6th Grade Social Studies Syllabus/2015-16

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to 6th Grade. I have planned a year packed full of fun filled Social Studies activities and lessons that will challenge and prepare your child to meet and surpass the requirements to move on to the next grade level.

Teacher Contact Information

  • Name: Stephanie Johns
  • E-mail:
  • Website: just follow the teachers link on the district website page
  • Edmodo: Log onto Edmodo from the district webpage
  • Telephone #:803-266-3430-Fax 266-7623

Supplies Needed for Class

  • Three sharpened pencils(no mechanical pencils please)
  • Highlighters and Markers brought to class everyday.
  • (2) Black and White Marble composition notebooks brought to class everyday

Textbook:

World History Journey Across Time by Glencoe-must bring to school everyday

Course Description/Social Studies

Social Studies in grade six, develops and enhances student’s understanding of history through the study of people and events from earliest man to the era of European exploration. This course focuses on the significance of geography, economics, culture, government, and religion on the development of the human story. Included in the human story are the conflicts and accomplishments of people and their roles in developing the social, economic, and political structures of major civilizations.

Academic Outcomes and Objectives

By the end of the school term, your child will be able to accomplish the goals outlined in the South Carolina State Standards for Social Studies. An appropriate classroom assessment requires students to be able to understand, interpret, exemplify, classify, summarize, infer, compare and explain major aspects of each standard.

Grading Scales

  • Class work and homework20%
  • Quizzes and projects25%
  • Exams35%
  • Daily participation/Behavior20%

Class Rules and Expectations

  • Students are expected to have high expectations for themselves
  • Students must keep hands and feet to themselves
  • No throwing objects, hitting, stealing or using fowl language
  • Students are expected to raise hands when asking or answering questions
  • Stay seated unless directed to do so. (Students will have plenty of time for group collaboration)
  • Gum chewing will not be tolerated
  • Students are not allowed to use the cell phones while in class ( areas where phone usage is permitted is listed in the student handbook)
  • Students must not be afraid or ashamed to ask for help!!!!!!! ( we all need help at times)
  • Please treat others and yourself with respect!!!!!!!!!

Consequences for breaking school rules and tardies

  • Depending on the number and type of infraction your child may receive lunch detention, or after school detention. Your will be notified a week in advance if your child has to attend after school detention
  • 1st offense /phone call home/meet with the guidance counselor
  • 2nd offense/ phone call home
  • 3rdoffense/conference with teachers
  • 4th offense send to the principal for further action
  • Some infractions require the student to be sent immediately to the principal for further action: Please read the School discipline Code in your child’s handbook.

Attendance

Parents please adhere to the District Policy on attendance. A copy can be found in your child’s handbook.

  • Students must come to class everyday and be prepared to do their best work
  • Students are expected to begin work as soon as they enter the classroom
  • The door will be closed three minutes after the bell rings. Use the bathroom before you inter the classroom. The door will close three minutes after the bell rings. If you come to class after the bell rings you must get a tardy slip.
  • A warm-up spiral review will be handed to you every morning. Begin working on it immediately.
  • Students are not allowed to leave the classroom until I dismiss the class.

Homework

Your child will be given homework everyday with the exception of Friday. Your child will be given a Study Guide at the beginning of every two weeks. The Study Guide provides reading and study material to ensure your child learns the materials needed to pass their exams. All of the homework questions along with the answers can be found in the Study Guide. Please encourage your child to read over the Study Guide before attempting to complete homework assignments. Included your child’s Study Guide is homework questions, vocabulary words, along with fun activities.

Exams

Exams will be given bi-weekly in both subject areas depending on the amount to information we have mastered in a two week period. Quizzes are given on the weeks that formal examsare not given. Daily assessments are given in the form of a daily spiral review. A weekly grade is given for the spiral reviews.

Missed and Make-up work

  • Your child has the responsibility to obtain any missed work. In the event that your child is not present at school for any length of time, a make-up folder will be sent to the office for parents to pick up. Any missed work must be turned in within (3) days or when your child returns to back to school.
  • If your child misses any tests, quizzes, projects or assignments a zero is recorded on power school until the assignments have been turned in.
  • All Study Guides and Power points will be on Edmodo for parents to review.
  • Missing class the day before an exam does not excuse your child from taking that exam.

Projects

Projects are given at the completion of each standard.

  • I am fully aware that everyone does not have internet access at home. If your child needs to use the computers at school to complete any projects or assignments, let me know as soon as the assignment is given so that I can make arrangements to have a computer available in school.

Extra Credit Assignments

  • I will not give any extra credit assignments. I do allow your child to retest if he or she does not perform well on anexam

My Expectations

I expect your child to come to school with a positive attitude, good behavior and to be ready to workeveryday. Sixth Grade Social studies is a very intense subject with lots of difficult vocabulary to learn and geography skills. I expect your child to review Social Studies Vocabulary Words and locate countries on a map that your child will be given at home nightly. Please help your child with this!

Your child will be taking notes in class. It may be difficult at first but in time your child will develop a good note taking routine.

I have the highest expectations for your child. Please do not hesitate to inform me of any problems your child may be having with students, assignments or anything related to being in sixth grade.

I am looking forward to working with you and your child.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Johns

6th Grade Social Studies Teacher