Welcome!

Welcome to Gold Team 8th Grade Social Studies!
Greetings
I look forward to a fantastic year! Let’s get an idea of where we need to be going in the coming days, weeks and months ahead.
Our curriculum begins with Ancient China, takes in much of the middle ages, with units on Medieval Africa, Europe, China and Japan. We will also examine what was happening on the North American continent during that time. In late winter, we will study Europe’s emergence from the “Dark Ages,” The Renaissance. Heading into spring, we will apply ourselves to the study of the Reformation, and Counter Reformation. Come spring, will be studying the colonization of North America and its impact on the people there, proceeding naturally to the emergence of colonial America, and finishing the year with a study of the American Revolution.
There really is a great deal to learn in a fairly short time, so let’s go!

Come Prepared
Each day you should have with you: A two inch binder, separated for social studies into two sections; one for handouts and notes, and one for returned assignments. You will also need to keep your workbook in your binder. We will make significant use of the workbook, notes and handouts and all of these should be contained in the first section of your binder. Such a design is aimed at making your materials more “user friendly” when studying for tests and quizzes. Of course each day you will need to bring with you a pencil or pen to class as well.

Homework and Grading
There will certainly be homework. But it is only one of many different forms of assessment that I will employ. However, in terms of homework, some days it will simply be checked as I walk around the room, but many days it will be collected and scored out of 5 points (0-5, five being a very thorough piece of work, well written and thoughtful). Single night homework assignments need to be made up the night they are missed, or they will not be accepted. At the end of the marking period your homework grades will be combined with your grades from other assessments. Your final grade will be calculated by adding up the total number of points earned and dividing that number by the total number of possible points.

Blog and Contact Information
You can keep up with homework assignments and other social studies related items on my blog: http://www.tominct.blogspot.com/. If your parents need to contact me, my email address is thomas.norton@reg5.k12.ct.us, and my number at school is 393-3102 X1028.

Finally, it is my hope that each of you appreciate all that you will learn in the coming months. It might even be fun!
Good Luck!

Mr. Norton