World History Syllabus

2025-2026

Course Outline:

Throughout the year in World History, we will examine the main components of civilization and further explore how these components took shape in different periods throughout our world’s history. Through this study we will examine some of the world’s earliest civilizations, tracing how cultures borrow and build upon previous models and identify connecting themes that still influence us today. While exploring the history of our early world, students will engage in the building of content knowledge, literacy skills, critical thinking and expression, hands-on learning, and geographic literacy. This exploration will be guided according to the standards provided by the 2019 Maine Learning Results. Topics such as government, religion, trade, innovation, and geography will be embedded into the eras that we study.

Skills that students will focus on through this course of study:

Literacy strategies including:

Pulling out and using key ideas of both primary and secondary sources

Using and understanding text features and multi-media resources

Content-specific vocabulary development

Understanding point-of-view/perspective/purpose

Argumentative and informative writing specific to content

Research Skills

Geography Skills

Scoring and Assignment Policy:

It is my hope for all students to do well in school and I will work my hardest to help each of you reach your learning goals. In turn, I expect that you will work your hardest in helping yourself to reach your goals. Students will be assessed and scored using a traditional system. Throughout a unit, students will receive scores using a traditional 100-point scale.

97-100 A+

93-96 A

90-92 A-

87-89 B+

83-86 B

80-82 B-

77-79 C+

73-76 C

70-72 C-

67-69 D+

63-66 D

60-62 D-

59 or below F

Formative Assessments (30%)

Formative assessments comprise the roll-up-your-sleeves learning that we do in class and that you also do independently at home and in study hall. Combined, these are worth 30% of your overall grade. This work serves as the foundation of your skill base and your learning. It includes homework and in-class learning assignments. The goal is for you to reach stated learning objectives, and I believe that attention to your class and homework will allow you to develop the necessary skills to meet the standards. You are expected to put top effort into all work as a way to help you reach your goals. That being said, these assignments are truly formative in that they will allow you opportunities to develop your skills as you work towards proficiency.

Summative Assessments (50%)

Summative assessments are broken up to make up 50% of your overall grade. These are assessments that work to sum up your knowledge and/or demonstrate your skills. End of a unit writing assessments, projects, presentations, quizzes/tests are examples of summative expressions of your learning.

Ongoing Practice/HOW (20%)

Ongoing practice work is worth 20% of your overall grade. This type of work represents smaller demonstrations of what we are working on in class and also habits of work (HOW). Scores will be recorded on smaller “quick-hit” assignments and tasks such as entrance/exit tickets, writing checks (MUGS), and quick comprehension checks. As for HOW, class participation, and overall effort will be periodically assessed; preparation for and engagement with learning will be taken into account along with interaction with peers.

Eligibility: An average of 70% or above must be maintained in all classes to be eligible for athletic and extra-curricular activities. Students have two-weeks to restore eligibility if they fall below a 70%. Weekly checks will occur, and if a student has dropped below a 70%, a plan will be put in place to help the student achieve their goal to become eligible again before the two-week period ends.

Class/Homework- Students are expected to show best effort on all class/homework and hand in assignments on time. If you need extra time on an assignment, you must come to me beforehand. Communication is an essential component of learning and growth.

Absences- If you are absent, please check with me no later than the day you return to go over what you missed in class and to set up a due date for any make-up work (one day out equals one day extra to hand work in and so on). If you know you will be absent, please let me know ahead of time so we can come up with a plan.

Late Work-This only works to slow down your progress in regard to meeting learning targets, but it also hinders your ability to participate fully in class discussions and to keep up with class notes, lessons, and learning. Please see me ahead of time if you need additional time on an assignment. Unexcused late work WILL AFFECT YOUR GRADE. You will have no more than two-weeks to hand in late work. If an assignment is over two-weeks late, the final score for that assignment will remain a zero. Late assignments will receive an automatic 10-point deduction in the final score for that assignment.

Power School-Work scores and information will be communicated through Power School. If you do not have access to your PS account, please let your homeroom teacher know ASAP. I will do my best to communicate your progress through PS as quickly as possible. This is not only a place to track grades, but also where late, missing, or turned in work can be flagged. If you ever have questions about an assignment score or status, please let me know.

Communication-Homework assignments will be posted using Google Calendar viewable on my school website. You can always email me with any questions and should certainly do so if you need clarification or help. It is my goal for you to be successful in meeting your goals. Please do not ever hesitate to ask for help or additional resources. Communication is KEY to success.

MOST IMPORTANTLY-I AM HERE FOR YOU, AND I AM ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP.  PLEASE SEE ME IF YOU NEED ANY ASSISTANCE!

