ADVANCED PLACEMENT San Jacinto High School Mrs. Macdonald

Mrs. Macdonald UCSD (communications) SDSU (political science, credential) SJHS 14 years WHAP Dept. Chair Passion for travel Married w/ three kids

Notecards 1. Full name 2. Nickname (if any) 3. Name & relationship of parent/ guardian (Ex. Lucy – mother) 4. Reason you chose to enroll in APWH 5. Hobbies / Interests 6. Anything else you think I should know to have a successful year

Advanced Placement (AP)? What is Advanced Placement (AP)? AP courses are some of the most challenging courses offered at SJHS College-level courses Gives you a head start on college Shows colleges that you are a serious student & capable of college-level work Have the potential to earn college credits or placement into advanced courses in college

Did you know . . . If you earn a high school diploma, you’re likely to earn $7,000 more annually than students who don’t complete high school. But if you earn a bachelor’s degree in college, you’re likely to earn $22,000 more annually. Source: U.S. Department of Education, 2000

Prepare Now to Succeed in College A 1999 U.S. Department of Education study found that the strongest predictor of college graduation is… Participation in rigorous, college-level courses in high school (AP courses ). Clifford Adelman, Answers in the Tool Box: Academic Intensity, Attendance Patterns, and Bachelor’s Degree Attainment (1999), U.S. Department of Education.

AP and College Success™ Students who take AP courses and exams are much more likely than their peers to complete a bachelor’s degree in four years or less. Source: Camara, Wayne (2003). College Persistence, Graduation, and Remediation. College Board Research Notes (RN-19). New York, NY: College Board. Students who take AP courses and exams are much more likely than their peers to complete a bachelor’s degree in four years or less. Source: Camara, Wayne. (2003). College Persistence, Graduation, and Remediation. College Board Research Notes (RN-19). New York, NY: College Board.

Levels of courses at BC: MOST DIFFICULT AP=Advanced Placement (WHAP) IB = Interbaccalureate Dual Enrollment = MSJC classes DIFFICULT Pre-AP = Pre-Advanced Placement (Pre-AP English I) AVERAGE No label (World History)

Benefits of AP: for Students Prepare for success in college by taking college-level courses while still in high school Improve chances of college admission Opportunity to earn college credit or advanced placement Develop higher level critical thinking, reading and writing skills Students can earn college credit and/or advanced standing at over 2900 colleges and universities if they successfully complete an AP Examination Students gain college-level analytical, communication, and study skills as well as academic confidence Students can gain state or national recognition

What type of student is an AP student? Willing and ready to do homework EVERY night Prepared for rigor, work-load, and time required to be successful in an AP course Self-starter who will take responsibility for their own success Willing to seek help when needed Dedicated to challenging her/himself for the entire year What type of student is an AP student? Students who complete AP courses are: better prepared academically more likely to choose challenging majors likely to complete more college level work likely to perform significantly better than students who did not take AP courses more likely to exercise leadership more likely to graduate with a double major twice as likely to go into advanced study –Willingham & Morris, 1986; UT Study 1988

Who designs AP courses & exams? AP committee members currently teach at dozens of the nation’s top colleges and universities, including: Dartmouth College Hamilton College Michigan State University Princeton University UCLA University of Texas at Austin University of Virginia Yale University

Test fees Test May 11 Approx. 4 hours Approx. $92 Fee waivers (to $5) available based on family’s income AP Club to fundraise test fees

PLACEMENT vs. CREDIT Some colleges award “credit” for qualifying AP Exam grades. This means you actually earn points/hours toward your college degree. Credit shows up on college transcript. Others award “advanced placement.” This means you can skip introductory courses, enter higher-level classes, and/or fulfill general education requirements.

Increase Your Options in College College credit can allow you to move into upper-level college courses sooner, pursue a double major, and gain time to study and travel abroad: “As a freshman, I was able to skip general ed requirements and head straight into the higher-level classes I wanted to take. Taking AP Exams literally saved me semesters of time.” —Brent Wiese, University of Iowa

in the Admissions Process STAND OUT in the Admissions Process “One of the best standard predictors of academic success at Harvard is performance on Advanced Placement Examinations.” —William R. Fitzsimmons Dean of Admissions, Harvard University “AP Exams affirm the rigor of a student’s course work. Though admissions policies vary, if I were a student, I wouldn’t assume that the college of my dreams didn’t care about AP Exams in the admissions process.” —Bruce Walker, Director of Admissions University of Texas at Austin

Factors influencing admissions decisions (2001) NACAC Admission Trends Survey, 2001 6.4% Work/Extracurricular 8.2% Community Service 10.8% Interview 16.3% Teacher Rec 17.4% Counselor Rec 20.3% Essays 30.5% Class Rank 44.8% GPA 51.7% Test Scores 80.4% AP courses/rigor of schedule

Scholarships look at # AP courses taken and AP exam scores… Some of the most competitive scholarship awards value AP Exam grades: “Having the AP Exam grade can make the difference when it comes down to awarding precious scholarship dollars.” —Edwina Harris Hamby Dean of Admission Fisk University

Experience a College-Level Test The intensity of college exams catches far too many freshmen by surprise: “Students who have prepared for and taken the AP Exams adapt more easily to taking college essay exams, and are especially skilled in including a thesis and a well-developed argument. They are also less intimidated by sophisticated, college-level multiple-choice questions that seek to test understanding over memorization.” —Robert Blackey, Professor of History CSU, San Bernardino

AP: The Facts AP students who receive college credit or advanced placement into higher-level college courses perform better than the non-AP students who actually took the introductory college courses first. Source: Rick Morgan and Len Ramist. “Advanced Placement Students in College: An Investigation of Course Grades at 21 Colleges.” Educational Testing Service (1998).

Don’t end up here! http://www.teachertube.com/video/seinfeld-history-lesson-241598

Course Overview

Textbook / HW Traditions and Encounters Reading HW nightly Textbook NOT online

Daily Activities Common activities Daily critical thinking HW required to complete daily activities/ BRIEFLY review hw for your questions, not to reteach Primary and secondary readings to supplement hw Writing practice Simulations Thinking maps Group / partner discussions Daily critical thinking Link lesson to major world events of the era (contextualization) Compare lesson to other eras / ideas / subjects YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO SPEAK AND WRITE EVERY DAY!

Materials Binder (or binder w/ dedicated section) 7 dividers Paper Writing utensil Recommended: 5 colored highlighters

Grades Homework 10% Classwork 15% Essays* 30% Tests* Category Weight Homework 10% Classwork 15% Essays* 30% Tests* NHD Project (1st semester) Projects (2nd semester) Essay rewrites required on all essays earning B or lower Tests may be retaken after school / at lunch for higher grade

Tutoring / Test Retakes Thursdays during both lunches After school by appointment

Class Rules / Expectations Use electronics appropriately Be respectful Heads up Speak when appropriate School appropriate language / behavior Be responsible Complete hw Participate in discussions

Tardies Through the door by the time bell stops ringing

Absences Check website Make Up Work request MUST be completed day you return Attach homework from the day you return

Questions?