notice before the assignment is due so you will
have enough time to complete it.
We will also be reading several short stories and plays this year from
our classroom textbook.
In addition, each student will be expected to read on their own each
week. I will explain this more in detail in class.
*Parents: Due to the large volume of available reading materials, I
ask for your help by being aware of what your child is reading. I
have a small classroom library that students may borrow from if
they wish.
1

Centennial Middle School

2016-2017

Class Website

Materials Needed
Each day, students should
come prepared with the
following:
Single subject composition
notebook (this notebook
will remain in our
classroom)
Personal reading book
Loose leaf paper
Pens and pencils
Students will also need
access to a computer with
Internet access for several
assignments.
I also recommend (but do
not require) a personal USB
drive.
*If you have difficulty
providing any of these items,
please let me know quickly!*

Class Rules
Be Respectful
Be Responsible
Be Prepared
Be Honest
Be a Contributor

judkinsenglish.weebly.com

Our class website is an invaluable resource to access past assignments,

view calendar items, and participate in class discussions. Video clips that
will be shown in class will also be linked on the website. I
encourage you to visit the website often.
Scale
93-100 A
Grading
90-92 ACategories
87-89 B+
All Scores 80%
83-86 B
Study Skills/Citizenship 20%
80-82 B77-79 C+
If you need to visit with me about your grades, please do
73-76 C
so before or after school, or by e-mail. We can always
70-72 Cschedule an appointment to discuss your concerns in
67-69 D+
private.
63-66 D
60-62 DHall Pass
0-60 I
You are not permitted to use the hall pass during the
first or last 10 minutes of class or during teacher instruction. During the
rest of class, the hall pass will be used at my discretion. You will be given
two hall passes to use during the term. If you have an emergency, please
talk to me; otherwise, stay in class. Our class time is precious!

No Name Work
Any work that is turned in without a name will be returned to the no
name box. If you are missing an assignment, check there first.
No-name assignments will automatically lose study skills
points when they are turned in.

Absent Work
It is the students responsibility to get missed work and
communicate absences. Due to the nature of our class, it is not always
possible to give assignments out before an absence. If an assignment is
given while you are gone, you have one day per absent day after you
return to turn in your missed work. If you have extenuating
circumstances, please communicate with me so that we can make
arrangements. Our class website is your new best friend! If you are
absent, check the website first for class notes, bell work, and
handouts; you will be required to make up whatever you missed when
you return. When you get back, please conference with me. All make-up
work should be done at home or after school, not during class.

I support and enforce all

school and district policies.

Judkins American Studies 7

Centennial Middle School

Students with
Disabilities
Several federal laws are
designed to protect your
educational rights. If you have
a learning disability, you may
qualify for additional
protections or
accommodations. Feel free to
talk with me, an administrator,
or your counselor for
additional assistance.

Contact Information
1. Come see me in my room
before (7:30-7:55) or after
(3:00-3:30) school. As
faculty meetings are
Monday morning, I will not
be available that day.
2. E-mail me at
malloryj@provo.edu
3. Call the office and leave me
a note.
Please dont hesitate to
contact me with questions or
concerns throughout the year!

2016-2017

Late Work
I expect you to have all of your assignments completed on time.
However, I understand that sometimes unforeseen circumstances
occur, so each term you will be given three Oops! passes, which
will allow you to turn in an assignment one day late without
penalty. These passes can also be used to redo an assignment. Use
these wisely! If you dont use them during the term, I will give you 5
extra credit points for turning them in at the end of the term.
Every time that you turn in an assignment late (whether you were
absent or not), you must staple a late slip to the assignment explaining
why it is late.
Each assignment will also have an expiration date after two weeks,
after which it will no longer be accepted.
Why do I care about this? I believe that most of the learning that
we will do happens in the context of our classroom, and if you do the
work late it loses some of its value. Also, what you turn in helps me
know if youre learning and understanding what we do in class. If you
dont turn in your work, I can never know how things are going.

Study Skills and Citizenship

Each assignment will have a study skills grade associated with it.
Assignments turned in on time will receive 5/5, assignments turned
in late will receive 3/5, and assignments not turned in will receive
0/5.
Each student begins the term with 50 participation points, called Pride
Points, divided into five categories of 10 points each based on the
Centennial PRIDE Matrix (Personal Responsibility, Respect, Integrity,
Discipline, and Engagement). Students will lose points if they are not
following Behavioral Expectations. These points cannot be made up.
Pride Points will be used to determine students study skill grade and
citizenship grade, using the following scale.
O (Outstanding) = 40-50 Points
S (Satisfactory) = 29-39 Points
N (Needs Improvement) = -18-28 Points
U (Unsatisfactory) = 0-17 Points

Extra Credit
Extra credit will be available to all students; however, it will be very
limited in opportunity and point value.
I reserve the right to make changes to this document.
However, all changes will be communicated to students and
parents in advance.

Judkins American Studies 7

Centennial Middle School

2016-2017

Due Date (10 points) _____________

Dear Parent/Guardian,
I am excited to teach your child this year! I sincerely care about each of my students, and their
progress and success is of the utmost importance to me. Because of all that we will learn this
year, this class will require the cooperation of parents, students, and the teacher. If you are
concerned about your childs academic standing, need clarification regarding this document, or
have other concerns about my class, please contact me at school or by email
(malloryj@provo.edu). Contacting me via email is the best way to get in touch with me. I
check my email each day and will respond within two school days of receiving your message.
I have created a class website that is designed to help students with their assignments. I will
update the website with class notes, handouts, and announcements. Exemplary student work will
occasionally be displayed on the website; students will be identified by first name and last initial
only. I will also use the website and email to inform you about upcoming assignments, tests, and
activities in class (including film clips that we may watch as they enhance curricular objectives),
and I hope that it will be a useful resource for you.
I anticipate that this will be a successful year for your child. I look forward to working together!
Best,
Mallory Judkins

________________________________________________________________________________

In an effort for Centennial to go paperless, please go to

judkinsenglish.weebly.com and click on Sign American Studies
Disclosure under the American Studies tab to electronically sign the
disclosure document as well as provide other information that will be
very helpful as I work with your student.

Judkins American Studies 7