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Parent Information


I Introduction to Core

II Core Essentials

    Syllabus

    Expectations

    Assignments

III How Parents Can Help

I Introduction

Welcome to CORE! I hope this information will keep you informed as to what will be happening in Core this year. I am looking forward to an exciting educational experience. I am also looking forward to helping students develop those skills that will be critical to their academic success this year. In addition, it is important that your continued support and interest is an essential ingredient in your child's success. On the first day of class we talked about what CORE means:

Cooperation. We will work together on many efforts in Core class.It is expected that each student will demonstrate respect for each other and our classroom.

Organization. It is important for the students to recognize how critical it is to manage time well and keep all materials organized. Everyone is expected to be present, punctual and prepared.

Responsibility. Students are responsible for all class material and homework assignments. Students are also responsible for keeping communication open with me as well as keeping parents informed of progress.

Excellence. Each student is expected to master the material to the best of his or her ability. I will provide the structure and organization for learning. I will also keep students aware of progress and facilitate the students' understanding of the material. Each student is expected to put forth 100% effort in reaching Core goals.

 

II Core Essentials

A. Syllabus

The Core program is a study of the history and culture of the various groups that make up the American people. It consists of but is not limited to three themes.

l.  Those Who Were Here and Those Who Chose to Come

2. Those Who Were Forced to Come

3. The American Dream

The material will be presented to the students through novels, stories, poetry, documents, speeches and articles.

Individually and in groups, students will read widely, write in a variety of forms and organize presentations. In the context of the program, they will study history, literature, vocabulary, grammar, geography and current events. We will also work to improve study skills, computer skills and time management skills.Please refer to the Core Information link for a more detailed syllabus.

B. Expectations

The Core department attempts to help students become responsible, independent learners. I will check assignment books, notebooks, binders and lockers to make sure students are learning to organize. Students should bring their assignment books home every night and bring them to school every day. They should be used as a time management tool for schoolwork and extracurricular activities. If students develop a pattern of handing in work late or not working to their potential, I will take time to meet with them individually and if necessary I will contact you with my concerns.

C. Assignments

Each student received a booklet outlining what types of assignments are expected over the course of the year. Please review that booklet with your son or daughter. Assignments that will occur on a regular basis include:

The book log and book reports

The book log is a record of books read over the course of the year and the students' impressions of these books.The book reports will be assigned once a month.

Writing assignments

Writing assignments include journal entries, creative stories, articles, essays and research papers. Students' work will be collected in portfolios so that they may evaluate and analyze their progress through the year. Many assignments are found in the Core Information and Assignments Booklet.

Current Events

Students will keep up with the news on a daily basis and submit a current events assignment once per cycle. Each student will have an opportunity to make a presentation to the class on a news issue that is of interest to him or her.

Computer Projects

Students will spend time utilizing the computer, honing their mastery of email, keyboarding and electronic research. Computers will also be used for presentations.

 
 

III How Parents Can Help

Be sure your child has quiet place for homework and a good place where they can leave their work-in-progress. Students should have access to a good dictionary and thesaurus and to a supply of pens, pencils and 81/2 x 11 paper. A word processor is important since formal written assignments should be typed.

Read with your children, recommend books and articles to them and discuss what they have read. Reading improves thinking and vocabulary and correlates highly to better verbal SAT scores.

Keep track of current events and discuss the news with your child. Let children know that current events are important to you and to them.

Encourage students to use libraries for research and to think of librarians as a valuable resource to help them with their projects. On-line sources are plentiful and important but must be used wisely.

If students ask for help with a paper, please limit your assistance to specific questions about a paper's content, or guidance in detecting errors in spelling or grammar. The goal is for students to learn to write more precisely and eloquently in their own voice and the best was to accomplish this is by allowing them to learn to refine their own work. Ask them questions like, "What do you mean here?" "Could you tell me more about this?" Encourage them to use Writers Inc. and a dictionary. A computer's spell checker and grammar checker are useful, but students should be cautioned that a computer is a machine and is not infallible. Learning where and how to look things up is one of the primary goals of education.

Try to minimize student absences due to trips. If the family is taking a trip that will require a student's absence from school, please let me know at least a week ahead so that I can prepare assignments appropriate for the journey.

Keep in touch with school. If something comes up that might affect your child's ability to perform in school, or if you have a question or suggestion, please contact me, Mrs. Pugach or Mrs. Vigoda.lf you or someone you know would like to address our classes on a topic related to our studies, please contact me.