Ms. DeMaio's Classroom

Social Studies ~ Team Hybrid

Room 309

Teaching Philosophy:

There is a place for every student in my classroom. My goal is to help each student be successful this year both inside and outside of the classroom. I want to help them understand new content and develop historical skills, but I also want to ensure that they have a fun, meaningful year at CMS. I hope to establish my classroom as a safe space where students feel comfortable coming to me both with academic and non-academic questions and/or concerns. No two students are the same and not every student learns the same way, but every student matters in my classroom. We will learn from each other's differing opinions and perspectives and celebrate the differences within our classroom community. Throughout the year we will work together to learn about history, about the current world, and about each other.

Why is it important to teach Social Studies?

Although history is known to be the study of the past, it is living all around us and being created every day by the actions we take. No other discipline offers the insight on human relationships and connections that social studies does. It gives us the unique opportunity to connect with and better understand each other. Everyone has a history—it is your heritage, your story, and your self-creation. We are creating the history of tomorrow, and that is a pretty empowering idea. The events that happen in our lifetime could be in history textbooks decades from now. We are writing our own histories everyday by the actions we take, and that is what social studies is all about! In order to understand what is happening in the present, and to enact change, it is important for students to analyze and understand the past. Social studies not only teaches important content, but also develops important skills and prepares students to be informed participants in society and citizens of the world.

Expectations:

1. Be Kind, Be You. This classroom should be a welcoming and inclusive space where everyone matters and feels comfortable being themselves. All students should be respectful to each other, the teacher, the classroom, and beyond that make an extra effort to spread kindness.

2. Open Mind. It is important that students keep an open mind as we learn about new topics this year and regions of the world that we might not be familiar with. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and we will respect each other and choose to celebrate our differences.

3. Growth Mindset. It’s okay to not understand or not perfect a skill right away, that is what learning and practice is for! It’s okay to try and fail, but first you have to try! Mistakes are allowed, believe in the power of yet!

Students will be held to all school expectations and rules in addition to these classroom expectations.

Materials Needed

Pencil & Pen
Highlighter
Markers/Colored Pencils/Crayons
Laptop (can be a school issued chromebook or personal device)
Spiral Notebook
Folder OR Binder (personal preference to hold papers)
Headphones/Earbuds

Grades

Each quarter grades will be determined using a total points system. The larger the amount of points an assignment is worth, the bigger the impact on the student grade. The final grade for the year will be determined by averaging together all four quarters.

Assignments may include but are not limited to:

Essays Homework

Projects Classwork

Tests Quizzes

Open-Note Quizzes Presentations

Debate Participation

Mastery-Based Philosophy

I have a mastery-based philosophy in my classroom. This means that students' grades will accurately refect their mastery of social studies skills or content. This approach emphasizes the process as well as the final product. For example, in a longer term assignment such as a project or essay, there will be multiple opportunities for me to provide feedback to students and for them to revise, edit, and adjust their work accordingly before submitting a final product to be graded. What this looks like in the gradebook itself, is that my class often has fewer graded assignments than other classes. Also, indicated in the grade book will be feedback, formative assessments, and habits of work grades that will be designated as "not included in final grade." This means that these grades act as feedback to students, but are not calculated into the final grade for the class.

Redo/Retake Policy

The mastery-based approach emphasizes the importance of teacher feedback and revision work. Therefore, there are opportunities for students to redo work or retake assignments throughout this course. Students are encouraged to take new risks and try various approaches while finding study strategies and work habits that are successful for them. It is also meant to reflect accurate mastery of social studies skills and content--if a student works hard to learn something they did not understand the first time, their grade should reflect that growth. This policy is based on teacher discretion and typically requires students to meet with me to reflect on their first approach, brainstorm alternate strategies, receive teacher feedback, and agree upon a deadline for the resubmission of work.

Extra Help

I am happy to meet with any students who feel they need extra help or have additional questions. There is no such thing as a dumb question! Email works best for quick questions or I am available after school or during flex time by appointment.

Homework Policy

This class will adhere to the CMS Homework Policy. (http://www.cantonschools.org/filestorage/148/176/4902/%236154_Homework.pdf) Students will have a homework assignment most nights and should be completed diligently. Some assignments will be graded while others will be used to formatively assess student understanding.

Assignments

All assignments will be explained in class and posted on this site on either the Grade 7 or Grade 8 Homework page. Additionally, students will have access to assignments on Google Classroom. Each class section will have a different Google Classroom page.

Absences

Any student who is absent is responsible for making up any work missed. There will be a folder located in the classroom where students can find extra copies of work they missed. Additionally, students may come to me with any questions they have. Students should notify me of any absences they know of in advance.

Technology

Students must adhere to the school policies for RAUT and BYOD. Per the school-wide cell phone policy, cell phones should be off and away during the school day. Students should bring a laptop to class each day whether it is a school issued chromebook or a personal device. There will be designated times where students will be using these devices in class. On occasion I may ask that an assignment be handwritten. This will be clearly communicated to students.

Academic Dishonesty

Students are expected to submit their own work. Cheating and submitting dishonest work is unacceptable. The school policy on academic dishonesty will be followed.

*Note: This information will be reviewed with students in the first days of school.

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