Welcome to Social Studies

Mr. Robert Glomb2010-2011

About me…• This is my 13th year at RPMS.

• I have two Bachelor’s degrees (Communication & History) and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Monmouth University.

• I live in Belmar and used to commute with my wife, Donna Glomb (first grade teacher at Robert Gordon). Donna is currently a Principal of a PreK-2 school. I am very proud of her!

• I’m a huge fan of pop culture, legends and myths and, of course, history.

• My favorite time in history is the American civil war, especially the Battle of Gettysburg.

• I LOVE TEACHING SOCIAL STUDIES/HISTORY!

Supplies

Students should bring the following items to class everyday:

1. Pen/pencil2. Social studies folder3. Best behavior4. A willingness to learn5. An open mind

Daily Social Studies ActivitiesUpon arriving into class, students complete a daily journal activity.

This activity varies but may include:

• Historical trivia (Which ancient civilization invented the marshmallow? Answer: The ancient Egyptians!)

• Did You Know? (Did you know…the tallest mountain anywhere on Earth is Hawaii! Mauna Kea is 31,800 feet! Everest is 29,035 feet.)

• Weather folklore (“Rain at seven, fine by eleven.”)

• Monthly weather/seasonal poetry

• Words of Wisdom (proverbs). This is especially important as it helps students develop the skill of “decoding.”

• Charts, graphs, maps, famous art, etc.

Daily Social Studies Activities…Continued

Upon completion of the daily journal, we watch the “Top Stories” and “Today in History” on YouTube. This will often lead into other discussions and I encourage this with students.

Social Studies is such a unique subject to teach because it truly is the one subject that is a part of every student’s every day. Students are beginning to see this and show great interest in the world around them. Social Studies is everywhere!

6th Grade S.S. Topics• Geography skills (identifying the continents and the four

major oceans, cardinal/intermediate directions, reading maps)

• The Constitution, especially the Bill of Rights • A Look into the Past (understanding history, defining culture,

primary/secondary sources)• Early Cultures (reading a time line, domestication, early

agriculture)• Ancient Egypt (role of the Nile River, daily life,

mummification, religion)• Mesopotamia (invention of writing, Hammurabi’s laws)• India (comparing world religions)• China (philosophy of Confucius, geography of Asia)• Greece (democracy, Greek mythology)• Rome (law and the Roman empire, Roman mythology)• Arabia (the Muslim empire)• Americas (Mayas, Aztecs, and Incas)

***Anything else I can find along the way!***

How I TeachI use a variety of methods to teach students and it is an extreme compliment when a student says, “Class is over already!” That’s when I know that the class has been engaged and is learning. Sixth grade students, some for the first time, are seeing the world in a more “global sense.” Students begin to appreciate what they have compared to the rest of the world.

It is very important to me that students practice good manners and have an open-mind. From day one, I stress that politeness goes a long, long way. I sincerely hope that this will one day separate my students from someone else if they are competing for a spot on a team, a college interview or even a job. As a society, we need more people, I believe, to hold open the door for others or simply let someone know that you appreciate them.

Our Social Studies Book

• Our book is called, World: Adventures in Time and Place.

• Students will not be assigned a s.s. book. We will use the book in class. Homework is not assigned from the book. I do this mainly because I do not want students to have to carry another book either to and from class or home.

• If there is a vocabulary assignment, students will receive a paper copy of the glossary.

Current Events & Special Interest StoriesStudents enjoy talking about what’s happening in the world around them.I try to get to current events and/or special interest stories on Friday’s. Students will be kept up-to-date oncurrent events through:

1. Channel One (a news program aimed at teens) usually seen every morning during homeroom.

2. Time for Kids, Scholastic News, Junior Scholastic and special interest stories that I personally tape and burn to DVD’s. Students love these human interest pieces and often ask for them to be shown more than once a week. The stories can be anything from a great accomplishment, overcoming adversity or beating the odds.They can be about a Boy Scout that earned every merit badge to the firstfemale USAF Thunderbird pilot. They may be national or international.

And, thebest part, is that they generally involve some kind of character

education.

Expectations• Behavior: Students will behave in a way that is conducive

to learning. I believe in politeness and courtesy. I expect that students are respectful. I provide a safe environment for my students. I take pride in the job that I do.

• Tests/quizzes: Tests and quizzes are always announced. Students will be given several days notice prior to the actual test/quiz date. Generally, if a student does poorly on a test/quiz they are given the opportunity to check and correct their work. The average of the two grades will be the final grade for that test/quiz. Tests will count for 50% of a student’s grade. Quizzes will count for 25% of a student’s grade.

• Homework: Homework will either be checked (five points) or handed in for a grade. Homework will count for 25% of a student’s grade.

Homework Website

Homework is always posted on the Roselle Park Middle School Website (unless I am absent). Even if there is no homework, I post. Generally, there is no homework during the weekend. Why? I know students are busy, you are busy and I’m just not a fan of homework when there can be some down-time.

