THE SYCAMORE SCHOOL

EIGHTH GRADE HISTORY

JEFFREY STROEBEL

PARENT INFORMATION

 

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

History 8 is designed to prepare gifted students to take the most challenging high school social studies courses, such as Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB).  There will be a heavy emphasis on writing and historical interpretation skills as well as extensive current events coverage.  During the course of the year, students will write weekly summaries of news articles and complete two major research papers.

 

COURSE CONTENT:

Unit I               Utopia

·        Atomic Bomb Research Paper

A.     Historical Utopias

B.     Communism in the Soviet Union

C.     The Fall of Communism

D.     Russia Today

Unit II             Liberty

A.     The United States Constitution

·        Current Issues Research Paper

B.     The Supreme Court and the Bill of Rights

Unit III            Conflict

A.     The Civil Rights Movement

B.     America in Vietnam

 

MAJOR COURSE GOALS:

·        To provide students with the foundation knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in upper level high school social studies courses (AP).

·        To enhance the ability to utilize historical evidence, evaluate it, and use it to formulate an opinion.

·        To further develop the ability to synthesize a wide variety of information and to draw logical conclusions from that information.

·        To equip students with the skills necessary to write an historical research paper with integrated evidence.

·        To develop an awareness of major national and international issues.

·        To acquaint students with the structure of the United States government, its origins, and current applications.

·        To analyze the development of utopian thought in the world and analyze its effect on the formation of governing structures.

 

IMPORTANT THINGS FOR PARENTS TO KNOW:

Web Site: www.angelfire.com/home/sycamorehistory.  It may also be accessed through the Sycamore School site: www.sycamoreschool.org.  My web site will contain homework assignments, readings, study guides, links, and other additional information.  If students are absent, they should check the web site for assignments (it is not necessary to call the school to request history assignments).

E-Mail: My home e-mail is jstroebel@indy.rr.com.  My school e-mail is stroebel@sycamoreschool.org.  It is better to send messages to my home address, which I have access to at school as well.

Phone:  My voicemail is 479-3357 ext. 166.  My home number is 574-0012.  Please do not call me at home after 9 p.m. and unless you cannot solve the problem in another way (I do check my e-mail frequently).

·        Students will receive a unit guide prior to the start of every unit.  This will list the major things that they will be responsible for knowing at the conclusion of the unit.  Students may also use Digital Learning Advantage, a quiz game, to review for tests.  Digital Learning Advantage is available on the school network.  Students who earn a test essay grade of “C+” or below are eligible to rewrite the essay after conferencing with me.

·        All students are required to have a history notebook.  Readings will be kept in a flexible red binder.  Most readings are also available on my web site. 

·        Homework will vary but reading homework should be expected on an almost nightly basis.  Reading assignments should take between 15-30 minutes.  Assignments will be posted on my web site.  It is generally expected that students will have their reading assignments completed regardless of whether they were in school the previous day.  All writing assignments are due on the due date regardless of whether a student is in school or not (work may be e-mailed).

·        Each week students will be given a news article to read and summarize called the “Article of the Week.”  Students must turn in summaries for half of the articles.  Students must always maintain a 50% completion rate throughout the grading period.

·        Students will write two major research papers during the year.  The first will be on the decision to use the atomic bomb in World War II (due in late October) and the second will be on a current events topic of their choosing (due in late March).  It is very important that students budget their time wisely and not allow a major assignment to languish until the day before it is due. 

·        Parents will be asked to sign all tests and return them to school the next day.  If you would like to keep the test for an additional day(s), please send a note when the signed tests are due.

·        Students will receive frequent grade updates after the second week of a grading period and averages will always be noted on tests..  Students should always know their approximate grade.  Students who have grades below a B- will receive a progress report at the midpoint of the grading period.

·        I will be available for extra review sessions from 3:25-4:10 prior to most major tests.  These optional sessions are designed to provide additional review for students who require more than is offered during regular class periods.

·        I am available to help students (an appointment schedule is posted by my telephone) before school, after school, and during study hall.  I strongly encourage parents to attend on conference days, but they may also schedule appointments at any time.