NAME:
Mrs. Susan Shivers
SCHOOL:
Madison Central High School
CLASS:
Advanced Placement U.S. Government, Economics, and PSAT/ACT Prep
SCHOOL PHONE:
601.856.7121
-have been teaching since 1976
-have master's degree, am nationally certified, and have been named Star
Teacher and Madison Co. High School Teacher-of-the-Year
-have taught World History, Advanced Placement and Regular American and
Comparative Government, economics, public address, debate, English, and
Standardized College Admissions Test Skills
-sponsor Government Club and take students to MS Youth Legislature and MS
Model Security Council (see our website at
http://schoolnotes.com/39110/mcgovclub.html), MS Economics Challenge, and
Academic Decathlon competitions
-teach MCHS PSAT Summer Workshop
-married Bobby Shivers (the nutty band director at Madison Middle) and
parent of Sam Shivers
If you'd like to know more about the school, visit our website:
www.mcjags.com. You may go directly to our school calendar at
http://mcjags.com/calendar.shtml
If you'd like to know more about the Advanced Placement Program in general
and AP Government in specific, visit
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/about.html
But enough about me and MCHS. Its your child we're really interested in.
I’ll be writing notes (usually via email) like this one from time to time to
keep you posted on our progress. Don't panic if the phone rings and you hear
me on the other end. It’s not necessarily BAD NEWS. Since good parent-
teacher communication is a vital component of a successful program, I try to
do a good bit of it. BUT I'm going to need your help, particularly in AP
courses!
If
... there is anything you think I need to know in order to do a good
job of teaching your child,
... you have any questions about class,
... you just want to get acquainted now or later in the year, please
call me before or after school or during my planning period (2:10 - 3:35p.m.)
at (CELL) 601.573-3788 for direct contact (SCHOOL) 601 .856.7121 for
voice mail
Why don't you stick these numbers on your refrigerator or in the phone book
right now so you’ll have access to them if and when you need them. Please
call me if you are concerned or have any questions. I'd love to chat with
you. However, I know you are busy, and so am I. If we can establish email
communication, things will be easier for both of us -- even arranging a good
time for a phone chat! If you have internet access, please email me at
sshivers@madison-schools.com A.S.A.P. so that I can click you into my email
address book. You may also use the email function on this website or
the supplemental schoolnotes website to communicate with me.
http://schoolnotes.com/39110/shiversecon.html or
http://schoolnotes.com/39110/shiversgov.html .
Both have NewsFlash or Notify Me functions.) HOWEVER, you must be sure to
tell me your name & email address, your child's name, whether he or she is
in economics or AP Government class, and what period (if possible). IF YOU
SIMPLY TYPE IN YOUR EMAIL INFO into the boxes on the email function at this
site, the message I receive will NOT enable me to reply to you! YOU MUST
GIVE ME THAT INFORMATION IN THE BODY OF THE MESSAGE!
Please be sure to CIRLCE “do" or "DO NOT" sign and return the photo release
form I sent home with your child for next class period. I cannot share
pictures of what we do in class on the website without your consent I'm
looking forward to meeting you all at Open House at 6:30 on MONDAY, AUG. 27,
2007.
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ECONOMICS: (scroll down for A.P. U.S. Government)
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Please encourage your child to read a newspaper and a major news magazine
(Time, Newsweek, U.S.News and World Report). He or she may read these at
home, in the library, or online. Economics and government students need to
keep up with the news! They should try cultivating conversation about items
of local, state, national, and international political and economic interest
at home, at school, at work, and when hanging out! And please, please,
PLEASE take the time to talk to your child about significant local, state,
national, and world events and issues.
In the information age, it's important for your child to learn to access,
analyze, and communicate information using a computer. If your child does
not have web access at home, have him or her speak to me. I will provide
library passes or classroom web access and help set up a free email account
at HOTMAIL or YAHOO.
Please be sure to circle I “ DO” or “DO NOT” give my permission and sign
and return the photo release form I send home with your child on the first
day.
SUPPLIES AND RESOURCES:
3-ring binder
blue or black ink pens, grading pen, & pencils
loose-leaf paper and dividers
highlighter
3" x 5" notecards (or ½ size will do!)
