Classroom News

Week of October 6-10, 2008
We begin our new unit covering political parties this week just in time for the Presidential Elections. On Monday, students will be given a new current event assignment, and current event #1 will be due next Monday, 10/13. Also on Monday, students will be given a Political Parties Vocabulary Assignment, due this Friday, 10/10.  We will be having a quiz this Friday covering what has been discussed this week.

Important Due Dates:
10/10 Political Parties Vocabulary
10/10 Quiz
10/13 Current Event #1

Week of September 29-October 3, 2008
We finish up our Economics Unit this week studying circular flow on Tuesday and reviewing for the Unit Test on Wednesday.  The Product Essay is due today, Monday (9/29).  We will also share our product assignments today, 9/29.

Important Dates:
9/29 Product Essay Due
10/2 Economics Unit Test

Week of September 22-Sept. 26, 2008
This week we examine the role of government regulation, banks and the Federal Reserve (The Fed) in our economic system.  Students are also assigned a product essay which is due on Monday, 9/29.

Important Upcoming Dates:
9/29 Product Essay Due
10/2 Economics Unit Test

Week of September 15-September 19, 2008
We study supply and demand this week as well as the types of businesses in the United States.  On Friday we will have a quiz on all items we have studied up to this point in our Economics Unit.

Important Dates:
9/15 Current Event #3 Due
9/19 Economics Vocabulary Due

Week of Sept. 8-Sept. 12, 2008
This week we finally began our Economics Unit.  Students will write a story about the concept of Opportunity Cost which will be assigned Monday (9/8) and due Thursday (9/11).  Economics Vocabulary will be assigned Tuesday (9/9) and due Friday (9/19).

Important Dates:
9/8-Current Event #2 Due
9/11-Opportunity Cost Story Due
9/15-Current Event #3 Due
9/19-Economics Vocab. Due

Week of September 1-September 5, 2008
This week we will go over some basic Constitutional concepts to get students ready for the beginning of our economics unit next week.  On Friday we will have a test on these important concepts. All worksheets that we do this week can be found in "Unit I: Economics" in the "Unit Worksheets & Assignments" section of my website.

Important Dates:
9/2--Current Event #1 Due
9/4--Constitutional Matrix & 3 Branches Chart Due
9/5 Constitution Test
9/8--Current Event #2 Due

Week of August 25-August 29, 2008
We continue to introduce students to writing analytically this week.  On Monday (8/25), we go over the current event assignment and discuss what type of articles to use to write a current event.  The first current event assignment is due the following Tuesday (9/2).  On  Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (8/26-8/28) students will be in the computer lab working on either their voting essay and/or the first current event assignment.  In order for them to use their time effectively in the labs, the voting essay outline is due at the beginning of class on Tuesday (8/26).  The final draft of the voting essay is due on Friday, 8/29 along with the 1 minute oral presentation about their essay.  Please make sure you and your student review the actual assignment rubric carefully.  Any worksheets that we have completed so far can be found on this website in the "Unit Worksheets and Assignments section.

Week of August 19-August 22, 2008

Welcome to Mr. Teller's 8th grade civics class. This week students will receive the course syllabus, guidelines for my class, and the civics website form.   Please make sure to sign these forms and have your student return the last two to me.  Notice that there is a writing assignment each week in the form of a current event. This assignment requires students to read a newspaper article and to write a summary and an analysis about the impact the event may have on our society. The assignment is accessible on my website under "worksheets." Links to newspapers are found under "links" on my website.  Computers are available for use during advisory time in the library.

We will spend time this week learning how to write analytically for civics class and students will be assigned an essay on voting on Friday, 8/22.  The essay along with a brief 1 minute presentation will be due on Friday, 8/29.  Students will have time next week to do some work on the essay but should also be working on it at home.

A calendar can also be found on my website. There, you will find due dates, class projects and lessons.

In addition to current events each week, students will be assigned one five paragraph essay each six weeks. Students will be given an average of two weeks to complete each essay. I will try to work in some class time as well.

Please contact me at any time during the school year via email or by phone at BMS with any questions or concerns. I am looking forward to working together  this school year!

Upcoming Due Dates:
8/29-Voting Essay #1
8/29-Essay Presentation
9/2-Current Event #1

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