Coral Springs High School



Coral Springs High School

United States History

Mr. Dearen

Room 527

Periods 1,2,4,5,6

Course Syllabus

Contact Information:

email: matthew.dearen@

Teacher Web Page:

Required Text: The Americans

Course Supply List:

a) 1 spiral notebook (5 subject)

b) paper for tests and quizzes

c) pen/pencil

d) text book *

*There are NO CLASS SETS for this course. You may keep your text in class at your OWN RISK.

*ONLINE TEXTBOOK: Worksheets, Chapter Reviews, pdf, eBooks, Downloadable Book, Quizzes, Videos.

Course Description & Objectives:

Will meet graduation requirement for American History:

Major Concepts/Content. The purpose of this course is to enable students to

understand the development of the United States within the context of history with a

major focus on the post-Reconstruction period. Students will use knowledge

pertaining to history, geography, economics, political processes, religion, ethics,

diverse cultures, and humanities to solve problems in academic, civic, social, and

employment settings.

The content should include, but not be limited to, the following:

- review of U.S. History prior to 1880

- time-space relationships

- significant events and trends in the development of United States culture and

institutions

- impact of expansion on the United States

- origin of United States documents, ideals, and characteristics

- the changing role of the U.S. Constitution

- political, social, and economic conflicts and resolutions

- technological and urban transformation of the United States

- changes in lifestyles of United States citizens

- changes in United States foreign policy from regional to global

- cyclical characteristics of United States economic development

- contemporary domestic and foreign issues that affect the United States

Course Number: 2100310 - American History

Course requirements that emphasize the period from 1880 to the present do not

preclude coverage of the period prior to 1880.

Course Requirements. These requirements include, but are not limited to, the

benchmarks from the Sunshine State Standards that are most relevant to this course.

Benchmarks correlated with a specific course requirement may also be addressed by

other course requirements as appropriate.

After successfully completing this course, the student will:

1. Demonstrate understanding of the early historical development of

the United States.

2. Demonstrate understanding of the impact of significant people,

ideas, and events on the development of values, traditions, and

social, economic, and political institutions in the United States.

3. Demonstrate understanding of the significance of physical and

cultural geography on the development of the United States society.

4. Demonstrate understanding of current and historic events in relation

to the experiences, contributions, and perspectives of diverse cultural

and ethnic groups, including slavery, the passage of slaves to

America, abolition, and the contributions of African-Americans to

society.

5. Demonstrate understanding of the processes used to create and

interpret history.

6. Demonstrate understanding of the interactions among science,

technology, and society within the context of the historical

development of the United States.

7. Apply research, study, critical-thinking, and decision-making skills

and demonstrate the use of new and emerging technology in problem

solving.

Categories & Weighting:

➢ Classwork: Worksheet Packets, Vocabulary (VIS), Practical Applications, TODOs (Bellringers), and Notes – 25%

➢ Projects: Group work, Writing samples, History in Art, Oral History (raps) – 25%

➢ Exams: Exams on chapters and concepts – 25%

➢ Participation: Attendance, Current Events, class discussion, behavior, class preparedness, class attentiveness, tardiness, and unexcused absences – 25%

Late Work Policy:

*IT IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILTY TO GATHER WORK AND COMPLETE IT BY THE MAKE UP DATE. Use your class time wisely, plan ahead for homework completion, and bring your completed work to class. These are 3 keys to a successful homework grade.

Instructor Expectations:

Active participation, public speaking, turning in work on time, class preparedness, and genuine interest in the subject matter pertaining to the course are all, but not limited to the instructor’s expectations for students in this course.

1. Be on Time

2. Come to class prepared

3. RESPECT yourself & others

4. Raise your hand and wait to be recognized for questions, pencil sharpening, restroom use, and getting graded work at your assigned bin. (Cannot “get up” because you want to)

Progressive Discipline~

A) Student conference B) Parent Call C) Referral/Detention D) Administrative Conference

“Discipline yourself, and no one else will have to”

Current Events:

Current Events on modern issues reflect how aspects of our nation have developed from a historical perspective. Current Events provide relevant information of how past events influence the present, along with the future. Here is a step by step process to earn a passing grade on your Current Event assignments:

➢ Step 1: Cut out (with scissors), or print, an article related to the assigned topic.

➢ Step 2: Read the article in its entirety.

➢ Step 3: Type a 1 paragraph summary of what the article is about in your own words.

➢ Step 4: Type a 1 paragraph opinion of what YOU think about the article, or if you agree or disagree with it and why.

