Homework.................. 15%
Problem Solving.......... 15%
Class Work ................ 15%
Internet Assignments.... 5%
Class Participation....... 5%
Tests are usually given when a chapter or a concept has been completed. As recommended to meet the new standards, tests will always include some types of word problems and will also include a review of previously tested material as well as recently learned concepts.
Math homework is given each night and should be completed in about 15 or 20 minutes but may take longer if class assignments also need to be completed. Students are given a homework grade of 100 at the start of the trimester. If all homework is completed and completed correctly, students will earn 100% of the 10 points homework is worth. Each time a student does not complete homework 5 points will be deducted from the 100 original points. 2 points will be deducted for incomplete homework. Homework will be checked, but not collected in class each day. If a student completes all homework for the month a homework pass will be issued and the student may use the pass and be excused from homework once the next month.
Students will receive a problem of the week every Friday and must solve it and turn it by the next Friday. The problem of the week is worth 10 points as follows:
1 Point- State the problem- students should either copy it word for word or write it in their words, but make sure it is an accurate version of the problem
2 Points- Get the correct answer. The answer should be given in one or two complete sentences. Even if students aren’t sure of the answer they should give their best guess.
5 points- Explain the process used to solve the problem. If scrap paper is used, students should attach it, but be sure to write out and explain what they did. If something was tried and it didn’t seem to work, explain that too! Every problem may not be solved on the first try. Explanations should be at least a paragraph and maybe more, if necessary.
2 Points- Justify the answer. Explain why it is correct, or why that answer was chosen instead of a different possibility. Is the answer reasonable? Does it answer the question? Are there any other possible answers?
A well written problem of the week should be about one page. Diagrams, models or scrap paper should be attached along with the written work to show how the problem was solved.
Getting the right answer is only worth 2 out of 10 points. If students get a wrong answer but really explain it well and provide good reasons why it is correct, they could still get 8 out of 10 points. If students get the right answer, but don’t explain or justify it, they could get just 2 out of 10. I am more interested in how students think, figure things out and explain than just whether they get it right.
Students may talk about this with family or friends, but should do the work figuring this out themselves.
Students are required to complete all collected assignments given in class. Sometimes students will work on individual assignments that will be handed in and graded. They will also work in cooperative learning groups and will be required to present their group’s findings to the class. Students will be graded on their ability to work as a group, the strategies they use to solve a problem, their understanding of the concepts, use of manipulatives and other aids and their explanation of the process used.
There will be three Internet assignments per trimester. Students are required to complete one. Each additional assignment will be counted as extra credit. Each additional Internet assignment completed will reduce the weight of tests by 5%. If all three assignments are completed they will be worth 15% of the final grade and tests 35%. If a student does not have access to the Internet at home arrangements can be made to do the assignment in school.
This year’s Internet assignments include:
Precipitation- Due by September 27*
National Parks- Due by October 16*
Seafood- Due by November 2*
City to City- Due by December 4*
Car Race- Due by December 20*
Ballet Prices- Due by January 17*
Fruit Fractions- Due by March 6*
Coin Flip- Due by April 6*
Food Pyramid- Due by April 30*
* Dates are subject to change, depending on how long a topic takes to cover.
Students are expected to show interest in class by asking and answering questions, listening to others’ questions and answers, paying attention during class and working cooperatively with others.
Social Studies Course Outline
Grading
Tests........................... 45%
Homework.................. 10%
Essays…………………5%
Projects....................... 15%
Class Work................. 15%
Current Events............. 5%
Class Participation....... 5%
Tests are given at the end of each chapter and include facts, skills and concepts learned in the chapter. Tests usually consist of both short answer questions such as multiple choice and matching columns, interpreting maps, graphs and writing essays and short paragraphs to answers to more comprehensive questions.
Homework is assigned about four times a week and may be written (from the workbook) or reading (from the textbook.) Homework should take about 15 or 20 minutes each night but may take longer if class assignments also need to be completed. Students are given a homework grade of 100 at the start of the trimester. If all homework is completed and completed correctly, students will earn 100% of the 10 points homework is worth. Each time a student does not complete homework 5 points will be deducted from the 100 original points. 2 points will be deducted for incomplete homework. Homework will be checked, but not collected in class each day. Occasionally homework will be collected and graded. If a student completes all homework for the month a homework pass will be issued and the student may use the pass and be excused from homework once the next month.