Required reading: Buy or borrow Barbara Ehrenreich's book NICKEL AND
DIMED: ON NOT GETTING BY IN AMERICA (published by Owl Books, May 1, 2002;
ISBN: 0805063897) Reading test is to be given the first week of the 2nd
Nine Weeks.
PLEASE NOTE: ECONOMICS IS A COURSE WHICH IS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION. IF
YOUR CHILD DOES NOT PASS THE COURSE, BY THE END OF SECOND SEMESTER HE OR
SHE WILL NOT GRADUATE IN MAY.
NINE WEEKS' AVERAGE:
50% = *Daily Avg. (homework/classwork and participation)
50% = Test Avg. (tests & quizzes, including a nine-weeks test)
FINAL COURSE AVERAGE:
40% = 1st Nine Weeks
40% = 2nd Nine Weeks
20% = Final Exam
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The daily participation grade: Everyone starts the class with a daily
100%. To maintain a daily 100% average your child much meet these
criteria.
(1) be on time with materials (tardies cost %20 and the 4th tardy results
in disciplinary report)
(2) present acceptable classroom behavior
(3) pay attention in class (no head on desk or sleeping)
(4) take notes in class as directed
(5) complete economics assignments in class (no doing English, math, etc.)
(6) participate in group work
(7) make the minimum cut score on any pop quiz on daily material (Bear in
mind that 70% is barely passing on a test or quiz on studied material.
However, a child who can answer 3 out of 5 questions on a reading or lecture
quiz shows ample evidence that he or she has, indeed, read or listened to
the material. Such a quiz also highlights the important points the student
overlooked or failed to grasp and must take note of in order to be prepared
for a test!)
ABSENCES AND THE PARTICIPATION GRADE: If a class is missed with an excused
absence, the daily grade may be earned by completing a Public Radio
Mississippi MARKETPLACE make-up assignment. Either listen to the program,
which is broadcast on 91.3 FM from 6:00 - 6:30 p.m. daily, or go online at
your leisure and listen using a Windows Media or RealAudio media player.
(See links page on website for participation grade make-up link.) The daily
grade will be "100" if the conditions stated above are met. The daily grade
must be made up in accordance with school policy. Grades are posted by
Monday afternoon.
ABSENCES AND GENERAL MAKE-UP WORK: All class work and homework missed
during an EXCUSED ABSENCE may be made-up in accordance with the school
rules as stated in the handbook. (If a student is out on a B day and
returns on an A day, the students is to collect assignments and be prepared
for the next B day class. Assignments are posted at the class website for
convenience. Students should check to see if they need to come by and pick
up any handout missed.)
The test average for the nine week term will come from the tests, quizzes,
and projects that we will have each term. If a test or quiz is missed with
an excused absence, a make-up will be given on make-up day (THURSDAY)
between 7:30 and 8:15 a.m. or by appointment during my planning period – 4th
and 8th.
As you can readily see, it is virtually impossible for even poor test-takers
to fail the course. (Just do the math and see for yourself!)
************************************STOP ECONOMICS***********************
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ADVANCED PLACEMENT UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
BEFORE THE NEXT CLASS MEETING: Please make sure that you and your child
visit the College Board's AP Website at www.collegeboard.com/students/
testing/ap/about. It explains the AP Program in general and AP Government
course specifics, including content and test composition, grading, testing
schedules, college credit and cost-benefit information. You can access
course outlines, sample test questions, grading rubrics, and even sample
student essays with analysis.
Please note that successful completion of a government class is REQUIRED for
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. However unlikely, failure in AP Gov. DOES mean
FAILURE to meet graduation requirements.
Further note that Madison Central will award a HIGH SCHOOL grade and credit
ONLY. In order to qualify for COLLEGE CREDIT, your child must take the AP
test and score a "3" or better. However, that is NOT all you need to know!
The College Board awards SCORES, but no credit. Only a college or university
may award COLLEGE CREDIT. Policies vary with institutions. Some schools
take "3's," others require "4's" or only “5’s” (Harvard), while others (like
Duke) will not award credit at all. (They want students to take AP courses
as precursors to their own college course in the same subject!) You should
investigate the policies of the schools to which your child is applying for
admission. The College Board website has helpful links, and you can always
call or email me if you still have questions. I'm going to get paid, anyway,
you might as well get your money's worth!