➢ Step 5: Type 2 additional sources where your peers can find more information on this subject.

➢ Step 6: Staple the write up in the front, and the article in the back.

➢ Step 7: Read the summary and opinion to the class and discuss.

Chapter Study:

A Unit is a chapter study on a specific time period of American History. A typical chapter study will include, but is not limited to:

➢ Themes

➢ Vocabulary

➢ TODOs

➢ Worksheet Packets

➢ Practical Applications

➢ Group Projects

➢ Chapter Tests

Historical Documents:

Historical records and first hand accounts of history are an invaluable resource to accurately depict the past, through an “Eyewitness to History”. Primary resources/historical documents will be an integral part of this American History course as a supplement to your text, packet, and lecture notes. Documents will be assigned to be read, and interpreted and review questions will be assigned for class work and homework grades.

In-class Reading:

In class reading will be assigned in this history course. Silent and aloud reading will take place and students must be prepared to follow along and read aloud when it is their turn. Any violation of this reading program will result in decreased participation points, administration action, and or parental contact. Reading is a life-long skill that requires work and dedication to improve upon and enjoy.

Computer Labs:

In and Out of class Computer Labs will take place throughout the school year in this American History class. The purpose of each Computer Lab is to harness the skills and intellect of the “modern student” through technological use. Computer Labs are an excellent way to view documents (primary resources), listen to historical speeches, and have the students creatively relate history from their OWN perspective.

Here are the basic elements to a successful Computer Lab grade:

➢ Participation: being on task/proper web sites, completing assignment

➢ Neatness/Quality: using WordArt, clean work, labeling, table making, and spread sheets to present work

➢ Email or Hand-In: email teacher completed assignment on due date

Computer Lab Schedule: TBA

TODOs:

A “TODO” is a daily bellringer assignment that is completed at the very beginning of class. The TODO is displayed on the board, and it is the student’s responsibility to copy down the TODO, look it up in the text, review the question, write the answer, along with an opinion about issue. TODOs are checked as a weekly grade, as a part of your Chapter or Unit of study. TODOs are recorded in the “Classwork” section of your overall grade.

It is up to the student to make up any missed TODOs from their study buddy.

If you are sitting in class, before or after the bell, and you are working on the assigned TODO, you are ON TASK! If you are not, you need to get ON TASK.

“Study-Buddy”:

Study-Buddies are an important element in school settings. When valuable class time is missed due to sickness, suspension, field trips, or athletic events, you need a reliable person to contact so YOU know what YOU missed from YOUR classwork.

Multiple study-buddies are a good idea in case both people missed. These can also be formed in groups for group projects throughout the school year.

Study Buddy:

Class:

Period:

Email:

Phone:

Proper Heading of Work:

Labeling your work is important to take full ownership and credit for hard work conducted in completing the assignments.

Here is a general rule for ALL work: Name (first & last), Date, & Period

Here is a sample of how your paper should look:

|Mr. Dearen |

|22 Aug 11 |

|Pd. 2 |

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|Essay Prompt: Why did Southern Planters feel threatened by Northern Industrialists during the 1800s? |

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Historical “Hip-Hop” :

Rhyming to a beat is an excellent way to remember information, in this case accurate historical events. Historical “Hip-Hop” has unofficially been an excellent learning tool throughout many history classes over the years. Here are the basic parameters for creating and completing a successful Historical “Hip-Hop” assignment:

1. Must be historically relevant to topic of current study.

2. Must be school appropriate and uphold high moral standards in content.

3. Must relate modern day events to historical information and rap.

4. Music is strongly suggested, however not required. Music must be INSTRUMENTAL ONLY with no words from artist. Please include song and artist who originally wrote song. If beats are original, extra points may be assigned depending on how tight the beat is.

5. Historical “Hip-Hop” may be assigned on the following basis: Group Projects, lottery system, open-mic day, or volunteers.

“Remind 101”~

This is a new tool of communication through TEXT messaging. The best part is the teacher does not see your number, and the student does not see the teacher’s number.

Purpose would be for reminders on assignments and encouragement.

Directions on overhead.

B.Y.O.T. ~ “Bring Your Own Technology”

Coral Springs High School and Broward Schools are EMBRACING students’ technology. Teachers are encouraging the use of smart phones, pads, tablets, laptops, etc.

eBooks, The Americans Textbook, specific history sites, notes, and projects will embrace the use of personal technology.

*BYOT will not replace the textbook, it will enhance it.

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