2026-2027 School Year Syllabus
Walters Middle School
Special Day Class Language Arts and Social Studies
Contact Information:
Teacher: Mr. Adam Hoverter
Email: ahoverter@fusdk12.net
Phone: 510-656-7211 ext. 28028
Course Outline:
Language Arts:
In Language Arts, students will be working to develop their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. Lessons will be designed to develop critical thinking skills. Students will work to apply these skills in real world situations, while working towards the state standards and their IEP goals.
Social Studies:
In Social Studies, students will be studying World History. Topics covered this year include The Roman and Byzantine Empires, Life in Medieval Christendom, Struggle In Medieval Europe, The Islamic World and South Asia, Civilizations of East Asia and Southeast Asia, Civilizations of the Americas, African Civilizations, The Renaissance and Reformation, Global Convergence, and Absolutism and Enlightenment. Students will be exploring these topics through individual and group work, class projects, lectures and student presentations.
Homework Policy:
Students will not be assigned homework on a regular basis. Students may need to complete assignments from class on their own time if they struggle to utilize their time wisely during class. Additional homework will be provided upon request by students, parents or guardians.
Grading Policy:
Students will receive a weekly grade, usually posted on Fridays. Grades will be based on student effort and achievement on classwork, participation, and assessments. A grade for behavior will appear on Aeries, however per board policy, behavior will not factor into a student’s grade. The weekly behavior grade is intended to be a form of communication to parents and guardians regarding the choices their child is making in class. The information below details how each grading category is weighted.
Classwork: 80%
Behavior: 0%
Participation: 10%
Assessments: 10%
Student Expectations/The Warrior Way
Show Respect
Be Responsible
Be Ready to Learn
Consequences:
I firmly believe students must be positively engaged in class to successfully access the curriculum and progress in their academic skills. I will work to understand a student’s perspective and solve issues that come up during class. If a student displays inappropriate behavior and/or makes poor choices, they will be given a warning to stop that behavior and make better decisions. If the student continues the behavior, I will follow Walters Middle School’s progressive discipline procedures. I will contact families to ensure important information is communicated in a timely manner. If a student has repeated issues with behavior, I will be happy to meet with families and the IEP team to develop a plan to help all students succeed in my class.
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