Essays
In addition to the regular nightly homework, students will be asked to write five essays each trimester. Essays will be given out each Friday and are due no later than the next Friday. Since there are at least 9 or 10 weeks each trimester, students may skip an essay without being penalized- as long as the student hands in 5 essays by the close of the trimester. 25 points are given for each essay completed. A homework pass may be used once a trimester to replace an essay. Students will not lose credit for using a homework pass.
Trimester 1: Five essays due between September 22nd and November 17th
Trimseter2: Five essays due between December 1st and February 9th
Trimester 3: Five essays due between March 19th and May 25th
Two projects will be assigned each trimester. Directions will be given to the students about 1 month before the project is due. Students will usually have to do some research to finish each project and are expected to complete projects on their own or combine their work with others in the class. To avoid copying from books and cutting and pasting from the Internet, projects will require students to use the information they find to give an opinion, explain why, make a prediction, etc.
This year’s projects include:
Project 1: Explorers- due October 10*
Project 2: Life in the Colonies- due November 8*
Project 3: Design a Flag- due December 19*
Project 4: Doll Project- due January 25*
Project 5: ABC Immigrant Group Book- due April 10*
Project 6: Latin America- due May 10*
* Dates are subject to change, depending on how long a topic takes to cover.
Students are expected to complete all assignments given in class. Sometimes students will be given individual assignments and sometimes they will work in cooperative groups. Most assignments should be finished in class, but students may ask for extra time to complete a given assignment.
Students are expected to turn in five Current Events assignments each trimester. The assignment will always consist of finding a political cartoon from a daily newspaper, pasting the cartoon to the top of a piece of loose leaf and writing the answer to the following questions: 1. What event in the news does this cartoon refer to? 2. Are symbols used and if so what are they? 3. What is the Illustrator’s opinion about the subject of the cartoon? (for or against, critical or praising, poking fun or serious, etc.)
Current Events are due on Mondays (or the first day of the school week) only and only one cartoon may be handed in each week.
First Trimester: Five Current Events are due between September 10 and November5
Second Trimester: Five Current Events are due between December 3 and February 11
Third Trimester: Five Current Events are due between March 3 and May 19
Students are expected to show interest in class by asking and answering questions, listening to others’ questions and answers, paying attention during class and working cooperatively with others.
Homework.................. 5%
Class work.................. 15%
Character Builders ...... 10%
Unit review.................. 5%
Class Participation....... 5%
Tests
Tests are given at the end of each chapter or two and will usually consist of objective questions such as multiple choice and matching columns, looking up Bible references and answering questions in complete sentences or short paragraphs. Students will be asked to highlight or underline important information from the chapter in their text book and can expect to encounter questions based on the highlighted information on each test.
Written homework will be assigned occasionally and studying should be done on a regular basis. Students are given a homework grade of 100 at the start of the trimester. If all homework is completed and completed correctly, students will earn 100% of the 5 points homework is worth. Each time a student does not complete homework 5 points will be deducted from the 100 original points. Homework will be checked, but not collected in class each day.
Students are expected to complete all assignments given in class. Sometimes students will be given individual assignments and sometimes they will work in cooperative groups. Most assignments should be finished in class, but students may ask for extra time to complete a given assignment.
Character Builders
Since both learning and living our faith are important aspects of the religion class, we will work on topics involving character and virtues that we all need to possess to live out faith. Character builders will include class discussions, games and activities which help teach about values, and a written assignment. Students will be asked to work on 6 character builders each trimester. Time will be given in class to work on the written assignments, but students may complete written assignments at home if necessary.
Students will be assigned one unit review the first trimester and two unit reviews during the second and third trimesters. Unit reviews are similar to tests, but will cover several chapters. Students will complete these reviews at home and will be given the reviews at least a week in advance of the due date.
Students are expected to show interest in class by asking and answering questions, listening to others’ questions and answers, paying attention during class and working cooperatively with others.