Dear Parents,
Thank you for your commitment to Christian education and to CCS. I am looking forward to having your child in my class this year. I’d like to take this opportunity to share with you a few things about myself personally and professionally. I have been committed to Christian education for 27 years. Before coming to CCS in 2004, I taught at Greater Cleveland Christian for 8 years. I attended Marietta College, where I received my B.A. degrees in history and education. It was not until ten years later however, after I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior that the Lord gave me a strong desire to teach.
I am dedicated to helping your child develop the skills necessary to make wise choices when confronted with life’s challenges. I will strive to help your child reach his or her highest potential and God-given talents spiritually, intellectually, socially, and emotionally. In all interactions with your child, I will strive to treat him or her with respect, compassion and understanding. In return, I expect cooperation and respect from your child.
As a teacher of History, it is my desire to help each student to see how knowledge of the past contributes to our understanding of the present and future. My aim is to encourage your child to think critically, listen with discernment and communicate with power and precision. Perhaps most importantly, I will strive to help each student to see God’s hand in the events of the past, present and future, as well as His involvement in their own lives.
This year I will be using my blog to keep you informed of assignments and projects to keep you up to date on your child’s progress. Please feel free to e-mail me about any questions or concerns. You are the most important person in your child’s life, and your involvement and support mean a great deal. Together, we can make a difference in your child’s life
Yours in Christ
Mr. Michael Demchak
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Syllabus: American Studies I
The Story of America by John A Garraty will be the focal point of this course. It is a highly readable, straightforward, chronological history of the United States. The book’s narrative is filled with anecdotes that engage the attention of junior high students.
The text helps students meet 4 important goals. First, it helps them to develop a knowledge and cultural understanding of the events that shaped this country. Students are often asked to use historical imagination, which allows them to view the people and events thay are studying from the perspective of the people involved.
Secondly, students are encouraged to develop an understanding of the democratic process and civic values that shaped our nation’s foundation and history.
Third, students are given the opportunity to develop and utilize study skills, critical thinking skills, and social participation skills.
In addition I will be emphasizing God’s hand in the formation and development of the United States using outside materials and documents throughout the year.
Semester One:
• English Colonies in America
• Life in Colonial America
• Governing the American Colonies
• The Revolutionary War
• Creating the United States
• The Prince among Slaves
Semester Two:
• Governing the United States
• The Age of Jefferson
• War and Peace, 1812-1823
• Andrew Jackson Man of Peace or War
• Slavery and Abolition
• Causes of the Civil War
• The Civil War
The text helps students meet 4 important goals. First, it helps them to develop a knowledge and cultural understanding of the events that shaped this country. Students are often asked to use historical imagination, which allows them to view the people and events thay are studying from the perspective of the people involved.
Secondly, students are encouraged to develop an understanding of the democratic process and civic values that shaped our nation’s foundation and history.
Third, students are given the opportunity to develop and utilize study skills, critical thinking skills, and social participation skills.
In addition I will be emphasizing God’s hand in the formation and development of the United States using outside materials and documents throughout the year.
Semester One:
• English Colonies in America
• Life in Colonial America
• Governing the American Colonies
• The Revolutionary War
• Creating the United States
• The Prince among Slaves
Semester Two:
• Governing the United States
• The Age of Jefferson
• War and Peace, 1812-1823
• Andrew Jackson Man of Peace or War
• Slavery and Abolition
• Causes of the Civil War
• The Civil War
Friday, July 16, 2010
MR. Demchak’s Class Information
Things to bring everyday:
1. Notebook - 3 ring binder
2.Textbook: The Story of America
3. Homework
4. Outline
5. Paper, Pencil, and Pen
• Failure to bring school supplies to class could result in disciplinary action as
described in the CCS Disciplinary Policy.
• Grading
A= 100-93 B= 92-85 C= 84-73 D= 72-65 F= 64 and below
• Quarter Grades
• 25% Homework assignments
• 70% Tests and quizzes
• 5% class participation including chapter plays
• Final Grade
Each quarter represents 25 % of the final grade. (Refer to handbook)
• General Rules for the Classroom
1. Follow directions the first time they are given.
2. Be in your seat when the bell rings.
3. Come to class with all materials mandated by the teacher.
4. Do not talk while the teacher or someone else is speaking.
5. Stay in your seats unless given permission to get up.
6. Keep hands, feet, and all objects to yourself.
Specific Guidelines
Journal Entries- From time to time either to reflect on the homework assignment or following a class discussion I will ask you to write a few sentences starting with some phrases like these. I learned.. .Or I was surprised... Or I'm beginning to wonder... Or I'm gaining a better understanding of... Or I cannot agree with... Or I would like to find out more about... I will also be using a device I call “Hot Call”
I'm here to help- If you have problems or questions I am here to help. See me before school (I get here by 7:30), before class, 3rd period, at lunch, during break or after school. I stay for at least a half-hour and will stay longer. I will make study sessions available when needed.