Be aware that AP courses are really harder than basic college freshman
courses. (EVERYBODY takes American Government in college! Only the “cream
of the crop" take AP, and the College Board designs the courses and tests
accordingly!) Bear in mind, however, that your child is NOT actually in
college yet.... NOBODY in college takes eight classes at a time. Look at
your child's schedule. Super sharp kids often schedule eight classes,
including 3 or 4 AP courses, plus heavy extracurricular involvement and/or
work. What a load! Even if your child has only six classes, remember that’s
still a heavier load than most college students take in a semester. But
don’t panic. Parent-teacher contact and help and support for your child are
much more readily available in high school than actual college. But also
know that NO LOAD is HEAVY unless your child bothers to PICK IT UP! Many
students who have always been in accelerated classes elect AP Courses for
social reasons. They are sorely disappointed to find that AP courses and
accelerated ones are quite different and many simply do not hear the key
clause when I say, “YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO THE WORK IF YOU DON’T MIND THE “F.”
Top echelon students across the nation take a full AP load. THEY DO NOT GET
EARLY RELEASE as is common at MCHS. If you want your child to be competitive
outside the state as well as in state, you should be encouraging a RIGOROUS
course load with advanced math, science, humanities, social studies, and
fine arts courses. Furthermore, your child should be building a resume which
demonstrates depth of involvement in school and community, not just
breadth. Colleges and universities are looking for LEADERS, not
just “joiners.” I’ll be glad to chat further with you about preparing
resumes and essays for admissions and scholarship applications, and you may
want to consult with your child’s counselor, as well. You need to focus on
the early admissions process NOW!
Please encourage your child to keep up with his/her reading. I find self-
discipline in this area to be their biggest problem. The College Board
expects not only analysis, but also synthesis and evaluation on essay tests.
Mere recitation of the facts perfectly DOES NOT net an "A" or a "3."
(Memorize and regurgitate just isn’t enough!) Students must demonstrate
INSIGHT. Obviously, if your child waits until the night before the test to
do the assigned reading, he/she is unlikely to have much depth or breadth of
understanding. "Just the facts, ma'am" isn't enough! Also, learning to
deal with a heavy reading load and tests covering voluminous material is
vital for college preparation.
PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO COMMIT HIMSELF/HERSELF TO TAKING THE TEST. (I
do NOT like to hear "But I'm not going to take the test" as an excuse for
substandard performance. Substandard effort by ONE brings down the quality
of the class for All!)
SUPPLIES AND RESOURCES: 3" D-Ring (do not purchase 0-ring!) binder , blue
or black ink pens, grading pen, & pencils, loose-leaf paper, dividers, and
highlighter, online supplemental site subscription, and test review book
Please subscribe or provide web access to a major news magazine (Time,
Newsweek, U.S News and World Report ) . Your child will need to keep up with
the news! Please provide web access and email for your child. If this is
not possible at home, have your child speak to me. I will provide library
passes or classroom web access. He or she may go to HOTMAIL or YAHOO for an
email address.
Please go to www.longmanparticipate.com, scroll down to the blue bar at the
bottom, choose LongmanParticipate 2.0 WEBSITE ALONE, and subscribe to the
ancillary activities to accompany your child’s text. (It’s interactive!
That’s much better than a workbook.) Cost is $14.40.
Please note that you will also be asked to purchase a test review guide.
Information will be sent home separately concerning this.
REQUIRED READING:
*Matthew, Chris. HARDBALL. New York: Touchstone, 1999. (*reading quiz on 1st
day)
Zakaria, Fareed. THE FUTURE OF FREEDOM: ILLIBERAL DEMOCRACY AT HOME AND
ABROAD. New York: W.W.Norton and Co., 2007. (1st 9 weeks)
Friedman, Thomas. THE LEXUS AND THE OLIVE TREE: UNDERSTANDING GLOBALIZATION.
Anchor Books, May 2000. (2nd 9 Weeks)
BONUS READING:
Fineman, Howard. THE THIRTEEN AMERICAN ARGUMENTS. New York: Random House
Trade Paperbacks, 2009.
Friedman, Thomas. HOT, FLAT, AND CROWDED. New York: Picador, 2009.
Zakaria, Fareed. THE POST-AMERICAN WORLD. New York: W.W.Norton and Co., 2009.
Smith, Hedrick. THE POWER GAME: HOW WASHINGTON WORKS. New York: Ballentine,
1988.
