Global History II (1750 to Present) - Open Honors

From LearnSocialStudies

Introduction

Open Honors at Park East HS is our unique way of offering an honors option for students without the well-documented academic and equity issues related to tracking. As a school that identifies as a “total inclusion school,” differentiating in the classroom for both students with IEPs and honors students simultaneously embraces the philosophy of true inclusion. The goal is to challenge the students who self identify as interested in engaging in the process. To address an increased level of rigor associated with Honors level classes teachers employ the following practices in varying combinations:

  • additional, above and beyond assignments (ie: “more work”)
  • more rigorous grading standards (ie: “harder grading”)
  • different work (ie: “unique, more complex tasks”)

We currently do not dictate a recipe for the amount of each of these “ingredients” or the way that teachers decide to achieve Honors level standards. Rather, we expect our teachers to work together and in consultation with guidance and administration. We also place much of the onus for “entry” into Open Honors on the students (to self identify as interested) and the teachers to nominate. As a guidance and admin team we do review past and present academic performance and weigh in when there might be concerns about a student’s ability to do the more demanding work.

Open Honors provides an innovative way to challenge our highest performing students to challenge themselves, as well as an opportunity for students who might not be traditionally identified as honors students to opt in. Engaging in Open Honors is also an opportunity for students to distinguish themselves in the college admissions process, in a non test driven way (ie: not AP or Regents terminating).

For Global History students Global Open Honors involves more in-depth readings and higher-level questions on particular topics throughout the Marking Period and Semester, not more than once per week or every other week. There will be a semester final in the last marking period of each semester. This will consist of an Enduring Issues Essay based upon the topics and readings they had for the semester. The same Enduring Issues Essay format is used for both this essay and their New York State Regents exam in June, and scored according to the state exam rubric. If you need assistance for writing, please visit Office Hours, and/or tutoring. You may use the online assistance for [http://www.classroomexplorations.org /wiki/index.php?title=Enduring_Issues_Essay_Writing Enduring Issues Essay Writing].

For the 2019-20 school year teachers and students will be asked to begin the Open Honors identification process at the beginning of the year. In order to be eligible for the Open Honors program, students will be asked to complete an assignment by Monday, September 22nd, 2019. Teachers will submit names of students, by course and period to guidance and admin for review. Then we will place students into Honors sections for the duration of the semester. Report cards will reflect Honors designation. At the completion of the semester, students in Open Honors sections will receive designation on their transcripts.

Assignments

Fall Semester

MP 1

MP 2

MP 3

Semester 1 Final

/wiki/images/a/af/Openhonorsenduringissueessayfinal.pdf Enduring Issues Essay - Semester 1 Final] (Due 1/10/20)

Spring Semester

MP 4

MP 5

MP 6

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