How to make informed decisions about Social Studies AP Courses

1. How to make informed decisions about Social Studies AP Courses AP Psychology AP Human Geography AP World History AP US History AP American Government AP European History AP Macro Economics Cynthia Lloyd – Social Studies Department Chair cynthia.lloyd@cms.k12.nc.us or 980-343-6300 ext 40020237

2. starting with the Class of 2016 (9th graders in 2012-2013) To be taken in this order, in consecutive years 9th GRADE World History Standard or Honors 10th GRADE Civics and Economics Standard or Honors 11th GRADE Amer. History 1 Standard or Honors 11th/12th GRADE Amer. Hist 2 Standard or Honors 11th GRADE AP US History (Advanced Placement) Social Studies Path to Graduation 4 Required credits + 1 additional credit of Social Studies Please refer to the handouts identifying all electives and AP courses in Social Studies that are offered at Butler.

3. Social Studies AP Courses with no prerequisite… • AP Psychology • AP Human Geography • AP World History (can count as the required World credit) • In order to take these courses students will need to get an “AP Profile” form from their 8th grade counselor, fill out it with their parents and return it to their middle school next week. • Students will meet with Mrs. Lloyd (SS Dept Chair) and/or Ms. Ferguson (API) to discuss their choices and answer any questions • Student will be asked to complete a short writing prompt. We will be able to use this to give students and parents feedback in order to help them make informed decisions about these classes.

4. Most Honors Students must take…. • Honors World History • Honors Civics and Econ • Honors American 1 • Honors American 2 AP US History & Another Elective or AP course at some point during the 4 years or Most of the top students at Butler will take 2 or 3 elective AP Social Studies courses during their 4 years.

5. AP Resources on your tables • AP Textbooks – college-level • AP syllabus for each course • AP assessments –Free Response (FRQ) and Document-Based Questions (DBQ) College board website http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/courses/teachers_corner/index.html

6. Data from our 1st year of 9th grade AP students 9 current 9th graders taking AP classes at Butler 1 dropped out of AP 7 of 9 are performing adequately The high performing students all had A’s in Honors LA and Social studies as 8th graders and scored a IV on the EOGs.

7. AP Teachers • AP Psychology – Scott Fernandez • AP Human Geography – Stephen Lloyd • AP World History – Kurt Wessler

8. I am ready for an AP course if… • I am able to learn and master concepts by myself. • I am able apply what I learn to new situations and not just memorize facts. • I am able to organize my thoughts and communicate them in written form. • I am able to develop a thesis and defend it. • I recognize success in an AP course may not be an A but might be a C. • I am willing to work hard for the sake of learning and not just a grade. • I am willing and able to commit the necessary amount of time to be successful. • I am sophisticated enough to handle mature content. • I am willing to take a college level course as a 14 year old.

9. AP Courses • AP courses challenge the very brightest students • College-Level courses • College credit is granted for scoring a minimum of a 3 out of 5 on the AP exam. • 3 out of 5 is anywhere between 40 and 70% of all students • Top colleges require a 5 which is roughly 15-20% • Butler High school AP students have consistently exceeded local, state and national averages. In CMS’ last data release we were ranked 2nd in CMS for AP scores. • Taking AP classes in 9th grade will decrease your child’s chances of scoring a 5 or a 3 (credit for most colleges)

10. Survey given to my current AP Psych 10th graders (I have over 50 of the top 10th graders at BHS)… Based on what you know now, do you think you would have taken and could have handled this course in 9th grade if it was available to you”. If no, please state why? • Survey results: 7 answered yes. Most common reason given for why not was “9th grade is a transition year for increased academic rigor, individual responsibility for learning material.”

11. AP Psychology • AP Psych teachers Blog… I entered a discussion question regarding 9th graders taking AP Out of 27 responses.. a) None had ever heard of freshman taking AP psych b) 11 did not allow 10th graders to take it in their districts other than CMS.

12. AP Psychology • c) taking AP classes as a 9th grader is extremely rare. • d) nobody thought it was a good idea. • The most common reason was 1. “9th grade is a transition year from middle school” and 2. they will not get as much value out of the course because of their age. 14 year old taking a course designed for a 19 year old.

13. What is AP Psychology • Formally defined, Psychology is the study of individual behavior and mental processes. • 30% of course is considered to be biologically based. • Topics include but are not limited to: • Social Psychology • States of Consciousness • Personality • Motivation • Emotion • Neuroscience • Psychological Disorders • Memory and Cognition.

14. AP Human Geography What the HECK is Human Geography? It combines history, sociology, psychology, anthropology, economics, political science AND geography to focus on the topics of: Human population Cultural and political organization Agriculture Economic development Urbanization

15. AP Human Geography In general…..the stronger a student’s background in World History (9th), Civics and Economics (10th), and US History (11th) …the better able they are to understand and make connections between historical and cultural themes to abstract geographic concepts: Globalization, migration, diffusion, distribution, divergence, convergence, development

16. AP World History Will count as a student’s required World History credit. If a student chooses to take Honors World as a 9th grader, they may still take AP World later as an elective credit. Course is for the historian not the social scientist Test differences: DBQ, change over time essay and comparative essay with M/C

17. I am ready for an AP course if… • I am able to learn and master concepts by myself. • I am able apply what I learn to new situations and not just memorize facts. • I am able to organize my thoughts and communicate them in written form. • I am able to develop a thesis and defend it. • I recognize success in an AP course may not be an A but might be a C. • I am willing to work hard for the sake of learning and not just a grade. • I am willing and able to commit the necessary amount of time to be successful. • I am willing to take a college level course as a 14 year old. • I am sophisticated enough to handle mature content.

18. FAQs • Can I drop the course next fall after school starts? Yes, within the first 10 classes, but you will have to go into another A/B scheduled course which limits your options. If you change to a 4x4 course your entire schedule will most likely be affected • Specific questions may be addressed with the teachers at the tables in the 400 hall tonight. • Mr. Leach is speaking in the auditorium at 6:00