Mr. Montgomery 2011-2012
The Purpose of
this Course
This course
is designed to provide students with an introduction to the history of
Grades and
Assignments
Each quarter we will cover 2-3 units of material. Each unit will cover 1-4 chapters. The grade for each of the chapters will be averaged together to form the quarter grade. The students will be given a list of assignments and will then choose how to complete the required amount based on a series of options.
Homework
The first day we focus on a new chapter we will go over what we already know about the material, preview it, and then start to read. They will be given the period to read and many will finish the entire chapter. They will then complete either the section questions, nightly, chapter review or complete a series of projects. They may work ahead but are expected to stay up to date with the assignments sheet provided to them. The assignment list is also available on the website.
Unit Tests
Tests will be given at the end of unit. My main goal is to assess how well the students understand the themes of history and recognize historical patterns. The focus of these assessments will not be a recitation of facts, but instead a clear understanding of why we study world history and why it is relevant to the world today.
Wiki
We will be working together as a class to collect and synthesize the information available on the different countries that we are studying. Each student will have a page on the class Wiki to put their work. The class will also have page where we collaborate.
Projects
For most units students will complete a project. Students will receive several choices of how to show what they learned on the topic. While students are working on the project, there will not be any additional homework.
Notebooks
Each student will keep a notebook to complete daily activities and take notes. The notes that the students complete will form the basis of the test questions.
The grading scale will be:
A+ 97-100%
A 93-96%
A- 90-92%
B+ 87-89%
B 83-86%
B- 80-82%
C+ 77-79%
C 73-76%
C- 70-72%
D+ 67-69%
D 63-66%
D- 60-62%
F 59 or below
Technology
The web address for this class is: http://roycemoreschool.org/teacher/montgomery. Students will receive a written description of the requirements for each unit. This website contains a link to the publisher of the class textbook at http://www.mhschool.com/socialstudies/2003/student/level1.php?isbn=0021492670. The publisher's website has self-check quizzes that can be taken online and lists many useful links for the topics covered in each chapter. Students will post some of their work on the 5th Grade Wiki page at http://roycemore5thgradehistorywiki.wikispaces.com/. The blog for all of Mr. Montgomery's classes is at http://andymoteach.edublogs.org/. The blog will provide updates about what is going on in the class and homework updates.
Expectations
Students are expected to bring their textbooks, notebooks, folders, homework, and additional handouts to class, and to be prepared for class discussions and activities. Students are expected to follow the rules and procedures for the class and to follow the Roycemore School Code of Conduct.
Differentiation
Students will be challenged to do their best in this class. This may mean that there are different expectations for different students. If you feel the class is too hard, please let me know. If you feel the class is too easy please let me know.
Quarterly Calendar
1st Quarter
Unit 1: The Peopling of the Western Hemisphere & Native Americans
Unit 2: The Age of Exploration, Contact and Exploration & The Settlement of North
2nd Quarter
Unit 3: Establishment of the 13 English Colonies, Life in the Colonies, & European
Rivalries in
Unit 4: Breaking
Ties with
of the
Unit 5: The Young
3rd Quarter
Unit 6: Slavery Divides the Nation & the Civil War and Reconstruction
Unit 7: The Changing West & The Nation is Industrialized
4th Quarter
Unit 8: Good Times and Hard Times & A Changing World
Unit 9: Our Neighbors