Ms. Thatcher's World History SyllabusOn this page you will find important information that will help you to be successful in my class. I want my classes to broaden your understanding of history, geography, politics, economics, and more! It will be helpful for you to know my policies and procedures as we get started. This page will give you an overview of what we will be learning about this year and how grades reflect your mastery of our course standards. Read it carefully! If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please contact me before/after school or by email.
Course Description World History is a semester-long survey course beginning with prehistory and concluding around 2000 C.E. Through the study of World History, a student will gain an understanding of continuity and change within and across eras of time. As we study many different civilizations, students will be expected to make connections between historical events and current issues. They will also continue to develop their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills, which will be helpful in future academic activities and provide enduring skills for life beyond high school. This course credit counts towards graduation. Course Outline (subject to change) Quarter 1
Quarter 2
Throughout the semester:
The primary goal of the Social Studies Department at Logan High School (LHS) is to teach every student to communicate effectively and intelligently in social settings and inclusive of almost any historical period, as well as preparing them to enter the world as productive and capable members of society. Students who participate daily and actively will gain a more complete understanding of the people and ideas that made history happen. Class Expectations For Students
You can expect me to help you when you need it, be here before and after school to answer questions, and to give you guidance on your work. You can expect to be treated with respect, that your assignments will be graded in a reasonable timeframe, and that I will always be ready for class, friendly and excited to teach you about our subject. We will learn about the social sciences in a variety of ways. As a class, we will discuss what these expectations encompass and we will model them so that everyone knows what is expected from them. If a student is having a hard time meeting these expectations, here are the steps we will go through to help them get back on track:
If you feel something is unfair, talk to me at an appropriate time. It is important to advocate for yourself and I want to understand your point of view. Office Hours I am available to meet with parents after school. Please send a note with your student in the morning so that I can expect you or set up an appointment via email. Unfortunately, I am not able to meet with parents before school starts in the morning, as students are coming in at that time and they need all of my attention. For parents who use e-mail, I normally check my email daily, and this is often the most efficient way to get in touch with me or to discuss any of your concerns. Please email me at: [email protected] Class Materials and Work Being prepared for class each day is expected. This means that you should be sitting in your seat and working on the starter when the bell rings. Please use the restroom and drinking fountain before class begins. Being prepared for class also means bringing the following items every day:
All assignments, readings, and most activities, along with useful links, can be found on our Canvas page. I believe that access to learning inside and outside of school is vital for students' success so I will update Canvas regularly. Types of Assignments
Come to class prepared! I expect you to be ready each day in class and to follow directions when they are given, to help others when it is appropriate, and to be responsible and respectful. Remember: Your attitude in class will determine how much fun you are having and how much you learn each day. Standards Based Grading In a standards based grading system, grades are not "given" or "earned". Scores reflect a student's mastery of a learning target. Learning targets are daily goals that create a foundation to help students achieve proficiency or mastery of an objective that is essential for that course. If a student fails to reach proficiency with a learning target, the teacher will provide intervention opportunities to reteach that target until the student demonstrates proficiency or mastery of it. Not all students learn in the same way or at the same pace. Because of this, student's grades will not be penalized for late work and there will be opportunities for students to revise and resubmit their work. The main focus of report cards is student mastery of the course standards. 4 = Exemplary 3 = Proficient 2 = Progressing 1 = Unsatisfactory Progress I = Incomplete work For reporting purposes, there will be firm, schoolwide cutoff dates for teachers to evaluate student work. If work is not submitted by these due dates, the report card will indicate “Incomplete” to reflect the fact that insufficient assessment data exists to make a fair evaluation of student performance of major expectations. In this case, no credit can be granted until work is submitted. Students may fail a course based on insufficient assessment evidence. Students who turn in the majority of their work, are engaged with activities during class, and follow directions will be very successful. Please check Canvas and Aspire often so there are no surprises on your grade at the end of the term. Citizenship Be Respectful Be Responsible Be Involved A student's Citizenship grade is based on the school-wide rubric that scores a student on how well they are meeting a teacher's expectations to be respectful, responsible, and involved. This grade does not affect a student's overall GPA, but it can affect a student in other ways (such as participation in sports, clubs, etc.). H = Honors S = Satisfactory N = Needs Improvement U = Unsatisfactory
For more information about the LHS common grading and citizenship scales, please refer to the school website. Attendance Being in class is very important to your academic success and it is in your own best interest to be in class (and on time) every day. Naturally, students get sick sometimes, travel with their families or have emergencies that prevent them from being in class. When this occurs, it is the student’s responsibility to obtain the work done in class on the days missed and make it up as soon as possible. Late Work Policy Turning in assignments on time will help you be successful in class. Typically, students will have enough time in class to complete assignments and assessments, but any incomplete activities become homework at the end of class if a student chose not to finish them.
Extra Credit is not accepted at LHS because it doesn't show a student's proficiency in an essential learning. Extending your learning, however, is highly encouraged because you will have a deeper understanding of the topics we are learning about in World History with more background knowledge. Notes and Disclaimers This syllabus is subject to change based on the needs of the class. Students requiring additional assistance due to a documented disability may contact the school administration to make advance arrangements to ensure proper learning takes place. I will review and follow accommodations documented in all IEPs and 504 plans, but please reach out to me if you are struggling. Media and Art Policy Documentaries, films, and art will occasionally be used in this class. Any works of art that will be used in class, will be examples from history that exemplify the period (i.e. Prehistoric art and figurines, The Nefertiti Bust, Terracotta Warriors, Mask of Agamemnon, Venus de Milo, Laocoön and His Sons, Renaissance art, photos from global conflicts like the World Wars, etc.). All media and art have been reviewed by the teacher, tied to the Utah Core Curriculum, and has an educational purpose in the class. Please remember that every precaution will be taken to avoid inappropriate material being displayed in class. However, history is full of images and situations our cultural knowledge has deemed taboo or negative but which provide context to our analysis of historical events. I would like to encourage you to communicate with me if any of them make you or your students uncomfortable. Let’s work together to allow your students to have the best experience possible in this class. Electronics If a parent needs to contact a student, they can call the main office to get a message to that student. Electronics can only be used in class for academic purposes with the teacher’s expressed permission. Students who use electronics in class without permission will be invited to review why it is inappropriate to use them in class and come up with a plan to prevent further distractions during class, between classes, before/after school. Let's make this the best school year yet! I am excited to be your guide through humanity's exciting past. I hope this information has helped answer some of your questions about the class. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me before or after school, or e-mail me. I look forward to getting to know you, having fun, and learning a lot together!! If you have any questions, please contact me at [email protected] |
EMAIL ADDRESSTELEPHONE NUMBER435-755-2380
|