Syllabus
Dear Parents/Guardians,
I want to take this opportunity to welcome you and your child to a new school year! I am very happy to have your child in my classroom. I believe that by all of us working together, we can make this a very successful year. I consider it of prime importance that you be an active part of your child's education. My role is to provide the highest quality education possible. The mission of Honea Path Middle School is to inspire lifelong learners and responsible citizen in a diverse world. (abridged)
Your students will be exploring South Carolina history through traditional classroom instruction and project-based learning.
Why use Project-Based Learning?
Project-based learning is a dynamic approach to teaching in which students explore real-world problems and challenges. With this type of active and engaged learning, students are inspired to obtain a deeper knowledge of the subjects they're studying. My class will be addressing our 8th grade social studies standards.
Why is project learning important?
"One of the major advantages of project work is that it makes school more like real life. In real life, we don't spend several hours at a time listening to authorities who know more than we do and who tell us exactly what to do and how to do it. We need to be able to ask questions of a person we're learning from. We need to be able to link what the person is telling us with what we already know. And we need to be able to bring what we already know and experiences we've had that are relevant to the topic to the front of our minds and say something about them."
"You see this with a young class of learners who've not yet learned classroom behavior. Little kindergarten children all raise their hands at once, and you're lucky if they raise their hands. Usually they just break out and say something when the teacher tells a story about her experience because they want to share their experiences. This is how life is much of the time. And it's not that when children are doing that they're not learning. They want to be able to apply their natural tendencies to the learning process. And I think by giving children project work, we open up areas during the school day when children can speak about what they already know, when they can ask questions, they can express interests that are different from [those of] other children. And, I believe, where they can work on their strengths."
Read the full Edutopia.org interview with Sylvia Chard(3).
Course Syllabus
Description – “The focus for social studies in grade eight is the story of the history of South Carolina and the role that the state and its people have played in the development of the United States as a nation. Students learn about the state’s development during colonial times and the growth of the American ideal, which led to the break with England, the rising controversy about slavery, and the Civil War. The study of the rebuilding of South Carolina after the Civil War and the continuing struggle for civil rights and justice waged by the people of South Carolina allows students to see the progress that the state has made and to appreciate the contributions that its people have made to the nation as a whole.”
Grading
Anderson School District Two Middle School Grading Policy
Percentages
Middle Schools
45% major (with at least three grades per quarter)
30% quiz (with at least 4 quizzes per quarter)
25% daily grades
Zeros for Assignments
Allow zeros in the gradebook for assignments for all 4 nine weeks. Teachers will use the placeholder "2" for missing assignments.
Lowest Grade Entered for Quarter Grades
For quarterly grades, the lowest grade entered will be a 50 for Q1 with true grades for the following quarters.
Retakes
Students will not be allowed to take retakes in Advanced Placement Courses or high school honors, unless approved by the teacher. Students can retake 2 major assessments (tests only) per nine weeks, per course in high school CP and middle school regular and honors courses. At the discretion of the teacher, students can retake additional assessments.
Teachers will take the highest grade after the retake.
Students must complete the corrective action within 5 class periods to be able to retake the assessment.
Missing or Late Work
Missing or late work penalties must be consistent across grade level or department. Teachers will use the placeholder "2" for missing assignments. Consideration should be given for behavior incidents instead of dropping grades for missing or late work.
Topics –Social Studies
South Carolina Geography
First People
Exploration and Colonization
American Revolution
Early National Period
Antebellum Period
Civil War
Reconstruction
Conservatives, Populist, and Progressives
20th Century (First Half)
20th Century (Second Half)
End of Year Review and Current Events
1st Nine Weeks
South Carolina Geography
First People
Exploration and Colonization
American Revolution
2nd Nine Weeks
Early National Period
Antebellum Period
Civil War
3rd Nine Weeks
Reconstruction
Conservatives, Populist, and Progressives
20th Century (First Half)
4th Nine Weeks
20th Century (Second Half)
End of Year Review Review and Current Events
Parent–teacher communication is vital to the success of your child. My classroom is always open for you to come and visit (No Visitation Until Further Notice). I encourage you to visit the following locations to keep up-to-date with your student’s learning experience.
Student’s Personal Agenda
Email mterry@asd2.org
Google Classroom
Remind
Newsletter
HPMS Phone
If you wish to schedule a conference, please contact the school @ 864-369-7641 . If you have any questions, please feel to contact me @ 864-369-7641 or mterry@asd2.org. , I will get back in touch with you within 24 hours.
Respectfully,
Michelle Terry
8th Social Studies – South Carolina History