August 31

Social 30-1

I delivered a PowerPoint presentation today called "Introducing Government" which covered the ideas of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau. As I went through this presentation, you were to take notes on the ideas of these philosophers in a chart. I have sent you the PowerPoint presentation and the chart by e-mail, so if you want to type up your answers into the chart you may. I also sent you some supplementary notes on Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau in a Word document. I also gave you the Unit 1 Worksheet today (and sent you an electronic copy by e-mail as well), I advised you to complete the Chapter 1 Key Terms tonight (it's not for homework, but it will be soon enough). Your homework assignment tonight is to write a letter of introduction (friendly letter format). On the first day of class I introduced myself, and I'd like you to do something similar, only in written form. Some topics that should be covered in the letter might include:family, interests, academic background (i.e. what junior high school did you go to?), hobbies, sports, academic goals for this semester/year, future goals/aspirations, favorite movies, favorite TV shows, and favorite music. Please let me know if you got today's e-mail message (check your junk mail folder if you have a Hotmail account), it's very important that we take care of any problems that may arise, sooner rather than later.

Social 10-1

Today we looked at various definitions of globalization and images associated with globalization. I think that after today's exercise you should be able to see that there are differing perspectives on whether globalization is a beneficial or detrimental process in the world. You have a homework assignment tonight. I would like you to write a letter of introduction. Please make sure that you organize your writing in a friendly letter format, covering the following topics: family, interests, academic background (i.e. what junior high school did you go to?), hobbies, sports, academic goals for this semester/year, future goals/aspirations, favorite movies, favorite TV shows, and favorite music. These are just suggestions to get you started, if you can think of other topics to cover, please do so. You will hand in this assignment tomorrow at the beginning of class. It can be typed if you choose, or hand written. It doesn't matter to me if it's double-spaced or not. Please respond back to the e-mail test message that I sent today. Please check you junk mail folder, especially if you have a Hotmail account.

August 28

Classroom Rules/Expectations of Behavior:

I think that I have very simple, straight-forward classroom rules and expectations. I will be discussing these in class, but here's a quick recap:

• Please be on-task during classroom time (visit later)
• No cell phones (as per school policy); if your parents really need to get in touch with you, they should call the office. Please don't bring cell phones to class, or if you do, please remember to turn them off!
• Please don't listen to music on MP3 players or iPods during class time, unless I have given you permission to do so.
• Be polite. You should be listening during class lectures or when your classmates have questions to ask (you might have some of the same questions).
• Be on time. If you are late, please enter the classroom quietly and apologize for being late. If the door is locked, I have started the lecture or there is a class presentation in progress; I will open the door and let you in as soon as possible.
• Clean up after yourselves. Please don't leave garbage on the floor. I like my classroom fairly neat and tidy.
• Don't bring junk food to class. Healthy snacks only. Or you could always wait until lunchtime.
• You may chew gum in class on the following conditions: don't chew like a cow, I don't want to see the gum or hear you chewing it, that's just gross.
• Late assignments: 10% is deducted for every day an assignment is late. If you have an excused absence, then there is some flexibility with this rule.
• Please make sure that a parent or guardian calls the school to have absences excused. If you miss a test due to an unexcused absence you will be assigned a mark of "zero".
  I will be contacting parent/guardians if you have unexcused absences.
• Please adhere to the school's academic honesty policy which is on the back of your course outlines.
• If you are going away on holidays (please do not schedule holidays during examination periods in January and June), please let me know in advance. I can prepare materials for you, let you know what you'll be missing, and even give you handouts in advance. This way you won't feel "lost" when you come back from holidays.
  
  

Posting on the Blog:

Here are some simple rules that I have established for using the blog, and some other informational items:

• Please post on the blog anonymously.
• If you feel the need to identify yourself, or clarify which grade you're in, please use your initials and your class and section (for example, K.G. in Social 20-2).
• Some of you may have your own Blogger accounts. Please don't post on this blog using your Blogger ID, otherwise you may have people visiting your blog that you may not want to see what you're posting.
• Please be courteous, polite and respectful when posting comments on the blog. Don't be rude to your classmates on the blog.
• Please be patient with my response time.
• Please post comments and questions on the blog prior to 10 p.m.
• Between 6-8 p.m. I am usually not online.
• Please do not post links to questionable materials.
• Inappropriate comments will be deleted. Please don't do this, it's a waste of my time, I could be doing more productive things, like answering questions that you may have.
  

August 24

Summer holidays are winding down...