At least you have a curriculum map. When I started, I was
tossed to the wolves. The only thing that saved me was that I
had subbed numerous times in the classroom and all my sons
had gone through 8th grade reading/language arts. Can you get
a curriculum map or books for the social studies? If you can
look at the schoolwide rules and expectations, that would
help you set your own rules and expectations. I teach 8th
graders and have found that having them set their own rules
and policies just doesn't work. I've got three rules that
cover everything. As far as grading policies, we set certain
percentages for tests, quizzes, homework, preparation, and
classwork for social studies. In reading we currently have
percentages for homework, tests and quizzes, Accelerated
Reader, preparation. In language arts we don't have any test
or quiz grades, as there are few tests or quizzes except for
vocabulary. It's set up for grammar, vocabulary, writing, and
participation. This next year, our reading program is
changing, so we will probably add a classroom percentage and
change the other percentages.
Our school has a no late homework policy, except for absences
and emergencies. 6th graders can turn in late homework for 3
days, with each day getting a larger percentage taken off,
after which they receive no credit. 7th grade starts off with
one late day with a large percentage off, then no credit. 8th
grade sticks to the policy. If, though, we see that students
are struggling with an assignment or a concept, we have been
known to extend the assignment and reteach the concept.
Are you the only language arts and social studies teacher? If
not, the school could give you the names of the other
teachers. Also, you should be assigned a mentor. I believe
it's a law in Illinois. Our mentors and mentees receive a
stipend for two years, with the mentors getting about double
what the mentee gets. You probably will want to check with
your school about that. Any more questions, feel free to
email me. Karen
On 6/24/08, wondering wrote:
> I have secured my first teaching job in language arts and
> social studies. Yeah! I want to start planning some things
> out and brainstorming ideas over the summer, but I have
> absolutely no idea where to start. I've been fortunate to
> get the curriculum map for language arts, so I know the
> topics I am supposed to cover. I've looked over the
> students textbooks so I can become familiar with how they
> are set up.
>
> I also want to start working on my class rules/grading
> policy. At the beginning of the school year I want to have
> my students help me create classroom policies (talk about
> why we have rules, what they want in a teacher, classmate,
> themselves, etc.).
>
> I have no idea where to start. So much to do! Any
> suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
1996 - 2008. All Rights Reserved. Please review our Terms of Use, Mission Statement, and Privacy Policy.