Mr. Kasnot - Social Studies

WELCOME TO 8TH GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES!

 

All Students should utilize Canvas to keep up to date with all assignments: Canvas Login

 

ABSENT STUDENTS are still responsible for ALL missing work unless specifically directed otherwise! Stay up to date with Canvas!

 

This year, we are using All Things EQ with our students to work on social/emotional learning.

 

 

 

Regular Schedule (No early release)	Friday Early Release Schedule (Early release at 2:00 pm)
Period 1: 8:45-9:53 Period 2: 9:53-10:53 Drop Off Bag in Flex Lunch: 10:58-11:40 Flex: 11:40-12:13 Period 3: 12:13-1:08 Period 4: 1:08-2:00 Exploratory: 2:00-2:45 Specials: 2:45-3:30	Period 1: 8:45-9:33 Period 2: 9:33-10:18 Period 3: 10:18-10:58 Lunch: 10:58-11:40 SEL/FIT: 11:40- 12:18 Period 4: 12:18-1:00 Exploratory: 1:00-1:30 Specials: 1:30-2:00

Introduction
Hello parents and 8 th grade students at West Wing! My name is Mr. Kasnot and I will be your
student’s Social Studies teacher for this coming year. I am Arizona raised and live in Cave Creek with my
wife and two dogs. In my time off, I enjoy classic science fiction literature, acrylic painting, B movies, my
Xbox, and making messes in the kitchen and calling it “cooking”.
My history focus and formal education throughout the years has been predominantly United
States history, modern and historical political science, micro and macro-economic principles (including
personal finance), and constitutional law (historical and modern interpretations). I also have a deep
connection to the concept of historiography and will be incorporating the beginnings of that process
into your student’s curricula so that they can learn how to analyze history with a cultural lens and start
to interpret social and political history in addition to traditional approaches to the material.
This is my second year teaching at West Wing and Deer Valley, and I have heard nothing but the
best about the school and the community at large. My prior teaching position was teaching Economics
and American Government to High School Seniors at Shadow Mountain High School and I am very
excited to continue working with the eighth grade!
Teaching Philosophy
The classroom is such a minor part of a student's life, and the role of an educator is to prepare
their student for the time beyond their school years. What we know changes with new scientific
developments, or new perspectives gained with time. As such, understanding that knowledge itself is
fluid, the pursuit of knowledge and the act of learning itself becomes more important than the specific
knowledge being learned. It is up to every student to understand that they all have the ability to learn,
but only if they learn how to learn. My role as an educator is to pass on this skillset and foundational
knowledge to my students in order to create a new generation of lifelong learners. You parents also
have a critical role in education as well. It is your duty to continue the lessons learned in the classroom
at home, so that students are able to be immersed in a culture of knowledge seeking. I am not asking
any of you to become graduate students of history. Instead think of your role as showing the practicality
and everyday use of the knowledge and skills used so that students can begin integrating into society
and applying the knowledge learned to their everyday lives.
Subject Matter
In my class, I follow the Arizona Board of Education (AZED) guidelines on the topics that we will
be covering this year. AZED calls the Eighth Grade: “Citizenship And Civic Engagement In Today’s Society.
The content focus will be viewed through civic and economic lenses. Citizenship and civic engagement
will be taught through inquiry. Eighth grade students will make connections between historical and
current/recent issues as a base for implementing change in society. Students will recognize and practice
their roles and responsibilities as both American and global citizens. United States History will focus on
the major events that have their roots in the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and subsequent amendments.”
Continuing, the AZED marks the following specific topic areas to cover (which is publicly available
information on the AZED website):

● Foundations of the United States government stemming from historical events such as the
American Revolution and Civil War
● Constitution including structure, function, and principles
● Formal institutions such as Congress, the courts, the presidency, and linkage institutions such
as media, elections, interest groups, polling, and political parties
● Historical and current legislation and landmark Supreme Court cases
● Civil rights movements throughout American history
● Immigration
● Amendments to the Constitution that have expanded the right to vote and equal protection
under the law
● Social movements and issues both historical and current including the constitutional principles
and structures (amendments, courts, Congress, and executive orders) that spur, promote, and
protect these movements
● Human rights and genocides including treaties and organizations that promote human rights
and a study of the nations and leaders that abuse human rights and/or support genocide (In
addition to the study of the Holocaust, other genocides should be studied.)
● Environmental issues
● Information and media age including digital citizenship and media literacy
● Terrorism both domestic and international and how it influences citizens’ safety and rights
● Examination of primary and secondary sources including written and oral histories, images,
and artifacts
● Disciplinary skills and processes including change and continuity over time, multiple
perspectives, using and understanding sources, and cause and effect
Also please note, that due to the nature of a few of these above topics, your student will be exposed to
language, visuals, and behavior that can certainly be abhorrent but are important to be seen and heard
within historical context and under the guidance and supervision of myself, West Wing, Deer Valley
School District, and your elected local and state officials.
Policy and Procedure
My classroom is heavily structured towards student led inquiry, discussions, Socratic seminars,
and individual / group research. As such, much of your student’s education will be self-driven. My
personal teaching style focuses more on being a mentor and facilitator, not a lecturer or authoritarian. I
provide the basics of the topics at hand, and then open the topic up for students to explore, discuss, and
research with some (occasionally heavy-handed) guidance.
I have very few classroom expectations, especially with an age group that can be described as
“arms, legs, and hormones”. I enjoy creating a social atmosphere, especially important after the past

