United States History- A
Social Studies Department- Anderson County High School
Ms. Vasser
Hello Parents and Students!
Welcome to 11th grade United States History, part A! 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 eighth 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’m currently back in school working on a second Master’s Degree, this one in School Improvement. I am extremely excited to be 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.
This course will begin with a brief American Foundations review unit in which students will revisit their historical knowledge of America from its colonization to the Civil War which was taught in middle school. Next, students will take an in-depth look into several key eras in United States History prior to the Great Depression. These will include units on Reconstruction, Industrialization, Immigration, & Progressivism, and Imperialism & WWI. This course is key to understanding the formation of country you live in today!
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 3rd period plan 11:06-12:40, which will be the best time to reach me). You can also stay informed of class information through the class webpage http://www.anderson.kyschools.us/LaurenVasser.aspx or through the class remind 101 (see back page of syllabus). We will also be utilizing Google Classroom for this course. If parents are interested in gaining access to information on this forum, please contact me.
Thank you,
Lauren Vasser
Course Description: Unites States History Part A focuses on the political, social, and economic history of the United States prior to 1929. This class will begin with a review unit on the Foundations of the United States, from colonization to the Civil War. Then students will take a more in-depth historical look at United States history from Reconstruction after the Civil War to the 1920s. 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.
Brief Course Outline:
Unit One: Foundations (Colonization- Civil War)
End of Unit Assessment- Required State Civics Test- students must get a passing score. If not received on this first attempt, students will have numerous attempts throughout duration of course.
Unit Two: Reconstruction of a Nation (Civil War-Reconstruction)
End of Unit Assessment- Cumulative assessment of unit’s content
Unit Three: Industrialization, Urbanization, Immigration, & Progressivism- Creation of Modern America.
End of Unit Assessment- Cumulative assessment of unit’s content
Unit Four (2 weeks): Imperialism, American Foreign Policy, and WWI
End of Unit Assessment- Cumulative assessment of unit’s content (pending time)
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 4 divisions in your binder:
- Unit 1
- Unit 2
- Unit 3
- Unit 4
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.
4) Student Chromebook: We will utilize a class set of chromebooks during this course! You will be assigned a number and be responsible for its care while in this room. A technology agreement and more information will follow.
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.
25%- Binder Checks & Daily Participation (**unexcused absences count as a zero!)
25%- Class Work (In-class, Homework, etc)
50%- Tests/Quizzes/Projects
● 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.
● Course Assessments: There will be a variety of assessment tools used in this course. These will include quizzes, projects, and unit exams. There will be a unit exam at the end of each unit. These will include multiple choice and a writing assignment a few times. Students will also have weekly ‘quiz’ reviews that will assess student understanding of the week’s content. Students can expect these on Fridays, or the last day of the school week. Bell Ringers, exit slips, and other activities will also be used as formative assessments and may be taken up so I can determine the progress of each student. Students will also be self-assessing their mastery of each unit.
● 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 class work section 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!
● Final Exam: The trimester will end with a cumulative final exam. This exam will be worth 20% of your final grade, per SBDM policy. You may use an exemption on the final, but it is not encouraged.
● Required Civics Test: Per Senate Bill 1, all Kentucky students must have passed a required Civics test. This year, you will take this test during this course. At the conclusion of Unit 1, you will take the test. If you receive a passing score, you have accomplished this task. If not, you will retake until you receive a passing score.
Make-Up Work and Late Work Policy:
- If you are absent from class and it is excused, you will have 3 days to turn in any missed assignments. If work is received after the 3 days OR the absence is unexcused, you will receive a zero. You are responsible for ALL work missed because of an absence. 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 at the calendar and see what you missed. Then 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.
- Missed tests and quizzes may only be made up before or after school, OR in ESS, 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. 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.
Tutoring- Ms. Vasser does ESS on Thursday , from 3:30-4:30, every week. If you are struggling in class or need to review for a test, come see me!
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
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! Let’s have a great trimester and learn history! ☺
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) Follow electronic device rules.
6) Listen and follow all directions.
7) Ask Questions!
I PREP I Expectations:
● Integrity
● Positivity
● Responsibility
● Empathy
● Perseverance
● Independence
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! Students who showcase appropriate behavioral traits will be acknowledged and celebrated :)
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!
● 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!
● As soon as you enter class, get out your class notebook and begin on the daily bell ringer. It will be posted when you enter. All students should be finished with the bell ringer within the first 5 minutes of class.
● Most days we will take notes, but it will never be for an entire class period. It is crucial to take appropriate and accurate notes. You can not take the textbooks home so these notes will be your resource when homework is given. These will also be checked during notebook checks for a grade!
● Group work will be common during this course. Group work means exactly that, GROUP work. All students must participate and contribute to the assignment.
● When doing independent work, students are expected to remain in their desks to complete the work. All independent work will be collected at one time (unless stated differently). If you finish earlier than others in the room, find something to occupy your time. This may include working on your unit vocabulary, reading your book, catching up on notes or other missed assignments, completing work for another class, etc. This may not include talking and distracting others, playing games on an electronic device, or sleeping.
● Classes will end with either an exit slip or activity. These will also be completed independently and are to be taken seriously as you AND I will use these to assess your understanding.
● I will dismiss class, not the bell. Do NOT pack up your materials and get out of your seat. Absolutely do not attempt to line up at the door.