Wednesday, August 6th Bell-Ringer: Please locate your assigned seat

using one of the sheets on the back tables. Silently read the directions of the handout provided to yourself. Take the first 10 minutes of class to

complete the activity as I take attendance and distribute materials to you.

Daily Agenda:

• Bell-Ringer: Icebreaker• Course Introduction:

• Syllabus• Expectations• Student Contracts

• Class Procedures • Discussion: What is an

American?

Essential Questions: • What strategies can I

utilize to be the most efficient student possible in this course?

• What is an American?

Homework: Read syllabus and return Student Contract and Student Info. Sheet with parent signature.

Getting to Know You…When it is your turn, stand up, tell us your name, and choose one answer from your bell work sheet to share with the class.

Welcome!

About Your Teacher:• Born in MI, lived in FL longer than you’ve been

alive• Graduated from UCF• Married with two kids (Penelope and Sven)• Taught for 13 years, 7 at CHS• Have taught every Social Studies course except

for Psychology• Of all the options in question one, I would want to

be a librarian at a prestigious university• I think decades from now, people will find our use

of apps like Angry Birds and Candy Crush ridiculous

• Would have loved to grow up in Renaissance Italy or the Pre-Columbian Inca Empire

• Ideal Classes: Time Management 101: Juggling the Everyday Grind; Human Studies: The Art of Patience; Drama 305: Making the Mundane Exciting; Anatomy 403: Making Due Without Sleep

Course Introduction:

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

• EOC will be taken in December (Hence, starting in the middle)

• AP Exam Friday, May 8th • 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:

Identity Work, Exchange, and Technology Peopling Politics and Power America in the World Environment and Geography – Physical and

Human Ideas, Beliefs, and Culture

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”)

• The AP exam (required) is over 3 hours and 15 minutes, and the EOC counts 30% of your fall semester grade

• Statewide, APUSH has the a “pass” rate of only 39%.

Students taking at least 1 Advanced Placement course in High School are 33% 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. Composition Book or Spiral Notebook (to

stay in the classroom)7. AP Review Book (Issued to You)

Why do we study U.S. History?

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.

For Discussion:

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

• What should we study in U.S. History? Why?

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)

Classroom Procedures:

• Bathroom Permission, Sign-Out, Acquire Pass (5 minute limit), C-Wing only, Sign-In

• Homework Placed in the bins in the back of room at beginning of class (unless otherwise noted) the day after it is assigned

• Leaving Seat Tissues, pencil sharpening, and throwing things away may be done discreetly without first acquiring permission

• Tardies Quietly sign-in, leave pass on Mr. Naruta’s desk

• Absences Check blue box in back for work; check wiki for materials

Directions:

• On your notecard, clearly and neatly write a 3-5 sentence definition of what you consider to be an American.

• Note that there is no single correct answer here. Just write your own thoughts.

What is an American?

“What constitutes an American? Not color nor race nor religion. Not the pedigree of his family nor the place of his birth. Not the coincidence

of his citizenship. Not his social status nor his bank account. Not his trade nor his profession. An American is one who loves justice and

believes in the dignity of man. An American is one who will fight for his freedom and that of his neighbor. An American is one who will sacrifice

property, ease and security in order that he and his children may retain the rights of free men. An American is one in whose heart is

engraved the immortal second sentence of the Declaration of Independence.

Americans have always known how to fight for their rights and their way of life. Americans are not afraid to fight. They fight joyously in a

just cause.”

-- Harold Ickes, Secretary of the Interior (1941)

EXIT SLIP:Please place your bell work and notecard in the homework bin for your block before you leave today. Do NOT forget to read, complete, and return your AP contract tomorrow. Start studying your Bracketing Dates (quiz Friday)!