Class DescriptionWELCOME TO U.S. HISTORY, FROM THE AGE OF EXPLORATION UNTIL RECONSTRUCTION (the period following the American Civil War)! My name is Ms. Wolin, and I will be your guide as we navigate through this truly riveting 400-year period in our nation’s history. We will look closely at the rich and ever-evolving culture, politics, social dynamics, geography, and economic structures that defined this period and paved the way for the creation of a modern America. By understanding these elements and using the skill set of amateur social scientists, we will develop a greater awareness for our nation’s heritage and what it means to be an American.
Admittedly, our journey will have some bumps and detours, as we encounter the “messy” side of our nation’s history: revolutions, civil wars, dislocations of native peoples, corruption, scandals, and a cast of unsavory characters. But we will also be enriched by points along the way where innovation, philanthropy, the arts, philosophy, justice, heroism, and idealism flourish. It is thus critical for all students to keep an open-mind … and sometimes a strong stomach! |
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES:
-Please see the important information about Quality Points above!
-We will collecting expo markers as part of a school supply drive. Winning class will earn a pizza party. Please bring in expo markers and drop them off to Ms. Wolin's classroom.
Upcoming Dates:
Monday, May 14th--Chapter 16 Lesson 2 review
Tuesday, May 15th--Chapter 16 Lesson 3 review
Wednesday, May 16th--Chapter 16: Review for Test
Thursday, May 17th--"Test Eleven: Towards Civil War"
Friday, May 18th--Assign "Chapter 17: The Civil War Jigsaw Group Project" & Begin working in groups on it.
Monday, May 21st--Continue working in groups on "Chapter 17: The Civil War Jigsaw Group Project"
Tuesday, May 22nd--Continue working in groups on "Chapter 17: The Civil War Jigsaw Group Project"
Wednesday, May 23rd--Group 1/"Lesson 1: The Two Sides" Presentation
Thursday, May 24th--Group 2/group 3
Friday, May 25th--Group 4/Group 5
Monday, May 28th--NO SCHOOL/MEMORIAL DAY :)
Tuesday, May 29th-"Chapter 18: Reconstruction Packet"
Wednesday, May 30th-Continue working on "Chapter 18: Reconstruction Packet"
Thursday, May 31st- Continue working on "Chapter 18: Reconstruction Packet"
Friday, June 1st--LAST DAY OF SCHOOL/END OF YEAR CELEBRATION :)
IMPORTANT DATES:
Current Events are due every other Friday. The next one will be due April 20th. The students are required to find a current event in a newspaper, magazine or on the internet. They need to turn the article in with the current event worksheet found above.
Syllubus
Grading Scale and Weighting (as indicated in the Franklin Academy Campus Guide)
90%-100% = A
80%-89% = B
70%-79% = C
60%-69% = D
59 or below = F
Incomplete = I
Tests—35%
Tests will be administered at the conclusion of each chapter. Each test will have five sections: a map literacy section; a key terms section; an identifications section; a multiple choice section; and an extended response section. Students will be given a study guide a week prior to each test AND an in-class review will occur on the class period before each test.
Quizzes—25%
Quizzes will be announced in advance, typically occurring at the mid-chapter point. Occasionally a project or assignment will be classified as an “alternative assessment” and weighted as a quiz grade. Students will be notified of this in advance. And throughout the school year, students will also have geography quizzes. The United States’ borders and territorial acquisitions were constantly fluctuating during the period in American history that we will be covering, so it is important for students to stay ahead of the changes.
Projects—20%
Projects include “eyewitness” narratives; response activities for class re-enactments and simulation activities; center work; etc. Students will also earn a project grade each quarter for leading a bi-weekly current events discussion. More information will be given about this during the first week of school.
Classwork—20%
Classwork includes day-to-day assignments, such as certain Do Now activities; monthly journal checks; Guided Video Worksheets; and Primary Source Analysis activities.
