World Geography 2018-2019

Parent Teacher Conferences.

Conferences will take place today(11/12) and Wednesday(11/14) after school from 4-7 pm on both days. Conferences will be limited to 5 minutes for each parent as a time to check in and discuss grades and behavior in the classroom. If you miss conferences or are interested in discussing grades over the phone or via email, please send me an email or you can call the school to leave me a voicemail expressing your interest in this alternative.

Unit 2: North America (Focus on Regions)

Last week we began looking at the physical features of North America. We will continue looking at the physical features this week. Our goal will be dividing the continent into regions based on major physical characteristics.

Map Check 4: North America’s Physical features

Our next formative map assessment is underway. Students have been learning the physical features in North America over the past week during our lessons and have a review assignment on Google Classroom. Student should have completed and submitted their assignment by today(11/12) or tomorrow (11/13). The actual formative assessment that will be used to see if students learned the location of the features will be next Monday (11/19) for B-day and next Tuesday (11/20) for A-day.

 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please email me.

trericm@dearbornschools.org

-Mr. Trerice

Five Themes of Geography Project

Please encourage your child to be sure to complete their research USING the Five Themes of Geography to help them learn more about the country they chose. Directions and a template/partial example for the project can be found on last week’s post. The actual project is due 10/30 (A-day) and 10/31 (B-day). However, any student who needs more time can give up their chance to fix/redo the project by taking it home to complete it to turn in by the next class period. If a student DOES turn the project in on time, they will receive a score on Student/Parent Connect that day. Students can then check Google Classroom for feedback and comments about what might need to be fixed or corrected on the poster to receive full credit when they make the corrections by the end of next class.

End of Card Marking 1

This week will mark the end of the first card marking and grades will be finalized for the report cards over the next days.

Unit 2: North America (Focus on understanding Regions)

The last day of this week will also mark the start of our next unit. We will focus on North America and study the Geographic Big Idea of Regions.

If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.

Thanks!

trericm@dearbornschools.org

-Mr. Trerice

Map Check 3: South America

This week students will be formatively assessed on the countries of South America. If your child still needs to review, you may use this link: Click here for the Map Review game website.

Five Themes of Geography Project

Students will be conducting research in class about a country using the Five Themes of Geography. This will be the final project for our first unit and will therefore be a summative grade. The students will be conducting most of the research in class and may complete research at home as needed. Project work should be completed mostly in class and can be submitted by 10/30 (A-day) or 10/31 (B-day). All REDO and LATE projects must be submitted by FRIDAY 11/2 for both A and B day classes (this is the last day of the card marking). For a look at the rubric and a partially completed template click the links here: Five Themes of Geography Mini-Poster COUNTRY blog

Map Check 2 Retake

This Monday and Tuesday (10/15 and 10/16) any student who scored lower than proficient (20/28 or lower) on their last map check will try again.

Conditions and Connections

The last week and a half we have been trying to understand the question: How do people choose where to put their town? Two of the key vocabulary words used in this process were condition and connection. We will be taking our first attempt at this assessment today and tomorrow in class. If a student needs a retake, this will take place on Friday. I will have a copy of the PowerPoint slides and the completed map on the Google Classroom site of any student who needs to retake the assessment.

Five Themes of Geography

This week we are starting to look closely at how the Five themes of Geography can help us understand a region or location. We will be practicing these concepts in class and will have a few homework assignments to work on this as well. As an extra resource you can check here: Five Themes of Geography Article OR Google Classroom to review and discuss these concepts with your child.

Map 3: South America

Next week the formative assessment on Map 3 will take place on Wednesday 10/24 (A-day)  and Thursday 10/25 (B-day). If you need help reviewing with your child you can use the link here: Click here to access the South America practice Map. I have been encouraging students to review daily for 10 minutes until they score 100% consistently WITHOUT looking at a map for help. As a point of clarification, it is OK to use an outside map or the answer key on the map game. However, you probably are not ready unless you can score 100% without looking at a map.

 

If you have any questions, please let me know:

-Mr. Trerice

trericm@dearbornschools.org

Map Check #1 – The World

This week we have taken our first learning check on our map skills. This one focused on the continents and oceans. Please check student connect in the next few days to see your child’s score. If your child scored a 2.5 or lower on their map check I will be reviewing with them in class and asking them to take the map check again during class on Monday or Tuesday. (I will make a comment on Parent/student connect).

Unit 1: Basics of Geography

This week we have also started to dig deeper into our first unit on the basics of Geography starting with vocabulary practice and a general introduction to the topic completed in class. We will continue this focus for the next 3 weeks.

Looking to next week and beyond

Our next Map Check will feature North America and the formative assessment check will be: A-day- October 8th, B-day October 9th. Please encourage your child to be sure to complete the Practice Assignment on Google Classroom and to KEEP Studying even after the assignment is completed by playing the review games linked on the assignment in Google Classroom. You can also a link to one of the review games here: Click here to practice for the countries of North America

 

If there are any questions, please send me an email: trericm@dearbornschools.org

-Mr. Trerice

 

NWEA Language Arts Test:

This week we will be using most of our class time to complete the NWEA test in Language Arts. this test is used to assess students’ understanding of concepts taught in Language Arts. We are giving the test in Global Studies because the Language Arts department has TWO tests to give at this time each year. So, we help out by administering the test in the Social Studies classrooms. Also, we use much of the information we learn about the students from them taking these two tests to help us direct our lessons for the year.

Map Quiz 1: The World

Students have been studying for our first map quiz covering the continents and oceans. Please encourage your son/daughter to play the review games to practice (links to these games can be found at the bottom of the practice assignment posted to Google Classroom). The Actual quiz will be Monday 9/24 for A-day and Tuesday 9/25 for B-day. 

Standards Based Grading:

This week I will be entering grades into the gradebook for the first time. As you check Parent Connect (please get in the habit of checking every week or so) please notice that the grading system used in Social Studies classes at Smith this year is slightly different than in other classes. This year we are piloting Standards Based Grading within all Social Studies Classrooms at Smith Middle School. There are two main differences you will notice right away.

First, the grades are entered as 1,2,3, or 4 in the gradebook on Student/Parent Connect. This is used to reflect the students’ level of mastery of the topic taught in class. Scoring a 4 on an assignment would show mastery level understanding and would be the equivalent of an A. Whereas the other numbers would show that there is still room for improvement.

Second, the summative scores (tests and some projects) account for 90% of the grade. This is a different scale than other classes and can have a different affect on grades.

If you did not check out the information about standards based grading in last week’s post, please check the link here to read more: Standard Based Grading.

As always, If you have any questions or concerns, please send me an email.

trericm@dearbornschools.org

-Mr. Trerice

 

This Wednesday (9/12/18) is Open House at 6:00! Please drop in when you can to meet me and ask any questions you may still have about the school year.

In Class, we will be using Chromebooks for the first time and establishing norms for expectations while using Chromebooks in class. In addition to this, we will take our Pre-Test in class.

By now ALL students should have brought back their Syllabus AND brought in their supplies to be checked. If you have not seen the syllabus or have questions about the materials needed for class, check the post from week 1.

ALSO: Please review the Standard Based Grading document available by clicking the link.

Thanks!

-Mr. Trerice

trericm@dearbornschools.org

Welcome Back to the start of a brand new school year!

This week we are covering class expectations from the syllabus and establishing class norms.

Please click <2018-2019 syllabus> for a link to the syllabus that will be sent home NEXT week.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me.

Thanks,

-Mr. Trerice

trericm@dearbornschools.org