Welcome to U.S. History to 1877 Lynne Avdellas Website: HPMS (Click Staff/Click Avdellas) Thanks for Coming!

2 About Me…  Ninth Year at Harper Park  Taught 5 th and 6 th Grade in Fairfax County Public Schools  Master’s Degree in Middle School Education – George Mason University  Undergraduate Degree from Dickinson College – Major in Political Science and Policy Management Studies  Live in Leesburg, married with a 9 th and 11 th graders who attend Tuscarora HS

3 Middle School U.S. History: Laying the Foundation Introduction To Basic Facts and Concepts Middle School High School… and beyond In-depth Study and Exploration Background Knowledge

4 Topics Covered This Year  Geography  The Confederacy Period  Using Primary Sources  U.S. Constitution  Early Native Cultures in North America  U.S. Expansion  The Age of Exploration: America and West Africa  Reform and Abolition  Colonial America  The Civil War  War for Independence

5 Teaching Approach Knowledge SOL Objectives People, Places, Events Skills Critical Thinking Map Reading Writing Public Speaking Content Reading Attitude Political Efficacy Enjoy Learning Appreciate History This Year I Will Emphasize All Three Learning Objectives!

6 History Alive: Making it Relevant  Components of the Class Current Events Interactive Study Notebook (ISN) Tests, Homework, Quizzes Simulations, Discussions, Debates, Journals, Role Plays, Trade Books, Computer Projects

7 Homework and Test Policy Homework -  Weekly and due on Thursday or Friday depending on when they have History.  Students will pick from list of assignments and will complete one on topic covered in class that week. (List is in their notebook and on website.) See R12 and R13 for details Tests- C,D, F test corrections

8 Partnership My RoleHow You Can Help  Prepare Students Well for Their SOL  Check Your Child’s Agenda  Provide Well-Thought Out and Organized Lessons  Ask About the Class  Be Responsive to Any Questions or Concerns You Have  Take Them on Historical Field Trips  Keep Website and Homework Hotline Up-To-Date  Occasionally Quiz Them Using Their Interactive Notebook

9 A Closing Thought I dreamed I stood in a studio And watched two sculptures there. The clay they used was a young child’s mind And they fashioned it with care. One was a sixth grade teacher: the tools she used Were books and music and art: One was a sixth grade parent with a guiding hand And a gentle loving heart. And when at last their work was done They were proud of what they had wrought. For the things they had worked into the child Could never be sold or bought. And each agreed they would have failed If they had worked alone. For behind the parent stood the school, And behind the teacher stood the home. By Ray A. Lingenfelter An Elementary Principal