Social Studies Department

Mrs. Shelley LaForgia, Supervisor

201.664.0880 x2066

shelley.laforgia@wwrsd.org

Goals

·        To provide educational experiences which enable students to understand life and events in the past and how they relate to the present and future

·        To provide educational and extracurricular experiences which enable students to understand, connect to and act on critical global issues

Emphasis

·         Historical and critical thinking

·         Defending and presenting opinions

·         Research skills

Rigor

·        Curriculum rewritten/revised - Social Studies classes to meet or exceed NJ State Standards

·        Honors curriculum written to prepare students for AP and college level study

·        AP classes prepare students for the AP Exam

·        Academic reading, writing and research emphasized in all Social Studies classes

·        High School appropriate common midterm and final exams to assess effectiveness of curriculum, instruction and learning

Accomplishments

·         Westwood Regional High School Social Studies student essay award recipients

·         High percentage of students taking AP exams and scoring 3 or higher

·         Annual Veteran’s Day Program

Points of Interest

·        Unique elective classes such as Psychology, Sports Psychology, Cold War to the Present, Micro/Macro Economics, Sociology, Geography, and Contemporary Global Issues

·        New 2010-2011 elective offerings: American Government and American Law

·        AP offerings in United States History, Psychology, and World History

·        New 2010-2011 AP course offering: United States Government and Politics

·        Access to numerous on-line research databases

·     Integration of technology into the Social Studies curriculum and instruction

·        Opportunities for civic involvement and community outreach through class projects and joint extracurricular initiatives

·        Enhancement of teacher capacity for 21^st century teaching through professional development opportunities and independent study