Supplies:
***Art supplies (crayons, markers, colored pencils, construction paper, scissors, glue, and stamps) will be provided. However if you wish to donate to the class, that would be amazing J
Franklin Academy Homework Policy (verbatim from Parent/Student Handbook)
Franklin Academy recognizes the important role that homework plays in the enhancement of a child’s overall education. However, Franklin Academy also recognizes that these benefits must be weighed against legitimate family concerns and desires to have their children participate in after-school activities, religious and family events, as well as much needed leisure and downtime. Studies have shown that any activity, no matter how rewarding, can only be rewarding for a limited time.
Therefore, the Franklin Academy no-homework policy strives to create a balance between the need to give homework and the needs of the family. For these reasons, homework is individualized to meet the specific needs of each student. There are times when, in order to tailor a curriculum that meets each child’s specific needs, teachers may assign individualized reinforcement or extra practice in accordance with a child’s level within the class.
Missing Assignments and Tests Due to Absence (verbatim from Parent/Student Handbook)
All students are expected to make up work missed during an absence. For absences due to (a) illness of student, (b) illness of an immediate family member, (c) death in the family, the absence is excused hence full credit will be awarded as long as the student makes up the work during the appropriate time frame. A student has TWO days to make up the work for each day the student is absent, not including the day of return.
Students who have an unexcused absence will follow the policy for Missing Assignments & Tests due to late work.
Missing Assignments and Tests Due to Late Work (verbatim from Parent/Student Handbook)
All students are expected to make up work missed for any reason. Late work will be graded and 10 points will be deducted from the grade earned for each day it is late, up to five (5) days. Late work submitted after this time frame will receive half-credit (50%) of the grade earned.
Behavior/Rules and Procedures
Posted in my classroom are my “Five Quotes to Live By,” from which our class rules and procedures will be established in collaboration with my students:
RULE #1 – RESPECT: “I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me. . . All I ask is that you RESPECT me as a human being.” – Jackie Robinson
RULE #2 – EFFORT: “Continuous EFFORT – not strength or intelligence – is the key to unlocking your potential.” – Winston Churchill
RULE #3 – PREPARATION: “Before anything else, PREPARATION is the key to success.” – Alexander Graham Bell
RULE #4 – POSITIVE ATTITUDE: “A POSITIVE ATTITUDE is something everyone can work on, and everyone can learn how to employ it.” – Joan Lunden
RULE #5 – ASKING QUESTIONS: “The important thing is not to stop ASKING QUESTIONS. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” – Albert Einstein
- Algebra 1 and Geometry EOC 5/15/18 & 5/16/18
- Boosterthon Pep Rally 5/15/18
- End-of-year Band Concert 5/22/18 6:30pm
- Boosterthon Fun Run 5/24/18
- Middle School Athletics Banquet 5/29/18 6pm
- 8th Grade Graduation 5/31/18 6pm
-Please see the important information about Quality Points above!
-We will collecting expo markers as part of a school supply drive. Winning class will earn a pizza party. Please bring in expo markers and drop them off to Ms. Wolin's classroom.
Upcoming Dates:
Monday, May 14th--Chapter 16 Lesson 2 review
Tuesday, May 15th--Chapter 16 Lesson 3 review
Wednesday, May 16th--Chapter 16: Review for Test
Thursday, May 17th--"Test Eleven: Towards Civil War"
Friday, May 18th--Assign "Chapter 17: The Civil War Jigsaw Group Project" & Begin working in groups on it.
Monday, May 21st--Continue working in groups on "Chapter 17: The Civil War Jigsaw Group Project"
Tuesday, May 22nd--Continue working in groups on "Chapter 17: The Civil War Jigsaw Group Project"
Wednesday, May 23rd--Group 1/"Lesson 1: The Two Sides" Presentation
Thursday, May 24th--Group 2/group 3
Friday, May 25th--Group 4/Group 5
Monday, May 28th--NO SCHOOL/MEMORIAL DAY :)
Tuesday, May 29th-"Chapter 18: Reconstruction Packet"
Wednesday, May 30th-Continue working on "Chapter 18: Reconstruction Packet"
Thursday, May 31st- Continue working on "Chapter 18: Reconstruction Packet"
Friday, June 1st--LAST DAY OF SCHOOL/END OF YEAR CELEBRATION :)
IMPORTANT DATES:
Current Events are due every other Friday. The next one will be due April 20th. The students are required to find a current event in a newspaper, magazine or on the internet. They need to turn the article in with the current event worksheet found above.