Maine Studies Syllabus

2025-2026

Throughout the year in Social Studies, 7th grade will focus on Maine Studies. Below you will find general information about expectations and policies that will be in place over the course of the entire year. You will also find information outlining the specific standards and topics of study for the year. The outline of this course follows the standards provided 2019 Maine Learning Results. This structure will allow for a thematic rather than a chronological approach to the curriculum.

Some of the units of study that we will engage in:

•   Geography of Maine (Physical Features and Regions)

•   Native Americans-Past and Present

•   Major events in Maine’s history

•   Important people in Maine’s history-statewide and local

•   Rangeley-Oral History

Skills that students will focus on through this course of study:

Literacy strategies including:

Pulling out and using key ideas of both primary and secondary sources

Using and understanding text features and multi-media resources

Content-specific vocabulary development

Understanding point-of-view/perspective/purpose

Argumentative and informative writing specific to content

Research Skills

Geography Skills

Scoring and Assignment Policy:

It is my hope for all students to do well in school and I will work my hardest to help each of you reach your learning goals. In turn, I expect that you will work your hardest in helping yourself to reach your goals. Students will be assessed and scored using a traditional system. Throughout a unit, students will receive scores using a traditional 100-point scale.

97-100 A+

93-96 A

90-92 A-

87-89 B+

83-86 B

80-82 B-

77-79 C+

73-76 C

70-72 C-

67-69 D+

63-66 D

60-62 D-

59 or below F

Formative Assessments (30%)

Formative assessments comprise the roll-up-your-sleeves learning that we do in class and that you also do independently at home and in study hall. Combined, these are worth 30% of your overall grade. This work serves as the foundation of your skill base and your learning. It includes homework and in-class learning assignments. The goal is for you to reach stated learning objectives, and I believe that attention to your class and homework will allow you to develop the necessary skills to meet the standards. You are expected to put top effort into all work as a way to help you reach your goals. That being said, these assignments are truly formative in that they will allow you opportunities to develop your skills as you work towards proficiency.

Summative Assessments (50%)

Summative assessments are broken up to make up 50% of your overall grade. These are assessments that work to sum up your knowledge and/or demonstrate your skills. End of a unit writing assessments, projects, presentations, quizzes/tests are examples of summative expressions of your learning.

Ongoing Practice/HOW (20%)

Ongoing practice work is worth 20% of your overall grade. This type of work represents smaller demonstrations of what we are working on in class and also habits of work (HOW). Scores will be recorded on smaller “quick-hit” assignments and tasks such as entrance/exit tickets, writing checks (MUGS), and quick comprehension checks. As for HOW, class participation, and overall effort will be periodically assessed; preparation for and engagement with learning will be taken into account along with interaction with peers.

Eligibility: An average of 70% or above must be maintained in all classes to be eligible for athletic and extra-curricular activities. Students have two-weeks to restore eligibility if they fall below a 70%. Weekly checks will occur, and if a student has dropped below a 70%, a plan will be put in place to help the student achieve their goal to become eligible again before the two-week period ends.

Class/Homework- Students are expected to show best effort on all class/homework and hand in assignments on time. If you need extra time on an assignment, you must come to me beforehand. Communication is an essential component of learning and growth.

Absences- If you are absent, please check with me no later than the day you return to go over what you missed in class and to set up a due date for any make-up work (one day out equals one day extra to hand work in and so on). If you know you will be absent, please let me know ahead of time so we can come up with a plan.

Late Work-This only works to slow down your progress in regard to meeting learning targets, but it also hinders your ability to participate fully in class discussions and to keep up with class notes, lessons, and learning. Please see me ahead of time if you need additional time on an assignment. Unexcused late work WILL AFFECT YOUR GRADE. You will have no more than two-weeks to hand in late work. If an assignment is over two-weeks late, the final score for that assignment will remain a zero.Late assignments will receive an automatic 10-point deduction in the final score for that assignment.

Power School-Work scores and information will be communicated through Power School. If you do not have access to your PS account, please let your homeroom teacher know ASAP. I will do my best to communicate your progress through PS as quickly as possible. This is not only a place to track grades, but also where late, missing, or turned in work can be flagged. If you ever have questions about an assignment score or status, please let me know.

Communication-Homework assignments will be posted using Google Calendar viewable on my school website. You can always email me with any questions and should certainly do so if you need clarification or help. It is my goal for you to be successful in meeting your goals. Please do not ever hesitate to ask for help or additional resources. Communication is KEY to success.

MOST IMPORTANTLY-I AM HERE FOR YOU, AND I AM ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP.  PLEASE SEE ME IF YOU NEED ANY ASSISTANCE!

