Ms. Cox's Classes

Daily log for Ms. Cox's social studies classes.

Saturday, September 30, 2006

First quarter progress report grades will be posted on Monday and filed with the office on Tuesday! Check your grade on Monday, and report any mistakes/questions to me right away. Remember that this is just a progress report grade and you have time to improve your grade before the end of the quarter! If you or your parent would like an individual grade printout, please let me know.

US History:
1. You should have finished the text assignment "Washington and the Government." It was due on Thursday, but I gave a little extra time to finish it -- those who were already finished got started on the "Physiographic Map of the USA."
2. Due Monday: "Physiographic Map of the USA."
3. You should have a new divider for this unit -- Expansion of the USA.

World Civ:
1. Due Monday: Reading with questions: Louis XIV, the Sun King. Remember to write complete, informative sentences. Avoid using lots of pronouns (he, it, etc.). Specify the subject of your answer and give the significant facts and concepts that will make your answer a good study resource.
2. You should have a new divider -- French Revolution and Napoleon.

APEH:
1. The written portion of the Renaissance test is Monday, and I'll collect your Study Guides at that time.
2. If you're feeling motivated, start reading Chapter 14: Reform and Renewal in the Christian Church.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

The 1st quarter progress report period ends on Thursday, September 28. Check your grade and talk to me if you think there are mistakes on the printout. Grades will be filed on Tuesday of next week. Remember that if you have an excused absence, you must see me to make up work as soon as you get back. If you wait a week or two...hoping it will somehow go away...and then suddenly find that the grading period is ending and you have a disappointing grade, there will be little I can do to help.

US History:
1. "Washington and the Government" due Thursday. Please bring your book.

World Civ.
1. Test on "Rise of Democracy" is Thursday. Bring your notebook to hand in homework.

APEH:
1. Multiple choice test on the Renaissance is Thursday.
2. Give me the Machiavelli and More notes at some point.
3. You can give me your Study Guide responses on Thursday, although I despair of getting them graded over the weekend.
4. The written portion of the Renaissance test will take place on Monday.
5. Did the Renaissance lead to the Reformation? Would the Reformation, or something like it, have occurred anyway? Another way to look at this...Erasmus and More were reformers and humanists. What about Luther? Was Luther also a product of the Renaissance?

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

US History:
1. Homework due Thursday: Washington and the Government.
2. Bring books to class on Thursday.
3. You need a new divider for "Expansion of the USA."

World Civ:
1. Test on "Rise of Democracy" will take place on Thursday.
2. Be sure to bring your notebook on Thursday to hand in homework.
3. You need a new divider for "French Revolution and Napoleon."

APEH:
1. Multiple choice test on the Renaissance on Thursday.
2. Machiavelli and More notes are due on Thursday.
3. You'll hand in your Study Guide when you take the written part of the test next week.
4. New reading assignments for the next chapter will be posted on Thursday.

Monday, September 25, 2006

US History:
1. Unit test on "Colonies to Constitution" will take place at block this week! Bring your notebook and textbook to class.
2. You need a new divider for our next unit, "Expansion of the USA."

World Civ:
1. Finish the review sheets that were handed out in class on Monday. We'll go over these at block.
2. Our unit test will take place at block period. Bring your notebook to class.

APEH:
1. Hand in Machiavelli and More at block.
2. A few more notes and we'll be done with the Renaissance.
3. Expect a multiple choice test on Thursday, and a short answer test on Monday of next week.
3. Your Study Guides are due when you take second part of the test on Monday.

Friday, September 22, 2006

US History:
1. OK, we really will take the test at block. Finish the yellow worksheet on the US Constitution for Monday. We'll also do a worksheet on the Bill of Rights, and then we'll be ready for the test.
2. Be sure to bring your notebook to class at block period, and bring your book as well.

World Civ:
1. Read the review sheet showing events in the evolution of democracy.
2. We'll finish with England on Monday and begin reviewing for the test.
3. We will try to take the test at block period (second half of the period).
4. Be sure to bring your notebook to block.

