Mrs. Laura Rhine
6th grade

Social Studies, Tech Apps

lrhine@alvordisd.net
940-427-5511

Subjects Taught: Social Studies 6

Education:               Decatur High School, Decatur, Texas
                                 Texas Woman's University Bachelor of Science "Magna Cum Laude", Denton, Texas

Experience: I know this will be another great year.  I love bringing history to life for my students.  I am looking forward to a wonderful year of learning with your child, because I love to teach.  I have been teaching at Alvord Middle School for 23 years.  I have taught 6th grade Social Studies, 7th grade Texas History, and 8th grade US History.  

Bio: I have been happily married to my husband Darrell for 40 years. We are blessed with two children.  Our son Parker, his wife Kelsey and 2 precious grandchildren. Our daughter Morgan her husband Grayson and a new granddaughter due in October.

Social Studies Guidelines for 6th Grade

Course Overview
6th grade Social Studies at Alvord Middle School provides students the opportunity to develop their social studies skills in accordance with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (Chapter 113 Subchapter B. Middle School) as identified by the Texas Education Agency. Students will build a foundation in the eight strands of theTexas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) throughout their coursework. These areas include: history; geography; economics; government; citizenship; culture; science, technology, and society; and social studies skills.

Teaching Strategies
To support the teaching of the eight strands of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), a variety of primary and secondary materials will be utilized that incorporate various disciplines and critical-thinking skills.  Students will experience many methods of learning, including, but not limited to, social studies skill builders, experiential exercises, response groups, problem-solving group work, and technology applications.

Course Description
In Contemporary World Studies, students will study the people and places of the contemporary world. Societies selected for study are chosen from the following regions of the world: Canada & the United States; Latin America; Oceania & Antarctica; Europe & Russia; Southwest & Central Asia; Monsoon Asia; Subsaharan Africa. Students will describe the influence of individuals and groups on historical and contemporary events in those societies and identify the locations and geographic characteristics of selected societies. Students will also identify different ways of organizing economic and governmental systems. The concepts of limited and unlimited government will be introduced, and students will describe the nature of citizenship in various societies. Students will compare institutions common to all societies such as government, education, and religious institutions. Finally, students will explain how the level of technology affects the development of the selected societies and identify different points of view about selected events.