United States History Syllabus

2025-2026 

Throughout the year in Social Studies, 8th grade will focus on US History with a concentration on the founding of this country and how this foundation has helped to shape our contemporary governmental structure and ideals. Students will engage in the building of content knowledge, critical thinking and expression, hands-on learning, and geographic literacy while exploring the history of the United States. This exploration will be shaped according to the 2019 revised Maine Learning Results, which outline the social studies standards and performance indicators for the state of Maine.

Key concepts to be covered:

Geography of the US

Migration patterns and their implications (European and Native American)

Colonial life and how it shaped ideals and identity

Founding principles of the US

Conflict and Nation Building/Expansion

Governmental Structure

Key skills that students will focus on through this course of study:

Literacy strategies including:

Pulling out and using key ideas of both primary and secondary sources

Using and understanding text features and multi-media resources

Content-specific vocabulary development

Understanding point-of-view/perspective/purpose

Argumentative and informative writing specific to content

Research Skills

Geography Skills

Scoring and Assignment Policy:

It is my hope for all students to do well in school and I will work my hardest to help each of you reach your learning goals. In turn, I expect that you will work your hardest in helping yourself to reach your goals. Students will be assessed and scored using a traditional system. Throughout a unit, students will receive scores using a traditional 100-point scale.

97-100 A+

93-96 A

90-92 A-

87-89 B+

83-86 B

80-82 B-

77-79 C+

73-76 C

70-72 C-

67-69 D+

63-66 D

60-62 D-

59 or below F

Formative Assessments (30%)

Formative assessments comprise the roll-up-your-sleeves learning that we do in class and that you also do independently at home and in study hall. Combined, these are worth 30% of your overall grade. This work serves as the foundation of your skill base and your learning. It includes homework and in-class learning assignments. The goal is for you to reach stated learning objectives, and I believe that attention to your class and homework will allow you to develop the necessary skills to meet the standards. You are expected to put top effort into all work as a way to help you reach your goals. That being said, these assignments are truly formative in that they will allow you opportunities to develop your skills as you work towards proficiency.

Summative Assessments (50%)

Summative assessments are broken up to make up 50% of your overall grade. These are assessments that work to sum up your knowledge and/or demonstrate your skills. End of a unit writing assessments, projects, presentations, quizzes/tests are examples of summative expressions of your learning.

Ongoing Practice/HOW (20%)

Ongoing practice work is worth 20% of your overall grade. This type of work represents smaller demonstrations of what we are working on in class and also habits of work (HOW). Scores will be recorded on smaller “quick-hit” assignments and tasks such as entrance/exit tickets, writing checks (MUGS), and quick comprehension checks. As for HOW, class participation, and overall effort will be periodically assessed; preparation for and engagement with learning will be taken into account along with interaction with peers.

Eligibility: An average of 70% or above must be maintained in all classes to be eligible for athletic and extra-curricular activities. Students have two-weeks to restore eligibility if they fall below a 70%. Weekly checks will occur, and if a student has dropped below a 70%, a plan will be put in place to help the student achieve their goal to become eligible again before the two-week period ends.

Class/Homework- Students are expected to show best effort on all class/homework and hand in assignments on time. If you need extra time on an assignment, you must come to me beforehand. Communication is an essential component of learning and growth.

 Absences- If you are absent, please check with me no later than the day you return to go over what you missed in class and to set up a due date for any make-up work (one day out equals one day extra to hand work in and so on). If you know you will be absent, please let me know ahead of time so we can come up with a plan.

 Late Work-This only works to slow down your progress in regard to meeting learning targets, but it also hinders your ability to participate fully in class discussions and to keep up with class notes, lessons, and learning. Please see me ahead of time if you need additional time on an assignment. Unexcused late work WILL AFFECT YOUR GRADE. You will have no more than two-weeks to hand in late work. If an assignment is over two-weeks late, the final score for that assignment will remain a zero. Late assignments will receive an automatic 10-point deduction in the final score for that assignment.

Power School-Work scores and information will be communicated through Power School. If you do not have access to your PS account, please let your homeroom teacher know ASAP. I will do my best to communicate your progress through PS as quickly as possible. This is not only a place to track grades, but also where late, missing, or turned in work can be flagged. If you ever have questions about an assignment score or status, please let me know.

Communication-Homework assignments will be posted using Google Calendar viewable on my school website. You can always email me with any questions and should certainly do so if you need clarification or help. It is my goal for you to be successful in meeting your goals. Please do not ever hesitate to ask for help or additional resources. Communication is KEY to success.

MOST IMPORTANTLY-I AM HERE FOR YOU, AND I AM ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP.  PLEASE SEE ME IF YOU NEED ANY ASSISTANCE!