APEH:
1. Essay re-writes are due Monday.
2. Machiavelli and More notes will be due at block...time to finish in class on Monday? Is everyone finished?
3. You should have finished your Study Guide questions, and you should know all the vocabulary terms.
4. Use the online site for the textbook...it's part of what we pay for when we buy the book!

Thursday, September 21, 2006

US History:
Be ready for a test on our first unit on Monday (block period at the latest)!

World Civ:
1. We should be ready for an open-notebook quiz on the Renaissance on Friday, Sept. 22.
2. We'll wrap up with some review sheets, and we should be ready for a test on "Rise of Democracy" by block period next week.

APEH:
1. Study Guides! Be sure you know the significance of all terms.
2. Hundred Years' War rewrites, if any, are due on Monday.
3. Finish your Machiavelli and More notes...I will give you more time in class if possible.

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

US History:
1. If you were planning to retake the "Toward Revolution" Quiz, you should have done this at tutorial.
2. We'll have a little more lecture, then do some worksheets on the Constitution. By Monday of next week, we should be ready for a test on our first unit (Colonies to Constitution).
3. After you take the test, you will turn in a notebook packet...get your notebook in order so you can turn in whatever I ask you for.

World Civ:
1. You may retake the Philosophers and Types of Government Quiz at lunch on Thursday or Friday. Study the "Types of Government" chart and the "Philosophers of Government" chart.
2. We'll discuss the Renaissance in class on Thursday, and by Friday we'll take an open-note quiz on the Renaissance and the Greek and Roman ideas it drew upon.
3. Bring your book to class on Thursday and Friday so that we can complete an assignment on the rise of democracy in England. We will also begin reviewing for the test on our first unit (Rise of Democracy).

APEH:
1. You should have turned in your Renaissance Web Notes at block.
2. If you are planning to rewrite the Hundred Years' War essay, I would like to have it by Monday.
3. Plan to finish your group discussion of Machiavelli and More by Friday (we'll take a little more time in class). What is the relationship between the ideas of Machiavelli and the people we know as the "New Monarchs?"
4. You should be working steadily on your Study Guide questions. Don't forget the vocabulary words; you need not write them out, but be sure you know the significance of each one for the Renaissance.
5. Ask yourself what factors exist during the Renaissance that might lead to a major fracturing of the dominance of the Roman Catholic church.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

US History:
1. Retake your "Toward Revolution" Quiz at tutorial on Wednesday, if needed.
2. No homework.
3. Be prepared for a unit test on "Colonies to Constitution" early next week.

World Civ:
1. We are reviewing "England in the High Middle Ages" at block.
2. We'll work in groups to complete "The World's Ten Worst Dictatorships." Finish for Thursday if you don't finish in class.
3. Bring books to class Thursday and Friday.

APEH:
1. Work on Renaissance Study Guide.
2. Groups: Machiavelli and More.
3. We will review the Hundred Years' War essay and you may rewrite if you like.
4. Can you identify three essential characteristics of the Italian Renaissance and define their meaning?

Monday, September 18, 2006

Oh, no...the warm weather continues. All three fans are seeing action.

US History:
1. Due at block: "Winning the War."
2. If you need to retake the quiz "Toward Revolution," you must do so at tutorial on Wednesday, Sept. 20!

World History:
1. We'll review "England in the High Middle Ages" at block.

APEH:
1. Renaissance Web notes are due at block -- a set for me and a set for each person in your duo.
2. Work on the "Review Questions" in the Study Guide.
3. Be prepared to discuss Machiavelli and More in groups.
4. More lecture...ho hum, but necessary.

Friday, September 15, 2006

Success! Grades are once again posted at the front of the room, this time by secret number. I have also scrambled the order of the posting (it's not in alphabetical order); nobody but you should be able to figure out your grade. Keep it that way -- don't tell anyone your secret number, and don't ask others for their numbers!

Please thank your parents for attending Back-To-School Night!

