WCMS ACE Pre-Academy Social Studies
Mr. Rick White/Room 809
2015-2016 School Year
Course Description
Social Studies curriculum for the 8th grade covers the exploration of America through the American Civil War. Our jaunt through history is taken via a thematic approach as opposed to a chronological approach.
· Introduction to the Class and Routines
· Unit One: Civic Mindedness, Constitution, Citizenship and More. 6 weeks
· Unit Two: Movement of People Westward 3 weeks
· Unit Three: Slavery and the Making of America 6 weeks
· Unit Four: Conflict of Ideas, People and Nations 6 weeks
· Unit Five: Diversity and Reform 4 weeks
· Unit Six: Human Potential or Economics 101 4 weeks
· Unit Seven: American Culture 4 weeks
Students can expect to engage in a variety of teaching activities from lecture, plays, cooperative learning activities, student presentations, problem based learning, debates, Socratic Seminars, map activities and more. A concentrated effort is made to engage students in “hands on” activities that help to bring history alive, challenge students and relate learning to everyday life. Primary Source readings are emphasized! Be prepared to write! Each teaching unit contains a major writing assignment.
Pre-Academy Social Studies students can expect to delve deeper into the content, read complex material and complete a variety of writing assignments. Among the probable extra readings are The Crucible, The Scarlet Letter, Autobiography of Ben Franklin, Common Sense, Civil Disobedience, Narrative of Frederick Douglas, A Plea for John Brown and The Red Badge of Courage. An appropriate project, writing assignment and/or quiz is assigned to each book.
Most of the content related books we read can be downloaded for free or a very minimal charge on your Nook, Kindle or other electronic devices. For students who do not have access to these devices or it would be a financial hardship I can provide a hard copy in most instances.
Selected writing examples or projects can include: modeling Ben Franklin, students write and present the virtues which steer their lives, analysis of an editorial titled When Patriotism Meant Treason, a reflection on citizenship, haiku poems about the Middle Passage and the Barbary Pirates, a critical book review of a slave narrative, a poem for two voices dealing with the differing perspectives on slavery, a paper analyzing the Cornerstone Speech and Lincoln’s 1st Inaugural, a paper on Civil Disobedience, a visual essay of the Battle of Antietam, and finally an assignment dealing with The Red Badge of Courage
Breakdown of Grade Weights
A distinction is made between summative and formative tasks or assignments. Formative is learning along the way, the practice we do before we show what we really know. Examples of formative tasks are “Flashbacks”, “Exit Slips”, and daily work done in class. Summative is the final assessment of what a student knows and has learned. Summative tasks count 100% of a student’s grade and include items such as Unit Tests, Final Exams, Writing Assignments, substantial reading assignments and Quizzes among other things.
Extra- credit is not given. Grading is rigorous and expectations for quality work are high.
Grading Scale
· 90-100 A
· 80-89 B
· 70-79 C
· 60-69 D
· 59 and below F
NOT YET Grade: If a student receives a NOT YET grade on an assignment it means that the assignment is not yet ready to be graded and the student needs to give additional attention and effort to improving the quality of their work. A new due date will be assigned to give the student time to bring their work up to an acceptable quality.
Absences and Missing Assignments
· The District and School Policy for excused and unexcused absences is followed. Work for unexcused absences cannot be made up.
· It is the student’s responsibility to request missed work the first day back to school after an excused absence!
· HOMEWORK IS GIVEN! My homework usually involves either a reading/writing assignment or project to be completed outside of class over a 3-7 day period. I do occasionally assign homework that is due the next day or 2 days later. Homework is posted on my web page.
· Late work policy: Students are expected to turn in all homework and projects by the assigned due date.
· Students not turning in assignments complete a missing work form and are held accountable for a new due date and completing their missing assignment.
· Communication is key! If a student gets overwhelmed or crunched for time, please let me know before the assignment is due and we can make adjustments as needed. Life happens!
· Power Points Posted: Every effort is made to post daily Power Points or other materials for students who may be absent or want those materials for review or future reference.
Contact Information for Mr. White
·
· School phone number is 873-4721 and my extension is 5809
· My home e-mail address is Feel free to e-mail me at home, but remember I may not check my home e-mail every day. My home phone is 502-931-4023. Don’t hesitate to call me at home if necessary.
My web page is located at http://ilearn.woodfordschools.org/rwhite USE IT!
It is important that students have access to my web page; as often I post homework assignments, study guides, notes and announcements on my web page. Frequently students are asked to print off material from my web site to complete as homework or to bring to class the following day. In addition I post my syllabus, contact information, information for parents and other general class expectations on my web
Page.
Newsletter: As soon as email addresses are gathered I plan to send out a weekly newsletter to keep all informed of upcoming events and what is happening daily and weekly in class. Parents have found this useful and informative. Please sign-up.
Remind 101: I use Remind 101 for updates as needed or reminders of tests and homework that is due. Please sign-up.
To receive messages via text: text @preacademy to 81010
0R
Use the link: http://remind.com/join/preacademy Once you click on the link it will ask for your phone number. Once you enter your phone number it will send to a code to enter which will confirm your enrollment.
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