two years, and student knowledge retention has been shown to improve when employing active
learning techniques, such as learning by doing, or socializing in small discussion groups. As such, there
tends to not be a lot of homework, as my classroom focuses less on names/dates/who/what style
questionnaires, but instead focuses more on the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of historical topics (see: Homework).
What I do expect is that students will be respectful to one another, respectful to the subject
matter, and respectful to me. In turn I will show them respect, treat them fairly, and give them the
benefit of the doubt as we navigate some very heavy subject matter.
This year we will be preparing your student for the years to come and ramping up the amount of
personal responsibility that will become expected of them. I understand that they are not all adults yet,
but now is the time to start this process so that they are self-sufficient young adults by the end of their
career here. I leave a lot up to students but do still provide a good amount of guidance and never expect
anyone to get it right the first time.
Supplies
Students are not required to have much for my class. They will need writing utensils daily, a
composition or spiral notebook, some form of binder or large folder for handouts and notes, and their
school provided Chromebook and charger.
Homework
I assign very little homework, so if your student continuously responds that Mr. Kasnot has not
given them any homework, they are (probably) telling the truth. If your student always seems to have
homework from me, it typically means they are not utilizing their class time effectively. There will
almost always be ample time provided in-class to complete assignments, outside of a few larger
projects. If your student does not complete their work in class, then that assignment will become
homework to be turned in. Students that use their time wisely will have their afternoons and weekends
free from my iron fist. Alternative assignments can be made available for struggling or push-in students,
or students with parental concerns upon my discretion. I can be open to modifying student workload
within the academic expectations of West Wing and Deer Valley Unified.
Grading
Much of my grading is subjective, as empirical grading is all but required in a class that focuses
on social ramifications of past events, political leanings/ideologies, connection of the past to more
modern concepts, economic (or other) tradeoffs, and many more. In economics, there is a somewhat
famous saying: “There are no solutions, only tradeoffs.” Sometimes in life (and my classroom) there is
no objectively correct answer to a question. It is a great moment in education (and a source of great
personal pride) when the students themselves recognize this, work together, and start empathizing with
one another’s positions, instead of just talking at one another. So as long as your student can rationalize
their thoughts, provide evidence that supports their position, and connect how their evidence supports
their position, they’ll do just fine. For major tests, I hold the option to give students the option to do test
corrections if they are not satisfied with their grades (<70%). Additionally, I also frequently allow
students to use their own notes on tests (not computers unless cleared with me/admin) as my tests
typically require deep thinking and not just fact regurgitating.

Canvas
Most assignments, tests, quizzes, etc. will be done in class. However, most of the coursework
will be uploaded and submitted to Canvas. Students will be required to bring their school provided
Chromebooks every day and they will need to be charged nightly.
Arizona Civics Test
In 2016, the Arizona state legislature and governor Doug Ducey passed § 15-701.01 which
requires all Arizona students pass the United States Immigration and Citizenship test in order to
graduate. This test is a 100 question multiple choice test that covers a variety of topics surrounding
United States civics, history, and government structure. In early 2022, HB 2632 modified the passing
score to be a 70%. Luckily, the topics on this test are covered through the first two quarters of my class.
Additionally, I have a rigorous study program that ramps up in intensity as we get closer to the test date.
This test will be given on December 15 th . I know this is close to winter break, but if you can ensure your
student will not be absent during the last week of the second quarter, I can nearly guarantee their
passing. I am proud to state that during the 21-22 school year, I had the highest scores in the district
with 123 of 125 students passing with an average score of 89. If you know your student will be absent
on this day, let me know as soon as possible and we can schedule a test date to ensure the test prep
does not go to waste!
Contact
The best way to contact me is through email. I will almost always respond to your email within
48 hours after reading it. Please be aware that I typically do not check email over nights and weekends.
Chris.Kasnot@dvusd.org

Parent Signature: __________________________________

Student Signature: _________________________________

Social Studies Resources

      icivics.org - icivics exists to provide engaging student content and promote meaningful civic learning.

     PowerSchools - Stay up to date with your grades!

     Khan Academy Civics/Government - Independent and self-guided courses for extra help
     and guidance on any topic we cover in class.