9th Grade Integrated World Geography/History A



Honors World Studies

9th Grade World Geography/History

Class Overview

Throughout this course, students will investigate crucial concepts of geography and history. This class will integrate standards and skills for both 9th grade Social Studies and 9th grade English. This means that students will be expected to read and write in a variety of ways. Individual and group products from this class will include projects, essays, portfolios, Socratic Seminars, and research. Students will develop research skills, critical thinking skills, and reading and writing skills necessary for success in high school.

Students are expected to be organized and responsible for their learning. We strongly suggest using your MHS planner to keep track of all of your assignments and due dates. Learning does not end when you leave the classroom, so expect to enrich your learning between classes through various homework and project assignments.

Each day students should be prepared to explore, investigate, listen, learn, discuss, read for a purpose and produce quality work. In this class, students will be expected to SHOW what they know! At the end of each unit, there will be a culminating assessment usually in the form of a project.

Instructor

Ms. Rachel Hofmann hofmann_rachel@

!!Must Knows!!

• Cell phones, iPods, other electronics and all food and drink are STICTLY PROHIBITED in the classroom. Water is permitted.

• All students have a school email address and YOU WILL NEED TO KNOW AND BE ABLE TO USE THIS email (google email). Please login and practice using this immediately.

• You will receive important class emails through this email and will also use it to produce many assignments on GoogleDocs.

• You will often be asked to print documents from email or websites. Please arrange and plan time at home or on a library computer to do all of these requirements BEFORE class.

• Organization and responsibility are the keys to success in this class and in high school!

!! Must Haves!!

• 5 subject college ruled spiral notebook 11x9”

• 8-10 glue sticks

• Loose-leaf college rule paper

• Markers, colored pencils

• Pens and pencils to last the school year

• MHS planner

Classroom Wish List

• Tissues

• Markers, colored pencils, crayons etc.

• Scissors

• Hand Sanitizer

• Colored/construction paper

• Tape

• Glue/Glue Sticks

• Dry-erase whiteboard markers

• Pens/pencils

Units of Study

Big History & Early Civilizations

Middle Ages & Renaissance

Africa

Revolutions & Middle East

Cultural Diffusion & Latin America

Contemporary Global Issues & Human Rights

Grading

The grading scale used in both the English and Social Studies departments will be based on a ten-point scale:

9-10 = A

8 = B

7 = C

6 = D

5 and below = F

The class is divided into three grading categories:

1. 40% Learning Activities (LAs)—Learning activities can best be defined as those assignments that are not considered assessments or homework. This includes, but is not limited to warm up’s, paragraph writing, short constructed responses, quick writes, worksheets, vocabulary lists, group assignments, partner assignments, quizzes, reading quizzes, etc.

2. 60% Assessments—Assessments include projects, unit tests, end of semester tests, essays, etc. Basically, the assessment will cover the entirety of a topic of study and signifies some form of closure on one topic with the intent to begin the next topic. Assessments are where students will demonstrate and apply their learning and therefore are the largest part of the overall grade.

Grading Policies:

(Reassessment: If a student receives a grade of 6 or lower on a test or assessment, she/he is subject to reassessment on that particular assignment. PLEASE NOTE THAT REASSESSMENT IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE INSTRUCTOR. THE DETERMINATION TO REASSESS A STUDENTS’ WORK IS DEPENDENT UPON FACTORS SUCH AS EFFORT, MOTIVATION, ATTITUDE, AND UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE NOT MANAGEABLE BY A STUDENT.

(Late work: All work is expected to be on time. Failure to do so results in a reduction to 50% credit.

• For late LEARNING ACTIVITIES and HOMEWORK students will have until the following Friday to turn in late work for 50%. After this window, a score of zero will be given for the assignment.

• For late ASSESSMENTS students will have two full weeks after the due date to turn in for 50% credit. After this 2 week window, a score of zero will be given for the assignment.

**NOTE—Half credit or 50% is the BEST possible grade for all late assignments/assessments. If work lacks quality or quantity students may receive a lower grade than 50%.

Classroom Rules

1. Be in your seat when the bell rings. There are no exceptions to this rule and students may be subject to point loss for missing warm-up exercises as the result of their tardiness.

2. Come to class prepared. You will always need a pen or pencil and your class binder. You will not be allowed to go to your locker to get something you have forgotten.

3. Politeness and respectful approaches is expected at all times.

4. Cheating or plagiarizing of assignments or tests will not be tolerated. Anyone caught in the act will be given a zero on the assignment or assessment. Under certain circumstances, more than one party involved may also be given a zero. This includes internet plagiarism.

5. If you are absent, you are responsible for the work you have missed. Please meet with your instructor immediately following an absence to prevent receiving a zero on missed work.

6. All classroom materials are to be handled with care. Most of the materials used are the school’s property or my own. Please be respectful of the materials you are using.

7. Do not write on desks, chairs, walls, bulletin boards, white boards, books, or classroom materials. If caught doing so, you will clean or replace materials.

DUE DATE________________________

9th Grade World Studies Student-Parent-Teacher Contract

By signing this form, all parties acknowledge that they have read the course syllabus and understand what content is to be covered, the grading scale, the late work policy and the classroom expectations.

PARENTAL PERMISSION TO VIEW VIDEOS-Throughout the school year, various clips, documentaries and movies may be shown in order to enhance the students’ knowledge and understanding of world history. These materials may have a rating higher than G and, at times, include adult themes and language.  All materials will be selected with clear academic goals in mind. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email. Please check your preferences relating to these materials below. If this is not signed, your child will not participate in watching and will be given an alternate assignment in the library.

______  Yes, my child has permission to view these materials in their world history class.

______   No, my child does not have permission to view these materials.

PLEASE RETURN BY:____________________________

.

STUDENT NAME (please print)

STUDENT SIGNATURE

PARENT NAME (please print)

PARENT SIGNATURE

TEACHER SIGNATURE

NOTE TO PARENTS/GUARDIANS

It is important to have the support of parents throughout the learning process. Please regularly ask your child about what they are learning at school. Students will often have homework assignments so please inquire about these as well as provide an appropriate place and time for students to complete their work.

If you have any questions or concerns, we encourage you to contact us at anytime. Email is the quickest, easiest way to communicate, but you also have the option to call.

Finally, we would appreciate you telling us a little bit about your student. What are their strengths and weaknesses? What type of learner do you perceive them to be? Is there anything we should know that may better help us serve your student? Please use the rest of this sheet and the back to explain.

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