September 6, 2017
Dear MSVPA Parents and Guardians,
It is with great excitement that I write to introduce myself as your child’s teacher for 8th grade Social Studies. The school year is now underway, and I am very much looking forward to working with your child this year to enhance his/her knowledge and analysis of history, especially as it connects to the arts. In this course, we will be studying U.S. history from the Revolutionary Era through the last half of the 19th century.
To make life a little easier, every Monday, I will give students a Homework/Assessment Sheet that outlines the homework and assessments that are due for that entire week, as well as any upcoming quizzes, tests, or projects. I use these sheets so that students can plan their work around any obligations they may already have in a given week. I also post this on my class website every Monday, in addition to the week’s lesson plans, if you would like to keep track of these assignments and dates as well.
Class website: http://galehistory.weebly.com/
Remind sign-up for texts: Text @vpahistory to 81010.
I calculate grades on a total points system, and I will let students know how much each assignment, project, take-home assessment, or test is worth at the time it is assigned. I will enter grades in PowerSchool as soon as I have completed them. (Please see the guide your child received in class today for more detail on the grading policy and homework policy.)
During the year, we will watch several films related to the content we are studying. While several of these are documentaries, a few are Hollywood productions and therefore require your permission. For the sake of simplicity, I am including the permission slip as part of this letter:
If you would prefer not to have your child view any of these films, I will have an alternate assignment for him/her outside of the classroom, which covers the same content. Your child will not be penalized or miss any pertinent information if you choose to have him/her take part in the alternate assignment.
If you ever have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I can be contacted via email or telephone: [email protected] or 586-574-3171 (x20145).
I also ask that you please sign this letter and detach the bottom section for your child to return to me to indicate that you received this letter and understand the class policies.
I hope that your child is as excited as I am for the year, and I encourage you to contact me if you have any questions. Here’s to an engaging 2017-2018!
Warmly,
Molly Gale
*Tissues and wipes: We end up using a lot of tissues and wipes throughout the year, so if you could send in either, it would be much appreciated! This is not a requirement and does not count toward your grade at all, but really helps us to have a comfortable classroom. Thank you very much!!!
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Your child’s name: _________________________________________
I, _____________________________, have read the above letter and the class guide my child received and understand the classroom policies.
(Check one)
-I give my child permission to view the films explained above.
-I would prefer my child not view the films explained above.
______________________________________
Signature
Your email address (if you would like me to be able to contact you via email):
____________________________________________________
Please print neatly! Thank you :).
Dear MSVPA Parents and Guardians,
It is with great excitement that I write to introduce myself as your child’s teacher for 8th grade Social Studies. The school year is now underway, and I am very much looking forward to working with your child this year to enhance his/her knowledge and analysis of history, especially as it connects to the arts. In this course, we will be studying U.S. history from the Revolutionary Era through the last half of the 19th century.
To make life a little easier, every Monday, I will give students a Homework/Assessment Sheet that outlines the homework and assessments that are due for that entire week, as well as any upcoming quizzes, tests, or projects. I use these sheets so that students can plan their work around any obligations they may already have in a given week. I also post this on my class website every Monday, in addition to the week’s lesson plans, if you would like to keep track of these assignments and dates as well.
Class website: http://galehistory.weebly.com/
Remind sign-up for texts: Text @vpahistory to 81010.
I calculate grades on a total points system, and I will let students know how much each assignment, project, take-home assessment, or test is worth at the time it is assigned. I will enter grades in PowerSchool as soon as I have completed them. (Please see the guide your child received in class today for more detail on the grading policy and homework policy.)
During the year, we will watch several films related to the content we are studying. While several of these are documentaries, a few are Hollywood productions and therefore require your permission. For the sake of simplicity, I am including the permission slip as part of this letter:
- While studying the French and Indian War, we will focus on the key players involved in the conflict: Britain, France, and the Native Americans. In order to show students the delicate balance in the relationship between these key players, I will show students a short clip from The Last of the Mohicans, which is rated “R” for war violence. The film is based on the novel by James Fenimore Cooper and follows the last remaining members of the Mohican tribe, as they ally with the British in their fight against the French and the Huron. The outcome of this war eventually led to the outbreak of the Revolutionary War.
- While studying the Revolutionary War, we will analyze the use of guerrilla tactics by the Patriots to effectively defeat British forces, especially in the South. In order to visually depict this tactic, I will show a short clip (approximately 20 minutes) from The Patriot, which is rated “R” for war violence. This scene is excellent in showing students, especially those who are visual learners, why guerrilla tactics were a vital part of the American war strategy in our efforts to defeat the British and secure our independence.
- While studying the growing division between the North and the South in the mid-1800s, we will be doing an in-depth case study of Nat Turner’s slave rebellion. Nat Turner’s rebellion, although ultimately stopped, played a pivotal role in U.S. history, and it exposed many of the horrors of slavery, as well as the social impacts that slavery was having on the country. In addition to several hands-on activities and articles related to the rebellion, we will be watching parts of The Birth of a Nation (2016), starring Nate Parker, Armie Hammer, and Penelope Ann Miller, which focuses on Nat Turner’s rebellion. The film is rated “R” for disturbing violent content and some brief nudity. The portion of the film in which nudity is depicted will not be shown in class. Moreover, I will skip several scenes with disturbing violence and content. However, other scenes with violence will remain.
- While studying the Civil War at the end of the year, we will be watching the acclaimed Civil War movie, Glory. Glory stars Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, and Morgan Freeman, and it tells the true story of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, a Civil War general who led a regiment made up entirely of African Americans. At the beginning of the war, the North was unwilling to use African Americans to fight, but as the war progressed, some of these African American regiments began to see combat experience. The movie traces the formation of the regiment and leads viewers through some of the major conflicts of the Civil War, which we will have just completed studying. The original theatrical cut of Glory is rated “R” for its battle sequences and language, but I will be showing the students an edited version made specifically for schools. This edited version deletes the most extreme war violence and language, although some milder battlefield violence and language remain.
- While studying Reconstruction, we will be watching the acclaimed film, Lincoln. Lincoln stars Daniel Day Lewis, Sally Field, and Tommy Lee Jones and tells the true story of the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment. The film displays how the legislative process works, and it is a wonderful snapshot into Lincoln’s presidency. The film is rated “PG-13” for war violence, some images of carnage, and brief uses of strong language.
If you would prefer not to have your child view any of these films, I will have an alternate assignment for him/her outside of the classroom, which covers the same content. Your child will not be penalized or miss any pertinent information if you choose to have him/her take part in the alternate assignment.
If you ever have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I can be contacted via email or telephone: [email protected] or 586-574-3171 (x20145).
I also ask that you please sign this letter and detach the bottom section for your child to return to me to indicate that you received this letter and understand the class policies.
I hope that your child is as excited as I am for the year, and I encourage you to contact me if you have any questions. Here’s to an engaging 2017-2018!
Warmly,
Molly Gale
*Tissues and wipes: We end up using a lot of tissues and wipes throughout the year, so if you could send in either, it would be much appreciated! This is not a requirement and does not count toward your grade at all, but really helps us to have a comfortable classroom. Thank you very much!!!
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Your child’s name: _________________________________________
I, _____________________________, have read the above letter and the class guide my child received and understand the classroom policies.
(Check one)
-I give my child permission to view the films explained above.
-I would prefer my child not view the films explained above.
______________________________________
Signature
Your email address (if you would like me to be able to contact you via email):
____________________________________________________
Please print neatly! Thank you :).