Week 1: Sept. 13 - Sept. 17
- Ms. Gutiérrez
- Sep 13, 2021
- 5 min read
Lesson Completion Goal: 6%
Welcome to US History with Ms. Gutiérrez!
This week, you'll begin the course with an introduction to the events that led to the American Revolution and the eventual formation of a government under the United States Constitution.
I am so excited to get the year started with you! I love studying history and helping students explore the connections between the origins of our country and U.S. society today. We will work to sharpen our critical thinking skills as we explore, research, analyze, synthesize and communicate what we have learned together!
Below, you will find a few notes about me and our class to help you get started …
About Ms. Gutiérrez:
3rd year with Connections Academy
Bachelor’s Degree: Swarthmore College
Master's Degree & Teaching Credential: University of San Francisco
Hobbies: Art, cartoons, reading (novels and comics), video games, and family time <3
Grade Breakdown:
Tests: 32%
Quizzes: 27%
Portfolios: 16%
Quick Checks: 5%
Discussions: 15%
Participation: 5%
Remember, to earn Participation Points, you must sign up for 2 phone calls with me during the semester so we can talk History! https://pgutierrez.youcanbook.me
Organization: I highly suggest that you get a three ring binder, or a composition book, for each of your classes. Taking notes is very important to be successful at Connections Academy. US History has a lot of reading, so please take time to take notes and create note cards. Also, using the Unit Companions/ Study Guide ( These are on my website under Unit Resources) for each Unit as note taking guides is a great strategy. You can also turn these in for extra credit! Then, when you get to a quiz or test, you just review your completed Study Guide and you are ready to go!
Course Website/ Message Boards: This is your lifeline for information in my class. Things that you will find: Live Lesson recordings, study guides for tests and quizzes, portfolio directions/rubrics, extra credit and help on CheckMyWork and with formatting. I will send out reminder webmails when something new is placed on the website, but please get into the habit of checking this often.
Webmail: This is the quickest and easiest way for you to get a hold of me. Please get into the habit of checking your webmail when you first log into your computer and then a few more times throughout the day. Myself and your other teachers send out important information this way.
And how will you keep track of all those webmails sent to you? And you will get a ton! Create a folder in your webmail for each of your classes and that way you can stay organized if you need to go back and refer to something sent to you by a specific teacher.
Writing: This course has a lot of writing in it and remember this is an academic setting, so you don’t want to write like you text, or write like you are talking to your friends! You are expected to write in complete sentences, use proper punctuation and capitalization and write enough to earn the appropriate points.
Portfolios:
Follow directions that are on the Message Board
Must have a link to CheckMyWork, and a Works Cited page, or it will be sent back.
Assessments:
Quizzes: are not timed, but should not be open for an excessive amount of time. If you frequently have quizzes open for too long, you will get two warnings, and then your quiz will be zeroed out. Please sit down and take a quiz when you have studied for it, have enough time to take it and are prepared!
Tests: Are not timed. Please be conscious of taking tests for too long. Most tests should be completed in under 2 hours. If you are taking too long on a test you will be flagged for an HCV. Please study ahead of time and be ready to take your test in one sitting. **IEP/504 accommodations will be honored.**
4 point written response questions: answer in 3-5 sentences (explain yourself!)
Honor Code: Being honest in your school work is important to me and our school. You have already signed the Honor Code, but I wanted to remind you of what can be considered cheating:
never submit work of any kind that is not your own, nor ever give your work to other students to submit as their own.
never post exam or quiz answers on the Internet or in other public places, nor use answers (even if slightly changed) from posted exams or quizzes.
never provide a forged document or signature to the School.
never plagiarize in written, oral, or creative work.
be well-informed about plagiarism and not use “lack of knowledge” as a reason for engaging in plagiarism.
take assessments only after you have completed the lessons leading up to that test or quiz.
never give or receive unauthorized assistance on assessments. Understand that all assessments are “closed-book” and that my Learning Coach shall not provide assistance in determining answers on assessments.
read and understand the contents of both the Student Handbook: General Portion and my school’s Handbook Supplement.
adhere to all Connections Academy Student Conduct guidelines for proper use of the Internet and of all Connections Academy’s equipment or materials provided to me.
accept the consequences, including disciplinary action, of breaking this Honor Code.
First offense - zero on the question, documentation of the offense, and a call home.
Second offense - zero on the entire assessment, documentation of the offense, and a call home.
Third offense - same as the second, but also a referral to the principal.
Bottom line -- Have integrity in your work, do the right thing, and ask for help if you are struggling! Don’t use Google -- use me!
YouCanBookMe: If you are in my homeroom, we will have a set time to check in (a standing appointment). Again, you must call me, in order to get earn participation points. I love talking about history with kids, so don’t be shy! This is the best part of my job. Two phone calls a semester are required. This is worth 5% of your semester grade.
Use the link above to schedule a call. It is also on the Message Board and underneath my signature on every webmail I send out. Using this link and setting up an appointment gives you a better chance at reaching me since time will be blocked out on my schedule.
Important Dates- Fall semester ends on February 3rd. Students must have submitted all work in all courses by 8:59pm on the end of semester deadlines. For mid semester deadlines, students have to be at least 50% complete in all courses.
First Semester Begins 9/13/2021
Mid Semester Deadline 11/29/2021
End of First Semester 2/2/2022
Second Semester Begins 2/7/2022
Mid Semester Deadline 4/18/2022
Senior Deadline 6/14/2022
End of Second Semester 6/22/2022
Mid-Semester Deadline: By Monday, November 29th, you should be around 50% complete in your lessons. If you do not meet this deadline you will need to have a parent-teacher conference to get your past due lessons unlocked. More information will be sent about this.
Do Now: Add my name: Ms. Gutiérrez-US History, and my number: 209-207-5162 to your phone right now. Then, when I call you, you’ll know it’s me, or if you need to get a hold of me, it will be right there at your fingertips.
I am very excited for this school year to start and to help you be as successful as you can be!
See you all today, Monday September 13th from 2pm-3pm, for our LiveLesson!
Download the resources for Unit 2 below:
Comments