Soooooooo....
How do things work
in Mr. B's Classroom?...
I have high expectations for my students.
I stress independence and responsibility.
All materials related to class, like notes, documents, pictures, or images, and most assignments are posted on Google Classroom. All that is needed is a device with internet connectivity to access the materials. Homework assignments are easily managable and are due the day they are assigned unless noted. In most cases the work should be completed in class. HOWEVER, it is the RESPONSIBILITY of the STUDENT to make sure all work is done by the accepted DUE DATE.
As the year progresses, old information is removed from Classroom and new information is posted. Grades are usually posted on OnCourse within 2 - 3 days of assessment or having been turned in to me. If your student is struggling, then you will hear from me, so that together we will do what it takes to get them back on track!
Parents can see all class postings by going to their child's Social Studies Classroom Page on Google Classroom. All that is needed for students to access the information is an internet connection device so they can access our Google Classroom page and the Class Code to access their specific classroom. Class codes have been provided to your child on the first day of class. If needed, they can ask me for it again.
See the section to the right entitled "Grading Scale" for weighted grading percentages for assignments and assessments.
There will be Vocabulary for every section of notes. Students will be required to keep and turn in their Vocabulary Notebook... I will provide notebooks for ALL students in the first week of school. Students are required to keep up with all vocabulary and STUDY it for assessment. Knowing the topic-specific vocabulary will also help students understand content material and topics, as well as prepare them for the chapter assessments.
Some note taking will be manditory. It is a proven fact that the more you see or do something the more you remember it or get better at it, so it is HIGHLY recommended that students read over the notes posted on Classroom (STUDY). It only takes 5 to 10 minutes to read the notes for most sections.... We will learn how to take notes both efficiently and effectively. They will be required to take down specific information that is essential for understanding a lesson.
Assessments are given in many different ways. I try to assess using projects or activities whenever possible, but there are also traditional written assessments. Knowing how to write properly is important, and I correct for spelling, usage, grammar, punctuation, and other conventions. I encourage students to use their time wisely in class and at home. We will generally do some kind of review before formal assessment. This may include a whole class review, individual assignments, or a study guide that students help to fill out in class. On occasion, students will be allowed to use notes on assessments. This facilitates the skill of locating information in a text and synthesizing it to show understanding.
Students should take advantage of the "Useful Links and Sites" Page. It has many websites to further their quest for knowledge related to classroom lessons and other areas of interest. Sometimes, we will use this page in class to investigate a topic further or to complete a project. It will be expremely helpful for the eighth graders when completing their Holocaust Research Paper for English Language Arts class after the winter break.
I encourage students who are struggling with concepts to seek me out in class or via email. We can always set up a "Google Meet" class to meet if needed. In addition, I am ALWAYS in school by 7:15 am. If you have any questions related to class, please do not hesitate to contact me.