Dear Parents and Guardians,
Welcome to the 2017-2018 school year at Summerville High School. I hope each of you had a terrific summer. I am looking forward to working with you and your student this year. I know that this year will be a great one, filled with a wide variety of learning experiences for your student. As a teacher, I emphasize academic as well as non-academic skills to prepare your student for a career or higher education. These are very important years for the students and I will do my best to encourage attitudes and behaviors that promote citizenship and cooperation, foster the development of higher-order thinking skills, and ensure that each student has an opportunity to learn in a manner that suits their individual abilities, needs, and interests. I have set high standards for our classroom. All academic disciplines require the examination of sometimes sensitive topics, events, or ideas. Consequently, I expect each student to be considerate of diverse interpretations, beliefs, and opinions. In addition, this course requires that students develop academic and social skills that may be unfamiliar or difficult to acquire. Therefore, it is important that students follow a simple set of classroom rules based on the concept of respect. To maximize our achievement in this course, students must respect their peers, the teacher, and themselves by demonstrating kindness, coming to class with a positive attitude towards learning, and by consistently working to better themselves academically and socially. Additional course information is posted at my class website at mrbrullsclass.weebly.com. Being that you are an integral part of your student’s education, I welcome your comments and inquiries. Please feel free to contact me at school by calling the office at 209-928-428 during school hours. I am also be available before and after school; my email address is [email protected]. Please review the course syllabus, sign and detach the “Acknowledgement” portion, and direct your student to return the slip of paper the following school day. Thank you in advance for your support. By working together we can make this a wonderful year! Sincerely, Jordan Brull Social Studies Teacher, Summerville High School 209-928-4228 ext. 270 [email protected]
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Parents and students,
Parents and Students,
Welcome back to school and happy new year! I hope your break was restful and enjoyable. During the month of January we will hit the ground running in both the World History and World Geography and Religions classes. As a reminder, the first semester ends on Friday, January 13th. In World History, students continue studying the Industrial Revolution with a focus on new technology impacted labor, economic theories, social organization, political systems, and daily life. Students will conduct a wide variety of activities to explore these topics including a collective bargaining simulation, a "museum tour" of working conditions during the 1800s, and analysis of primary and secondary sources related to capitalism and socialism. Towards the end of the unit each class will conduct a structured academic controversy activity in which students will work in groups to determine and argue if the Industrial Revolution was a positive or negative development in human history. The unit assessment takes place on January 26 (A Day) and January 27 (B Day). The World Geography and Religions students begin a unit focuses on the physical and human geography of Northern Eurasia, as well as, the beliefs, rituals, practices, and history of Judaism. During the first half of the unit, students will execute the research process on a topic of their choice related to Northern Eurasia. I am excited by the students' initial project ideas which include the political history of Russia, the role of censorship in the modern Russian political system, economic difficulties in former Soviet republics, the efficacy of Russian democracy, ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and many others! Students will then conduct a second inquiry-based project concerning specific economic and environmental challenges to the region. The second half of the unit will focus on Judaism and includes a two seminars concerning the course text, analysis of primary sources, and (hopefully) a guest speaker. The unit test takes place on February 6th. Finally, I have updated my class policy concerning late work. I now accept late work from each unit prior to unit assessment. Students who are turning in late work must continue to submit it through Google Classroom and email it to me [email protected]. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns! Parents and students:
The next couple of weeks is a busy time in both the World History and World Geography and Religions classes. First, in World History we are concluding our current unit with an assessment on December 5th (A Day) and December 6th (B Day). Students will demonstrate their understanding of key concepts and skills related to the Enlightenment, the American and French revolutions, and the rise and fall of Napoleon. Similar to our previous units, the Unit Three study guide is due on the day of the test. On December 7th and 8th we begin our examination of the Industrial Revolution and the social, political, and economic reforms that grew out of this period of significant change. Concurrently, we will work to enhance our historical thinking skills, improve our reading comprehension of both primary and secondary sources, and develop our argumentative writing skills. This unit’s assessment is on Thursday, January 26th (A Day) and Friday, January 27th (B Day). Second, in World Geography and Religions, we shift our focus from the physical geography of East Asia to the culture of the region, specifically the religions of Confucianism and Taoism. We continue with our seminar-based approach to each of the religions and will enhance our understanding through physical exercise (tai chi). The unit test is on Friday, December 16th. When we come back from winter break, we begin our study of the oldest monotheistic religion, Judaism, and focus on the physical and human geography of Northern Eurasia. As a reminder, I am available for tutoring on the majority of Wednesdays from 2:05 to 3:05 and Thursdays during lunch. Also, please remember that students who miss class must complete the day's assignments posted on Google Classroom and submit them on both Google Classroom and email them to [email protected]. Please contact me if you have any questions! Parents and Students,
There are some important upcoming events in our class as we enter the month of November. 1. Grading Period Two ends on Thursday, November 10th. Google Interactive Notebooks are due on the 9th (A Day) and the 10th (B Day). 2. I'm excited to announce that I am available for tutoring beginning the week of November 6th. Students, please stop by the classroom Wednesdays after school from 2:05 to 3:05 or Thursdays during lunch. Please follow the link below to sign up. docs.google.com/a/summbears.net/document/d/112ktAVlAVs9xpbZYFWdG_j5RLB0NG3lIbEIvD_Bz_bQ/edit?usp=sharing 3. In World History we extend our understanding of the long-term impact of the Renaissance and the Age of Exploration as we begin our study of the Enlightenment and subsequent revolutions in the Americas and in Europe. We continue to analyze primary and secondary sources, apply historical thinking skills, and write argumentatively. Our next unit assessment is on December 5th (A Day) and 6th (B Day). 4. In World Geography and Religions, we begin a unit focusing on East Asia and the religions of Confucianism and Taoism. We continue our focus on project based learning in which students complete assignments based on their individual interests specific to East Asian physical and human geography, as well as, Confucianism and Taoism. Please be sure to keep up with the readings from The World's Religions and complete the reading guide(s). Our next unit assessment is on December 14th. Have a great month and please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions! I am most available at [email protected]. Parents and Students,
Grading period two begins today (Monday, October 3rd)! In World History we begin our study of the origins of the modern period of history. We examine the origins and impacts of the Renaissance, Protestant Reformation, and the European exploration and early settlement of the Americas. Our unit study guide has been posted on Google Classroom and is due on the day of the unit test, October 24th (A day) or 25th (B day). During this unit, an emphasis is placed on student examination of primary and secondary sources to create and defend historical arguments that pertain to this period. In World Geography and Religions we continue our study of the cultures of South Asia with a focus on the traditional religions of Hinduism and Buddhism. In addition, we continue to use the seminar format as our primary means of exploring different perspectives, challenge existing ideas, and construct new knowledge. Our exam is on October 25th. As a reminder for both classes:
Parents and students,
Announcements:
The five-lesson World History bridge unit continues our exploration of the foundations of democracy by examining Magna Carta, feudalism, the role of the Christian Church, and European monarchies during the Middle Ages. Students will analyze primary and secondary sources to answer key historical questions during the first four lessons. The bridge unit culminates with a simulation lesson in which students work in groups to create a skit of a key unit concept. The world geography class begins an examination of South Asia and the traditional religions of Hinduism and Buddhism. The Unit 2 assessment is on October 25th. Have a great week! Mr. Brull Students,
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