US History:
1. Due at block: "Winning the War." Remember to write complete, informative, content-filled answers. Ask yourself if you could look back at the answer later (when studying for a test) and understand what you wrote.
2. If you missed the open-note quiz on our unit so far, see me right away on Monday to arrange a make-up date!

World Civ:
1. You should have finished (or almost finished) the "Philosophers and Types of Government" chart in class on Friday. If you didn't finish, please do so over the weekend. To check if you're putting the right kind of information on the chart, refer to the half-sheet entitled "Identifying Point of View." If you can read each statement and then use your chart to identify which philosopher would have made that statement, you're on the right track!

APEH:
1. You should have finished reading Chapter 13; work on the Study Guide questions as you read, so they don't pile up on you. Read the vocabulary words on the Study Guide (with a partner?) to see if you can explain the significance of each term. If not, go back to the book and re-read the text again until you have it down.
2. Renaissance Web Project notes are due at block. Make a copy for each person in your pair, and a copy for me.
3. You should be ready to discuss Machiavelli and More in groups next week! Please come to class prepared. Those who have read the excerpts will be able to work on the questions in groups. Those who have not will spend the class time reading the excerpts and will then have to answer the questions on their own.
4. I will have to lecture next week, but we will try to be ready for a test on the Renaissance by the following week. We'll have both multiple choice and either esssy or short answer.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Don't forget Back-To-School Night, Thursday, September 14!!
If you haven't given me a secret number, please do so immediately.

US History:
Bring your books to class so you will have a copy of the Declaration of Independence to use.
We will have an open-notebook quiz on our unit so far -- Friday, September 15!

World Civ:
Please complete the chart on the back of the "Autocracy/Democracy" sheet if you haven't already done so.

APEH:
1. Keep reading Chapter 13 and the associated readings in Perry.
2. Get Machiavelli and More (or find them online) and read the excerpts that we will be discussing next week in groups.
3. Read the handout on the Renaissance papacy. What abuses occurred that darkened the reputation of the Roman Catholic church at this time?
4. We'll have plenty of time in the computer lab to finish the Renaissance Web project...your finished, typed notes will be due next week. You'll need copies for both partners, and a copy for me.

Monday, September 11, 2006

Be sure to give me a secret number if you haven't already done so.
Back-To-School-Night is Thursday, September 14th! Please invite your parents to attend.

US History:

No homework.
We will have an open-notebook quiz (through the Declaration of Independence) by Friday of this week! Keep your notebook in good order!

World Civ:
No homework.

APEH:
We'll be in the computer lab for the remainder of the week, examining the beginnings of the Renaissance and observing/discussing Renaissance art.
Begin reading Chapter 13 in McKay, and the associated material in the Perry book. Do the "Review" questions on the study guide handout as you go along.

Friday, September 08, 2006

Secret Numbers: Remember to come up with a "secret number" in case we're able to rig the IntegradePro grading program to print grade spreadsheets using a unique, private number. Don't use your student number or any other number that other students might know.

US History and World Civ.:
No homework!

APEH:
Due Monday -- a summary explaining the historical developments that illuminate the beginnings of church/state separation and the corresponding emergence of the nascent nation-state. Begin with the "Dark Ages" or the late Roman empire and its fall, and end with the close of the Hundred Years' War. What circumstances explain the close connection between spiritual and temporal power during the Middle Ages? What caused these circumstances to change over time? Cite specific events and trends. For the later Middle Ages, focus particular attention on France and England.
Type; one-inch margins; 12 pt. font. You may double space or use 1.5 spacing. Please don't exceed 2 pages in length.
In Class Monday -- we'll all write an essay on the impact of the Hundred Years' War on the evolution of the modern nation state in France and England. At this point, you should have a pretty good idea of the facts and events involved. What attributes characterize a modern nation state? How did the war move both France and England in this direction? Plan to write a standard 5-paragraph essay.

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

US History and World Civ:
No homework but bring your book to class on Thursday and Friday.
Be ready for your current event if it's your day!

APEH:
We'll be reviewing the summer work.
Assessment for this unit will consist of two writing assignments; we'll get these done and move on to the Renaissance.