Teaching

I am teaching SC History, 8th Grade Social Studies. If you have any specific questions about course topics, feel free to email me, and I will respond as soon as possible.

SC History

Course Description:  This is a year-long course that will cover the history of South Carolina and the role that the state and its people played in the development of the United States as a nation. It will focus on the state's political, economic, social, and geographical features.

Textbook: Gibbs Smith- South Carolina: A. Journey (the online textbook is in Classlink)

Topics to Be Covered (Dates may be subject to change):

Chapter 1:  Native Americans and Early Encounters  Aug 4th-   Sep 5th

Chapter 2:  A Place Called Carolina                           Sep 8th-   Oct 2nd

Chapter 3:  South Carolina and the American Rev.    Oct 13th-  Nov 7th

Chapter 4:  Antebellum South Carolina                     Nov 10th-  Dec 18th

END OF FIRST SEMESTER AND MID-TERM TEST ON CHAPTERS 1-4 

Chapter 5:  A Nation Divided                                   Jan 10th-   Jan 29th

Chapter 6:  South Carolina and the New South        Jan 30th-  Feb 7th

Chapter 7:  Conflict and Challenge                           Mar 2nd-   Mar 27th

Chapter 8:  Turbulence and Change                          Mar 30th-  Apr 30th

Chapter 9:  Modern South Carolina                          May 4th-     May 22

END OF YEAR FINAL EXAM ON ALL CHAPTERS MAY 17, 2026

Constitutional Law Handbook Pilot Program

Course Description:  This pilot program has been approved by DCSD and Dr. James for implementation in my classroom. The handbook which is part of the pilot program is a Highly Qualified Instructional Material (HQIM) produced by the University of South Carolina's Joseph F. Rice School of Law. The South Carolina Social Studies College- and Career-Ready Standards emphasize the study of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, Constitutional amendments, and the role of the judicial system throughout the 8th Grade curriculum. This curriculum will be intentionally integrated with the 8th Grade South Carolina English Language Arts Standards to develop disciplinary literacy through reading, writing, speaking, listening, and inquiry. 

There will be a Pre-Test given in August, and then a Post-Test given in May to measure student growth using these materials as part of the pilot program process. The assessment questions will come from the district-approved benchmark for 8th Grade Social Studies. Students will also be submitting writing samples throughout the year as part of the process. There will be one major project where students will have to research and debate a court case we have learned about and show how the findings apply to their own life. 

Supplies:

1. 3- Subject Notebook with pockets

2. Pencils /pens (blue or black ink only)

3. Highlighters

4. Headphones/earbuds

5. Colored pencils

6. Stick glue and scissors

7. * Our classroom can always use tissue, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and copy paper

Grading:

Students are expected to do their best. It is the responsibility of the student to complete assignments and to keep up with the note-taking. The teacher will follow the scale set forth by the Darlington County School District.

A=100-90|B=89-80/C=79-70|D=69-70|F=59-Below

Mastery Checks=25%|Class Performance=45%|Assessments=35%

Parent Communication: 

The main method of communication will be School Status Connect. It is an app you can download, or access in your student's Classlink. All communication through the app will go to the email on file you registered with in Power School. 

I am also available via district email: annalisa.smith@darlington.k12.sc.us