My Name Is Mr. Reddig, and I Teach Eighth Grade Social Studies. This Is My Sixth Year

Dear Parent,

My name is Mr. Reddig, and I teach eighth grade social studies. This is my sixth year at Piedmont, and I have taught in CMS for thirteen years. This letter will introduce you to some important pieces of information that will ensure a successful year for your child. The most important key for your child’s success in my class is the maintaining and completion of a notebook. Your child needs a Mead, Five-Star, college-ruled, one-subject, spiral notebook with at least 100 sheets of paper, a hard plastic cover, and a two-pocket folder (available at Wal-Mart or Target for about $3). I understand this seems very particular, but there is a reason. We will begin working in our notebooks on Tuesday, September 5th. If you have a problem with getting this notebook by that day, please contact me by e-mail or a note. Students should never remove paper from this notebook and should use it for social studies only. Other materials needed to work in their notebook are colored pencils, glue stick, clear tape, highlighters, and whiteout tape. Students are expected to bring their notebook to class daily. Your child will be issued two textbooks which can be left at home. Class sets of both textbooks have been provided by the publisher. Your child will receive progress reports September 21-22, November 30 and December 1, February 20-21, and May 7-8. These will need to be signed by a parent and returned. You should also be able to determine how well your child is doing in my class AT ALL TIMES by looking at their notebook. Every page should contain a bold, highlighted title and a completed assignment, usually one page in length. Each unit will begin with a unit cover that includes a title and pictures related to the unit. Quizzes, tests, and progress reports will also be glued into their notebook. In accordance with CMS policies, the social studies EOG will account for a portion of your child’s fourth quarter grade. My students are assigned a quarterly project for each of the first three quarters. Each project will include clear instructions and a grading rubric. A bibliography is required for each project. Each child will be given an instruction sheet on how to write a bibliography. Each project assignment sheet will need to be signed by a parent the week it is assigned, and then again when it is completed. The first quarter project is about North Carolina and is due Monday, October 30th for A-day or Tuesday, October 31st for B-day. The grade for this project will be a part of their second quarter grade. All quarterly project work is done outside of class time. Between notebook assignments and projects, you can expect your child to have homework every night. I will make myself available to tutor in any subject before or after school by appointment or during school-day help sessions. If tutoring after school, your child must give me a note signed by a parent stating they know they are staying with me and will be picked up at 4:30 pm at the front office entrance. If you have any questions, please e-mail me at [email protected], write me a note, or contact me or the 8th grade counselor, Mrs. Riviere, at 980-343-5435. If you use e-mail and would like for me to communicate with you about assignments and your student’s progress, please e-mail me at the address above ASAP!

Sincerely,

Parent signature ______Ronny N. Reddig