Syllabus

6th Grade Social Studies

Ian Evans

Room C215

Email: eva021490@adams12.org

COURSE DESCRIPTION

6th Grade Social Studies will be paced to cover all of the Adams 12 Units of Study derived from the Colorado Academic Standards. In addition to the Colorado Academic Standards, Social Studies will support English-Language Arts (ELA) Common Core Standards when applicable. More information about the Colorado Academic Standards and the Common Core Standards can be found here:

http://www.cde.state.co.us/cosocialstudies/statestandards

http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/RH/6-8

Instructional Sequence for 6th grade Social Studies:

Unit 1: Map Skills/Geography of Western Hemisphere

Unit 2: First Nations (Inuits and Native Peoples in North America)

Unit 3: Ancient America (Aztecs, Inca, and Maya)

Unit 4: Conquest & Colonization

Unit 5: Revolutions & Post Colonization

Unit 6: Contemporary Study of the Western Hemisphere

****VERY IMPORTANT-PLEASE READ****

ASSESSING STUDENT PROGRESS

Westlake Middle School communicates student achievement levels based upon standards. We do not assign letter grades, but proficiency levels. Factors such as attendance, behavior, and attitude will be reported separately.

Westlake Middle School is implementing Standards-Based-Grading (SBG). Students will receive a mark (1-4) regarding their progress toward the achievement of individual content standards. The marks will be based primarily on summative assessment data; however, formative data/evidence will also be utilized to determine student progress toward achievement of the standards and the mark in each particular standard. Grades/marks will not be determined by the averaging of scores.

For complete SBG information, please visit: http://www.adams12.org/student_learning/standards_based_grading

Social Studies has 5 “Gradebook Reporting Criteria” (GRC’s) that directly correspond to the Adams 12 Units of Study and Colorado Academic Standards. They are:

- History

- Geography

- Economics

- Civics

- Connected Content Literacy Standards

In each of the GRC’s students will receive multiple marks. Using trend data, teachers will determine a final mark (at the end of the semester) based on the following scale for each of the GRC’s:

4 = Advanced Understanding of the Standard

3 = Meets the Standard

2 = Approaches the Standard

1 = Does Not Meet the Standard

**A Sample GRC RUBRIC CAN BE FOUND AT THE END OF THIS SYLLABUS**

Sample Gradebook (or Body of Evidence):

*Please note that most assignments will include a rubric with specific criteria/descriptions on how a student will be assessed.

**Assignments will vary in which standards they are actually assessing (why there are blanks in some boxes)

WESTLAKE RETAKE POLICY

Whenever possible/practical, students should be given multiple opportunities to demonstrate their current level of understanding and mastery of standards. Multiple opportunities may mean the retaking of a summative assessment on which the student has not demonstrated proficiency. However, it may also mean that a particular concept can be reassessed later in the unit, as small formatives within the unit, or in another unit as part of a spiraling learning process without the actual retaking of an assessment.

Students are eligible for a retake on most assessments, provided they meet the following:

1. The student participates in a form of relearning decided upon by the teacher. Additional learning may be required of the student, as well as additional instruction from the teacher.

2. The student has completed all required and associated formative course work.

3. The student has not demonstrated understanding at a proficient level (3 or higher).

*Students will not be allowed to “redo” or “retake” a summative assessment such as products, projects, extended writing assessments, etc. that have periodic formative checkpoints leading to the summative assessment.

TIMELINE FOR RETAKE

Students must complete retakes no later than two weeks following the receipt of summative assessment results and/or within two weeks of unit completion.

REPLACEMENT OF MARK

The mark on a retake will not replace the original mark; however, it will be used as another piece of data when analyzing the body of evidence before assigning an overall mark on the report card.

LATE WORK POLICY (EXCUSED ABSENCES)

In accordance with Superintendent Policy 6281, students shall be given a period of at least the same number of days they were absent, plus one additional day to make up the assignments. For example, if the student misses two days of school, the student would be allowed to have 3 days to make up the work. The make-up period begins on the next school day following the absence.

COMMUNICATION

Infinite Campus (IC) is the student management system Adams Twelve Five Star Schools uses to manage teachers’ gradebooks, student attendance, student schedules, etc. The system has a component called the “Parent Portal” that allows parents to see their student’s grades LIVE at any time and on any given day. To access the portal, please see the counseling office for a Parent Portal Agreement form; complete it and return it to the counseling office. Upon receipt, parents will be issued access information.

If you had a login and password for IC last year, it will continue to work this year. If you do not remember your login and password, please contact our school registrar in the counseling department. Also, please be sure your current email address is on file. If it has changed, please send an email from the new email address to our registrar in the counseling department and request your student’s record be updated.

Parents/guardians will be notified if there are concerns about student progress toward the achievement of standards or if a significant change occurs in student performance. This contact will be made providing sufficient time to correct issues. This notice may be in the form of a personal conference, telephone conversations, a weekly email update concerning the student’s grade, and/or by means of a written report sent home with the student to the parent/guardian.

CLASSROOM AGENDA/ASSIGNMENTS/WEBSITE

On the school website under each core link, each teacher has a website link to keep students and parents informed of daily agenda, homework and project assignments, and upcoming events or announcements.

Website: https://sites.google.com/a/adams12.org/eagle-phoenix-ss-hw-site/english-1

CONTACT INFORMATION

The best way to contact teachers is through email or voicemail. Teachers will return phone calls or emails within 24-48 hours. I will do my best to respond within 24 hours. Students can meet with me during lunch on Thursdays for help or to make up work. Students and parents can also meet with me by appointment.

- Ian.Evans@Adams12.org

- (720)972-3186

BEHAVIOR

Students will be expected to follow The Westlake Way at all times.

Be Kind.

Be Respectful.

Be Invested.

Please see additional Core/Teacher handouts for specific behavior expectations and classroom procedures.

RUBRIC FOR 6th SS ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS RESEARCH PROJECT