Mr. Myovich
Advanced Placement Human Geography
Valencia High School
Fall 2011
Dear Parent or Guardian:
My name is Sam Myovich, and I will be your son/daughter’s Advanced Placement Human Geography (AP HuG) teacher this year. AP HuG is a course that has been introduced as part of the background curriculum for the Valencia High School (VHS) International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Successful completion of this course and passing the College Board administered exam in May will qualify the student for one semester (three units) of college credit at many institutions. Students will be required to read and write extensively and at an advanced level. Students should expect to perform 3-5 hours of work outside of class weekly for this course.
The AP HuG curriculum provides an exciting opportunity for engaged young people to encounter a variety of problems and opportunities in the world today. The course focuses on the relationship between the physical world and human activities and understandings. Its major themes are population, culture, political formations, agriculture and rural land use, development, and urbanization. An additional emerging theme in the AP HuG curriculum is globalization.
As a course set in the present, AP HuG offers many opportunities for parent involvement. Here are a few suggestions if you are interested and able to assist in the “homework” for this course.
§ First and foremost, talk to your daughter or son about events in the news, especially those that pertain to international affairs. We will be constantly engaging current events in class. Your insights and perspectives will help develop invaluable analytical perspective.
§ I will distribute an Assignment Guide for each unit. Please look over the assignment guide to see the types of themes and activities we will be engaging. The Assignment Guide derives largely from the textbook chapter we will be reading for each unit.
§ The textbook has excellent on-line resources that anyone can access. To access the website for H.J. de Blij et al., Human Geography: People, Place, and Culture (8th edition), go to www.wiley.com/college/deblij and search for your text by author.
o Find the exact title and edition of the text (8th).
o Link to the student companion site.
o Choose the chapter from the drop-down menu.
o Explore the site for any variety of activities related to the themes for the chapter.
§ There are many excellent programs such as PBS’s Frontline, the National Geographic Channel, the Learning Channel and 60 Minutes that provide background to many of the topics we cover. Keep your eyes open for relevant episodes.
§ There are also many excellent books that I will reference throughout the course. Here are a few titles of general interest that you might enjoy and that are great additions to anyone’s home library.
o Eric Schlosser, Fast Food Nation.
o The Penguin State of the World Atlas
o The Penguin Atlas of War and Peace
o The Penguin Atlas of Food
o The Penguin Atlas of Women in the World
o The State of China Atlas
o The State of the Middle East: An Atlas of Conflict and Resolution
o Jared Diamond, Guns, Germs, and Steel.
o Jared Diamond, Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed.
It is expected that students will have already mastered note-taking, study and review skills appropriate to their own learning needs and styles. Some guidance will be given at the beginning of the course that will aid students in developing effective study skills. Soon after the beginning of the course, however, students will need to have established their own routines and strategies for the various reading and writing assignments as well as the examinations and projects that this course requires. Parents of students unable or unwilling to meet the requirements of the course will be notified at the earliest opportunity.
Please read and discuss the course syllabus with your son or daughter. If you have any questions or concerns now or any time during the year, please do not hesitate to call me to set up a conference. My phone is (714) 996-4970 extension 7201. My conference period is period six. I look forward to providing your son or daughter with a rewarding and challenging learning adventure. Your constructive feedback regarding any aspect of this course is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Samuel Myovich
Valencia High School
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Please read and return
I have read the letter to parents/guardians and the syllabus. I understand that this course requires a strong commitment by my son/daughter and that regular reading and homework will be required in order to be able to participate in class discussions and do well on exams.
Parent/Guardian Signature Date Parent/Guardian Name written out
______/______/______
Work number ______Home number ______
Email ______
I understand that it is my responsibility to ask for help. It is also my responsibility to keep up with nightly reading and prepare for class discussions, tests, quizzes, and keep an organized notebook, etc. to do well in this class.
Student Signature Date Student Name written out
______/______/______
Please list the extracurricular activities in which you participate and the name of the advisor for the program:
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