Social Studies with Mr. Collins: What I Need To Know


Click on the following topics to see common questions and important answers about how our language arts classroom will operate this year!

Materials
Grading
Assignment Due Dates/Late Work
School Work At Home
Class Conduct Norms
Routines and Procedures Norms
Textbook and Resources
Leaving the Room/Restroom
Schoology
Apple Classroom
Current Events
Behaviors that Support Learning

What materials do I need to be prepared for class each day?

You MUST bring these each day:

  • iPad which has been charged at home the night before

  • A pen or pencil

  • Folder or binder to keep any handouts you might receive

  • Earbud style headphones that you plug in (if there is an issue getting some, please reach out to me through as Schoology message)

You MIGHT also be bring the following if you choose:

  • A spiral notebook if you prefer to take some notes on paper

  • Color pencils or crayon, scissors, pencil sharpener, etc. (I won't always have the materials you might want, so bring what you like)


How will I be graded in class?

I do not use a category system with weights. Instead I use a Total Points System. Please note in the example below, the sample is using Language Arts assignments. Calculating the grade remains the same.

This might be the first time you have experienced this, so please click here for a couple of slides that illustrate this type of grading. The examples should help you understand how grading works a little better. Reach out to me with any questions!

How do assignment due dates work and do you accept late work?

Here are some important points to consider about assignments and due dates this year:

  • Unless there is an emergency or if you are sick, I expect you to turn in any work that's due by the date given on Schoology. If something is preventing you from completing your work I would like us to talk about it, so please send me a message.

  • For certain assignments, you will have the option to revise your work and to resubmit. I will let you know ahead of time of this is an option.

  • If you are absent please use the Daily Learning Plan to stay up to date as much as you can. Before asking about what you missed, please review the DLP.

Do you give homework?

Not usually. I expect that you I try to give more than enough time in class for students to complete all assignments. If you fall behind for some reason, it's possible work started in class could become homework. It is also possible that you might consider studying for a test or a quiz homework as well.

What are the expectations for behavior and conduct in class?

All students are expected to follow the Howell Township Schools Policies outlined in the student handbook.

Students in class have created the following norms we will follow during the 2022-2023 school-year:

In our classroom…

…students are focused and prepared to learn 

…it is quiet when it’s time to focus 

….students and teachers take turns speaking and help each other

…the teacher moves around to offer help to students who need it

…lights off and music playing may help with focus at certain times

…a mixture of different kinds of learning activities help students learn

…a mix between individual, partner, and group activities help students learn

In our classroom we show consideration for each other by… 

… listening closely to what others have to say 

…thinking about what we will say before we say it 

…waiting our turn to speak when someone else is speaking

…assisting other students when they are having trouble with a task 

…being respectful and tolerant of the different opinions and perspectives others may have

How do you run the class? What routines will I follow each day?

Classroom Routines

  • We enter the class, open the DLP, and immediately get begin the “Starter”

  • We observe the three modes of learning: Teacher Led, Student Collaboration, and Independent. Lights are used by the board to let you know what kind of learning we are doing.

  • We make mindful choices about when and why we leave the room during class (Translation: if you go to the bathroom every day but it's only when we are not working with partners or doing something "hard" then you probably aren't going to the bathroom)

  • When appropriate, we attempt to solve a problem on our own and using a friend before asking for more assistance

  • We read independently and complete optional activities if we finish with a task early

  • We remain in our seats and wait for the teacher to dismiss us at the end of class

Is there a textbook that we will use in class?

We will use a digital version of a social studies textbook that everyone will have access to through Schoology that will help provide a structure to our learning as well as a resource to use to complete assignments. While you are in class, you will have access to the text as well. I will also provide other resources for your beyond this digital textbook.

What do I do if I need to leave the room or use the restroom?

  • This year, we will follow the same procedures for going to the restroom as the rest of Middle School North and use a sign out chart.

  • If you consistently avoid signing the actual sign out chart, you will not be allowed to leave.

  • I don't expect people should be asking to leave the room every single day.

  • I expect that when you ask to leave it's because you actually need to leave and not because you are looking to go for a walk or avoid work. We switch things up a lot in class, and you will have a lot of opportunity to move around. So leaving the room isn't meant to be a "Brain Break"


How will we use Schoology this year?

We have all used Schoology before. All Daily Learning Plans, assignments, assessments, reminders, and materials for my class will live on Schoology. Please know this does not mean everything we do must be digital. It just means that Schoology is where a record of assignments and submission will be. This helps us have conversations that support your growth and learning and helps to keep parents updated about what's going on in class.

I use the Schoology gradebook as the main gradebook. You will still see scores in the Parent Portal. But all feedback and important information will be viewable on Schoology. There might be a slight delay in when something is graded in Schoology before it shows up in the Parent Portal.

What is Apple Classroom and how will you use it?

I am sure many of you used Apple Classroom last year, but in case you did not: When Apple Classroom is on I can see your iPad screen, I can tell which apps you are using, and I can push out resources or links to you. This is not intended to be a spying tool for me. I will try to earn your trust as I hope you will try to earn mine. I'm not looking to try and catch anyone doing something wrong. Apple Classroom gives me ability to easily and quickly help you or give you feedback about work that I couldn't do the same way if I had to bounce from screen to screen.

But please remember that I can see a record of what you did during class. Unless I give you directions that say otherwise, your iPad is a learning tool.


What role do Current Events play in social studies class?

All of the different elements of social studies can be connected to what is currently happening in the world around us. As part of our daily planning, we will have opportunities to explore current events, to make connections to what we are learning historically, and to offer an informed opinion about what is happening.


What are "Behaviors that Support Learning"?

Just like a basketball player wouldn't skip every practice in a season and then show up at the championship game expecting to play well, we shouldn't expect that learning in school will just magically happen. There are certain behaviors, ways of thinking and acting, that help develop into stronger learners and individuals. We will discuss these throughout the year. For now, click here to get a brief description.