COURSE DESCRIPTION Welcome to World History I! This year well explore the experiences of people who lived in diverse societies across the globe before 1600, including: the classical civilizations of India and China the Mongolian Empire that stretched across Eurasia the Roman and Islamic Empires of the Mediterranean and Middle East the African Empires in Ghana, Mali, and along the Swahili Coast the European Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Reformation
ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS Although the people of these societies lived in a very different time and place from us, their wisdom, creativity, and even their most terrible mistakes can help us to better meet the challenges of our time and place. By the end of the year you will be better able to: evaluate the ways leaders gain and maintain legitimacy; analyze both what sparks technological and intellectual innovations and what changes because of them; describe how trade networks allow ideas, goods and people to spread and develop across the globe; explain how peoples diverse ideas about religion and philosophy influence government, art, social class, and gender in a pluralistic society.
HISTORICAL SKILLS In addition, as part of our study of World History we will focus on the skills you will need not only to be academically successful at LHS, but also to make thoughtful decisions and positively influence the decisions of others. You will improve your ability to: read nonfiction texts, write clearly and analytically, speak articulately and persuasively, think critically and creatively, manage your time effectively and stay organized.
EVERYDAY MATERIALS what do I need? why? assignment notebook/calendar to keep track of assignments spiral notebook to take notes/keep them organized pocket folder or three ring binder to store handouts, homework assignments
TEXTBOOK (to be kept at home): World History: Patterns of Interaction EXPECTATIONS As a high school student, you have more freedom than middle school. However, you also have more responsibilities.
First and foremost, you have the responsibilityand the opportunity--to learn. In order to make the most of that opportunity you need to be in class. Therefore, LHS, and I, take the attendance policy very seriously. Be sure you have read and understood this policy in the student handbook. If you are absent, excused or not, I expect you to use multiple strategies to find out what you have missed. You can get in touch with another student, check the class website, and, of course, come to see me.
It is also important to get to class on time. In order to be on time, you need to be in your seat, with your materials out when class begins. When you are late, you miss out on learning, interrupt me, and distract people. Because I know you need to get to your next classes on time, I will end class with enough time for you to pack up before the bell rings.
I want you to become a good human being as well as a good student. Therefore, I expect that you take LHSs social and civic expectations seriously. I hold high expectations for your personal integrity. Plagiarism is a form of dishonesty that I expect you to avoid and that, like all forms of cheating, will result in a failing grade on the assignment.
Finally, a few reminders about being a responsible member of our classroom community. It is extremely important to me that everyone feels comfortable in class so that we are all able to do our best work. Therefore, I expect you to: speak and act respectfully to everyone in the room come to class prepared with your homework completed, a pen or pencil, your notebook, folder, and/or three ring binder make sure your cell phone, iPod, and other electronic devices are neither seen nor heard treat the classroom respectfullytake your belongings when you leave, return furniture, books, and other materials to the place you found them participate to the best of your abilityask questions, contribute to discussions, respond thoughtfully to your classmates and to me, actively engage in your education!
TERM GRADES Your grade will be broken down each term as follows:
Every term you will be evaluated on a combination of tests (no more than 2 per term), quizzes, longer writing assignments (usually one per term), homework, and classwork.
You can see that what you do in class is approximately of your term grade. Your attitude, attention, level of respect, punctuality, willingness to take risks, and genuine effort are of the utmost importance. You may not be good at history (YET!) but there is absolutely no reason you cant be a good student so long as you put in the effort, ask questions, and try to have a positive outlook. A sense of humor will also take you very far!
HOMEWORK There will be approximately 2 hours of homework each week. Homework does not need to be perfect to receive full credit. Learning from your mistakes before completing a project or taking a test will ensure that you succeed in World History. Homework that is not completed on time will not be given full credit, but it must be completed. Each assignment is worth up to ten points.
Homework is an important part of this class. Each assignment serves a different purpose: sometimes I need to find out what you know; sometimes I need you to know something for the next class; sometimes it is practice, reflection, or application of a skill you learned; and sometimes, especially when it comes to large projects, homework is useful because it breaks up lots of work into smaller, more manageable pieces. You can ask any of my former students there is a direct correlation between students who put effort into their homework and students who do well in assessments.
The homework will always be posted in one or more of the following places: in-class, on the calendar, or on the website.
COMMUNICATION: One of the most important skills you will learn in this class is communication. One important form of communication is analytical and argumentative writing. You will begin to develop this skill as you are asked to form and support an opinion with evidence in short answer questions and longer essays.
However, equally important, is the skill of communicating respectfully and appropriately in discussion and email with your teachers and classmates. This also means taking ownership of your struggles and communicating them as soon as possible. If you find yourself falling behind, confused, overwhelmed, upset with a peer or myself, or struggling outside of class, please see me as soon as possible so I can help you solve the problem. Especially when it directly concerns our classroom, I hope you feel comfortable coming to me; however, if you do not, please use the extended support network of your other teachers, your guidance counselors, and your parents. We want your freshman year to be awesome!
Student thoroughly completes all aspects of assignment.
Work reflects thoughtfulness and movement toward mastery of skill and/or content
you really get it
Student completes most aspects of assignment.
Work reflects some movement toward mastery of skill and/or content
you get it
Student completes some aspects of assignment.
Work reflects limited movement toward mastery of skill and/or content
you kind of get it
Student does not complete assignment.
Work does not reflect movement toward mastery of skill and/or content
you dont get it Timeliness
Student is prepared to turn in work at start of class.
Student turns in work before the end of the day or completes work with the teacher.
Student turns in work before the next class.
Students work is turned in significantly late.
EXPLANATION vs. EXCUSE Finally, please be aware at all times that I never accept excuses, only explanations. What is the difference?
Explanation I have a concert every night next week and I have an earth science test that Friday. Can I get the homework in advance or can I bring in the Thursday and Friday homework after the weekend?
I forgot to bring my notebook home and so I didnt have the homework. Ill make it up before the next class.
I didnt do the homework for today Ms. Fitz. My bad.
Excuse I have a concert every night next week and I have an earth science test that Friday. Can you just let me hand it in another time or just be cool and not make me do it?
I forgot to bring my notebook home and so I didnt have the homework. Can I show it to you tomorrow for full credit?
I didnt do the homework for today Ms. Fitz but its not my fault becauseblah, blah, blah.
An explanation is when you take responsibility and accept the consequences. Part of taking responsibility is speaking to me as far in advance as possible when you are struggling or anticipating multiple distractions. An email the night before DOES NOT qualify as an explanation. Explanations also include acknowledging that you are unprepared without making an excuse. If youre generally prepared and consistently show effort, you dont need to make an excuse because I know that this is an exception.
Excuses are ways to avoid consequences or responsibility.
Please remember that I recognize the difference between struggling valiantly with a difficult task and giving up on a difficult task or not attempting it. EFFORT IS THE KEY!
ABOUT ME: I love the Boston Bruins and the New England Patriots. I have a cat named Bill Murray and my favorite show in the whole world is Arrested Development. I have read 1984 over forty times. I have read all seven Harry Potter books close to sixty times. I was a history major at UMASS Amherst and an education major at Boston College. I love being a teacher and connecting our studies to current events. This is my second year at Lexington and my first time teaching freshman at LHS. I am looking forward to an awesome year!