Welcome to 7 th Grade Social Studies

1. Welcome to 7th Grade Social Studies Mr. Gouge kgouge@wcpss.net www.keithgouge7.weebly.com

2. Introduction • Mr. Gouge (pronounced like stooge starting with a G) • From Pennsylvania, has lived in West Virginia, Maryland, Florida • Has worked in banking and teaching • BA: Psychology from WVU • M.Ed: Education from Wilmington University (Delaware) • A.A.S: Criminal Justice WTCC • Has coached: football, baseball, softball • Grew up working with the Amish on farms • Was a junior fireman in high school • Has been on ESPN SportCenter • Has been maced 3 times and electrocuted 1 with a cattle prod • Died in 2006 at Duke (don’t worry I lived) • Married with 2 sons • Teaching for 16 years mostly American Hist.

3. Course Overview • This year we will look at: exploration, colonization, revolutions, the Enlightenment, European kings, WWI, WWII, The Cold War, the world of today and how new nations emerge • We will talk a lot about how these topics effect us in your life and not just a ton of old dead dudes • You cannot talk about history and not include religion, economics, politics and social situations; my promise to you is that I will always be honest and not even speak of my personal opinions. I will never tell you something is good –bad-right-wrong-should-shouldn’t I believe that is your parents responsibility

4. Homeroom • When you arrive please find your seat • You can read silently, get ready for the day ahead or do any work for your classes • Go to your locker, water and bathroom as soon as you arrive – don’t wait to get seated • If you have to leave for any reason you must make a pass and get signed • You can talk to your peers as long as It’s normal volume and not interrupting others • NO cell phones during school, I love to take them and make your parents pick them up after school is over. • Enjoy this time, get ready to learn but please be respectful to others who are studying, and at all costs, be good to each other

5. Guided Study • I am pretty sure the school will give us a plan for each day that must be followed, but that may not happen until a couple of days from now. • Until we are told what to do, we will use this time to enrich or remediate lessons from the week • Bring a personal book to read each day !!!

6. Our Class Website • Please copy this down www.keithgouge7.weebly.com • I post almost 100% of our work here • If you are absent, it is your responsibility to go to the website and arrive back to class with the work already done • Everything you need for class is on that site: lesson plans, worksheets, online text books, organizers, notes, videos, webquests, etc…

7. Rules & Expectations • Let’s just keep it simple: • Don’t lie, cheat or steal • Be kind to others • Do your best • Have an open mind • Be willing to work hard • FOLLOW THE RULES • Use your brain and common sense • Always be willing to help • Just accept that I’m pretty much the coolest teacher at ECMS • Don’t do anything stupid that gets you or most importantly me in trouble! • Learn to love the movies: Braveheart, Old School, Full Metal Jacket, Wedding Crashers, Lone Survivor, American Sniper, Into the Wild and Hector and the Search for Happiness (otherwise my sense of humor is not funny) “Courage is putting your fear aside and getting the job done” “Sometimes we fall so we can learn to pick ourselves up” “It only takes 1 helping hand to mend a hurting heart” “Two wrongs don’t make a right, but three lefts will” “Always look out for #1 and never step in #2” “The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help”

8. Odds & Ends

9. Tour of the Room