Contact Me!The best way to reach me is through email. I usually check my email once

daily.

Please visit the Roselle Park SchoolDistrict’s website at…

rpsd.org

Or email me at…rglomb@rpsd.org

Welcome to Peer Leadership

Mr. Robert Glomb2010-2011

Peer LeadershipIn 2006, Mrs. Grasso approached me about teaching this class. It has become my favorite class of the day. The class is being offered to all 8th grade students and ismeant to help young adults become more familiar with themselves and their character. This is a cycle class which means students will be with me for a quarter and then move on to another cycle class. There is a lot of information to cover! RPMS students will also continue to participate in peer advisory which will begin soon. Mrs. Grasso called this class, “Mr.

Glomb’s trying to save the world” class. In truth, I’m trying to help students grow and see the world in a different way.

Peer Leadership…Part II

So…what is “peer leadership?”

I am taking a differentapproach than students are used to in terms of peer advisory.

This class is meant to…

“help young teens work their way through the turmoil of early adolescence while making positive & healthful life choices.”

Peer Leadership…Part III

So, why me?

I have been an advisor of twopeer groups while at RPMS…”Peer-to-Peer”and “REBEL.” In addition, whileat college, I was a resident assistant and helped students through the everydayproblems/hassles of college life.

Peer Leadership...Part IVWhat am I using to help students better understand their character/leadership skills?

• A DVD series, “Big Changes, Big Choices” This series is meant to help students further “develop their self-esteem and positive life skills.” In addition, it gives students strategies to “prevent risky behaviors and helps to empower young teens to make the very best choices” as they grow up. This is a 12-volume series and touches on topics such as self-esteem, handling emotions, preventing conflicts, maintaining healthy friendships and getting along with parents. It is a great way to show young adults that growing up is a series of choices and to make them aware that their choices can have benefits as well as consequences.

Peer Leadership…Part V• After we view one of the DVD’s, we discuss what the main

idea of the program was. The next day, I have a summary of the previous day’s show. After that, we usually watch a music video or listen to a song that in some way relates to the program that we watched. This is a class that is based on discussion and meant to get students to think about and consider their choices as they grow up.

• We will also be reading a great story about growing up and the decisions we make called, The Little Prince. I read this in 8th grade and, at the time, didn’t really understand what my teacher was trying to teach me. Years later, I’ve come full-circle and now see that she was teaching us how to “be.” It’s a great story and one that I hope students will learn a great deal from. Simply, it’s about growing up and how our decisions and the way we see the world affects how we react in different situations. It’s about trust, friendship, love, respect, and being yourself.

Peer Leadership…Part VILast year a new cable station was introduced (ION). It shows“older” tv shows. I was REALLY happy to see that they were showing episodes of The Wonder Years. If you’re not familiar with the show, basically it’s a “grown-up” narrator looking back onthe decisions he made in life and how they affected the person hebecame. Some “lessons” taught in the show, show the importanceof Family, what really matters in life, be careful what you say because it can come back to haunt you later, the importance of not judging others, etc. This is all told through the eyes of a 13 year old boy. The students seem to LOVE the show and really getsomething from each episode. It’s funny, touching, and a very honest portrayal of daily situations that our students are learningto confront as they grow into young adults.

Peer Leadership…Part VIII have also ordered a book called, Character: A Guide for

MiddleGrade Students. However, it hasn’t arrived as of yet. This

book is meant to teach students to “think about who they are and

whatcharacter traits they should develop.” I’m hoping it’s as good

as it sounds! In addition (and depending on time), students will

readNight. This is a true story about a Holocaust survivor and his experiences at a concentration camp. It’s also about

tolerance, human survival and the things that really matter in life.

Peer Leadership…Part VIIIThis class continues to grow and change and I’m trying different things to make this class as interesting as possible. I don’t plan on testing any student’s character. I’m not even sure how I would grade them! I’d have to follow them around in order to see that what they’re being taught is being translated to the outside world. However, there may be a quiz/test on the book, The Little Prince. If so, all quizzes/tests will be announced.

7th Grade S.S. Topics• Geography skills (identifying the continents and the four major oceans of

the world, map work (a key component of each unit of study and will be ongoing throughout the year!)

• Medieval Europe/the Middle Ages (feudalism, role of the medieval knight, Arthurian legends, Renaissance, Reformation)

• Africa (geography, arrival of the Europeans)

• Asia (Ottoman empire, feudalism of Japan, the samurai)

• Americas (the Middle Passage, decline of empires)

• European Expansion (explorers of the New World)

• Revolutions that Changed the World (French, American, Industrial revolutions)

• The World at War (World War I, World War II, the Holocaust)

Contact Me!The best way to reach me is through email.

Please visit the Roselle Park SchoolDistrict’s website at…

rpsd.org

Or email me at…rglomb@rpsd.org