Curriculum: 

We follow the Maine Learning Results for Social Studies grades 6-8. I am excited to say we got new textbooks recently. Students will be able to access it online This new format includes many more options to connect technology to our learning. Our textbook is United States History. Holt McDougal, 2017. We also use Achieve 3000 and Junior Scholastic to look at current topics in the news and improve our reading and understanding of the informational text. 

Expectations:

Students are expected to be prepared and engaged in class this includes completing assignments from the previous day or practice work at home. For Remote and Hybrid Learners this means that they are logged on to the google meet at the time class starts. They keep their camera on and microphone when directed. They stay for the whole class period or until the teacher dismisses them. All students are expected to ask and answer questions as well as complete in classwork.

Each student is expected to follow the class charter that we create together. One thing we will be working on is being open to listening to others’ opinions even when they differ from our own. Students will be working in collaborative groups through technology as well as participating in class discussions and debates so this rule is of particular importance.

Practice: 

Most of the work assigned can be complete in class; however, there will be times when the students will need to finish an assignment at home. Students are also expected to review material at home prior to assessments. This year I will be sharing with them several different study strategies in hopes that they find one that will work for them. 

Friday Remote Learning for All: Friday your assignment will be posted in your social studies google classroom by 9 am. You are expected to log in and complete the assignment prior to 2:30 on Friday that it is assigned. 

Grading:

Our grading system is a 4 point scale. I have included at the end of this packet the standards that your child will be working on mastering. The standards are a progression of learning and are developed over time. Students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in all standards by the end of the eighth grade school year.   

Along with the Maine Learning Results students will also be responsible for and be scored on, Habits of Work. They are as follows:

I complete my work on time.

I complete quality work.

I am prepared and organized for learning.

I follow the fish philosophy.

I am accountable for learning.

Projects: These will be scored using a rubric. Rubrics will be handed out for each one and will state the expectation and point values. Below are some examples:

Current event - summary, and opinion

Journaling

Brochures/Pamphlets

Debates

Geography/Map work

Interactive Timeline

Essays

Quick writes

Slideshows/ Posters

Retakes: If a student is not happy with their grade on a test, quiz, or project  they may redo it. Before they can do that they will be required to fix any work that is wrong on a “Fix/Retake” template that I have. Students will then take another quiz or test. This will not be the same quiz/test, but it will be similar.

By Jana Murphy