Welcome to 7th grade Civics at YCPS 2014-2015 Room 205
A message from Ms. Saba:
I am so happy to begin a new year with you! In this document, you will find course
descriptions, information about myself and our Civics classroom (and soon I will get
to know you)! Civics is a fun class, especially if you work hard and dedicate
yourself to mastering this important subject. If there is any way that I can assist you
in starting off your 7th grade year successfully, please just ask! Good luck!
What is Civics?
Civics is the study of American History, Government, Citizenship and Economics
(Geography will be reviewed in this class). The Civics course requires students to
take an End of Course Assessment in the Spring (May). At Youth Co Op Charter
School, we offer General Civics and Advanced Civics. The Democratic system is the
best in the world when used correctly. This class will take you through the
processes of the U.S. Government at its best (and worst). We will discuss the
need for Government, the Constitution and what it means to us, the Legislative,
Executive and Judicial Branches of government among other things. We will follow up
with an EOC (End of Course Assessment).
General Civics Period 1 and 5
General Civics is a rigorous course. It requires students to master Civics standards
through collaborative learning as well as independent study. Students are expected to
be active participants in our classroom democracy (yes, you will get to write your
own classroom Constitution, and vote on amendments to create your own learning
environment)!
Advanced Civics Period 2
Students will be mastering the same standards as General Civics classes, but through
an approach that focuses on:
1.) Acceleration Higher order thinking skills.
2.) Complexity Use of multiple higher level skills, more variables to study, require
multiple resources.
3.) Depth Study a concept in multiple applications, original research, develop a product.
4.) Challenge This information will not always come easy to you, but this course will
help you learn what it is to be a citizen of the United States and the political
process of our Democracy.
5.) Creativity Opportunity for alternatives for tasks, products, and assessments, emphasis
on oral and written communication to a real world audience reasoning explicit.
About Ms. Saba
This is lucky year 11 in teaching social studies for me! I love to travel, love the
New Orleans Saints, and spending time with my family. I have a Bachelor of Arts
Degree from Florida International University in Social Science Education and a Master
of Science in Psychology. I have a passion for teaching and the subject of Civics!
About our classroom
Our classroom is a working democracy. The majority of students will be members of
the (Legislative Branch) that write laws and work together to create a positive
learning environment. Students will have a quarterly opportunity to be elected by their
peers into the Executive Branch that carries out the laws of our classroom and serve
as leaders of our democracy. I will serve as the Judicial Branch (even though I am
only one person, not nine!) I determine if laws proposed or actions by the other two
branches are unconstitutional.
About your grades
My classroom is based on the MDCPS scoring scale. The more important or difficult
the assignment, the more points it is worth. Here are some general guidelines:
Class Assignments................30 percent
Quizzes........................15 percent
Tests.............................35 percent
Projects........................35 percent (count as tests)
Home learning………..20 percent of total grades with 100% being the maximum.
Benchmark tests will be taken quarterly to assess progress. Chapter tests and lesson
quizzes will be given as well as pop quizzes.
Home learning will be given weekly. Please check board for the assignments and the
school website.
Notebook checks, journal checks, political cartoons, foldables, short essays, D.I., maps
are some graded assignments to be expected.
Textbook Information
Title: Florida: Civics, Economics, and Geography
Your textbook will be found online, most of you
to enter the website is the same, mdstudent7 is
is a class set to be used in the classroom and
and Economics by McGraw-Hill 2013
used Networks last year and the way
the username and password. There
not removed or written in.
EOC Information
This end of course assessment is administered for all Florida Civics students it will be
computer based in May 2015. More information will be given soon.
Supplies
Students will need a Notebook/Binder, with dividers, a Duo tang folder (blue), a
composition notebook, 3x5 index cards, markers or color pencils, Number 2 Pencils,
pen and paper.
Things to Know about Ms. Saba’s Classroom
1. Seating chart will change every grading period, or when I do not want you to sit
there anymore (at any time during the year).
2. Check school website for home learning.
3. Throw away garbage at the end of the class, keep your area clean.
4. Make sure you use proper headings and titles when you turn work in or I may just
not grade it. Name, date, period, and title.
5. There will be group or assignments and work done in pairs (I will assign groups) if
you show me you cannot work with classmates, you will do the work independently. I
will keep track of people who are not doing their part in group work. You will get an
automatic F.
6. You will only get 4 bathroom passes per grading period, so use them wisely.
Bathroom tickets will be issued. You will not go to bathroom first 15 or last 15
minutes of class. You will not be able to go the last 30 minutes of the day.
7. Make sure you are prepared daily (supplies, home learning etc).
Classroom Procedures
-Make sure you are in assigned seat and look at board for journal or words of the day.
-Begin journal as soon as you get in room (you will only have a few minutes before I pick
up journals).
-Drop off any homework in homework bin/shelf.
-Check board for home learning, weekly objectives and daily class agenda.
-Head your paper correctly for an assignment.
-Exit classroom when I dismiss you and make sure you have taken all of your belongings
(Do not pack up early or stand up before the bell or I tell you).
Ms. Saba’s Classroom Rules
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
NO GUM, CELL PHONE OR FOOD IN ROOM
NO WALKING AROUND OR YELLING
MAKE SURE YOU LISTEN TO DIRECTIONS FIRST TIME GIVEN
BE PREPARED WITH PEN, PAPER, NOTEBOOK
DO NOT DISRESPECT OR MAKE FUN OF CLASSMATES
Parent Volunteer Hour Wish List
Ziploc bags (sandwich size)
Construction paper
Wipes Large Paper Clips
Copy paper
Kleenex
Paper Towels
Index cards 3x5
Clorox
Thanks!
Got some extra time? Play some games, have some fun and learn something!!
iCivics- a website with games to help you build your knowledge about all things civics.
Time for Kids- Time Magazine specialized with topics just for young people.
Citizenship Test- How many questions about citizenship can you answer correctly?
Congress for Kids- Interactive experiences about the federal government, with quizzes.
Presidents Game- How long will it take you to put all of our Presidents in chronological order?
Kids.gov- a site full of games, quizzes, and a place to learn about, well, everything!
KEEP THE ABOVE PAGES IN NOTEBOOK AND FILL OUT THE NEXT PAGE AND
SEPARATE TO TURN IN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!