Resources+for+Parents

=Resources for Parents= My purpose for this wiki is for students to learn the lessons American History has to offer young citizens. This will help them to become fully acquainted with concepts, ideas, and principals of a democratic society. Please contact me with any questions.
 * Introduction**

I will continue to maintain this wiki and update it. This means the routine will be familiar for the rest of the team members and students will have tried and proven content that compliments what is happening in class. Last year students enjoyed the links, movie clips, games and interactive activities. I will introduce new technology, online blended learning links, etc that will enhance the SS curriculum as I find them. Stay tuned.

Excerpts from the **7th Team Curriculum Night Packet**

** Tutorial ** Tutorial is available Monday through Friday before school from 7:15-7:50 and Monday through Wednesday after school from 3:00-4:00. ** TeacherEase ** Peacock Middle School has student information available with the TeacherEase web-based grading program. Parents can use the Internet for secure access to grades, missing assignments, absences, and discipline records.


 * See this link on grading: see this video [|by Rick Wormeli]i**

(Rick Wormeli is an expert who explains the grading philosophy and reasoning behind the grading procedures.) Grading is further explained in the student handbook.
**Seventh Grade Discipline Policy**  The school wide discipline policy is followed in all cases. For minor classroom disciplinary issues the team has developed the following policy. A student will receive two warnings before action is taken. The student will earn a BAT (Behavioral Adjustment Time) for a third warning. These will be scheduled before and after school. Additional warnings will result in parent/teacher conferences and administrative intervention. In the case of gum chewing, students will receive one warning and then be issued a detention on the second occurrence. ** Seventh Grade Homework Policy: given on Curriculum Night ** Students are required to carry their F.E. Peacock Middle School Assignment Notebooks with them to all classes. Failure to do so may result in a BAT. We are sympathetic to unusual circumstances and are willing to make accommodations, but generally, students should have their homework on the day that it is due. In the event of an absence, the school’s policy is for students to have one day to make up the work for each day of absence, up to a maximum of one week. Any student who does not turn in an assignment will have this noted by one of us in his or her assignment notebook. We, therefore, encourage parents, guardians, and students to review the assignment notebooks on a regular basis. Late minor assignments should be turned in no later than the beginning of the next class meeting for reduced credit. We reserve the right to adjust this policy for late major assignments. TAPs (Teacher Academic Periods) will be scheduled before and after school because of class absences (band lessons, etc.), school absences, and learning needs. ** Target Time ** Target Time occurs every morning. It is used to assess all students’ individual strengths and weaknesses and then implement interventions to address academic deficiencies or enrichment activities to enhance academic development. Novel study and independent reading are major components of this class. ** Common Time ** Common Time occurs at the end of the day. It is an opportunity for students to receive extra assistance with assignments, organization or study skills and curriculum projects.

** Seventh Grade Social Studies Curriculum ** The social studies curriculum is divided into three specific topics of study; U.S. history, current events and historical literature.

__United States History__ – The text motivates students with features rich in the relevance ofUnited States history. Some of the highlights of the Holt Social Studies Program include visuals that bring people, places, and concepts to life; the maps help to see the connection between history and geography; reading strategies are a primary focus that help develop skills to access information and master content; and the online text also provides additional reading help to improve comprehension, vocabulary, and test scores.

We will complete the following units of study: Our Colonial Heritage, A New Nation, The New Republic and The Nation Expands. The topics of the units include: ** The World Before the Opening of the Atlantic ** ** New Empires in the Americas ** ** The English Colonies ** ** The American Revolution ** ** Forming A Government ** ** Citizenship and the Constitution ** ** Launching the Nation ** ** The Jefferson Era ** ** A New National Identity ** ** The Age of Jackson ** ** Expanding West ** ** The North ** ** The South ** ** New Movements in America ** ** A Divided Nation ** __Junior Scholastic__ – Current events social studies magazine that covers news briefs, various cultures, debates and includes maps, graphs, charts and political cartoons. Please see the enclosure that outlines the units of study for this calendar year 2011-2012.

