HighTechMiddleNorthCounty

8thGradeHumanities

Z. Lopez-Fuentes 2016-2017
Educationisthemostpowerfulweaponwhichyoucanusetochangetheworld.
NelsonMandela

Instructor: Zamequa Lopez-Fuentes room 122

Email: zlopezfuentes@hightechhigh.org
Office hours: Tuesday 3:15-4:00
Digital Portfolio: http://lopez-fuenteshtmnc.weebly.com/

Course Description:

8thgradehumanitieshasafocusonAmericanhistoryandliterature.Wewillregularlyread,examine,and

discusshistoricalandcontemporarytextsaswetrytobetterunderstandourpastandissuesthataffectour
currentglobalsociety.Thiscourseapproacheshistoricalstudyascontestedandwillexaminehistory
throughmultipleperspectives.Itismysincerehopethatstudentswillleavethiscoursenotonlywithabetter
understandingofpastandcurrentissuesbutalsothepassiontofindawaytopositivelyimpacttheworld.
Inordertoprepareyouforhighschool,wewillbeworkingtodevelopyourcriticalandanalyticthinking
skillsbytacklingopenendedquestionsthatcanonlybeansweredthroughresearchandanalytical
reasoning.Wewillstudyhistorythematicallyasitalignswithourprojectworkandcomplementthiswith
literature(novels,shortstories,expositorytexts,andpoems)thataddressthemessuchasresilience,civil
disobedience,courage,citizenship,andjustice.Wewillalsoworkonliteraryanalysisanddeveloping
writingskillsbycreatingevidencebasedarguments.Wewillspendalotoftimeworkingingroupsand
togetherasaclassinordertohelpyougrowinyourcollaboration,problemsolving,andcommunication
skills.

Essential Questions:
1.Doeslookingathistorythroughdifferentlenseschangeourperspective?
2.Howcanourownexperiencesbeviewedinrelationtothelargerhumanstoryacrosstime?
3.Howcanweusestorytellingtopreservehistory?
4.WhatareourrightsandresponsibilitiesasAmericans?ashumans?
5.Whatishistoryandwhatismyth?
6.Howcanmusicbeanavenueforsocialcommentary?
7.Howdosoundwavesmimiclightwaves?
8.Howdoinstrumentswork?

Classroom Expectations
Asaclass,wewillestablishclassroomexpectationsspecifictoourownlearningenvironment.Inshort,
studentsshouldbepreparedtoberespectfulofeachother,theclassroom,andmaterials,workhard,take
risks,andhavefun!

general guidelines:

Iwillmakemistakesandsowillyou,butaslongasweownuptothemandgrowfromthem,
mistakesareOK.
Iwillcometoclasspreparedandsoshouldyou.
As8thgraders,Iwillbecountingonyoutosetanexamplefortherestoftheschool.Beleaders.
Projectscansometimesbefrustrating,butyouwillnotfailuntilyouquittrying.Dontstopuntilyou
areproudofyourwork.
Dreambig,butthengettowork.Excellenceisneveranaccident.Itisachievedbythosewillingto
gotheextramile.
Bekindwheneverpossible.(Bytheway...itisalwayspossible.)

Evaluation and Grading Policy:

Asan8thgradeteam,wehavefoundthattraditionalgradingisnotalwaysthebestreflectionofa
studentslearning.Inthisclass,studentgradeswillbebasedonfourcategories:reflection,practice,
competency,andprojectgrades.Studentswillberequiredeveryweektoreflectonthequalityandeffortthat
theyhavegiventoalloftheirwork.Practicewillconsistofassignmentsthatstudentsworkontopracticea
particularskillsuchasvocabulary,outlines,orreadingcomprehension,whilecompetencywillbebasedon
howwelltheyunderstoodclassmaterialorhowtheycandemonstratemasteryofaconcept.Finally,
studentswillalsobegradedontheirfinalprojectsaswellastheworktheydidinordertocompletethat
project.
Eachassignmentisbasedonapointsystem.Thenumberofpointspossiblewillvaryinrelationto
thecomplexityandworkrequiredoftheassignment.Themorepointsanyassignmentisworth,themore
weightitcarrieswithinyouroverallaverage.Hereisthemostcommonbreakdown:
*Practicework520points
*WeeklyReflections10points
*Essays/Writingassignments:2550points*Projects:20100points(dependingonsizeofproject)

