Slide Show
Please visit my more detailed website!!!
This site has everything you need to know about my class @
http://web.mac.com/speckie/History
You will find...
- Homework
- Contact information
- Explanation about the unit
- Vocabulary lists with definitions
- worksheets
- Binder order
- and more!!!
Updated through 12/2
Updated through 12/2/08This week is the DC trip, and we don’t have school Mon., or Tues. after. My only HW this week is to complete the DC packet (see web link on my Welcome page), and to collect an image for each of the sites visited in DC. Come with these on the 12th. You can get the images from photographs, pics printed from the web, postcards and flyers collected in DC at the sites.
The rest of November will be focusing on two things, the content of Chapter 8, and the skill of outlining.
Starting on the 13th, we’ll be looking at Chapter 8 in your big textbooks. Some of this will be review, and some will be new. Basically we know the basics of how the government works, but we have to see the history of why we created it this way. Your test on this will be at the beginning of December.
The homework for this chapter will be making outlines for each section. I will give you some specific instructions on how to do outlines, and we’ll be working on the first section for homework and classwork. I want to have you do it in class for the first section to make sure you’re on the right track, and then the rest of the sections you can do with the help of my explicit directions I’ll hand out to you on Wednesday the 13th. This is an important skill to master, and the High School has reported to me that there are real weaknesses in this area.
All Upcoming due dates:
- Outline for 8-1 due 11/13 at the end of class
- Answers to 4 questions on Shays’ Rebellion due 11/17 if you didn’t pass in your answers on 11/14. IF you didn’t do a thorough job on your outline, polish it up/redo for Monday so you’ll be ready for the next activity listed here. I know I still have most of your outlines, but you know if you finished or didn’t do a thorough job. What every outlines you have, you can use.
- 11-17 In class we will be using those outlines you made to do a worksheet and then a quiz. For both you can use your outline for 8-1
- Outline for 8-2 due 11/18 at the beginning of class
- Between 11/18 and 11/19 in class, you will do an open-outline worksheet and quiz
- Outline for 8-3 due 11/20 at the beginning of class
- Either on 11/20 or 11/21 in class you will do an open-outline worksheet and quiz
- Chapter test on 12/2, the day after we back from break.
- BIG OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT: Page 258, you can do any or all of the chapter review: Vocabulary, Key Ideas, or Criticcal Thinking. The ultimate due date is 12/2, but if you want feedback, you need to pass it in on 11/24. I might be able to give feedback if you pass it in on 11/25 but no promises.
CORRECT NUMBER TO ENTER!!
(Online textbook- Activation code is 2606284-10
ISBN# is 0618556710)
The outlines will be graded on content and form.
We will also have a open-outline quiz on each section, so make sure your outlines are thorough.
On the week of Thanksgiving:
We have three 1/2 days due to parent/teacher conferences and the Wednesday before the break, so on that week, we’ll be doing a practice test for Chapter 8 and disccussion/review in preparation for the test on the 2nd of December after the break.
Updated through 10/31
I’m hoping that you will have no homework this week, it depends on how well focused you are in class.This week we will be working on the election process. In lunches, the eighth grade will register to vote in our mock election. The mock election will take place on November 3rd.
Monday-We will be continuing our probe of the differences between the two major political parties.
Tuesday- We will be watching the 3rd Presidential Debate, to explore not only the differences between the parties, but also the two major Presidential candidates.
Wednesday- We will discuss our findings of Monday and Tuesday, and begin to plan out your broad sheets in class on Wednesday.
Due Thursday- be sure you have chosen a candidate you feel is right on a particular issue, and at the three strongest parts of his plan. You will be making those two broadsheets, from start to finish in class Thursday, so you have to have all the information ready. See worksheets link to get websites to refer to.
Friday- we’ll discuss the Electoral College.
Don’t forget to register to vote during lunch, or you won’t be allowed to vote on our Super Monday!!
Updated through 10/24
This week we will be working on your posters on Monday and Tuesday in class. Be sure you’re prepared to work and focus from the beginning to the end of class, with or without your partner. Refer to the Poster instruction sheet and rubric that were handed out in class.
Your poster is due at the beginning of class on the 22nd (Wed), and you are having a Government Unit Part II quiz (basically all the worksheets since the Preamble worksheet). We will review on the 22nd, and you will have the quiz on Thursday the 23rd. This shouldn’t be a problem, as you were to review for this quiz since the beginning of this unit.
