Mr. Varhaul   2010    Tentative Course Overview       lvarhaul@hackettstown.org

World History

            1^st Half                                                                     2^nd Half

Renaissance … Reformation                         Democracy in Great Britain ..French Republic

Western Monarchies and City State                  Czarist and Communist Russia

Overseas Empires, Russia and Prussia   Spirit of Nationalism, Germany Emerges

Scientific Revolution, Age of Reason                 Italy is United, Austrian Empire

American and French Revolution                       Industrial Revolution, Spread of Imperialism

Napoleon’s Empire, Restoration of Europe       World War I, World War II

            Current Events                                                  Current Events

Research Assignment(s):  Research Paper

Your Marking Period Grade

45%-Test/Projects                                           5%-Class Participation

30%-Homework                                              20%-Quizzes

YOU should contribute daily to a positive classroom environment by …

• preparing for and participating productively in all class activities
• submitting assignments on time and submitting makeup work promptly
• maintaining a notebook and student agenda
• arranging for extra help when you need it
• taking proper car of books, equipment, and materials

Be prompt       Be prepared   Be attentive    Be respectful  Be responsible

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES include…  cooperative learning (problem solving, decision making, consensus building); discussion and debate; questioning; class work and homework; independent study; field trips; map work; notebook; reading and writing; research reports and presentations; simulations; role playing; speakers; vocabulary development; making historical; cultural and social connections; individual and group presentations and projects.  Using… reading and writing; experiential learning; advanced technology; films; art and literature; lecture; research.

INDICATORS of STUDENT PROGRESS and GROWTH

            Instruction and assessment are ongoing and mutually supportive in our classrooms.  We teach for understanding and performance and assess both what students know and what they can do.  As students explore content and concepts and develop skills, their efforts and accomplishments are assessed by multiple criteria such as…

            Quizzes/Tests               Midterms/Finals            Notebooks/Journals

            Reading                        Writing             Homework

            Research                      Presentation/Projects

            Teacher observation of preparation, participation, productivity, effort

STUDENT ASSESSMENT in Social Studies Classes

            At least 50% of every marking period grade is based on complex forms of assessment.  No more than 50% of any midterm or final exam grade is based on recall of information.

            As students explore content and concepts in individual and group activities, their efforts and accomplishments-reading, writing, research, reports, projects, presentations, field trips, posters, maps, cartoons, role playing, etc.-are evaluated on the basis of such lifelong, real-world standards as critical, creative, and complex thinking; collaborative effort and performance; information processing; preparation, participation, productivity, and effort.