Experience the Difference

Curriculum Detail

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School Level

Department

Social Sciences

World History I

World History I Honors

World History II

World History II Honors

U.S. History

U.S. History Advanced

African American Studies Advanced

Economics

Government

Psychology

Foundations of Personal Finance

Speech and Debate

Leadership Studies Practicum

Faculty

Treasure Almaraz

Social Sciences Department Chair and US Social Sciences Teacher

(832) 204-5900

University of St. Thomas - B.A.
Northcentral University - M.Ed.

talmaraz@emeryweiner.org

2016
Bio
Treasure joined the EWS faculty in 2016. She currently teaches eighth grade Human Geography and sponsors the EWS Model United Nations Club. Prior to working at Emery/Weiner, Treasure taught Pre AP World Geography, AP Human Geography, U.S. History, Model United Nations and A.V.I.D. courses at an international studies school in Houston I.S.D. Treasure graduated from the University of St. Thomas in Houston with a Bachelor of Arts degree in General Studies and a teaching certification in Social Studies 8-12 composite. Treasure also has extensive experience leading and coordinating student trips, both locally and internationally. She is currently working on completing her graduate studies in Curriculum and Instruction through the University of St. Thomas School of Education and the National Geographic Educator Certification program. Treasure believes that education can transform and engage the next generation of young people to explore, create, and contribute to our society in meaningful ways. She enjoys facilitating learning opportunities for her students to develop these 21st skills.
Cara Bendayan

Upper School Social Science Teacher

(832) 204-5900

Vanderbilt University - B.S.
Relay Graduate School of Education - M.A.T.

cBendayan@emeryweiner.org

2020
Bio
Cara joined EWS in 2020. Before joining the Emery team, Cara taught in a Houston-area, public charter school for seven years. Throughout that time, she taught many humanities courses, including World History, AP World History, US History, AP US History, and AP Government. Moreover, she began an English remediation program for high school students. In conjunction with her love of cultures and literacy, Cara taught English as a volunteer for Tuleeni Academy in Uru, Tanzania in June 2017 and for TALMA in a Druze village in Northern Israel in the summer of 2019. In her free time, Cara enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her two dogs, doing crossword puzzles, reading, and exercising. As a native Houstonian, she loves to cheer on the Astros and Texans. When Cara attended I. Weiner Middle School as a student, she learned the value of tikkun olam, repairing the world, and she continuously aims to instill this value in Emery students.
Holly Daniel

Upper School Social Sciences Teacher

(832) 204-5900

Baylor University - B.S.

hdaniel@emeryweiner.org

2016
Bio
Holly has been with EWS since 2016. Before arriving at EWS, Holly taught all levels of World History in public school for 15 years. During that time she was nominated for the National Humanities Teacher of the Year Award and received an Excellence in Team Leadership Award. She also took on a dual role developing academic programming/curriculum and coaching new teachers as a Dean of Instruction at a local charter school. This year, Holly is celebrating teaching 19 years of World History to sophomores and her first year teaching Psychology to our senior class. In her free time Holly loves to travel, lesson plan, go to the movies, and spend time with her husband and 5 cats.
Michael Hatch

Upper School Social Sciences Teacher

(832) 204-5900

Emory University - B.A.

MHatch@emeryweiner.org

2022
Bio
Before coming to EWS, Michael taught for seven years in public and charter schools in Arizona and Texas. During that time, he taught a wide variety of seventh through twelfth grade Social Science courses including World History, United States History, Economics, United States Government, Professional Communications, and guided research. Michael now teaches twelfth grade Economics and tenth grade World History at Emery/Weiner. When he's not teaching, Michael loves cooking delicious meals for his fiancée, playing and coaching soccer, playing trivia, and talking about this month's book at his book club.
Josh Lindloff

Upper School Social Science Teacher

(832) 204-5900

JLindloff@emeryweiner.org

2023
Bio
Josh has been with EWS since 2023. Before joining the Emery team, Josh taught for eighteen years at four Houston-area public schools. He has taught AP U.S. Government, Government, US History, and World History. In addition to his teaching role, Josh has served in a variety of leadership positions at previous campuses. He has sponsored a state-recognized Student Council, was the campus coordinator of the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports committee, and was chosen as part of a Campus-Based Leadership Team. Josh is also an experienced basketball coach, and will assist the Emery program.

A native Houstonian, Josh graduated from St. Thomas Episcopal. When he’s not teaching, Josh loves spending time with family, traveling, playing games (board and video), and watching movies.

The Emery/Weiner School

9825 Stella Link Road Houston, TX 77025
Phone: (832) 204-5900 Fax: (832) 204-5910

A private, pluralistic Jewish, college-preparatory middle and high school serving grades 6-12.
Click here for more information.

