COURSE CONTENT: Seventh grade history centers on Medieval History around the world. It also includes geography. If you check the History Framework below, you'll see the individual units and projects that the class entails.

HOMEWORK: A successful school year usually depends on the student, teacher and parent working as a team to ensure that both the student's needs and the class's requirements are met. I encourage you to contact me whenever a need arises and to monitor (closely, if necessary) your child's work and progress in the class. The latter is especially important since homework not being completed is the single biggest academic problem at this grade level, and five missing assignments in this class is an automatic fail.

We average about one homework assignment per week, but students will always have something they could be working on. Most of the homework in this class consists of "long range" assignments given out one day and not due for several days or, in some cases, several weeks. Under such a system, it is imperative for students to pace themselves and not simply to leave it all until the night before! Similarly, if your child is absent for more than a day, please call the school office (823-6106, Ext. 3360) and leave a message for me to leave homework for you to pick up, or simply e-mail me (rmsed@matchpro.org). A weekly schedule of class activities and assignments is printed and distributed to students at the beginning of each week; the schedule is also posted in the room; the same schedule is also posted here on the web site; my gradebook is posted in the class each Monday, and current grades are posted here on the web site each Friday evening; each student has been teamed up with a "study buddy" in class (someone who can be contacted in case of absences, questions, etc.); each student has also been given my home phone number and has been encouraged to call or e-mail me if any help is needed...... Consequently, "I didn't know" is never an acceptable excuse!

WEB SITE: Your child should be working through the Guild levels on this site. The system is designed to guide the student through additional challenges, information, and skills, while supporting what we cover in class. Along the way, the student picks up a significant amount of extra credit that will also enhance his or her grades. You can look at the system by going to the Hall of Guilds and Guild Rules. At the same time, the site offers a wealth of information designed to help students with what is currently going on in class.

TEACHER/ROOM ACCESS: I give my phone number to students and parents (via students) on the first day of class. Students are encouraged to e-mail me at home for help when necessary. Parents are encouraged to e-mail when questions or concerns arise. All e-mail links on this site go directly to my home address, which I check frequently (that's usually the best way to contact me). The room is normally closed at lunch, but it's open before school, starting at around 7:15 AM and after school on those days that I have tutoring. Students are encouraged to come in and 1) get help, 2) study, 3) do homework, 4) do extra credit, 5) work on the web site, and/or 6) help with odd jobs in the room.

Half the battle in any class is simply finding a comfortable groove to work in. Once good work habits are formed, they will carry the student through most academic trials.

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