CLASSROOM AND GRADING PROCEDURES (2012-2013)
8th Grade Social Studies: Georgia History
Instructor: Mr. Jonathan Merrill; M.A.
Room# 144
E-mail:
Gifted Class: Course Description
In this course, students willstudy Georgia geography, history, government, andeconomics.U.S. historical events are included, as appropriate, to ensure that students understand Georgia’s role in the history of the United States. We will use a variety of instructional and assessment tools both inside and outside the classroom. This includes lecture, discussion, note-taking, individual and cooperative work, projects and computer usage.Students will also explore Document Based Questions. Understanding how to analyze and answer DBQ’s will help the student prepare for high school AP social studies courses.
The nation-wide Common Core Standards for Literacy have been incorporated into BibbCounty’s curriculum. Each student will not only be engaged in instructional strategies previously used, but also in composing an argumentative paper, writing an informative essay, and participating in a public speaking activities during EACH unit (12 units overall).
Textbook
Georgia: Its Heritage and Its Promise (Clairmont Press, 2011)
Outline and Curriculum Map
Below is theHowardMiddle Schoolpacing guide for the 2012-2013 school year:
August 13 to August 17, 2012
Class Introduction and Unit One: Connecting Themes & Enduring Understandings
in Georgia Studies
August 20 to August 31, 2012
Unit Two: Geography and Prehistoric Period of Georgia
GPS Standards—SS8G1; SS8H1a; SS8E1
September 3 to September 21, 2012
Unit Three: Exploration and Colonization
GPS Standards—SS8G1; SS8H1b and c and H2; SS8E1 and E2
September 24 to October 12, 2012
Unit Four: Georgia Early Statehood and Indian Removal
GPS Standards—SS8H3, H4, H5, SS8CG1a and SS8E1 and E2
October 15 to November 9, 2012
Unit Five: Georgia during the Civil War and Reconstruction
GPS Standards—SS8H6 and SS8E1 and E2
November 12 to December 7, 2012
Unit Six: The New South
GPS Standards—SS8H7, SS8E1, E2 and E3
December 10 to December 19, 2012 Unit Seven: Georgia in the 20 th Century (FDR, the New Deal, and WWII)
GPS Standards—SS8H8 and H9; SS8E1 and E2
(December 20 and 21, Mid-Year Exam and Benchmarks)
January 7 to January 18, 2013
Unit Eight: Post World War II Georgia
GPS Standards—SS8H10 and 12; SS8E1 and E3
January 21 to February 8, 2013
Unit Nine: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement
GPS Standard—SS8H11
February 11 to February 20, 2013
Unit Ten: Modern Georgia and Business
GPS Standards—SS8H12, SS8G2, and SS8E1, E2, and E3
February 21 to March 12, 2012
Unit Eleven: State and Local Governments, Revenues, and Personal Finance
GPS Standards—SS8CG1, CG2, CG3, and CG5; SS8E4 and E5
March 12 to March 23, 2012
Unit Twelve: Adult and Juvenile Justice Systems of Georgia
GPS Standards—SS8CG4 and CG6
April 1 to April 19, 2012 CRCT REVIEW and EXAMS
April 22 to May 24, 2013 Accelerated Course work on American Government
(9th Grade Social Studies
Grading Policy
Test/ Projects/Performance Based Tasks 40%
Classwork/Quizzes/Warm-Ups/Writing Assignments 50%
Homework/Notebook Checks 10%
Materials and Supplies
Pens (black/blue)
Pencils
Color Pencils
Notebook paper
1” or 1 ½” binderfor Georgia Studies ONLY
Flash Drive
Textbook AND Student Planners will be brought to class daily.
Exams/Projects/Re-Tests
Exams and other various assessments will be given throughout the year. Students are always given plenty of notice of when these assessments are going to be given, therefore, if the student is absent the day of the assessment, he/she will take the assessment the day he/shereturns. Various projects will be assigned each grading period. Some projects will be more involved than others and will require work at home. Once again, if the student is absent the day the project is due, the student must turn in the project the day he/she returns.Each unit will have a test assessing the student’s knowledge of the material covered in that area. The teacher will assess and grade the exam that same day. For students who did not achieve a 100%, they will review the material again the next day, and then re-take the exam the following day. The second grade will computed into the overall grade.
Homework/Make-up Work
Dates due for all assignments and/or assessments will be written on the front board and it is the responsibility of the student to write the assignments in their student planners. Homework is usually given Monday through Thursday to re-enforce concepts discussed in class. At times, students will need to work over the weekend on a project. Students should review class notes nightly for 20 minutes or so to avoid “cramming” for a test. Students are expected to turn in all assignments on the date each is due or earlier.When students are absent, they have 3 days to make up “missed work.” If an assignment was given before a student was absent, that assignment is due the day the student returns. It is a student’s responsibility to ask for make up work. Missed tests, quizzes, and projects should be scheduled at a convenient time for teacher and student. Failure to complete make up assignments by the allotted time will result in failing grade.
Classroom Procedures
*Students are expected to follow All rules under BibbCounty’s Student Guideline for Success and HowardMiddle School’s Student Handbook.
*Students are expected to follow All rules set by the teacher that are posted in the classroom.
*Students are expected to wait outside the classroom quietly and in a line; they will enter the room when all students from the previous class exit or the teacher permits it.
*Students are to sit down at their assigned seats as soon as they enter the room. “Warm-up” work or questions on the board/screen are expected to be worked on before class starts. Students should also sharpen pencils, organize their desk and books, and finish class assignments during this time.
*Any question and/or issue that a student has with the teacher is expected to be dealt with after/before class or after school (NOT during instructional time).
*Class dismissal will be directed by the teacher.
Contact and Conferences
All parents/guardians who have questions or concerns about their student should contact me through e-mail or call the school at 478-779-3500. I will contact you within 24 hours.My planning period is daily from 11:00am to 12:00am. Parents are encouraged to use Parent Portal to check on their student’s progress. Bi-Weekly Progress Reports are sent home on Wednesdays. Students are to return Progress Reports the following day. I strongly encourage you to contact me when you have any concerns. Finally, please check my Howard web page daily. Homework assignments, documents, and Georgia Studies links are found on the web page.
------(Please sign and return to Teacher to be checked off) ------
8th Grade Georgia Studies Syllabus (Gifted)
The above syllabus is subject to change to better meet the needs and abilities of the students.
I affirm that ______(student’s name) and I have read the syllabus for 8th Grade Gifted Georgia Studies class. I understand what is expected of my student and I can contact his/her teacher to discuss any concerns I may have.
______
(Parent or Guardian Signature) (Date)
1