Unit 5Test: Tuesday 2/5 All Extra Credit is due before the end of each term. No exceptions. (See the Resources tab & then also current & recent units of study.)
Overview of Class Concepts Sixth grade is the first year of a two year World Area Studies course. Sixth grade students study Latin America, Canada, Europe, and Australia. The goal of this two year course is to acquaint middle school students with the world in which they live. The geography domain includes both physical and human geography. The intent of the geography domain is for students to begin to grasp the importance geography plays in their everyday lives. The government/civics domain focuses on selected types of government found in the various areas so as to help students begin to understand the variety of governments in the world. The economics domain builds on the K-5 economics; however, the focus shifts from the United States to how other countries answer the basic questions of economics. The history domain focuses on major events in each region during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. – www.GeorgiaStandards.org Homework: Homework consists of anything that was not completed in class. Adequate time is given in class to at least get a good start on or even fully complete most assignments. Exceptions would be preparing for tests, projects, and the occasional homework task. (If it is to be done completely at home, it is likely that multiple days have been allotted before it is due.) Students should take 10 minutes or so each evening to review new information, study for assessments, and ensure that they are organized and ready for the next class day. It is highly recommended that students consistently maintain a daily agenda/ calendar for recording the class agenda, homework, and due dates. Grading: Tests, projects, and some large quizzes will be calculated as Summative grades at 60%. Classwork, homework, notebook quizzes, and mini-assessments will be calculated as Formative grades at 40%. Progress Reports will go home every 4 ½ weeks on a given date, and serve to show the student’s currently fluid success. Term Report Cards will go home every 9 weeks on a given date, and are final to be put towards the student’s yearly average for the class. Quizzes and Tests: Students will be given varied mini assessments and quizzes throughout each unit, and they may or may not be announced in advance. Tests will be given at the end of each unit. Some units may have projects. Students may take the opportunity to recover any failing test grade one time only (no retakes will be allowed for formative grades). The highest score that can be earned on a retake is 80%, and the student must see the teacher within 1 week of the grade being provided to discuss recovery options and set up a recovery appointment before or after school, and before the term is complete. Extra Credit Opportunities: An opportunity for overall grade recovery will be available to all students at least one time each term, and must be turned in by the given due date. This will be a separate assignment that will extend or review the content of the standards. All extra credit assignments must be completed independently from class time. The value will be determined by the assignment and will vary. The points earned will be applied to the lowest pre-existing grade at the teacher’s choosing and discretion. *Full participation in National History Day can earn a significant amount of extra credit for each term; thus, if the student decides to participate in full throughout the year and creates a competitive project to the NHD rulebook, he/ she can ultimately earn 4 extra credit grades. Late Work Policy: A small point penalty will be deducted for each day that an assignment is late. An “M” indicating that the grade is “missing” will be placed in the online grade book until the work is turned in, and it will calculate as a zero temporarily lowering the grade average. This is done as a reminder to get in the work immediately, and is completely removed once the assignment is turned in. (*If a grade is blank, it is likely it has just not been graded yet. Some assignments will take longer than others to be processed.) Communication: There are 2 main ways to stay informed about my class, the daily assignments, and your student’s progress: Parent Portal’s online grade book and my AMS school website. These avenues should be checked about once a week for possible updates. (It works very well to have a once a week apt. with your student at the computer to review these sites and teach them accountability for success.) Anytime you have questions or concerns, I encourage you to contact me. Email is the best and most efficient method, but calling the school and leaving a message with the office is fine too. I will do all I can to respond as quickly as I can during regular business days. Discipline: It is the student’s responsibility to assist the teacher in maintaining a healthy learning environment for everyone in this class by controlling their own behaviors and using positive judgment in their words and actions. Both school and grade level discipline plans will be adhered to throughout the year. (Please see the student handbook and 6th Grade Discipline plan handout for details.) Suggested Supply List for Ms. Holcombe’s SS Classes: ***Examples of each supply will be displayed at the front of the room for the first week of school.
IF you are able and would like to contribute to the year-long classroom expenses…
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