GREAT NEWS!!! HEREFORD JUNIOR HIGH MADE AYP 2011-2012!!!
WE CONGRATULATE ALL OF THE STUDENTS WHO WORKED SO HARD AND ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOU! Way to go Herd.
I am in my sixth year as a history teacher for H.I.S.D and my third year as a Texas history teacher. HJH attempts to make classes fun and dynamic through a variety of learning activities and experiences. Anything from a stuffed hedgehog mascot to different ways of testing the growth and knowledge of our students may be incorporated to make this one of the most interesting social studies courses our students will ever have. Many adults state that their "favorite class while in school was Texas history". Here at HJH we want to keep it that way for the generation that is currently entrusted to us.
We have certain EXPECTATIONS in our classroom. These expectations are easily described as:
Be Respectful
Be Responsible
Be Safe
Be Cooperative
Be Diligent
Be Peaceful
If we each live up to these expectations then the "RULES" will take care of themselves.
For those who fall short of the expectations we do use Herd Essentials in our school.
In the event that someone is in violation of the rules I observe a three part process which, hopefully, will be effective before we get to the consequences stage. If a student is in violation of the rules I will:
1. Give a verbal warning. (Johnny, please turn around and pay attention.)
2. Give a "T-?". This is a card that has "T-?" written on it. This means -"Johnny, I see that you have not turned around as I asked you to. Do you really want to continue on this path?"
3. Give a Teacher 10 minute lunch detention during which time I will visit with the student about their failure to meet expectations in our classroom. (If this is an ongoing problem it is at this point that the student and I will contact a parent/guardian and see if the parents input might aid in resolving the problem.
One of the first tests to be taken by students this year has to do with a relative timeline from the time of Columbus' discovery of the Americas to the Civil War. This is a 15 event timeline that incorporates "flashcards". The actual test will involve placing all 15 flashcards in chronological order. We will work on this timeline extensively in class and the test will be given in the week prior to the completion of the first six weeks.
This relative timeline is:
1. Columbus discovers the Americas.
2. Pineda discovers Texas.
3. Estavan (ico) explores Texas.
4. Jamestown Virginia settled.
5. The Mayflower compact is signed. (The Pilgrims)
6. The first Spanish Mission. (Ysleta)
7. The United States Declaration of Independence.
8. The United States Constitution.
9. The Louisiana Purchase. (Lewis and Clark)
10. Moses Austin - The first Empresario.
11. Texas Declaration of Independence.
12. The Battle of the Alamo.
13. Texas wins independence. (The Battle of San Jacinto)
14. Texas becomes a State.
15. United States Civil War.
Our first units in Texas history have to do with the geography of Texas and the Pre-Columbian American Indians. We will learn about the 4 geographic regions of our state. These areas are:
1. The Great Plains. (This is where we live)
2. The Central Plains. (Childress, Dallas, Abilene)
3. The Coastal Plains. (Along the Gulf of Mexico and the eastern border of Texas.
4. The Mountains and Basins. (Far west Texas including El Paso.
Identify the following on a map.
- Cities
- 20th century and 21st century
- Austin
- San Antonio
- Houston
- Ft. Worth
- Dallas
- El Paso
- Brownsville
- Lubbock
- Amarillo
- Midland
- Odessa
- 20th century and 21st century
- Rivers
- Sabine
- Red
- Rio Grande
- Nueces
- Neches
- Trinity
- Brazos
- Colorado
- Guadalupe
- San Antonio
- Pecos
- Natural and historic landmarks
- Llano Estacado (natural)
- Balcones Escarpment (natural)
- Palo Duro Canyon (natural)
Native Texans
- Gulf Coast – nomadic and hunters/gatherers
- Karankawa – Southeast, used dugout canoes to fish and hunt small animals. Cabeza de Vaca wrote about Karankawas.
- Coalhuiltecans – South Texas, ate bugs and small animals
- Atakapans – hunted small animals and fished in dugout canoes, some farming
- Plains – nomadic, dependent on the buffalo, and fierce warriors
- Comanche – used every part of the buffalo, lived in tipis, domesticated animals before they were introduced to the horse by the Europeans
- Apache – used buffalo hide to protect themselves from the harsh landscape. For part of the year they lived in farming communities along rivers and streams called rancherias.
- Kiowas – recorded their oral histories on their tipis, made beautiful crafts, developed a calendar, and most-feared group on the plains
- Puebloan – sedentary, farmers, and lived in houses made of adobe
- Jumanos – besides farming, they hunted, traded, and lived in beautiful painted adobe homes.
- Tiguas – known for their beautiful pottery
- Southeastern Texas – sedentary food-rich environment and complex social systems
- Caddoes – built dome shaped huts, organized government system led by a chief, women played important roles, greeted European with the word Tejas, which means friends
First Test - Tuesday September 16, 2012 on above information
During the first six-weeks we will also be observing "Celebrate Freedom Week" during which we will examine the meaning of the U. S. Constitution and how it affects our lives today.
If students or parents ever have questions or comments please contact me through our H.I.S.D. e-mail at Jimbulin@herefordisd.net, call and make an appointment during my conference period (11:00am) or you may call me at the number that I have asked all students to write in their agendas.
I am looking forward to a GREAT YEAR!!
"YEE-HAW YA'LL"
Mr. Bulin
