Assignments for this week, and activities for our daily meeting time, will be posted in the Chat tomorrow morning.
Remote Learning Update 4/15
I am still having the same technology issues that I was experiencing yesterday. For today, use our class time to work on your TCI assignments or Journal Entries. I'm available to Google Chat, or through email, if you need any help, or have any issues or questions.
Remote Learning Update 4/13
For the duration of Remote Learning, my Google Hangout/Chat times for each class will be as follows for each school day: 9:40-10:00 - 41610:00-10:20 - 41510:20-10:40 - 31510:40-11:00 - 421
Students have been sent invites to the Chats for their specific class.
During Google Hangouts or Chats, will be able to have class discussions around the Essential Questions for the work for that week, and also discussions around current events like we normally would in class. There will also be activities like we would normally completed during Bell Ringer time at the beginning of class.
My office hours will be from 11:00-1:00pm each day.During this time I will be available on Google chat for more immediate response to student questions.During all other times of the week I will still be available through email.
Daily assignments will be posted on the Homework page (thalhammer.weebly.com/homework) of this site.A reminder that while the State Board of Education has mandated that failure to complete this work will not have a negative impact on a student’s grade, these assignments represent students’ final chance to improve their 3rd Quarter grades before grades are posted Friday 4/17.This is especially true for the Journal Entries for this week.These entries are the students’ only chance to improve their Minor Assessment grades, and balance out missing, or late, History Fair Checkpoint Grades from the beginning of the Quarter.
Remote Learning Update - 4/3/20
Beginning 4/13/20 Remote Learning will begin. All assignments for my class will posted under the Homework tab of this site.
For now, it is best to reach me through my email address, [email protected]. I will be available Monday-Friday from 11am-1pm for office hours. During this time I will be available to speak with student through google chat. At all other times, I am available through email.
I have also scheduled daily face-to-face times on google hangout with my classes. These are as follows: 416: 9:40-10am, 415:10:00-10:20am, 315: 10:20-10:40am, 421: 10:40-11:00am
My expectations for remote learning are as follows: Students will continue to access content and work through the TCI platform: teachtci.com (if students need log in assistance because they are using a different device, they should email me ASAP), and our journal entries will transition to electronic journal entries. Like always, journal entries will provide students with the framework to engage in class discussions/debates around essential questions for that Unit. In these extraordinary times, journals will also provide students with an outlet for their thoughts, and give them the chance to become primary sources on a historic series of events.
Disclaimer: While student assignments will not negative impact a students grade, it's highly encouraged for students to participate in all learning activities. Keep in mind that this work should be managed and balanced based on your families needs. If there are activities/assignments students can not complete, it is okay. As always, there are additional instructional and social/emotional resources available on our school's website.
Additional Information: 8th grade students: Ms. Brewers office hours for support with High School Enrollment Process Mrs. Brewer’s Counseling Office Hours Monday- Friday Noon- 2pm
How to reach specials teachers through remote learning:
Kdg.-5th Grade General Music Google Classroom Codes: Kindergarten-5th Grade Class Code: whkoblf 6th Grade Class Code: 4jnexst 7th Grade Class Code: v3vj7pk 8th Grade Class Code: pbv62d4
Kdg.-3rd Grade PE Google Classroom Code Kindergarten-3rd Grade Class Code: nflagi3
4th-8th Grade PE Google Classroom Code 4th-8th Grade Class Code: zlwtlx2
3rd -8th Band Google Classroom Codes Band Class Codes 3rd: Use your classroom teachers Google Classroom access code. 4th: Use Mrs. Chans Google Classroom access code 5th: xxpsi6k 6th: bvfi2jz 7th: iewjc4s 8th: ehuk22f
Dear Parents and Students,
My name is Mr. Thalhammer and I will be your 7th and 8th Grade Social Studies teacher for the 2019-20 school year. This will be my ninth year as a teacher, and my sixth at South Loop Elementary. I have really enjoyed my time at South Loop, and can’t wait to get to work this year. I look forward to meeting you and speaking with you as the school year gets started.
What You Can Expect From Me:
My principles as a teacher are relatively simple. I believe in achieving excellence through hard work and practice. I am committed to making myself the best teacher I can be, and helping my students reach their full potential. This means setting high standards for all my students, and doing whatever I can to help make sure they can flourish. I also believe in teaching students to be strong critical thinkers. I see it as a crucial duty of an educator to help students hone their critical thinking skills to make sense of their world and become autodidactic thinkers and responsible citizens. This is something I take very seriously. Literacy will be another focus of the class as students will use our study of Social Studies to sharpen their written and verbal communication skills to help prepare them for the rigor of high school, college, and beyond.
Our Units this year will be thematic and align with Common Core Standards. There will be considerable overlap in the themes explored by both 7th and 8th Grade Classes. While themes will be similar, the 7th Grade Classes will focus on early life in the Americas leading up to the Civil War, while 8th Grade Classes will study the Civil War through modern American History.
7th Grade Unit Themes
Q1, Unit 1: Power – Worlds Meet: Conflict, Challenges, and Change
Q1, Unit 2: Identity – Early Colonial America
Q2, Unit 3: Identity – The Meaning of Liberty
Q2, Unit 4: Conflict/Compromise – Confederation or Nation
Q3, Unit 5: Justice/Injustice – Challenges of Expansion
Q3, Unit 6: Power – War or Rebellion
Q4, Unit 7: Conflict/Compromise – The Promise of Reconstruction
Q4, Unit 8: Identity – A Dream Deferred
8th Grade Unit Themes
Q1, Unit 1: Power – Progress at What Cost?
Q1, Unit 2: Identity - The Changing Face of America
Q2, Unit 3: Justice/Injustice – Introduction of Modernity
Q2, Unit 4: Power – America: Emerging Power
Q3, Unit 5: Conflict/Compromise – World at War: Lasting Legacy
Q3, Unit 6: Identity – Changing Face of the World
Q4, Unit 7: Power – The Rise of America in the Modern World
Q4, Unit 8: Conflict/Compromise – East Meets West: America’s Role in the World
What I Expect From Students
Students should arrive to school and class on time and ready to begin work. Classes will begin with a Bell Ringer Activity that will be used to preview or review material, or get students ready for a discussion/debate on the material for the lesson.
Students need to come to class prepared. This means having a notebook, a pen or pencil, a folder for keeping handouts and assignments. Students will not be issued textbooks, as most of our curriculum will be web-based using the TCI program as our primary text. It is an expectation of all students that they come to class each day with their chromebook charged.
Additional specifics about my classes and expectations for this year can be found in the Syllabus that your student will be bringing home for you to review. My syllabus is also available on this website. Please take this opportunity to review the Syllabus and expectations with your student so that there is no confusion about what to expect from my classes.
Once again, welcome to 7th and 8th Grade Social Studies. I look forward to working with you all and making this a productive and successful year at South Loop Elementary.