Wednesday, August 7th Bell-Ringer: Please locate your assigned seat

using one of the sheets on the front tables. Pick up a copy of the What is an American? Handout and read the directions to yourself. Silently take the

first 10 minutes of class to complete the activity as I take attendance and distribute materials to you.

Daily Agenda:

• Bell-Ringer: What is an American?

• Course Introduction:• Syllabus• Expectations• Student Contracts

• Reading and Discussion: A History Teacher’s Brilliant Idea

• Course Procedures and Assignment

Essential Questions: • What can I expect out

of APUSH this year and what will be expected out of me?

Homework: Read syllabus and return Student Contract with parent signature. Complete draft of essay.

Course Introduction:

• Honors 1st Semester; AP 2nd Semester (ONE COURSE – 2 credits)

• EOC will be taken in the fall (Hence, starting in Unit 5)

• AP Exam Wednesday, May 14th • 1st Semester Antebellum Era – Present• 2nd Semester Pre-Columbian – Antebellum

Era, Review

Course Themes:• While much of the course will be presented

chronologically, an emphasis on the following themes will be essential for success:• American Diversity• American Identity• Culture• Demographic Changes• Economic Transformations• Environment• Globalization• Politics and Citizenship• Reform• Religion• Slavery and Its Legacies• War and Diplomacy

Course Overview:

Additional Emphasis:

• DBQ• Writing• SFIs

You should know this going in…

• There is a TON of reading in this course, and you can’t get by without doing it!

• Every unit you will be asked to take notes, identify specific factual information, write an essay, and complete other class activities.

• You will write essays each unit! (“Practice makes Perfect”)

• On the AP Exam, you will write essays (3) for over 2 hours straight, only after taking a 55 min. multiple choice test.

• Nationwide, APUSH has the a “pass” rate of only 54.6%.

Students taking at least 1 Advanced Placement course in High School are 5 times more likely to graduate college with at least a 4 year degree than students that do not.

Expectations and Responsibilities

You are expected to:• Attend class regularly

and on time• Bring all required

materials• Complete assignments to

the best of your ability• Keep an open mind• Use your time in class for

the right purposes• Obey school and district

policies to ensure the best learning environment for everyone

You are entitled to:• Relevant instruction• Ask relevant questions• Purposeful activities• A College Board

approved curriculum• A safe and clean

learning environment• Your due respect and

dignity

Course Materials:1. Textbook – American History: Connecting

with the Past2. 3-Ring Binder (at least 1”– no folders) *AVID

students may merely devote a section of their AVID binder to the class.

3. Pens and Pencils (Blue and Black only)4. Highlighters (At least 4 different colors)5. Notebook Paper (You’ll need a bunch)6. AP Review Book (Issued to You)

Marking the Text: Using Text to Foster Discussion

According to the 2010 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), just 12 percent of seniors are proficient in U.S. history while only 24 percent measure up in civics.

Marking the Text Directions:

1. Read the article provided silently to yourself.2. As you read, circle any key terms in the article.3. After reading, go back and chunk the paragraphs

together with brackets (you know, the { } thingies) based on similar purpose, meaning, or discussion.

4. Then, go back through the article and highlight the author’s claims.

5. Next, in the left margin, identify what the author is actually SAYING for each chunked bracket (paraphrasing).

6. Finally, in the right margin, identify what the author is DOING with each bracketed section of the text (Power Verbs – Comparing, Contrasting, Explaining, Negating, etc.)

For Discussion:

• Why do American students struggle to retain an understanding of history/civics?

• What did you think of Mr. Hoekstra’s Teach With Tournaments idea?

• What are the limitations to this teaching strategy?

• Ultimately, what does the article illustrate about the study of U.S. History?

Classroom Rules and Procedures

Know what to do and how to behave and we will get along fine.

Classroom Rules:

• Be respectful• No profanity or negativity• Hands to yourself• No phones, MP3 players, tablets, or computer

misuse• Stay awake, engaged, and on-task• Nothing goes airborne

Classroom Expectations:

Procedures:• Enter quietly• Begin bell work

BEFORE the bell• Raise your hand• Remain seated until

dismissed• One person talking at

a time• Silence during

morning show, drills, and testing

Time Management:• Use your time during

class for this course• There is NO SUCH

THING as free time• Use the last 5 minutes

of class (5 minutes of class lost each day amounts to 10 days of lost class time over the course of the year)

Misc. Info.:

• Fire Drills• Tardies and Hall Passes• Absences• Room Layout • Class Wiki

EXIT SLIP:Please take a moment to revisit your bell work activity and make and changes, adjustments, and/or additions. Place your bell work in the homework bin for your block before you leave today. Do NOT forget to read, complete, and return your AP contract tomorrow.