Dear Parents,

My name is Amanda Jones, and I have the privilege of teaching your child Advanced Placement United States History. I am a product of DeSoto County Schools; I attended Hope Sullivan Elementary, Southaven Middle School, and Southaven High School. Since graduating from The University of Mississippi, Ihave taught Language Arts, Personal Leadership, Public Speaking, World History, US History, and AP US History.

I am so excited to have this opportunity and I look forward to a very successful and productive semester. I believe that it is important for parents/guardians and teachers to work together to ensure the best education possible for students. I encourage and would love for you to contact me whenever you have a comment, question, or suggestion.

This class is intended to be an extremely demanding college-level course geared to teach American History. The experience of taking a college course is immeasurable.However, to succeed, solid writing and reading skills as well as the willingness to devote CONSIDERABLE time to homework and study is needed.The first couple of months are the toughest (because of the transition to a college-level course).This course goes beyond simple memorization of facts.Critical and historical thinking skills, essay writing, and interpretation of original documents are emphasized.A college textbook is used in the course, along with a college primary source book. Throughout the year, students will be introduced to typical questions used on the AP Exam. Success depends on each individual having completed the reading assignments, any research or homework assignments, and being prepared to actively discuss the material. Each student in this class is expected to commit to the rigors of studying for the Advanced Placement Test to be taken in May.

Since this may be the first time a student is exposed to such a rigorous curriculum, it is very important to have my students understand that even if they study very hard and still "fail" a difficult test or essay, or are not accustomed to not receiving a grade lower than an “A” on an assignment, they are stilllearning.They are laying the foundation for a successful career in college, in life, and to succeed on the APUSH exam.Taking an A.P. class is like running a marathon - there will be hills and valleys along the way, but the goal is to finish strong (and yes, they will survive). Students are not only learning history, but also learning how to deal with tasks that are not easy.And one of the pleasures of being a teacher is to see those students who have struggled from time to time have their hard work pay off at the end of the yearand acknowledge that they are capable of handling a rigorous curriculum.

In conclusion, students are asked to study hard and go above and beyond the norm, and I am prepared to help. My personal goal is for every class member to do well on this exam and to complete the year feeling confident and proud of their skills as American historians.

Please phone the school at (662) 536-3612 to leave a message. I am also available through email at . I will try to respond as quickly as possible to all emails and phone calls. My class website is available through the school homepage, click on “Teacher Websites,” and my name. I also utilize Edmodo for copies of notes, videos, and blog posts. Furthermore, you can personally access Parent Portal through our counselors’ office to keep up with your child’s grades and attendance.

Sincerely,

Amanda Jones

AP US History

DeSoto Central High School