Mr. Davis's
United States History Class

 Welcome to U.S. History!

September 4, 2007

Dear Parent or Guardian,

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and to open a line of communication with you. I will be your child's United States History teacher during this academic year and I look forward to a very exciting year of instruction and analysis, projects, and hands-on activities in preparation for the SOL Exam.

United States History will encompass the historical development of American ideas and institutions from the Age of Exploration to the present. The aim of this course is to explore the story that is the American experience in these United States. Its focus shall be to highlight the politics, economics, law, art, music, science, government, education, agriculture, and technology that has influenced and been influenced by the diverse groups that have settled in America. It will then tell a story of great contributions and struggles, of turmoil and triumph, of oppression and heroism. This curriculum will provide students with a general knowledge of American culture through a chronological survey of major issues, movements, people, and events in United States and Virginia history.

Reading, writing, and critical-thinking skills are integral parts of this course. You should anticipate a homework assignment each class period. The course will focus on the following SOL Objectives and shall be structured as indicated below:

FIRST MARKING PERIOD

• Contacts between American Indians and European Settlers during the Age of Discovery.
• Colonization of Virginia as compared to that of other American colonies.
• Events and ideas of the Revolutionary Period.
• Project: Events and ideas of the Constitutional Era.
• Events of the Early National Period.

SECOND MARKING PERIOD

• Project: Causes and effects of the major events of the Civil War and Reconstruction Era.
• Impact of immigration on American life.
• Causes and effects of the Industrial Revolution.
• End of Semester exam

THIRD MARKING PERIOD

• Causes and impacts of World War I
• Origins of the Great Depression
• Project: Origins and effects of World War II

FOURTH MARKING PERIOD

• United States Foreign Policy since World War II
• Federal civil rights and voting rights developments since World War II
• Project: Domestic policy issues in contemporary American society
• End of Semester Exam

In addition to the aforementioned SOL Objectives, the students will also complete the following objectives throughout the academic year:

• Explain relationships between geography and the historical development of the United States using maps, pictures, and computer databases.
• Interpret the significance of excerpts from famous speeches and documents in United States history, to include "The Letter from a Birmingham Jail," "Speak softly and carry a big stick," "The Gettysburg Address," and "The Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom"

Develop skills for historical analysis.

• Demonstrate skills in discussion, debate, and persuasive writing with respect to enduring issues and determine how divergent viewpoints have been addressed and reconciled.

The attached letter explains my classroom policies and expectations. The letter contains important information regarding required class materials, methods of evaluation, grading policy, homework, make-up work, and other policies. Please read the letter in detail and review it with your child. I ask that you reinforce the contents with your child to avoid misunderstandings and better ensure that we have a successful year.

I look forward to working with your child this year. Please review your child's daily assignments and encourage her / him to perform at his / her highest level. I believe that education is a partnership that works best when parents, teachers, and students are all involved.

Please sign the tear-off on the attached letter and return it to me via your child. If you have any questions, you can contact me at the school, 591-4700. My e-mail address is mikael.davis@nn.k12.va.us and I maintain a Web site at www.mikaeldavis.com , which contains class notes, homework assignments, projects, as well as other useful information.

Again, I look forward to partnering with you this year.

Sincerely,

Mikael Davis
U.S. History Teacher