Syllubus
Grading Scale and Weighting (as indicated in the Franklin Academy Campus Guide)
90%-100% = A
80%-89% = B
70%-79% = C
60%-69% = D
59 or below = F
Incomplete = I
Tests—35%
Tests will be administered at the conclusion of each chapter. Each test will have five sections: a map literacy section; a key terms section; an identifications section; a multiple choice section; and an extended response section. Students will be given a study guide a week prior to each test AND an in-class review will occur on the class period before each test.
Quizzes—25%
Quizzes will be announced in advance, typically occurring at the mid-chapter point. Occasionally a project or assignment will be classified as an “alternative assessment” and weighted as a quiz grade. Students will be notified of this in advance. And throughout the school year, students will also have geography quizzes. The United States’ borders and territorial acquisitions were constantly fluctuating during the period in American history that we will be covering, so it is important for students to stay ahead of the changes.
Projects—20%
Projects include “eyewitness” narratives; response activities for class re-enactments and simulation activities; center work; etc. Students will also earn a project grade each quarter for leading a bi-weekly current events discussion. More information will be given about this during the first week of school.
Classwork—20%
Classwork includes day-to-day assignments, such as certain Do Now activities; monthly journal checks; Guided Video Worksheets; and Primary Source Analysis activities.
Supplies:
- 1 notebook (to be used for journaling and note-taking)
- 1 folder
- pencils
- Student Agenda (for recording important dates and notices)
***Art supplies (crayons, markers, colored pencils, construction paper, scissors, glue, and stamps) will be provided. However if you wish to donate to the class, that would be amazing J
Franklin Academy Homework Policy (verbatim from Parent/Student Handbook)
Franklin Academy recognizes the important role that homework plays in the enhancement of a child’s overall education. However, Franklin Academy also recognizes that these benefits must be weighed against legitimate family concerns and desires to have their children participate in after-school activities, religious and family events, as well as much needed leisure and downtime. Studies have shown that any activity, no matter how rewarding, can only be rewarding for a limited time.
Therefore, the Franklin Academy no-homework policy strives to create a balance between the need to give homework and the needs of the family. For these reasons, homework is individualized to meet the specific needs of each student. There are times when, in order to tailor a curriculum that meets each child’s specific needs, teachers may assign individualized reinforcement or extra practice in accordance with a child’s level within the class.
Missing Assignments and Tests Due to Absence (verbatim from Parent/Student Handbook)
All students are expected to make up work missed during an absence. For absences due to (a) illness of student, (b) illness of an immediate family member, (c) death in the family, the absence is excused hence full credit will be awarded as long as the student makes up the work during the appropriate time frame. A student has TWO days to make up the work for each day the student is absent, not including the day of return.
Students who have an unexcused absence will follow the policy for Missing Assignments & Tests due to late work.
Missing Assignments and Tests Due to Late Work (verbatim from Parent/Student Handbook)
All students are expected to make up work missed for any reason. Late work will be graded and 10 points will be deducted from the grade earned for each day it is late, up to five (5) days. Late work submitted after this time frame will receive half-credit (50%) of the grade earned.
Behavior/Rules and Procedures
Posted in my classroom are my “Five Quotes to Live By,” from which our class rules and procedures will be established in collaboration with my students:
RULE #1 – RESPECT: “I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me. . . All I ask is that you RESPECT me as a human being.” – Jackie Robinson
RULE #2 – EFFORT: “Continuous EFFORT – not strength or intelligence – is the key to unlocking your potential.” – Winston Churchill
RULE #3 – PREPARATION: “Before anything else, PREPARATION is the key to success.” – Alexander Graham Bell
RULE #4 – POSITIVE ATTITUDE: “A POSITIVE ATTITUDE is something everyone can work on, and everyone can learn how to employ it.” – Joan Lunden
RULE #5 – ASKING QUESTIONS: “The important thing is not to stop ASKING QUESTIONS. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” – Albert Einstein