Dear Parents/Guardians,
My name is Amanda Weber, and I will be guiding your student through World
History this semester. In addition this course will be co-taught with Carla Relano, a
teacher candidate from Arizona State University.
Throughout this semester, we’ll be taking a look at several historical concepts and
how these help us to understand how people live around the world both yesterday
and today. We’ll also look at the impact of historical periods from the time of PreHistory through the Renaissance and Reformation time period.
This is a very large time period to cover in a semester therefore we will be focusing
on those objectives outlined by the State of Arizona Department of Education that
are summarized on the back of this page or can be found online at:
http://www.azed.gov/standards-practices/files/2011/09/socialstudiesstrand2.pdf
Please read the following packet of information that I will be covering in class with
your child. This will help them to be successful this year.
I would like to thank you in advance for your support and proactive involvement in
your child’s education. I am looking forward to a terrific year!
If you have any questions, please contact me:
 PHONE: (480) 472-9508; the best time to reach me is before school.
However if you get my voice mail please leave a message and I will make
every effort to review your questions or concerns and get back to you.
 E-MAIL: asweber@mpsaz.org
Sincerely,
Amanda Weber
Course Description: World History/Geography is a required course in the High School Social Studies
program. This course is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge to understand the
major concepts, characteristics, events, and people of modern history. The course will include an
overview of western civilization, economic and political developments, geographic concepts, belief
systems, and cultural contributions from the time of the Ancient Greeks to the present. Study will be
based upon the district curriculum and basic skills proposed by the State of Arizona.
1st Semester Course Timeline:
Historical Skills, River Civilizations, World Religions, Ancient Greece, Rome, and Byzantium, Medieval
Europe and Asia, Renaissance and Reformation.
INSTRUCTIONAL Materials Used:
Textbook: World History: Patterns of Interaction published by McDougal Littell.
Newspaper: Students will be using copies of articles from various newspapers, magazines, and websites
in class in order to practice and improve both reading skills and knowledge of current world events.
Internet: Students will be given the opportunity to use the internet in class while researching information
for class assignments and projects.
Videos: Students will be viewing videos, or segments of videos, in class that are selected from the
following collection: World History and Cultures, Ancient Egypt: Quest for Immortality, Geography:
Yesterday and Today, Guns, Germs, and Steel, Golden Age of Greece, Hercules, Golden Age of Rome,
Roman City, Ben Hur, Julius Caesar: The Battle of Alesia, Spartacus, Alexander (edited), Gladiator
(edited), Terrorism: National Geographic, Inside 9/11,. United 93 (edited), Faith and Belief: Five Major
World Religions, Islam: Empire of Faith, 30 Days: Islam, The Bubonic Plague, Medieval Foot Soldier,
Feudalism: Lords and Vassals, The Inquisition, The Last Samurai (edited), Braveheart (edited), The De
Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance, Luther, Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel, The Renaissance,
Kingdom of Heaven (edited), The Mission (edited), Joan of Arc, The Knights Templar, Crusades,
Mysteries of the Maya, The Road to El Dorado, Amistad (edited) Please be aware that due to the nature
of the current events component of the class, students will also be viewing segments of news reports from
mainstream media such as ABC, BBC, CBS, CNN, FOX, NBC, and MSNBC.
Please be aware that students will not be watching EACH of these videos, this is a list from which in class
videos will be selected. If you would like to preview these videos, most are available from the public
library or from a video rental store. If needed, I will also be happy to arrange a time for you to view the
school copy.
If you would prefer that your student not watch a particular video, please contact me.
Please sign and date this bottom portion of this page, and have your child return it to me no later than
Monday, August 13, 2012.
By signing you indicate that you have read the Information in the following packet about Mrs. Weber’s
World History Class. And give your child permission to watch all movies in my class; unless otherwise
noted below.
Student Name:___________________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature:________________________________________________________
Parent Guardian NAME (please print): _______________________________________________
Comments:
Mrs. Weber’s Classroom Policies
BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS:
I expect each student in my class to do the following:
1. Come to class ON TIME
2. Respect others and their property
3. Follow the school-wide electronics policy
4. Adhere to the school-wide dress code
5. Contribute to a positive learning environment
If problems with any of the above arise, the following steps will be taken.
1. Verbal Warning
2. Student-Teacher Conference with logical consequences
3. Parental Involvement - Referral to Administration
I reserve the right to call home at any time, and to refer severe disciplinary
problems to the administration immediately
GRADES:
 All class work, projects, homework, tests and quizzes will be based on a total
points system where points earned will be divided by total points possible to
get a percentage. A student will continue to acquire points through the entire
semester.
 Tests, quizzes and projects will be worth more points and therefore hold more
weight in a student’s grade.
 Extra Credit will be occasionally available.
 I use a standard based grading system
90-100%
A
80-89%
B
70-79%
C
60-69%
D
Below 60%
F
 An up-to-the-minute grade can be found online at the districts “My MPS
Portal.” A login is necessary and must be registered for at the schools
campus. The web address for the portal is:
http://www.mpsaz.org/mymps/
 Checking the “My MPS” Portal regularly will ensure there are no surprises on
progress reports or report cards. Students will be able to do so anytime
during non-instructional class time.
TESTS and QUIZZES:
 Unit tests will be given at the end of each unit (approximately every 2-3
weeks)
 Smaller quizzes will be given during each unit to check for student
understanding prior to the larger unit test.
 Cheating on quizzes and test will not be tolerated.
 Choosing to talk or cheat during a test means you are choosing to receive a
ZERO on the quiz or test.
CLASSWORK, HOMEWORK, and PROJECTS:
 Classwork, homework and projects will be assigned regularly.
 Usually Homework is classwork or projects that have not been completed in
class.
 Students will be given AMPLE class time to complete projects and
classwork.
 If a student’s work is late points will be deducted from that work unless an
excused absence has occurred.
ABSENCES and MAKE-UP WORK:
 ***Make-up work will be accepted only when a student has an excused
absence***
 The student will be given 2 days for every one-day of excused absence.
 It is the student’s responsibility, after they are absent, to make-up their
work.
o See Mrs. Weber for your make-up work
MATERIALS:
I suggest you bring the following EACH day to class: (if any of these items are a
financial hardship, please notify me)
 Anything that may be due that day
 A good supply of loose leaf paper – for notes and assignments
 Pens and pencils
 Your 3-ring binder with a section marked for World History
 OPTIONAL – box of colored pencils. These come in handy for the variety of
projects you’ll be doing.