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 had the privilege of teaching in a Christian environment for 31 years. This year will be my 11th year at CCS. 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. Galatians 2:20.
This year I will be using my blogs and
dropbox.com to keep you informed of assignments, projects, and to keep you up
to date concerning your child’s progress.
Please feel free to e-mail or call me
(300-689-6267) 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
American Studies I: Syllabus MR. Demchak
7th – 8th Grade 2014-15
7th – 8th Grade 2014-15
Things
to bring everyday:
1. Notebook - 3 ring binder
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
• 75% Tests, presentations and quizzes
• 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
Outcome Sentences- From time to time either to reflect on the homework, video 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”
National History Day-Students will be creating NHD projects during the course of this year. NHD is a meaningful way for students to study historical issues, ideas, people and events by engaging in historical research. The theme for 2014-15 is Leadership and Legacy in History. Students and parents can access more information by going to my NHD 2013-14 link in the upper right hand corner of this blog. I have also created a web site CCS National History Day http://demchakmj2015.weebly.com/ it includes an overview and a set of guidelines for the entire NHD experience. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. (330-689-6267) I will be introducing the students to the project on a step by step basis.
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
• 75% Tests, presentations and quizzes
• 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
Outcome Sentences- From time to time either to reflect on the homework, video 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”
National History Day-Students will be creating NHD projects during the course of this year. NHD is a meaningful way for students to study historical issues, ideas, people and events by engaging in historical research. The theme for 2014-15 is Leadership and Legacy in History. Students and parents can access more information by going to my NHD 2013-14 link in the upper right hand corner of this blog. I have also created a web site CCS National History Day http://demchakmj2015.weebly.com/ it includes an overview and a set of guidelines for the entire NHD experience. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. (330-689-6267) I will be introducing the students to the project on a step by step basis.
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.
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.
Course of Study: 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 they 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
Classroom Discipline
Dear Parents, August
27, 2014
I am honored for the opportunity to have your son/daughter
in my class this year. I am dedicated to having the student’s experience
Christ’s presence in my class each day and to making this an exciting and
productive year for each student. As I firmly believe that self-discipline is
crucial to the success of any student, I utilize a Classroom Discipline Plan
that includes CCS's discipline policy and a few additional guidelines.
The plan is designed to allow each student the opportunity
to control his or her own behavior. Your child deserves the best possible
learning environment for academic growth. The purpose of the following plan is
to help students to work together with me to create this type of atmosphere in
the classroom.
BEHAVIOR GUIDELINES: All students are to:
1. Follow directions the first time they are given.
1. Follow directions the first time they are given.
2. Be in the classroom and seated before the bell begins to
ring.
3. Bring all assigned materials (assigned work, textbook,
notebook, etc.) to class every day.
4. Stay in their seats unless given permission to get up.
5. Keep hands, feet, and all objects to themselves.
EARNED PRTVLEGES:
To encourage and motivate the students to follow the rules,
I will reward proper behavior with:
1. Individual rewards such as verbal praises, positive
notes, homework passes and extra credit.
2. Class wide rewards such as open discussion time, drawing
for prizes and taking a question off a test.
EARNED CONSEQUENCES:
If a student chooses not to follow the rules, consequences
will be as follows. Note all consequences are cumulative. Each new consequence
is in addition to consequences previously imposed.
First Offence- name checked once = warning. .
Second Offence - name checked twice = student will see me
after class.
Third Offence - name checked three times = student write a
note to their parent explaining why they committed the offence. Subsequent
offences = 1 day detention.
Severe disruption - student is immediately sent to the
principal.
I have already discussed the Plan with the students, but I
would appreciate it if you reviewed the Plan with your child, then sign and
return the accompanying form. I will be contacting you from time to time this
year to keep you up- to-date on your child's progress. Please feel free to
contact me at any time.
Sincerely,
Mike Demchak
