Sutton Middle School is an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program School. It is a program of international education designed to help students develop the knowledge, understanding, attitudes and skills necessary to participate actively and responsibly in a changing world.
Teacher Bio: Hello! Michika Burch and Rachel Rolader will be your will be your Georgia Studies Teachers for the 2013 – 2014 school year. Mrs. Burch obtained her B. A. in Political Science and History from Howard University and her Masters in Secondary
Social Studies Education from Georgia State University.
Her hobbies include reading, spending time with her family, and shopping!
Mrs. Rolader obtained her Bachelors of Science Degree from the University of Georgia, her Masters of Education Degree from
Georgia State University, and her Educational Specialist Degree from Valdosta State University. She received the Achievers Award for Dedicated Service to Children in Spring 2011. Her hobbies include reading, UGA football, and going to the movies!
Course Description: In eighth grade, students study Georgia geography, history, government, and economics. While the four strands are interwoven, ample opportunity is also provided for in-depth study of the geography of Georgia and the government of
Georgia. U.S. historical events are included, as appropriate, to ensure students understand Georgia’s role in the history of the
United States.
Georgia Performance Standards Based Units for 1 st Semester:
Units
Unit 2 – Georgia Geography and the Prehistoric Period
Unit 3 – Exploration and Colonization
Unit 4 – Statehood
Unit 5 – The Civil War
Unit 6 – The New South
Travel brochure, physiographic models
Comic strip, European exploration research
Research paper, Revolutionary songs
Civil War from A-Z, Civil war newspaper
Political booklets
Sample Activities
Unit 7 – The 20 th Century Group presentations
Georgia Performance Standards Based Units for 2 nd Semester:
Units
Unit 8 – Post WWII Georgia
Unit 9 – Civil Rights
Unit 10 – Modern Georgia
Unit 11 – State and Local Government
Unit 12 – Adult and Juvenile Justice System
Unit 13 – Personal Finance
Civil Rights booklets
Interviews and stories
Elections, speakers, presentation
Essays
“My Life” project
Sample Activities
Political & social change debates
Textbooks: Georgia: Its Heritage and Its Promise & Georgia CRCT Test Prep: Teaching the Georgia Performance
Standards.
Online Textbook: www.mystatehistory.com
, (Georgia: Its Heritage and Its Promise, 2011 Full Version)
Password: gamsh17
Supplies : o One FIVE subject spiral notebook o One composition notebook o A three-ring binder with five dividers o Colored pencils/markers/crayons o Tons of pens
Also, students will be reading several fiction and non-fiction books throughout the year that may need to be purchased by parents or checked out from a library. Your agenda must be brought daily, signed daily, and will count for grades!
Academic Grading Scale: A = 90 – 100
B = 80 – 89
C = 70 – 79

D = does not exist
F = 0 – 69
Grading System : Any work on any assignment found to have been plagiarized will result in a “0” for that
assignment. Any student assisting in plagiarism will also receive a “0” for that assignment.
Unit Exams
Projects
Quizzes
Class Participation
30%
25%
20%
15%
Homework 10%
Unit Exams
Unit Exams will be given at the end of each unit. Exam questions will be drawn from class lectures, handouts and the class textbook. The exams will consist of multiple choice questions and short answer questions. Students will be given ample notice before unit exams are given.
Quizzes
There will be weekly scheduled quizzes. Again, ample notice will be given before a quiz to allow all students time to adequately prepare. HOWEVER, pop quizzes will be given periodically to ensure that students are doing their daily homework assignments.
Projects
Students will be required to complete several projects during each quarter. All projects will have detailed rubrics. Students will be given a sufficient amount to work time to complete each project.
Homework
Homework will be assigned throughout the week; for the most part, assignments aligned with our unit will be given Mondays,
Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Homework assigned on Thursdays will usually be a review activity/studying to prepare for our weekly
Friday Quizzes. Homework will be assigned over the weekend. Homework is due at the beginning of class and must have your
name, date, and class period written on it. It is perfectly okay to ask for help from your peers or myself, but it is not okay to copy
or cheat. If you need help, call a classmate, see me during homeroom, or stay for Wednesday tutorial.
Class work/Current Event Articles
Along with class work, students will read and summarize a newspaper article bi weekly.
Progress Reports:
We will update parents/guardians every 4 and a half weeks via one of these methods: email, phone call, or progress report. Official deficiencies and progress reports will be issued on:
September 5 th
November 9 th
February 6 th
April 17 th
Report Card Dates:
October 17 th
January 11 th
March 20 th
June 3 rd
Absences and Late Work : LATE homework assignments will NOT be accepted, except in the case of an EXCUSED absence. When you return to class after any absence, it is your responsibility to check with a classmate to find out any work that you missed. If you need a copy of a handout, please see me before or after class. Copy any homework assignments you missed from the homework board/agenda. You will have three days to complete the work. If you need more time, or need help, talk to us.
We are here to help you!!
Conferences and Communication : You can reach us via email at: mpburch@atlanta.k12.ga.us and
roladerr@atlanta.k12.ga.us
We will reply to all emails ASAP, usually within two school days. Conferences may be scheduled by calling the main office at: 404-
802-5600.
Please put this syllabus in the front of your Georgia Studies binder.

Verification of Parent Receipt:
PRINTED STUDENT NAME
Sign and return the top of this page only to Mrs. Burch and Mrs. Rolader by August 9 th , 2013. This is your first homework assignment.
My parents/guardians and I have read and discussed the syllabus and understand what is expected of me in
Mrs. Burch and Mrs. Rolader’s GA Studies class.
__________________________ _________________________
Parent/Guardian Printed Name Parent/Guardian Signature
_____________________
Student Signature
Address (Please include zip code): _______________________________________________________
Parent Email address: ________________________________________________
Parent Cell Number: ___________________________________________________
Home Number:__________________________________________________
Work Number: __________________________________________________
Other emergency contact:
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Burch/Rolader WISH LIST: paper towels boxes of tissue
Clorox wipes
Ream of Paper
Glue Sticks
Thank You!

Grade
Subject
Classwork/Participation
Tests
Quizzes
Projects
Homework
8
GAStudies
Weight # of assignments
15% 9
30% 3
20% 6
25% 2
10% 18