Dear Students and Parents:
Welcome! I hope you had a terrific summer and are ready for your last year here at Oak Grove. I’d like to give you a brief synopsis concerning the curriculum, the class requirements, the grading system, and some general information that you may find helpful. Social Studies will be a very active, participatory class. I believe it should be alive and stimulating. American History will be our main emphasis.
I do not assign written homework every night but there is homework. This concept can be difficult for some students because it places the responsibility on the individual to determine the amount of nightly study. What may be enough studying for one student may not be for another student. More often than not, I will give a reading assignment (textbook pages, handouts, or notes) and I expect each student to contribute to any oral discussion on that assignment. This is implied homework!
Class requirements are straightforward. There are 3 or 4 areas per trimester that will directly affect your grade. Those areas include: book conferences, participation, current events, and tests. For instance, if you choose to do a book conference you will be graded in the following manner: book conference-25%, participation-25%, news tests (current events)-25% and tests-25%. If no book conference is done during a particular trimester the percentages will be adjusted.
As stated, book conferences are optional. Each trimester every student is encouraged to read a book of his/her choosing that pertains to the period of history we are studying. These books will be shared and discussed in peer conferences and/or teacher-student conferences. There is a deadline for the completion of a book conference. Make sure you are aware of that date. For those of you interested, we will be doing a directed-reading-thinking experience using Before Freedom by Belinda Hurmence as a resource the 1st trimester. The Jungle is recommended for particular students during the 2nd trimester.
Participation is a big part of Social Studies. Being on top of nightly notes and reading assignments will contribute heavily to your participation grade. More in-depth participation is required as the year progresses. Students may be assigned topics to research and present to their classmates. Students are encouraged to respond to my news blog.
Current events is another area which contributes to the overall grade. By now, you should know how to accurately use various resources to help you discover news test answers. Students should have begun developing news-gathering and processing habits. These might include watching, listening, discussing, and/or reading about news-related items. News tests are the best tool to help children to think, to make educated guesses and to trust prior knowledge. Students are encouraged to use an almanac and any other resource in the classroom to help them find answers. It is not important that a student knows every answer, but rather knows where to find the appropriate answer. News tests are frustrating and yet they are so very challenging! The children actually understand the importance of this activity and look forward to the weekly challenge.
Some tests in Social Studies are essay-type tests. Students will need to take accurate notes and study them on a nightly basis if they are to be prepared for tests. You cannot hope to be successful by cramming the night before an exam. Study groups are encouraged. These begin at 7:30 a.m. These groups are usually more helpful prior to a test; however, if a student is unclear please see me anytime. In fact, it is best to seek help immediately as Social Studies is building and you can easily become overwhelmed. It is the student’s responsibility to schedule a time with me.
An additional requirement is the passing of the Illinois Constitution. A deadline (April 15) is given for the completion of that test. As most state constitutions are similar in concept to the Federal Constitution we are not spending class time preparing for it. The students will do this as an independent course of study and take the test before the deadline.
I always look forward to teaching my 8th graders...it is a great age! As usual, if you ever have any questions or concerns I welcome your phone calls. Please call or email me at school (847-367-4120 ext.2201; [email protected]) .
Sincerely,
Kathleen Mahoney
Welcome! I hope you had a terrific summer and are ready for your last year here at Oak Grove. I’d like to give you a brief synopsis concerning the curriculum, the class requirements, the grading system, and some general information that you may find helpful. Social Studies will be a very active, participatory class. I believe it should be alive and stimulating. American History will be our main emphasis.
I do not assign written homework every night but there is homework. This concept can be difficult for some students because it places the responsibility on the individual to determine the amount of nightly study. What may be enough studying for one student may not be for another student. More often than not, I will give a reading assignment (textbook pages, handouts, or notes) and I expect each student to contribute to any oral discussion on that assignment. This is implied homework!
Class requirements are straightforward. There are 3 or 4 areas per trimester that will directly affect your grade. Those areas include: book conferences, participation, current events, and tests. For instance, if you choose to do a book conference you will be graded in the following manner: book conference-25%, participation-25%, news tests (current events)-25% and tests-25%. If no book conference is done during a particular trimester the percentages will be adjusted.
As stated, book conferences are optional. Each trimester every student is encouraged to read a book of his/her choosing that pertains to the period of history we are studying. These books will be shared and discussed in peer conferences and/or teacher-student conferences. There is a deadline for the completion of a book conference. Make sure you are aware of that date. For those of you interested, we will be doing a directed-reading-thinking experience using Before Freedom by Belinda Hurmence as a resource the 1st trimester. The Jungle is recommended for particular students during the 2nd trimester.
Participation is a big part of Social Studies. Being on top of nightly notes and reading assignments will contribute heavily to your participation grade. More in-depth participation is required as the year progresses. Students may be assigned topics to research and present to their classmates. Students are encouraged to respond to my news blog.
Current events is another area which contributes to the overall grade. By now, you should know how to accurately use various resources to help you discover news test answers. Students should have begun developing news-gathering and processing habits. These might include watching, listening, discussing, and/or reading about news-related items. News tests are the best tool to help children to think, to make educated guesses and to trust prior knowledge. Students are encouraged to use an almanac and any other resource in the classroom to help them find answers. It is not important that a student knows every answer, but rather knows where to find the appropriate answer. News tests are frustrating and yet they are so very challenging! The children actually understand the importance of this activity and look forward to the weekly challenge.
Some tests in Social Studies are essay-type tests. Students will need to take accurate notes and study them on a nightly basis if they are to be prepared for tests. You cannot hope to be successful by cramming the night before an exam. Study groups are encouraged. These begin at 7:30 a.m. These groups are usually more helpful prior to a test; however, if a student is unclear please see me anytime. In fact, it is best to seek help immediately as Social Studies is building and you can easily become overwhelmed. It is the student’s responsibility to schedule a time with me.
An additional requirement is the passing of the Illinois Constitution. A deadline (April 15) is given for the completion of that test. As most state constitutions are similar in concept to the Federal Constitution we are not spending class time preparing for it. The students will do this as an independent course of study and take the test before the deadline.
I always look forward to teaching my 8th graders...it is a great age! As usual, if you ever have any questions or concerns I welcome your phone calls. Please call or email me at school (847-367-4120 ext.2201; [email protected]) .
Sincerely,
Kathleen Mahoney