TEACHER BIO

Mikail Lawrence has taught Global History and Economics, and now Geography and World History at Wood County Senior High School. He graduated with a master's degree in History Education with a minor in Political Sciences from SUNY Geneseo in 2013 after his successful completion of student teaching in the Victor Central School District. The same year, he was hired at the Palmyra-Macedon Central School District as a High School Global History I/II teacher. He was later tenured in 2017. Mr. L. was hired at Wood County Senior High School in 2019 as a Global History and Economics teacher after the termination of Anthony Parsons. He was then asked for the 2021-22 school year to begin teaching Geography and World History due to the low average grades of the students who had previously taken those classes. Since then, there has been a significant increase in the class average and notable student enjoyment. This is the first school year Mr. L. has been tenured at Wood County, and he is very excited to teach his awesome new group of kids!!

Hey there parents and kids, my name is Mikail Lawrence or Mr. L., and I teach 10th Grade Geography and World History. Thanks for stopping by! I hope you can find all the information you need here, and if you need anything don't hesitate to email me at mlawrence@woodcountypsd.org. My cell is (518) 435-3748. I give out daily reminders or if your kid needs someone to talk to, my number isthere for that as well!

My grading policy is a lot different than most teachers, and that's because I disagree with a lot of today's teaching practices. I have found that students do better with less homework and more time spent in class focusing. I also try to make my class as less stressful as possible because that's no way to learn. Homework is not often assigned, but if it is it may be very simple or one of our group projects that are not difficult at all. If you have any questions about my assignments, feel free to contact me.

Class Grading Breakdown:

Extra Credit: + 10 points possible

Participation: 25%

Classwork: 25%

Partner Checkpoints: 20%

Unit Checkpoints: 15%

Projects: 10%

Homework: 5%

What are "Partner Checkpoints?"

Partner checkpoints simulate real unit checkpoints, only that each student gets to work with a friend of their choice! Checkpoints are exactly like tests, only that I have changed the name of them to something more sensible to what they really are, and it reduces the stress of knowing that the students have a "test" as opposed to having a checkpoint. These are not open note tests, but the students get the advantage of working together to complete a shared test. The reason we do these is to prepare students for the actual unit checkpoints to boost their grade and to reduce stress and anxiety. In the process, it also improves general social and teamworking skills, and great minds work together. If one of the partners don't know a question, the other one can help them which is how they learn and remember so they can do their best on the unit checkpoints. If they both do not know, they are able to consult another pair. I have found this method works amazing for students and they do a lot better on the unit checkpoints, and better yet the regents.

How are Partner Checkpoints beneficial?

Partner checkpoints are beneficial because it improves teamwork and collaboration skills which are important for the future. It also helps students to thrive and encourages them to learn and to do better with the help of each other. They also become better prepared this way and their stress and anxiety levels are naturally reduced because they can concentrate, focus, and do their best while having fun working with each other.

Students are able to work by themselves for a partner checkpoint if they wish, but I try to encourage everyone to have a partner, even if an odd number of classmates requires a group of 3. Keep in mind, if a student works by themself, that means they will also be working alone on the unit checkpoints!

Any questions, please reach out. I would like to be as approachable as possible. Thanks for your time and stop by soon and bring friends!

Mikail A. Lawrence, Geography 10 and World History Teacher

mlawrence@woodcountypsd.org

Cell # (518) 435-3748

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