United States History- B
Social Studies Department- Anderson County High School
Ms. Vasser
Hello Parents and Students!
Welcome to 11th grade United States History, part B! It is a great pleasure to be your Social Studies teacher for this trimester and school year. I am eager to get to know each of you and have a great school year!
This is my fourth year at Anderson County High School and I love being a Bearcat. I am a graduate of the University of Kentucky. I have my BA in Secondary Social Studies Education and my MA in Secondary Education. I am extremely excited to be back at ACHS and a member of the highly skilled Social Studies department in place.
This class is a state requirement, and a requirement for the junior year at Anderson County High School. This course is divided into two classes; U.S. History A (Colonization- WWI) and U.S. History B. (1920s-Present). These courses are designed in this manner to ensure students are able to reach an in-depth understanding of key United States historical events and their impact on our country today. This a required course for graduation at ACHS and is required of all Kentucky students. The state of Kentucky has also placed great importance on this course this year by requiring that students take an End of Course Assessment in U.S. History. This exam will take place after students have completed both U.S. History A and B.
In this section of United States History, we will study the major historical events that took place from approximately 1920-Present. This will include an in-depth look at the 1920s, The Great Depression & New Deal, WWII, The Cold War, Civil Rights Movement, and Modern Day events. Most students will have mastered US History A prior to coming to this class and we will rely on that content knowledge to understand the course of events. We will cover a tremendous amount of information, and it is crucial that everyday we are focused and ready to learn!
I am looking forward to working with you all this upcoming trimester! If you have any questions or concerns feel free to email me or call me at the school (I have 2nd period plan, which will be the best time to reach me 9:12-10:30). You can also stay informed of class information through the class webpage http://www.anderson.kyschools.us/LaurenVasser.aspx or my teacher Twitter page @ACHSVasser.
Thank you,
Lauren Vasser
Course Description: Unites States History Part B focuses on the political, social, and economic history of the United States prior from the 1920s to the present. In this class, students will become historians as they will be asked to examine multiple perspectives and analyze the major events that led to our country today. This class will begin where U.S. History A left off; the United States after World War I. We will begin with a unit that focuses on life in the United States from 1918-1929. Following our first unit of study, we will continue on chronologically and study United States history through several units such as the Great Depression & New Deal, World War II, Cold War Era, Civil Rights, and the Modern Era.
Brief Course Outline:
Unit One (1-2 weeks): From War to Peace & the Roaring 20s
Unit Two (2 weeks): The Great Depression & New Deal
Unit Three (2 weeks): World War II
Unit Four (2-3weeks): Cold War Era
Unit Five (1 week): Civil Rights Movement
Unit Six (1-2 weeks): Modern Era (Vietnam, Counter-Culture, 1980s-present)
The unit outline is subject to change depending on weather, days off, and other uncontrollable circumstances, but we will try to stick as closely to the schedule as possible to ensure all content is covered!
Required Materials:
1) Textbook: This trimester we will work with a class set of textbooks. These may be used when you are in the classroom, but may NEVER leave the room without my permission. We will use the textbook as an additional resource, and when time allows, you can use this textbook to complete your unit vocabulary.
2) 3 Ring Binder: You MUST have a 3-ring binder for this class and this class alone. Organization is key to being a successful student and a binder is the first step in accomplishing that task. You must have the following 6 divisions in your binder:
- Unit 1
- Unit 2
- Unit 3
- Unit 4
- Unit 5
- Unit 6
3) Writing Utensils: Please, please, please, I beg of you, please bring a writing utensil to class EVERYDAY. You can not participate in class without it. Pencils or pens with blue or black ink are my preference.
Grading: Students will gain a grade in this course from several means, all of which provide ample opportunity for student success if completed and turned in on time.
Binder Checks/ Participation 20%
Daily Work (In-class, Homework, etc) 40%
Tests/Quizzes/Projects 40%
· Binder Checks: Students are responsible for keeping a well-organized binder (I promise, it will make you more successful.) These binders are to be brought to class everyday. At the end of each unit, students will turn in their binders for a binder check. Students will be made aware of what materials will need to be in the binder at the beginning of each unit in the form of a unit assignment sheet that must be kept in the binder. Take these seriously; they are worth 20% of your grade in the class!!
· Course Assessments: There will be a variety of assessment tools used in this course. These will include in class work, homework, quizzes, projects, and unit exams. There will be a unit test at the end of each unit. These will follow closely to the format of the EOC assessment which will include multiple choice questions and a constructed response. Students will also have weekly ‘quiz’ reviews that will assess student understanding of the week’s content. The majority of the questions on the quizzes will follow the daily “I Can” statements and the daily bell ringers. This will allow students to self-assess how well they mastered each day’s “I Can”. Students can expect these on Fridays, or the last day of the school week. Bell Ringers, exit slips, and a post-it activity will also be used as formative assessments. These will be done daily by students and taken up so I can determine the progress of each student.
· Homework: There will be nights when you will have homework in this class. Some of that homework may be planned and students will know of it in advance on their assignment sheets. Other days, homework may include work that was not completed or finished in class. Homework may also be used if the class as a whole was not cooperative in that day’s lesson. Keep that in mind….
Homework will fall under the daily work percentage of your grade.
· Extra Credit: Extra Credit will not be given on an individual basis. The whole class will be given several opportunities throughout the trimester, including vocabulary for each unit. Take advantage!
