Thursday, January 31, 2019

January 31

Welcome to Social Studies 20-1! Social 20-1 is an academically demanding course, we will be moving through material very quickly, so if there is something that you don't understand, ask questions. You also have a friendly letter assignment due on MondayThe letter will probably be about 1 1/2 pages in length (single-spaced). Please make sure that your letter demonstrates your writing ability and covers some of the following topics:
  • family
  • education plans (this year, and in the future; future career plans)
  • post-high school plans
  • favorite TV shows, movies, music
  • hobbies
  • extracurriculars
  • sports
Please have a look at my classroom rules, and rules for posting on the blog below. See you on Monday! There's no school tomorrow.  

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

  • Please be on-task during classroom time (visit later)
  • No cell phones (as per school policy; unless otherwise instructed); 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.
  • Please do not holidays or time off In June. It is difficult to re-schedule a missed final exam, and impossible with a Diploma Exam. 

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 20-3).
  • 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
Please see the classroom rules and expectations that are posted above. I went through the course outline and course expectations with you today. You have a friendly letter that is due on MondayThe letter will probably be about 1 1/2 pages in length (single-spaced). Please make sure that your letter demonstrates your writing ability and covers some of the following topics:
  • family
  • education plans (this year, and in the future; future career plans)
  • post-high school plans
  • favorite TV shows, movies, music
  • hobbies
  • extracurriculars
  • sports
On Monday, we will hit the ground running and get into course content. See you on Monday! There's no school tomorrow.  

Thursday, January 10, 2019

January 10


You wrote Part A of your Final Exam today in class, I should be able to have these source interpretation assignments marked before you write Part B of the Final Exam on January 17th. Please check PowerSchool for any updates to your marks. We're playing Kahoot review games tomorrow in Room 111.


You wrote your Trial Final Exam today, I'll post the results later today in PowerSchool. Keep reviewing for your Diploma Exams!


Today we talked about the historical development of Quebecois perspectives. I'll post this lecture on the wiki during my prep this afternoon. Make sure that you are studying for the Final Exam!

Tuesday, January 08, 2019

January 8


I continued on the lecture on the path to Canadian Confederation today. This lecture will help us next year deal with the imposition of liberalism topic more easily in Social 30-1. You'll be writing this exam on Tuesday, January 15th at 1 pm to 3 pm, we'll either be in the Auxiliary Gym or the Main Gym for the Final Exam.


I talked a little bit yesterday during my lecture on "The Effects of Globalization on Individuals and Communities" about the danger of global pandemics. With the ease of global travel and migration, there is an increased danger of the spread of disease. We started a film study today of the movie "Contagion". We'll finish if off tomorrow. You're writing Part A of the Final Exam on Thursday, January 10th in Room 104. Please go to Room 104 in tutorial this Thursday. You'll be writing Part B of the Final Exam on Thursday, January 17th at 9 am in the Main Gym. You need to review how to write a WRA I before Thursday! Also, it's a good idea to start reviewing all key concepts for the course!


We met in the Blenheim Room today to review how to write a WRA I. This is probably the last time this week that I can book into a computer lab due to the Social 20-1 and Social 10-1 Part A of the Final Exam tying up most of the labs in the school for the next couple of days. Please remember that you are writing the Trial Final this Thursday. The study guide for the 30-1 test is in your coursebooks, and I also handed out the study guide for the 30-2 Diploma Exam yesterday. Please remember that you're writing Part A of the Diploma on Tuesday, January 15th at 9 am. You're writing Part B on Friday, January 25th starting at 9 am in the Main Gym. I posted the 2018-2019 Information Bulletin on the wiki, please look for it on the Diploma Exam Review page. There's a practice exam inside the bulletin, and more information about the exam itself. Also, make sure that you check out the Quest A + website for released items and practice exam (https://questaplus.alberta.ca/). Please start reviewing for your Diploma Exam.

Monday, January 07, 2019

January 7


I gave back your Paper 2 essays and your 30-1 WRA II Essays today. I also gave you the study guide for your Final Exam. There are 80 questions on the final exam. You'll be writing this exam on Tuesday, January 15th at 1 pm to 3 pm, we'll either be in the Auxiliary Gym or the Main Gym for the Final Exam. I started a lecture on the path to Canadian Confederation today as well. Start reviewing the course concepts tonight!


I talked a little bit about the Diploma Exam today, and went through some the rules. Please remember that you're writing Part A of the Diploma on Tuesday, January 15th at 9 am. You're writing Part B on Friday, January 25th starting at 9 am in the Main Gym. I'll post the 2018-2019 Information Bulletin on the wiki tonight. There's a practice exam inside the bulletin, and more information about the exam itself. Also, make sure that you check out the Quest A + website for released items and practice exam (https://questaplus.alberta.ca/). Please start reviewing for your Diploma Exam.


I went through my last lecture in 10-1 by going through "The Effects of Globalization on Individuals and Communities". I also gave you the study guide for the Social 10-1 Final Exam. You're writing Part A of the Final Exam on Thursday, January 10th in Room 104. Please go to Room 104 in tutorial this Thursday. You'll be writing Part B of the Final Exam on Thursday, January 17th at 9 am in the Main Gym. You need to review how to write a WRA I before Thursday! Also, it's a good idea to start reviewing all key concepts for the course!