Grade Level: 9th	Length of Course: 2 semesters
Prerequisite: Completion of Modern American History
Course Description: This course offers a survey of global civilizations spanning from the dawn of humanity through the late Medieval period. Students receive ample instructor guidance as they carefully interpret and derive meaning from primary and secondary sources. Historical analysis grows more complex as the year progresses, with students expected to draw conclusions based on their determination of historical context, intended audience, purpose, and point of view for the documents they read. The course emphasizes clear and effective verbal and written communication skills, focusing particularly on the crafting of thesis statements with supporting evidence. Students complete regular reading responses, guided outlines, and essay drafts, as well as a semester-ending research paper that synthesizes skills learned throughout the course.

Grade Level: 9th	Length of Course: 2 semesters
Prerequisite: Completion of Modern American History
Course Description: Covering the same material on global civilizations as World History I, this course provides initial instructor guidance but expects eventual self-sufficiency from students when interpreting primary and secondary historical sources. Students are challenged by sophisticated and extensive reading assignments, and they craft arguments based on carefully drawn conclusions from their texts. Writing assignments include thesis writing, reading responses, guided outlines, essay composition, and a research paper, but these assignments are more frequent and lengthier than those assigned in World History I. The instructor will introduce required elements of organization and composition, and then expect autonomous practice of these skills.

Grade Level: 10th	Length of Course: 2 semesters
Prerequisite: Completion of World History I
Course Description: World History II explores the political, economic, social, religious, intellectual, and geographic aspects of world history from 1450- 2000 C.E. Students practice constructing and evaluating historical arguments by using textual evidence to make plausible arguments. Students use documents and other primary source data to develop the skills necessary to analyze point of view, context, and bias, while also assessing issues of change and continuity over time. Comparing global processes both within and among societies, students become aware of human commonalities and differences, understanding culturally diverse ideas and values in their historical context. Textbook readings, supplemental readings, primary source documents, essay writing exercises, and project-based learning all function to develop students’ critical thinking skills. Students will reflect on their learning and skill development by creating at digital portfolio at the midterm and at the end of the year.

Grade Level: 10th	Length of Course: 2 semesters
Prerequisite: Completion of World History I
Course Description: Covering the same facets of study from World History II, this course prioritizes independent learning of content, strong motivation to study history, and a demonstrated capacity for critical thinking established in previous courses. This course requires a digital portfolio at the midterm and at the end of the year, a spring research paper, and summer coursework.

Grade Level: 11th	Length of Course: 2 semesters
Prerequisite: Completion of World History II
Course Description: Students in U.S. History learn how to decode the present by analyzing the past. This course prepares students for college level humanities courses by exploring key events and people from the American Revolution to the present, and by developing the academic skills needed for undergraduate success. The course explores key themes, including democratic values, federalism, equality, capitalism, foreign policy, and American identity. Students leave U.S. History as informed citizens who know how to work together to effect change in their world. By the end of this year, students will be able to explain changes and continuities over time, contextualize units by using content from previous units, compare and contrast historical political, economic, and foreign policy actions, evaluate the “American Identity” and how we, as individuals, identify with this vision, write and discuss with clear argumentation and evidentiary-based rationale, and analyze historical texts and sources.

Grade Level: 12th	Length of Course: 1 semester
Prerequisite: Completion of United States History
Course Description: This course offers a basic understanding of fundamental micro and macroeconomic concepts, and personal finance. The student finishes the course with a solid foundation for the further study of economics at the college level and with an understanding of economics that will serve her in her daily life. Topics covered include definition of economics; economic systems and decision making; business organizations; demand and supply; economic performance; the Fed and monetary policy; and international trade. This course requires summer coursework.

Grade Level: 11th - 12th	Length of Course: 1 semester
Prerequisite: None
Course Description: Speech and Debate is a one-semester introductory course that covers a variety of styles of public speaking and formal debate. Students will explore Persuasive Speaking, Student Congress Debate, Extemporaneous Speaking, and either Parliamentary (Team) Debate or Lincoln Douglas/Philosophy. This course is student-centered, and topics will be based on students’ areas of interest. This course will also reinforce strong reading comprehension skills by exploring challenging literature, contemporary issues, and focused research. Students will analyze both sides of an issue and improve speaking skills.

Leadership Studies Practicum (Fall Semester)
Grade Level: 12^th	Length of Course: 1 semester
Prerequisite: Instructor approval based on application process.
Course Description: This course is designed for students who, through a rigorous selection process, have been named senior leaders for our 9^th grade advisory and experimental education programs. The first part of the course introduces students to recent concepts and research in the following areas: adolescent development, servant leadership in both Jewish and modern history, systems theory, leadership studies, and mindfulness. In the second half of the course, students move from theory to praxis, and will identify their personal leadership style, articulate a leadership philosophy, and collaborate with a team to facilitate the school’s legacy 9^th grade outdoor trip to Big Bend National Park.