· Book Assignment: In most Social Studies courses offered at ACHS this year, students will read an additional book. We place great value on the skill of reading and in this course students will be required to read a pre-determined book. We will be reading Warriors Don’t Cry, a book about the Little Rock Nine. Each student will have access to the book, but they must be left in the room. All students will be reading and completing an assignment with the book during our Civil Rights Movement unit. It is important that students are present on the days we read in class as books cannot go home with students.
· End of Course Assessment: Any student who completes the United States History course in Kentucky has to take an exam that is created by the state and ACT. For you, this will be taken when you complete U.S. History B at the end of this trimester, in May. The EOC will consist of 2 sections of multiple choice questions that cover content from both parts of US History. Please be aware that as a school we have decided to place great importance on this exam (it will count as part of your final exam grade in U.S. B), so take ownership of your learning process and stay focused. We will also spend some time every week reviewing content from US History A.
· Final Exam: In addition to the EOC, students in US History B will have an in-class final exam. An exemption may not be used and it will count as half of the 20% exam grade. It will take the form of 2 constructed response essays.
Make-Up Work and Late Work Policy:
- If you are absent from class, you will have exactly 1 week to turn in a missed assignment for full credit. If a missed assignment is turned in a week after the absence, only half-credit will be given. (This is an extension of ACHS policy). You are responsible for ALL work missed because of an absence. I understand that often being absent cannot be helped, but that does not mean you get to skip the work. It is your responsibility to find out what you missed, complete it, and turn it in!
- To find out what was missed after an absence, look in the absent folders found in the front of the classroom. You will find a copy of all work missed that day with your name on it. Complete on your own time and turn in directly to Ms. Vasser.
- ANY and ALL work not turned in the day it is due is considered late. You will have ONE day after the due date to turn in late work. After that one day extension, the assignment will only receive half-credit. If you are absent the day an assignment is due, but were here when it was assigned, it MUST be turned in the day you return to receive full credit.
- If done correctly, completely, and is only the work of the student, I will always take late work or missing assignments. However, only half-credit will be given. The only way to ensure you receive full-credit for an assignment is to TURN IT IN ON TIME.
- Missed tests and quizzes may only be made up before or after school (by appointment with Ms. Vasser OR in ESS) or on club days, unless circumstances require otherwise. It becomes detrimental to your learning to allow you to miss even more class time when new material is being presented to take an exam. It is your responsibility to schedule a time with me before or after school to take your exam!
Cheating and Plagiarism: Cheating in any form will NOT be tolerated in this class. You will be tested on the material learned in this class on the End of Course Assessment. If you cheat, you will not learn the material. So do not do it. If found cheating or cheating can be proven, students will receive a permanent zero for the assignment. No expectations. This also applies to plagiarizing the work of another student or individual.
ESS- There is tutoring after school every Tuesday-Thursday in the media center. If you ever need help or would like to do test corrections, test make-ups, etc, please stop in and see me on Thursdays!! Please let me know when you plan to attend so I can ensure the necessary materials are there for you, if I’m not working ESS that day.
Class Website: I have a teacher page on the school website. On this page you can find an additional copy of the syllabus, weekly snapshots (a synopsis of what we will do each day), and other important information (such as study guides, extra credit, etc).
The website is: http://www.anderson.kyschools.us/LaurenVasser.aspx
I have also created a teacher twitter page. If you or your parent/guardians have a twitter, follow me @ACHSVasser to receive reminders and class announcement.
Finally, I plan to create a parent email list-serv so your parents can stay informed. If your parents are interested, please make sure they fill out the back page of the syllabus!
In conclusion, I want this class to be fun, enjoyable, and informative. To allow me to make the class in this way, students must come to class everyday prepared and ready to learn! Lets have a great trimester and learn history! J
Behavior Syllabus
Ms. Vasser
To be successful in this class, you must:
1) Give 100% each and every day.
2) Be Responsible.
3) Follow all Class Rules.
4) Never be afraid to ask questions!!
Class Rules (aka Vasser’s Values):
1) Come to class prepared and ready to learn.
2) Bring class materials everyday!
3) Be respectful of all classmates and Ms. Vasser.
4) Do not disrupt the learning of your classmates.
5) No electronic devices out without permission.
6) Listen and follow all directions.
7) Ask Questions!
Behavior Expectations:
I expect students to enter class on time and come prepared to learn. While I want you to enjoy yourself during class, that will occur through learning, not through chatting with friends, playing with a cell phone, sleeping, etc. I also expect you to give your classmates the opportunity to learn while in the room. Do not distract your classmates from learning. You are each in this room to learn and I want each of you to reach your highest potential!
If expectations are not met, the following will occur:
First Offense: I will give you a verbal warning. Behavior is to be corrected immediately.
Second Offense: I will call home.
Third Offense: No behavior should reach this point. If it does, a referral will be sent to the office.
Daily Procedures:
· Be on time to class, every day. If you are tardy, a tardy referral will be written. Remember, you only get one freebie by the administration!
· If you are in first period or fifth period, I expect silence during morning and afternoon announcements.
· Come to class with all class materials. Yes, that means a writing utensil. If for some odd reason that you have lost your one and only writing utensil please ask your classmates if you can borrow one. If everyone is without, you may approach me for a loan. It is expected that loans are returned at the end of that class period!