Summer Work

Hello!

So, this is awkward for us all... but bear with me.  DON'T PANIC (Douglas Adams, not Coldplay... look it up :)

Please read the whole message.  Share it with your parents/guardians.

Typically, I have everyone who is going to take AP/ECE US History next year come in to my classroom, where we can talk about questions, give you some background on how the course works, and pass out books... and give you all your first of many Dum-Dums or Smarties...  If for some reason you can't make the meeting, I've type up this information for you.  Please email me at cbradley@wethersfield.me with any questions.  I'm here all summer.  I'll respond to you, or your parent/guardian's email directly, then post the information on this website.

Stuff you should know:

1. This is a challenging class.  University and College level, a level above the Honors classes... but it's not impossible to jump from an Honors class, or from a level 1 class... it's all about commitment and effort (I know, it's also about how much you enjoy History, how good a writer you are, etc., but I had to pick one, and I can work with you to fix almost everything else.  You're the only one that controls how hard you try.)

2. Memorizing facts is not nearly as important as thinking about the facts, and writing about what you think.  You'll learn the history, but you'll also learn why it matters and how to write about it at the college-level.  I'll help.  Really.  As much as you need...

3. The course is divided into 2 sections:

   • Fall semester (pre-colonial to the end of the Civil War) goes from the first day of school to the day before Winter break.   That means your midterm (for WHS)/final (for UCONN) will happen on the collegiate schedule.  Which means no work over Winter break.  Which also means we'll work hard until then (not without fun stuff, but steady and focused work).  

   • Spring semester (post-Civil War to the modern day) goes from the first day back from Winter break until the end of school.  DIrect instruction and new materials ends about the time we go on Spring break, and we'll have about 2 weeks to prepare and review for the AP exam, if you choose to take it.  After THAT, we do project work, summarizing and evaluating the course in ways that are different from the September to April model.

4. AP/ECE US History can be a Triple Threat:

• UCONN:  This class is divided in two sections, according to the UCONN Early College Experience system.  If you have registered with UCONN (see Mrs. Musinskas, site coordinator), you will earn UCONN credit, receive a UCONN transcript, and your UCONN grade is determined through assessments in class.   This is a growing system where you receive college credit and high school credit concurrently (for about 10% of the college course cost when you are in college)

•  AP:  It is also taught to prepare any of you taking the AP test in May, if you have registered to take the AP test (see Mr. DeGuire, AP coordinator).  The writing, short-answer and multiple choice aspect of the AP test will be addressed regularly.  We will have time to address enrolling this in the Fall.  Please see the 'AP Exam Review's sub-folder for studying information.

• Required for WHS: And of course, you're taking an AP/ECE level course for high school. Your QPA points reflect this for graduation and your Wethersfield HS transcript.

Here is the link to all of the documents for the SUMMER WORK.  There are four assignments; some are very brief and super easy, others require more time.  None of them will wreck your grade, but you DO NEED TO DO THEM!  Each of them models the types of assignments you will do all year long.  The postcard is due BEFORE school starts, everything else is due on the FIRST DAY OF CLASS.  Late penalties apply.  

Main website for AP/ECE History  also at the top of the page...