Prayer - Please remind me to pray before we start the day's lesson. Students should remind me in an appropriate fashion (raising their hand and waiting to be called upon). The first student to remind me in an appropriate manner to pray will receive extra credit as a way of saying " thank you ".
Absences- Students have the number of days they are absent to make up work. All absent work should be turned in marked " absent" after an absence. If you miss my class but you were at school for any part of the day (sports, drama, sick at the nurse, etc.) you must turn in your assignments that day before the end of school. Long-term projects are due on the assigned date regardless of whether you can come to class that day. If you are not sure what is considered a "long-term project" and what is not it would be in your best interest to turn the assignment in question in on the day it is due.
Late work - Students can turn in any assignment late for half credit. The deadline for homework turned in late is the day of the chapter test that the assignment pertains to. No late work is accepted after the deadline - no exceptions. Please turn it in marked "Late"
Plagiarism - All work turned into me should be the students own work. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to: copying someone's answers on a test, homework, or other assignment; letting someone copy answers on a test, homework, or other assignment; copying information from a book, magazine, encyclopedia, web site, or other source and portraying this information as something you have written. Working with someone else should not produce identical answers to every question. You are not prohibited from working with a friend, but you are expected to form separate responses.
Extra credit- Extra credit assignments will be given from time to time. Extra credit cannot exceed 3% of the student's total points for the quarter. One extra credit assignment that students can take advantage of is as follows:
• Using the pages assigned for homework, create a time line highlighting the events described in the assigned reading.
Extra credit is to be turned in along with the homework assignment.
1. Notebook - 3 ring binder
2.Textbook: The Story of America
3. Homework
4. Outline
5. Paper, Pencil, and Pen
• Failure to bring school supplies to class could result in disciplinary action as
described in the CCS Disciplinary Policy.
• Grading
A= 100-93 B= 92-85 C= 84-73 D= 72-65 F= 64 and below
• Quarter Grades
• 25% Homework assignments
• 70% Tests and quizzes
• 5% class participation including chapter plays
• Final Grade
Each quarter represents 25 % of the final grade. (Refer to handbook)
• General Rules for the Classroom
1. Follow directions the first time they are given.
2. Be in your seat when the bell rings.
3. Come to class with all materials mandated by the teacher.
4. Do not talk while the teacher or someone else is speaking.
5. Stay in your seats unless given permission to get up.
6. Keep hands, feet, and all objects to yourself.
Specific Guidelines
Journal Entries- From time to time either to reflect on the homework assignment or following a class discussion I will ask you to write a few sentences starting with some phrases like these. I learned.. .Or I was surprised... Or I'm beginning to wonder... Or I'm gaining a better understanding of... Or I cannot agree with... Or I would like to find out more about... I will also be using a device I call “Hot Call”
I'm here to help- If you have problems or questions I am here to help. See me before school (I get here by 7:30), before class, 3rd period, at lunch, during break or after school. I stay for at least a half-hour and will stay longer. I will make study sessions available when needed.
Prayer - Please remind me to pray before we start the day's lesson. Students should remind me in an appropriate fashion (raising their hand and waiting to be called upon). The first student to remind me in an appropriate manner to pray will receive extra credit as a way of saying " thank you ".
Absences- Students have the number of days they are absent to make up work. All absent work should be turned in marked " absent" after an absence. If you miss my class but you were at school for any part of the day (sports, drama, sick at the nurse, etc.) you must turn in your assignments that day before the end of school. Long-term projects are due on the assigned date regardless of whether you can come to class that day. If you are not sure what is considered a "long-term project" and what is not it would be in your best interest to turn the assignment in question in on the day it is due.
Late work - Students can turn in any assignment late for half credit. The deadline for homework turned in late is the day of the chapter test that the assignment pertains to. No late work is accepted after the deadline - no exceptions. Please turn it in marked "Late"
Plagiarism - All work turned into me should be the students own work. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to: copying someone's answers on a test, homework, or other assignment; letting someone copy answers on a test, homework, or other assignment; copying information from a book, magazine, encyclopedia, web site, or other source and portraying this information as something you have written. Working with someone else should not produce identical answers to every question. You are not prohibited from working with a friend, but you are expected to form separate responses.
Extra credit- Extra credit assignments will be given from time to time. Extra credit cannot exceed 3% of the student's total points for the quarter. One extra credit assignment that students can take advantage of is as follows:
• Using the pages assigned for homework, create a time line highlighting the events described in the assigned reading.
Extra credit is to be turned in along with the homework assignment.
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