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 * My Mission**
 * My purpose is to give my students a very spare structure of the story of the world, like a bare tree with only a trunk and a few main branches. I also want to show them how to be effective students of social studies so they can pull out and use the information. In the end, I hope they will be set up so that all their lives they can "catch" new information like twigs, leaves, and fruit as they fly by and hang them on the right branch so it all makes sense, and they can be good world citizens, informed consumers, and better people.**

__Requirements for the class:__ Each student must bring the text book, a 120-page or more spiral notebook, planner, and pouch of supplies to each class. Supplies are pen/pencil, highlighter, tape/stapler, scissors, colored pencils, and small ruler. Not only do I teach the content, but also how to learn and keep notes.

__How to earn grades:__ For subjective assessments, such as essays, notebooks, and projects, I use the following criteria and point values: Percent and letter grades follow the county system in the grid below. It is the student's responsibility to arrange to make up missed assignments within a reasonable time arranged by the two of us. A classroom notebook will contain information and assignments that were given. Grades for work that is late due to unexcused reasons will be reduced by 10%. __Grading:__ In my class 70% of the grade will be for summative assignments such as tests, quizzes, projects, and extended writing. Unit tests and involved projects or research is weighted three grades. 30% of the grade is for formative work such as homework, classwork, and notebooks.
 * accuracy (correct, followed directions, details and examples given) 20-44 points
 * completeness (all required material is included) 22-44 points
 * extensions (clear/easy to understand, meaningful reflections/connections made, attractive/creative/well-organized) 0-12 points
 * ===**Percentage**=== || ===**Letter Grade**=== || ===**Point Range**=== ||  ||
 * 93-100% || A || 3.75-4.0 ||  ||
 * 90-92% || A- || 3.50-3.74 ||  ||
 * 87-89% || B+ || 3.26-3.49 ||  ||
 * 83-86% || B || 2.75-3.25 ||  ||
 * 80-82% || B- || 2.5-2.74 ||  ||
 * 77-79% || C+ || 2.26-2.49 ||  ||
 * 73-76% || C || 1.75-2.25 ||  ||
 * 70-72% || C- || 1.50-1.74 ||  ||
 * 67-69% || D+ || 1.26-1.49 ||  ||
 * 65-66% || D || 0.60-1.25 ||  ||
 * 50-64% || F || below .6 ||  ||

Visit and Explore the Following Pages 6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade Calendar Glossary