Taft+AP+US+History


 * Event Title: Taft Educational Center - AP US History (D'Alemberte)**
 * Date: July 3 - 8th, 2011**
 * Location: Water**
 * Name(s) of Attendees: Josh D'Alemberte**

Description of Workshops, Classes, Institutes, Etc.:
I highly reccomend Taft to anyone who is about to teach an AP class for the first time. They have many subject selections. The facilities were suberb as was the food and company. I would reccomend it highly and I would go back in an instant.

This was basically how to organize and teach AP US History. Though it would have been more pertinent to a teacher who teaches that level, I found serveral ways to implement some ideas at the midlleschool level if they are adapted to be developmentally appropriate. I also learned more about the rigors of the AP course which is helpful for me to know what some of my current students will one day need to do. Course outline were given we created DBQs and we also grades several essays so it gave me a taste of what the AP readers must go through.

This workshop is designed for both new and experienced AP United States History teachers. Major topics covered include characteristics of AP U.S. History courses; examination of content expectations; integration of social history (emphasis on race, class, gender, and ethnicity) into the course; methods of instruction; critical writing and reading skills; materials available; and analysis of the AP U.S. History exam. Each participant developed a course outline, unit and lesson plans, a document-based essay question with sources, and free-response essay questions, and will shared materials with classmates through oral and written presentations.


 * Instructor:** Matt Ostoyich, Educational Consultant, Saugerties, NY

How I Hope to Apply What I Learned At Ransom, and/or, What My Colleagues Might Try at Ransom:
I like these strategies best:

Subject Occasion Author Purpose Speaker For example: "Use SOAPS on the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and then do it again as it appears today in our text. Many English teachers already use this method.
 * S.O.A.P.S.**

Socially Politically Intelectually Culturally Economically For example: "SPICE the impact of the New Deal."
 * S.P.I.C.E.**

Politically Economically Religiously Socially Intelectually Arts (in the Arts) For example: "How did the Roman Roads impact life in terms of PERSIA?"
 * P.E.R.S.I.A.**

"To what extent...?" By begining essay questions with these words students can agree or disagree and expand as much as needed. It sets the student up to ake a solid thesis by the phrasing of the question.

I also received many good readings and all the free textboks that I could carry.

Important Links, Resources, or Contacts:
[]

TAFT EDUCATIONAL CENTER | 110 Woodbury Road | Watertown, Connecticut 06795 | 860-945-7837 | aoriente@taftschool.org