Historical Literature – During the course of the school year, your son/daughter will read a historical novel. The novel is written in chapter-by-chapter format and taught using pre-reading activities, vocabulary and comprehension exercises as well as extension activities. ** Class Rules : ** 1. __Be responsible__ - Come to class prepared with spiral, pens, homework and assignment notebook. 2. __Be Respectful__ - Treat everyone with respect and fairness. 3. __Be Proud__- Do your best and be proud to do your best. You are a leader in this school. 4. __Be Prompt__ – Make sure that you are seated in the classroom with all needed supplies, listed on the board, ready to begin each lesson. Consequences: Warning, BAT, Phone Call, Detention, E-mail

** Grading/Homework/Portfolios ** All projects, workbook pages, worksheets, and tests are graded using plus points. Daily assignments are graded and used for assessment purposes to determine if reteaching is necessary before students are tested. Tests and major projects account for 50% of the student grade while the remaining 50% takes into account homework, daily worksheets, maps, effort and class participation. Study guides are always provided for the students and can be found in their assignment notebook. Homework assignments are graded returned and should be used as study guides for quizzes & tests. Projects are graded using a rubric with specific guidelines emphasized as each project is presented. Each project is presented with exact expectations and sample projects are available for visual learners. Portfolios are kept for each student and always have a large sampling of work throughout the year. Parents are provided the portfolio contents at the first parent/teacher conference and may at any time request an additional conference throughout the year to view. Otherwise students will be given their portfolio to bring home in June.

Homework Guide for Social Studies
Homework is a valuable tool that helps students develop discipline, organizational skills, and responsibility in their school experience. It prepares them for the coming lessons and assignments we will be working on next. It reinforces what has been taught. It helps provide verification or understanding of the material being studied. Homework must have the student's name, date, and block/period in the right margin as done in Language Arts format. Make up work is the responsibility of the student. NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS: 0% will be applied for missing work Exceptions: absences, illness, band, and special circumstances. If you need extra time, make an appointment! Forgetting books, assignment notebooks, homework folder, etc. at home does not count as a reason for not turning in an assignment.

Background for American History
To understand the times and the culture of discourse, this site will enable you to have the insight for good dinner discussions with your student. These resources go with the colonial period 1600-1800 approximately; they also have significance for society today. Discuss with your student why civility is important to a democracy. Compare it to events in the middle east for a more lively conversation. [|Making Introductions] [|How Table Manners Became Polite] [|"Good Manners"] [|George Washington's Rules of Civility] [|Don't Gross Out the World] [|Miss Business ...Business Manners Quiz] [|Miss Manners Online]
 * [|On Civility and behavior of citizens]**
 * Civility List:**

=**Recommended novels for Parents:**= Very careful scholarship is the hall mark of Louis Birnbaum while telling real history as a story that captures the immediacy and excitement. You will feel like you were there. For Louis this is one of the greatest stories of the world. You will have great topics for dinner conversation and insights to share with your student. You will find it online at Amazon. Get a used one for a few cents for a deal. I think this book should be in every American home. This is a great read! Gifted students may read this book also, although the reading level will be challenging. ===[|//The Founding// A dramatic account of the writing of the Constitution by Fred Barbash]=== This book was written for the two-hundredth anniversary of the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Barbash brings the Constitutional Convention to life, you meet the great men and discover gifted minds. One had a secret mission and masterminded the secret agenda. Fred has captured the color, conflict and excitement of the events. Read history at it's best in this narrative with a pacing of a first rate novel. Gifted students may read this also. It is available at Amazon online.
 * Ken Burns videos:** you may download just sections or whole programs from PBS, iTunes. iTunes has resources for computers, iPads, iPhones which can be downloaded from the cloud to most devices. The advantage is your student can access them anywhere, anytime.
 * [|//Red Dawn at Lexington// "If They Mean to Have a War Let It Begin Here!" by Louis Birnbaum]**

=**[|Tech Support for Parents: just click on this link]**= This site will help you with web tools and software questions you might have. Social Media Counts: look to see how active social networking is... media type="custom" key="23630424" The future? [| Look at the Discovery Learning digital social studies text book, all online, accessible 24/7 on any device; the future is here...are we ready to access it?] Questions? Please e-mail me first. Updates will be posted in this wiki from time to time.