Parent+into


 * General Comments**

I am glad to have your son/daughter enrolled in **Advanced Placement United States History**, commonly known as **APUSH**. This course attempts to develop higher-level critical thinking skills by emphasizing analysis and evaluation. As a parent you may need to take into account that this course will differ from previous traditional or honors courses. This course of AP United States History is designed and taught at the college level using a college-level textbook, //The American Pageant//. It is a difficult and demanding read for many high school students. Please keep this in mind when you establish expectations for your child’s performance. Students who encounter their first AP course often see a drop in grades, due to the level of difficulty of the course material. Remember, this class does have a weighted grade. Our primary objective is the improvement of your student’s information processing skills, with the emphasis on improving their ability to analyze an evaluate the relative significance of historical data, and a corresponding ability to express those ideas through the written word. I will try very hard to prepare your student for the AP US History test but the ability to score a 3 or above on the test will rest with your student, as this course will require your student to spend much time in review of material before the test, in perfecting their writing skills, while still keeping up with new material. While this course is challenging, it will prepare your student for college level work.
 * Welcome**

To see what the student page of assignments, extra video clips, and other links, go to: http://apush11.wikispaces.com

This course shares Bell 1 with English 11. Therefore, we will see students on an A day, B day split, from Monday-Thursday. On Fridays, students will split the bell, with the first half A day, and the second half B day.


 * TAPS**, or, **Target AP Strategies**, is offered to students during 4th bell this year. This course will offer your student additional study skills, essay practice, cultural study of time periods (cultural study is rarely on the AP test), and test taking strategies. In the second semester, TAPS will offer continual review of material that has been covered previously. Additionally, we will work on local history when time allows, and some days will be dedicated to time for study and reading of assigned work.

Please access the **Open Letter to Parents** to further review the expectations of this class.

I require that each parent/guardian read the syllabus available at the link below, and print, sign, and return the syllabus with the signature portion signed and dated. It will be given back to your student for them to house in their notebook. In lieu of printing and signing the signature portion, you may email me at msimmons@currituck.k12.nc.us that you and your student have read the syllabus, and understand the class requirements. If your student does not need a printed copy of the syllabus, they can refer to it either here or from their student page.



There are some fun ways you can help me enrich this course for our students. Contact me if you'd like to:

1. Bring historically based refreshments to a scheduled TAPS class. For example, if you are willing to bring a dish from the Colonial period, like teacakes, to share. For us to do this, I will need you to provide the historical basis for the snack, and have your student share that researched information.

2.If you have costumes, or artifacts, from a particular time period that you would like to share during TAPS, let me know.

3. If you are willing to find re-enactors for particularly time periods, and are willing to schedule them for our TAPS time, let me know.

4. For further success, engage your student in discussing the historical information he/she is learning in class.

Always remember that your student should either be reading, or reviewing notes, almost nightly, if no other specific homework is assigned. Please remind your student to check their school gmail account each day, or the APUSH 11 wiki, for assignments and communication from me.