Late work policy

Iwouldliketothinkthattheworkassignedisimportant,andthereforeitwillbecompletedontime.
Thoughstudentsneedtolearnhowtoorganizeandmanagetheirtimeeffectively,thisisaskillthatisstill
beingdevelopedinmiddleschool,andIwillbeaccommodatingincertaincircumstances.Ifyouneed
additionaltimetocompletework,thebestcourseofactionisforyou,theSTUDENT(i.e.notyourparent),to
behonestandtaketheinitiativetospeaktoyourteacherinadvancetoexplainwhymoretimeisnecessary.
Lateworkwillbeacceptedattheteachersdiscretion.Accommodationswillnotbemadeforprocrastination.
Workthatisturnedinlatewithoutpriorapprovalwillhaveareductioninpointsnottoexceed50%ofthe
possiblepoints.
**Withessays,IreviseandedityourFIRSTdraft.Itiscrucialthatyouturninyourworkontimesothatyou
cancontinuetogrowasawriterandastudent**

Absent Work Policy:

DuetotheprojectbasednatureofHighTechHigh,absencescanseverelyinterruptthelearning
process.

Ifanabsenceoccurs,itisthestudentsresponsibilitytoobtainthehomeworkassignments,notes,
andanyotherpertinentinformationthatismissedduringanabsence.Anyextrapaperscanbefoundinthe
classroomfile.Thestudentwillneedtoturninworkthatwasassignedpriortohis/herabsenceatthe
beginningoftheclassperiodonthedayofhis/herreturn.Forassignmentsthatweregivenduringaperiod

ofabsence,thestudentwillhaveasmanydaysashe/shewasabsenttocompleteassignmentsbeforethey
willbeconsideredlate.Themakeupdayswillbeginthedaythestudentreturnstoschool.

Ifthestudentisawarethathe/shewillbeabsentaheadoftime,pleaseinformtheteachertoreceive
anyassignmentsthatareavailablefordistribution.

Recommended Supply List

One1inch3ringbinder(ProjectBinder)

Collegerulednotebookpaper(8x11)

1setofDividers(atleast5tabs)
1spiralnotebook
Pensblackorblueandred
Pencils
*TheConstitutionoftheStateofCaliforniarequiresthatweprovideapubliceducationtoyoufreeofcharge.Subjecttocertain
exceptions,yourrighttoafreepubliceducationmeansthatwecannotrequireyouoryourfamilytopurchasematerials,supplies,
equipment,oruniformsforanyschoolactivity.Thisisarecommendedlistofsuppliesthatyourchildmaybringtoschool.Please
notethatifyourchilddoesnotbringtherecommendedsupplies,theschoolwillprovidethesuppliesforhim/her.Ifyouhaveany
questions/commentsaboutthis,pleasecontacttheteachersortheschooldirector.*

Proposed Project Calendar- Semester 1

*Pleasebeflexibleandunderstandthatthisisamereproposal.Alldatesandassignmentsaresubjectto
changeduetothenatureofprojectbasedlearningandstudentinterest.*

Dates

Language
Arts

Themes Historical
Content

Project

9/59/30

Reading:Memoirs
andautobiographies
Writing:Personal
Narrative/Memoir
SocraticSeminars

WhoAmI?

Poetic Self-Portrait

10/311/4

Reading:Articles,
speeches,scholarly
journals
Listening:Debates
SocraticSeminars
Writing:Persuasive
Essay

ElectionTime

U.S.History
Presidential
Elections

Exercise your right!

11/712/12
(Continue
during
semester2)

Reading:Poetry,
biographies,articles
Writing:Expository
Essay
SocraticSeminars

WhereHaveI
Been?

HistoryofMusic

Music Immersion

12/1312/16

POL PREP

POL Prep

POL PREP

POL PREP