Georgia Studies Course Syllabus 2015-2016
Warren Tolbert Ed.S
Phone EJMS 706-335-2083
8th grade office 706-423-5105
Welcome to the Eighth Grade! I’m Warren Tolbert and I will be your Georgia Studies teacher this year. This will be my 26th year teaching and 19th year teaching Georgia Studies. I have earned a Bachelors in Secondary Education and a Masters in Middle Grades Education with certification in Reading, Science, and a Specialist in Curriculum Supervision. I graduated from Jackson County High School and UGA. My wife teaches 7th grade and I have one daughter in 9th grade and another daughter in the 11th grade. I’m looking forward to working with you this year. The purpose of this class is to help students better understand the geography and history of the state of Georgia. Students are expected to behave in an acceptable manner following the student agenda. One student will NOT be allowed to interrupt the learning of others. Together, I am sure that we can make this your best year yet!
Grading: Summative grades for each standard include: Assessment (test), Homework Sheet,Daily assignment of your selection, and any Performance Task completed.. Formative grades are also collected to monitor student growth and progress but are not weighted in the grade book or included in the average.
- Each nine week grade period there will be four or five unit assessment test to show mastery of standards.
Students will also have a homework sheet that relates to each standard. Homework is not given one day and due the next, students have several days to complete their homework assignment. Note: Homework or daily grades can be turned in late but will receive a grade of 80.
- Dailystudents will begin class with a short 2 minute video “Today in Georgia History.” This is our “bell ringer” or the way we begin class each day. Students will write down the event, location, and year in their agenda on the correct date. This can be for a summative grade, replacement grade, or extra credit grade if needed.
- Nine weeks exams are given each grade period. If standards are not mastered earlier in the quarter this allows students to demonstrate mastery of the nine weeks standards.
The grades are weighed the same as the state mandated Georgia Studies test and are listed below:
Literacy Skills10%
Geography11%
History42%
Economics14%
Government23%
.
Prepared:
Students are expected to be prepared for class daily with notebook and writing utensils. Students should keep a notebook of all work and bring it to class daily. It should be divided into graded and non graded work. This is important because the notebook documents the student’s mastery of standards and students will select samples of their work from this notebook for student conferences.
One set of classroom textbooks will be used in the classroom. However, if you would like to check out a textbook to keep at home please let me know.
Retakes:
Students that do not meet standards on their unit common assessment test will be given the opportunity to show mastery on a retake by appointment with the teacher, or on the nine weeks exam. If students need to complete a retest or need extra tutoring they can schedule a time with the teacher. Because of time, and grades being due immediately, students are not allowed to retake nine weeks exams.
Attendance:
Students are responsible for collecting assignments for days they have missed.
______Please sign and make any comments or suggestions. Students should keep syllabus as the first page in their notebook.
Student Signature______
Parent Signature______
Unit Common Assessment Test
First Nine Weeks:Second Nine Weeks:
-Georgia Geography (G!, G2)-Establish Country (H4)
-Native Georgians (H1)-Ga. 1798-1840 Land (H5)
-Colonial Georgia (H2)-Good and Services (Trade) (E1&2)
-American Revolution (H3)-Civil War (H6)
Third Nine Weeks:Fourth Nine Weeks:
-Ga. 1877-1918 (H7)-Georgia since 1970 (H12)
-After WWI (H8)-State Government (CG 1-4)
-WWII (H9)-Local Government (CG 5,6)
-After WWII (H10)-Economics/Finance (E 3, 4, 5)
-Civil Rights (H11)-