On Friday, the 24th we will begin the election Unit. We’ll start with a probe into the difference between the Democratic and Republican Parties.
Next week, we’ll look at the 3rd Presidential debate, and the Electoral College.
Updated through 10/17
Updated through 10/17/08This week we will finish up loose ends from last week, and do two more worksheets. Then we’ll get ready for our mini-project and review quiz.
On Tuesday we’ll finish up last weeks worksheets not finished. And begin our worksheet on Checks and Balances. I will also introduce the mini-project of making informational posters on the content we’ve covered since 10/5. Students will receive a rubric and explanation sheet either today or tomorrow.
On Wednesday, some classes will still be finishing the Checks and Balances worksheet, and going over it. We’ll be sure to go over the concept first and then utilize the Constitution to do the worksheet.
On Thursday, we’ll examine federalism. We’ll talk about what this means, and how it plays a role in how American Democracy works. We’ll then do the worksheet that goes along with that.
On Friday, we’ll check to make sure all the students have their binders in order, and we’ll start the mini-project.
Sneak Peek @ Next Week...
The due date on the poster will be Wednesday 10/22. Each day from 10/17 through 10/22, they need to work on their poster. There will be a brief objective-style Government Unit Part II Quiz will be on 10/23. After that we’ll start up “Election Week”
Updated through 10/10/08
Updated through 10/10/08This week we will be continue to explore the Constitution. Because of this, we will be doing most of our work in class, rather than homework. For homework this week, you should be reviewing the sheets we do in class, to help it sink in.
Monday, you’ll get the last 2-3 assignments on the score sheet link. Then we will be going over the basics of the first 3 Articles of the Constitution. You’ll get a worksheet in class called the “1st 3 Articles Review Sheet”. We’ll fill in the blanks as a class, and you’ll be quizzed on this on Tuesday. The quiz will be the exact same sheet as the worksheet you get on Monday.
Tuesday, we’ll start with the quiz, and then do the worksheet on Article I. We should be able to finish it, and go over it before you leave. We’ll also do a sheet on the overhead to check your understanding.
Wednesday, we’ll explore how a bill becomes a law. We’ll then do the worksheet on that entitled “The Road From Bills to Laws”.
Thursday, examine Article II, and the executive branch, and do a worksheet entitled “I Do Solemnly Swear”.
Friday, we’ll examine Article III, and the judicial branch. We will do a worksheet entitled “Order in the Court”.
Again, the only homework we’ll have is to review what we did in class. Tuesday we’ll have the quiz. Stay tuned for updates on any other quizzes we may have this week.
Updated through 10/3
This week we will begin to explore the U.S. Constitution, and therefore, how the national government works.Monday we’ll took the test on the first part of the Government Unit. Over half of the students got at least a B-! Keep it up! If you didn’t do well, see me on Thursdays after school, or find a way comfortable for you to ask question ( have suggestions on my board).
Tuesday we went over the scores, the answers and gave students absent Monday a chance to do their make up test. We began talking about the steps taken by the new nation before the Constitution came into being. We also began talking about the Articles of Confederation and why the Americans initially wanted a confederation rather than a strong central government. (Grades close today, and I’ll get the essay part of the test back to you as soon as I can, but the objective part of your score will definitely be on your midterm).
Wednesday, we’ll continue this talk, and hopefully do some worksheets that you and your partner(s) will use to explore the Constitution itself.
Thursday and Friday will be more of Wednesday, doing group work to cooperatively dissect Article 1 of the Constitution, and how the legislative branch works.
I’m hoping that there will be no homework this week or weekend, and that we can finish all of the work in class so that I’m there to support you through the process. The only thing that will get in the way of that is your productivity in class not being what it could be. So let us all stay focused together to figure it out and understand.
Updated throught 9/30
Updated through 9/30/08
This week we will review what we’ve learned so far. First, however we’ll resolve some grammar and spelling issues.
On Monday, we’ll have a spelling and grammar ungraded pretest. We will then go over the review sheet to know right from wrong.
On Tuesday we’ll have a quiz on that review sheet (yellow). Then we’ll start our review in the form of a audio/visual presentation using the computer and t.v.
