Back to School Night, 7 Feb. '07

Back to School Night, 7 February 2007

Dr. G. Mick Smith, Room #267, Contact info: gmicksmith@gmail.com, 215.276.2300

Blogsite:
http://gmicksmithsocialstudies.blogspot.com/

Supplemental text material:
http://www.pearsonsuccessnet.com/

Podcast:
http://www.gcast.com/u/gmicksmith/

Collaboration:
http://www.seedwiki.com/wiki/gmicksmith/gmicksmith.cfm

Grades:
http://www.gradeconnect.com/front/

Dear Parents/Guardians, and Students:

Welcome! This information guide emphasizes that a participating student will be successful by completing assignments and positively interacting in class. Above all, I hope that students will enjoy the class but will also grow in their knowledge level and increase their life skills which apply after graduation. Listed below are expectations for the class. Please review these guidelines.

1. Be in your seat and prepared for class when the bell rings with pencil/pen, notebook, and textbook(s), or any other assigned materials.
2. Obtain permission by raising your hand before speaking, or leaving your seat for any reason once the bell rings.
3. Follow directions and complete all assignments on time.
4. Remain alert, awake, and on task during the entire class period.
5. Above all, respect yourself, your teacher, and others and their possessions.

Grading Calculation: (at least three major grades are in each quarter) a total accumulation of points per grading period based on the following.
Task & Weight
1. Tests, 2. Homework/Presentations/Projects/Worksheets, 3. Quizzes

The course is graded using a straight point based calculation.

Each assessment is assigned points (ex. 18/22) and the student's score is simply calculated by dividing the total points they earned by the total points possible. (ex. Test 1 - 15/20, Test 2 - 17/18 - Current student score is 32/38 or 84%).

I adhere to a policy of PDP (Positive Daily Performance) which is based on my understanding that lifetime success arises out of what you do, day in and day out. Being prepared and ready to apply yourself with your school materials everyday is crucial.


Brief Biography
Dr. Smith earned his PhD in History at the University of California, Los Angeles. He was also awarded a Masters degree in History from UCLA, and he obtained a second Masters in Theology. Smith was a Johannes Quasten Scholar in Patristics at The Catholic University of America and he holds a Distance Learning Administrator’s Certificate from Texas A&M University and the Center for Distance Learning Research. He has published over 100 mostly peer-reviewed publications in history, technology and education, and computing. Dr. Smith has been President of the American Association for History and Computing. Smith has also taught at Northeast Catholic High School, Lansdale Catholic, Villa Maria Academy, Phila Academy, and Hahnemann University. At Cardinal Daugherty Smith is Assistant Chair of the Technology Committee and Moderator of Mock Trial. Dr. Smith is a full-time single parent of the best daughter ever born and he is submitting his first novel to publishers.