Fundamentals of Social Studies-Syllabus
by Carol Braun
August 26, 2010
Teacher Information
Name: Mr. Ringen
Position: Social Studies Teacher at Southern High School
Room: 205
Email: mringen@esu5.org
Education: Undergraduate and Graduate at Peru State College
Degree: Bachelors in Secondary Social Studies & Masters in
Instructional Technology
Certification: Nebraska Department of Education
Recent Workshops: Moodle Technology; Classroom Management; From L to J Learning Strategies; Teaching Nebraska Social Studies
Coaching: Assistant Girls’ Basketball & Assistant Track
Sponsorships: S-Club
Mr. Ringen’s Daily Schedule
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Before School: Arrive at 7:15-7:30 (earlier if students need help) Period #1- Fundamentals of Social Studies—9th Grade Standards Period #2- OT Government Period #3- 7th Grade Career Education Period #4- 8th Grade US History Period #5- Political/Historical Studies |
Period #6- Planning IAP- Room 205 Period #7- Government/Economics Period #8- 8th Grade US History After School 3:32-4:00- Student help/meetings After School 4:00-6:00 Sport practices (winter/spring) |
Fundamentals of Social Studies
The content for this class focuses on various Nebraska STAR social studies standards. These standards will include various questions over geography, government, world history, and American history information.
Class Length
The length of this class will be one semester.
Textbook
There will be no assigned textbook for this class. Instead text material will include sections of various past textbooks & atlases that will be checked out at different times during the semester. Additional worksheets and outside resources will also be used.
Standards Tests
Students are required to pass all standards tests assessed in this class.
Main standard assessments will include full standards tests 12.4.3 & 12.4.4 as well as parts of standards tests 12.1.13 & 12.4.7
Semester Grade
Quarter #1=47% of grade Quarter #2=47% of grade Semester Test=6% of grade
*If time constraints would prevent us from having a semester test, Q1 & Q2 grade would both equal 50% of the semester grade.
Quarter Grading
Tests- 60-70% of your grade (with all of the standards possibly up to 80% of your grade)
Homework quizzes, Regular Homework, Check for Understanding Quizzes, Regular Quizzes- 20-30% of your grade
Review Homework- 6-10% of your grade
Focus on your tests! Tests will be 2-3 times the actual grade. Ex. 50/60=83% on a test would really be 150/180=83% (x3).
All homework and review sheets will be based on total points. Ex. 16/20=80% for that homework assignment.
More on Grading/Homework
Regular Homework- Any assignment might be collected…even notes. So do all of your work! Be prepared by doing each assignment thoroughly.
Reading/Notes Quizzes- Quizzes over assigned reading or notes.
Check for Understanding Quizzes- These quizzes will be given at the conclusion of a lesson discussion. Students can best prepare for these quizzes by simply listening and participating in class discussion when we cover content material.
Moodle - Homework, quizzes, discussion posts, special projects, and other assignments using the Moodle online technology.
***Only 10-14 regular homework assignments will be collected each quarter. Any assignment might be collected…even notes. So do all of your work. This does not include review worksheets. Preference might be given to reading responses and larger worksheets.
Honesty
Practice academic honesty!
Therefore…
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Do not copy others work.
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Do not allow others to copy your work.
Late Assignments
Late homework will result in a 10% deduction off of the total assignment grade for the first day of being late. Special projects may fall under a different deduction.
Any homework late after the first day will result in an additional 5% (added to the 10%) for each day thereafter.
* If students continue to have late assignments on a regular basis, the teacher may assign work times as an additional consequence. These work times will not be recorded as detentions unless the student skips this session.
Note taking
Almost every section covered in this class will have some sort of hard copy notes provided for the student. Sometimes this will be in the form of a worksheet or quiz; which can be used as notes for that section (after it is handed back). Other times this will occur in the form of regular note taking.
Moodle
Mr. Ringen’s classes will now be using the “Moodle” online learning system. This will require students to complete online activities and assignments using Moodle.
Required Materials
• Textbook (supplied by school).
• Notebook (for notes).
• Writing utensils.
• 3 ring binder (graded for organization).
3 Ring Binder
All students will be required to have a 3 ring binder (at least 1 inch binder but 2-3 inch also acceptable). This is required to practice organization and will be taken as a project grade.
