Dear Parents/Guardians,

 

 

My name is Amanda Weber and I will be guiding your student through World History. Throughout this year, we’ll be taking a look at several historical concepts and how these help us to understand how people live around the world both yesterday and today. We’ll also look at the impact of historical periods from the time of Pre-History to the events currently happening around the world today.

 

This is a very large time period to cover in a year therefore we will be focusing on those objectives outlined by the State of Arizona  Department of Education that are summarized on the back of this page or can be found online at:

 

http://www.ade.az.gov/standards/sstudies/articulated/SSHighSchool.pdf

 

Please read the following packet of information that I will be covering in class with your child. This will help them to be successful this year.

 

I would like to thank you in advance for your support and proactive involvement in your child’s education. I am looking forward to a terrific year!

 

If you have any questions, please contact me:

·        PHONE:(480) 472-9963; the best time to reach me is before school. However if you get my voice mail please leave a message and I will make every effort to review your questions or concerns and get back to you.

 

·        E-MAIL:  asweber@mpsaz.org

 

·        CLASS WEBSITE:   http://teacherweb.com/AZ/SmithJuniorHigh/Weber

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Amanda Weber

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Course Description:  World History/Geography is the first course in the High School Social Studies Program.  This course is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge to understand the major concepts, characteristics, events, and people of modern history.  The course will include an overview of western civilization, economic and political developments, geographic concepts, belief systems, and cultural contributions from the time of the Ancient Greeks to the present.  Study will be based upon the district curriculum and basic skills proposed by the State of Arizona. 

 

1^st Semester Course Timeline:

Historical Skills, River Civilizations, World Religions, Ancient Greece, Rome, and Byzantium, Medieval Europe and Asia, Renaissance and Reformation, and the Age of Exploration.  In addition, as this is a presidential election year, we will also be studying issues relevant to the election. 

 

INSTRUCTIONAL Materials Used:

Textbook:  World History: Patterns of Interaction published by McDougal Littell. 

 

Newspaper:  Students will be using copies of articles from various newspapers, magazines, and websites in class in order to practice and improve both reading skills and knowledge of current world events.

 

Internet:  Students will be given the opportunity to use the internet in class while researching information for class assignments and projects.

 

Videos:  Students will be viewing videos, or segments of videos, in class that are selected from the following collection: World History and Cultures, Ancient Egypt:  Quest for Immortality, Geography: Yesterday and Today, Guns, Germs, and Steel, Golden Age of Greece, Hercules, Golden Age of Rome, Roman City, Ben Hur, Julius Caesar: The Battle of Alesia, Spartacus, Alexander (edited), Gladiator (edited), Terrorism: National Geographic, Inside 9/11,. United 93 (edited), Faith and Belief: Five Major World Religions, Islam: Empire of Faith, 30 Days: Islam, The Bubonic Plague, Medieval Foot Soldier, Feudalism: Lords and Vassals, The Inquisition, The Last Samurai (edited), Braveheart (edited),  The De Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance, Luther, Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel, The Renaissance, Kingdom of Heaven (edited), The Mission (edited), Joan of Arc, The Knights Templar, Crusades, Mysteries of the Maya, The Road to El Dorado, Amistad (edited)  Please be aware that due to the nature of the current events component of the class, students will also be viewing segments of news reports from mainstream media such as CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, and BBC.

 

 

Please be aware that students will not be watching EACH of these videos, this is a list from which in class videos will be selected.  If you would like to preview these videos, most are available from the public library or from a video rental store.  If needed, I will also be happy to arrange a time for you to view the school copy. 

 

If you would prefer that your student not watch a particular video, please contact me.

 

Please sign and date this bottom portion of this page and have your child return it to me no later than Monday, August 18, 2008.

By signing you indicate that you have read the Information in the following packet about Mrs. Weber’s World History Class. And give your child permission to watch all movies in my class; unless otherwise noted below. 

 

Student Name:___________________________________________________________________

 

Parent/Guardian Signature:________________________________________________________

 

Parent Guardian NAME (please print): _______________________________________________

 

Comments:

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Mrs. Weber’s Classroom Expectations

 

BEHAVIOR:

My discipline plan has been adopted from our school-wide discipline plan 

·        Smith Jr. High also has a no gum, tardies, food/drink policy

o       Consequences for violations of this policy are as follows:

§        1^st offense – 30 minute detention

§        If detention not served it is doubled to 60 minutes

§        If detention is then not served a referral for defiance is submitted to the office, and the assistant principal will be issuing consequences. 

·        Smith’s Skills for Success: TRUTH, TRUST, RESPECT, ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT, and PERSONAL BEST.

o       When the Skills for Success are not followed then Smith has outlined consequences I follow:

§        1^st Time   – Verbal Warning and Student conference with Teacher

§        2^nd Time  –  Detention (15 minutes) and parent contact

§        3^rd Time   – Detention (30 minutes) and parent contact

§        4^th Time   – Detention (60 minutes) and parent contact

§        5^th Time   – Referral to the Office

§        6^th Time and Above – All discipline will be handled through the office as outlined in your student’s planner

·        Profanity = an immediate removal by security to the office.  Smith has a zero tolerance for Profanity

·        Student’s who choose not to work in class will be removed from the classroom and have increasing consequences up to Friday School.

·        I reserve the right to call home at any time and to refer severe disciplinary problems to the administration immediately

 

GRADING:

·        All class work, projects, homework, tests and quizzes will be based on a total points system where points earned will be divided by total points possible to get a percentage.  Your student will continue to acquire points through the entire semester. 

·        Tests, quizzes and projects will be worth more points and therefore hold more weight in your child’s grade.

·        A grade for this class will be placed in your child’s planner every Friday.  Please ask your child for their planner every week to keep up with their grade progress.

·        5 Participation points will be awarded each Semester.  Students will earn Participation points by:

o       Bringing their planner and materials to class every day

o       Having reading materials

o       Staying on task during instruction and work time.

·        Extra Credit will be occasionally available.

·        I use a standard based grading system                  

90-100%             A

80-89%               B

70-79%               C

60-69%               D

Below 60%          F

·        Any student whose grade falls to a 65% or below will be placed in F.A.N.G. (F’s are not good), our remediation program, (refer to your son or daughters planner for more information). 

 

TESTS and QUIZZES:

Unit tests will be given at the end of each unit (approximately every 2-3 weeks) with smaller quizzes given during each unit to check for student understanding prior to the larger unit test.  Cheating on quizzes and test will not be tolerated.  Choosing to talk or cheat during a test means you are choosing to receive a ZERO on the quiz or test.

 

CLASSWORK, HOMEWORK, and PROJECTS:

Classwork, homework and projects will be assigned regularly.   Usually Homework is classwork or projects that have not been completed in class.  Students will be given AMPLE class time to complete projects and classwork. 

·        Students are expected to produce quality work; completely finished, the best that they can do, and on time.  

·        NO LATEWORK will be accepted without a late-pass (2 late-passes per semester).

 

MAKE-UP WORK:

·        ***Make-up work will be accepted only when a student has an excused absence***

·        The student will be given 2 days for every one-day of excused absence.

·        It is the students responsibility to make-up their work.

o       See Mrs. Weber or check online for your make-up work

 

MATERIALS:

I suggest you bring the following EACH day to class:

·        Your Planner

·        Anything that may be due that day

·        A good supply of paper

·        Pens and pencils

·        Your 3-ring binder with a section marked for World History

·        OPTIONAL – box of colored pencils.  These come in handy for the variety of projects you’ll be doing.