AP US History - FAQ for Parents

Parents:

This page is devoted to answering the question that many parents with AP students have. As more topics arise throughout the year, I may update this list to have more topics. Should any issues arise throughout the year, please do not hesitate to send me an email.

• • How can I stay up to date on what my student is learning about in AP U.S. History class? This website is a good place to start. The syllabus is linked on the AP US History page, which will give you a basic overview of the course, types of assignments, classroom rules, and grade breakdown. You can track the topics that the class is studying under the "Schedule & Assignments" link on the AP US History page. From there you can see the day by day breakdown of what the class is studying and even access readings that the students will be doing for homework that particular week. This is also where all assignments are located. Under the "PowerPoints" link, you can access copies of the lecture(s) for a particular chapter.

  • How can I help my student study the historical material and/or improve in class? With each new chapter, the students will receive a Chapter Intro Sheet. These sheets are linked under the "Schedule & Assignments" page of the website. They include the unit name, chapter (or topic) name, and all of the "essential questions" for the chapter - essential questions help to frame the important facts and themes in the chapter of study. When striking up a conversation with your student, you can reference to the essential questions, as these will help guide the way we look at history.

  • My student is stressed out. What can I do to help? At one point or another this year, it is virtually a guarantee that your student will become more stressed out than you have ever seen them before in their educational lives. Junior year is an important year and I imagine that many of the students taking several AP classes realize the high stakes involved with junior year and college admission. In my opinion, the most important thing a parent can do when they see their student stressed out is to NOT do anything to further their stress. Encourage them to put down their school work for a while and to go out with friends, watch a movie, do extracurricular activities, etc. It may seem counter intuitive to recommend this because it means time away from studying, but stepping away is often what is needed when a student is stressed.

• My student has never received such a low grade. What should I do to help? If your student has received all As throughout their high school life and is now receiving Bs, Cs, or even Ds, it is because this class is not the equivalent of a college class, it IS a college class. I have fashioned the instruction, assignments, and curriculum to reflect my college experiences in history classes and to be up to date on what is happening in history departments at the college level. Grades tend to be lower in the beginning of the year as students adjust to the level and amount of work, cope with time management, and learn how to think deeper and more analytically. Also, encourage your student to come for extra-help. Your student is possibly in a position where they have never needed extra-help and may believe there is a stigma that extra-help are for kids that are not smart. This could not be more false. Attending the office hours of a professor at the college level is considered a requirement for some classes. Approaching a teacher and learning how to ask for help is an important skill for students to learn.

• I'm stressed about my student's level of performance, what should I do? It is common for parents to become just as stressed, if not more stressed, than their student concerning the grade on a test, paper, or report card. My recommendation in instances like this is to offer encouragement rather than pressure. In 2013, I wrote a letter home to the parents of APUSH students (back then the course was linked with AP Literature and called AP American Studies), which I have posted here. Whenever a student struggles, this letter conveys how I remind myself to think about their struggles: as a small stop along a much longer journey.

• My student does not have enough time to do his or her school work, extracurricular activities, spend time with family, and have a social life. How do I help? Help them find time. Friends, sports, music, drama productions, etc. are all a part of the high school experience. Finding the appropriate balance between school work, friends, and extra curricular activities will be another skill your student learns this year. There may be some days where they will need to bear down and hit the books especially hard, but there will be other times when it is OK for you to tell them to put the book away for a couple hours to visit with friends or relatives.

• My student is not sleeping/is staying up too late because they are studying. What do I do? Students rarely perform at their potential when they are sleep deprived. Again, there may be a time where your student needs to stay up into the morning hours to complete a paper or study for a test. If this is happening regularly, however, it is important to encourage healthy habits. If you find your student is not getting enough sleep, it is important to let them know that it is sometimes better to put down the book and get a good night's sleep and eat a good breakfast (two things I am admittedly, not very good at doing myself!) than it is to pull an all-nighter and sleep through the exam the next day.