On Wednesday, we’ll finish that presentation. If we have time we’ll see related “Schoolhouse Rock” bits.
On Thursday and Friday, we’ll play a review game. This will cover everything we’ve done so far: everything in your binder, and in the We the People book, Lessons 1, 5 and 6. And Yes!, you will see some spelling and grammar stuff there too!
Study up for the game, the top three teams will get bonus points on Monday’s test, and no one is allowed to sit and sponge off others. All must do their best!
After this, we’ll start to work on the second part of the Government Unit: Who governs and how. This is the real meat of the unit you need to know before the DC trip, whether you’re going or not. :)
Oh, and grades close for midterm on 9/30!!
Updated through 9/19
This week we will be going over the We the People Lessons 5 and 6 to make sure we all understand, as this is the foundation of American Government. (I had study vocab, but took it out, as almost all of the students need to work on fixing their answers and definitions to lessons 5 and 6)
For Wednesday: Some of you need to pass in your Lesson 5 Redo.
For Friday: All but one of you needs to redo your Lesson 6. Be sure you are using everything in the reading to do these assignments. Explain fully and clearly and make sure your reading the question correctly. Use your answers to show me you really understand. And...get the definitions of the terms from the reading, not the glossary, or heaven forbid, the dictionary.
Remember, that when you pass in your redo work, that you need to number the additions made, and you also need to pass in your first draft with your redone work.
For Monday:
Some of you have to redo your questions 1-3 from lesson 6 over again. Have them beautiful by Monday. If you have to do it over, I watched most of you write it in your planner.
Sneak Peak-Next week:
We’re going to chat about grammar and spelling issues I’m seeing in your assignments a bit on Monday and Tuesday. Ms. Anderson and I are plotting against these issues. The rest of the week we will go on to the next government bit. I’m not foreseeing a test next week, perhaps a quiz.
Updated through 9/12
Updated through 9/12/08On Monday I announced that anyone who did not get a perfect score on the “Five Forms of Government Quiz”, will take a retake on Wednesday 9/10. If you got a perfect score (I passed it back Monday) then you have no homework. (Unless you still haven’t covered the book to my satisfaction).
On Tuesday, you will get an assignment from my sub. You will pass in what you finished in class, it is not homework. Note that your work must be done very thoroughly.
On Wednesday, we’ll do the retakes, and then I’ll discuss the reading and then you’ll finish the assignment from Tuesday. If you don’t finish in class, you will need to finish for homework. Pass into your class drawer on Thursday at the beginning of class.
On Thursday, you will get an assignment from my sub. You will pass in what you finished in class, it is not homework. Note that your work must be done very thoroughly.
On Friday, I will discuss the reading, and you’ll finish the assignment. If either the Tuesday or Thursday (Lessons 5 and 6) assignments need to be finished by Friday, you will need to finish them over the weekend.
Next week, as a sneak preview,
We will be going over Lessons 5 and 6 together through discussion and activities. I’m also hoping we can make a visual of some kind, as a class to put all the pieces together for all we’ve learned so far.
Updated through 9/6
For 9/3 you are to read pp. 4-6 in the We the People book. And those of you who didn't come to class 9/2 with your paper bag, you need to have your book covered MY WAY for 9/3 for a grade.You need to do the questions on page 6 in WE the People by the end of class on 9/4. For those of you who need to reread pages 4-6, or want to get a few of these questions done at home to make sure they are finished at the end of class on 9/4, get a head start.
On Thursday 9/4 we will get the 5 forms of government worksheet (also on my “worksheets” link). You should read them over Thursday night. Friday, we will go over these terms fully and then you will have a simple matching quiz at the end of class.
Updated through September 2nd
For the Week of 8/27/08
1. Get intro sheet and survey filled out and signed. Note that my school website is http://jspecksherson.shschools.net and my email is jspecksherson@shschools.com Sorry for all the confusion on this. My more detailed site, where the students and I will be working quite a bit is on this site: http://web.mac.com/speckie/History
2. Bring in big grocery paper bag. Big department store paper bags might work well too if the paper is thick like a grocery bag.
3. For those who want to tap into the textbook online, I got the following information from the publisher representative:
ACTIVATION CODE: 2606284-10
Product Name: American History - eEdition
ISBN #: 9780618829163
I will demonstrate the whole process in class on Tuesday during our book covering party.
