My name is Karen Smith and I teach 4th and 5th grade Social Studies. I am excited to have your child in my classroom this school year! Our Social Studies curriculum involves learning about history, government, economics, civics, cultures and geography. I love teaching Social Studies and, through a variety of activities, I hope to develop an excitement for Social Studies in my students. I try to instill in them the idea that Social Studies is around them in their every day environment.
In the 4th grade, our main focus will be learning about Texas. We will learn about topics such as Native Americans, Texas maps, government, explorers, the Civil War, settlers, and the Texas Revolution. In the 5th grade, our main focus will be learning about the United States. We will learn about topics such as explorers, the 13 colonies, the American Revolution, the Civil War, government, World War I and World War II.
Grading Policy: I will take a minimum of 8 daily grades and 2 test grades per six weeks. Graded papers will be sent home at the end of the six weeks. Brookeland ISD's Parent Portal is a helpful way of keeping up with your child's grades as they are posted.
Corrections: In the event that your child makes less than a 70 on a test, he or she will be given 5 days from the date the test is graded to make corrections. Corrections can be made in the morning in my classroom between 7:30 and 7:50. If a child does not come to my room to make corrections during the allotted time, the original grade will go in the grade book.
Make-Up Work: Each child will be given one day for each day absent to complete any make-up work that is missed. For example, if your child is absent one day, he or she will have one day to complete missed assignments. If he or she is absent five days, he or she will have five days to complete missed assignments. Some daily work may be sent home to complete, but MUST be returned to receive a grade. Tests will be made up at school only.