Global History

Global History is full of adventure, historical stories, and investigations. We start with the fall of Rome and end with the French Revolution. We cover over 1,300 years in 9 months! That is a lot of history, so we will be picking out the MAJOR themes/concepts. Students approach history chronologically as well as thematically. Have some fun with your child and ask them “What did you learn in History today?”
 

The 3 R’s - Classroom Expectations

My classroom rules are very simple. Be Respectful, Be Resourceful and Be Responsible. These three R’s are a great filter. I tell my students to pass any decisions they are planning to make through them. “Is that respectful? Am I being responsible? Am I being resourceful?” If the answer is no, don’t do it. It really is that easy. It's all about good decision-making.

Grades

My approach to grades is not how students rank in relation to their friends and peers but did they meet the social studies standards set forth by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. I frame the standards by using historical, geographic, economic, political, and civic concepts/events. Throw all that in with differentiated instruction and a sprinkling of project-based learning and PRESTO an 8th grader ready for 9th grade.

Although I assign homework, I do not grade it. Parents will find homework in the grade book but it is not calculating into the student grade. This provides parents with information concerning their child's progress on skills like academic responsibility and preparation for class. These "work world" skills should be learned and inculcated LONG before a child graduates. Not grading homework, or allowing extra credit, means a students grade is based on actual learning rather than compliance. Ask yourself, which would you rather have; a heart surgeon who graduated from medical school with an A based on test scores or one that needed extra credit and a homework grade to get the A.  

The purpose of education is not about a grade, it's about teaching the whole child. This means gaining skills, and knowledge to take along to the next level of life. Trust me, gaining skills and insight from studying the social studies is important for life. Ken Burns (the writer and producer of the PBS series The Civil War) said history does not repeat itself. He says it rhymes. My goal is that students master the patterns, feels the rhythm of history, so they can successfully live in a society or successfully change it. 

Textbook

This school year we will be using History Alive! The Medieval World and Beyond text published by Teachers' Curriculum Institute. We have a hardcover class set to use in school. Sections of the text that we are using are available on my canvas site too. In fact, almost everything is on canvas.  No excuses for forgetting anything.