Monday, January 30, 2012

APGov Assignments

Week of January 30 - February 3

This week we'll be finishing up the chapter on interest groups, then moving on to the chapter on the Constitution (lots of AP material in that chapter!).  I'll be holding a review for the interest groups exam on Thursday during Generals Period.

Period 1
Monday: No Homework
Wednesday: Sabato pp. 30-39 (read and take notes), Interest Group Exam on Friday
Friday: Sabato pp. 39-46

Period 3
Monday: No Homework
Tuesday: No Homework
Wednesday: Sabato pp. 30-32 (read and take notes)
Thursday: Sabato pp. 32-39 (read and take notes)
Friday: Sabato pp. 39-41 (read and take notes)

Period 6
Tuesday: No Homework
Thursday: Sabato pp. 30-39 (read and take notes), Interest Group Exam on Monday

Monday, January 23, 2012

HoA Assignments

Week of January 24 - January 27

Period 7
Tuesday: Continue to watch The American Experience: Reconstruction in class.  For homework, answer the following essay: "Evaluate the economic, social and political successes an failures of Reconstruction." This essay will be due at the beginning of class on Thursday, January 26th.  It will be scored using the HOA Paper 3 markscheme and will count as a quiz grade in the 3rd quarter.  I will only accept essays that are written on a word processor and printed before the beginning of class.
Thursday:

Period 4

Wednesday: Continue to watch The American Experience: Reconstruction in class.  For homework, answer the following essay: "Evaluate the economic, social and political successes an failures of Reconstruction." This essay will be due at the beginning of class on Friday, January 27th.  It will be scored using the HOA Paper 3 markscheme and will count as a quiz grade in the 3rd quarter.  I will only accept essays that are written on a word processor and printed before the beginning of class.
Friday:

APGov - In Class Assignment for Tues/Wed

Hi gang!  I miss you guys, but I've had my new daughter, Julia, to keep me busy!

There are a few assignments that you need to complete by the end of class Tuesday or Wednesday:

1.  Finish watching "Can Mr. Smith Go To Washington Anymore?" and complete the accompanying worksheet.  Be sure to turn it in to the substitute, Mr. Taylor.

2.  Read this article about what happened to Jeff Smith in the years after the election.  Take your time with it, there's plenty to absorb and you'll probably be surprised by some of the content.

3.  Complete this survey before the end of class.  You'll need to consider the content of the film and the article linked in #2 to answer the questions.

4.  You can used the remainder of class to use the iPads how you wish.  However, I will award double participation points to anyone who posts a short summary of a current events story - along with a link to that story - in the comments section of this blog post.  You'll have to be signed in with your Google account to post a comment.  You can use cut-and-paste to insert the link (if you don't know how to do this, ask a classmate).  IF YOU DON'T ALWAYS PARTICIPATE IN CLASS, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY.

5.  Please return iPads to the iPad cart by 5 minutes to go in the period.  Please plug in the iPads so they may charge.

Thanks and see you Thursday!

Mr. McCarthy

APGov Assignments

Week of January 24 - January 27

Period 1
Tuesday: In class - complete "Mr. Smith" film and worksheet and complete the assignment posted on Room3011
Thursday

Period 3
Tuesday: In class - complete "Mr. Smith" film and worksheet and complete the assignment posted on Room3011
Wednesday: Complete assignment posted on Room3011
Thursday:
Friday:

Period 6
Wednesday: In class - complete "Mr. Smith" film and worksheet and complete the assignment posted on Room3011
Friday:

HOA: Make-up Exams [UPDATED 1/23]

There are three students that need to make up the quarter exam. The substitute will not be able to administer the exams today. Please check back for info on when the make-up exams will be administered.

UPDATE - Thanks for making up the exam - your score will be included in your quarter grade

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

All Students: Lesson Plans for Next 2 Days

Baby McCarthy has decided to arrive early (but hasn't arrived yet as I write this)! Below are the important parts of the lesson plans I'm leaving for the substitute teacher. Please give them all the help you can, especially with technical issues related to the iPad and the Smartboard. I'll be back to school sometime next week!

Substitute Lesson Plans
Thursday January 18th and Friday January 19th

Thank you for substituting in my class during this semi-unexpected absence.

Thursday, January 18th
Period 1 - AP Government
1. Pledge of allegiance and moment of silence over the PA system.

2. Distribute worksheet from 2nd drawer of left file cabinet (post-it note on outside says "paternity leave") labeled "Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?"

3. Inform students that they will complete the worksheet as they watch the movie on the smartboard.

4. Connecting iPad to Smartboard.
---turn on smartboard and set to "computer"
---video cable is on the desk, plug in to the bottom of the iPad.
---audio cable is on the desk, plug in to the top of the iPad.
---press home button below screen to turn on iPad
---select "videos" app and then select "movies" and then select the Mr. Smith movie
---once you press the play button, the movie will start to play on the smartboard. The movie can be paused and volume changed by touching the screen to view those controls.

5. Students are responsible for hanging on to their worksheet until they've completed it. If you finish the movie, collect student worksheets. Otherwise, they're responsible for keeping their worksheets.

Period 3 - AP Government
1. Turn Smartboard to "video" for the morning announcements.

2. Turn Smartboard back to "computer" setting.

3. Follow instructions #2-5 from Period 1

Generals Period
1. Take attendance.

2. Substitute teachers are not permitted to write passes - many of the students already know this, so students without a pass will have to remain in Room 3011 during Generals Period.

Period 7 - History of the Americas
1. Inform students that there is a new assignment posted to the class website: students must write an essay answering the following question "Evaluate the economic, social and political successes an failures of Reconstruction." This essay will be due Thursday, January 26th.

2. In order to collect information that can be used in their essay, students will watch the video The American Experience: Reconstruction.

3. Both episodes of this video can be found in the "Videos" app on the iPad under the "television" tab.

4. Students should watch video and take notes until the end of the period.


Friday, January 20th

Period 3 - AP Government
1. Turn Smartboard to "video" for the morning announcements.

2. Turn Smartboard back to "computer" setting.

3. Students will continue the film that they began in class yesterday. (please see January 19th lesson plans for details and instructions.

Period 4 - History of the Americas
1. Inform students that there is a new assignment posted to the class website: students must write an essay answering the following question "Evaluate the economic, social and political successes an failures of Reconstruction." This essay will be due Friday, January 27th.

2. In order to collect information that can be used in their essay, students will watch the video The American Experience: Reconstruction.

3. Both episodes of this video can be found in the "Videos" app on the iPad under the "television" tab.

4. Students should watch video and take notes until the end of the period.

Period 6 - AP Government
1. Distribute worksheet from 2nd drawer of left file cabinet (post-it note on outside says "paternity leave") labeled "Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?"

2. Inform students that they will complete the worksheet as they watch the movie on the smartboard.

3. Connecting iPad to Smartboard.
---turn on smartboard and set to "computer"
---video cable is on the desk, plug in to the bottom of the iPad.
---audio cable is on the desk, plug in to the top of the iPad.
---press home button below screen to turn on iPad
---select "videos" app and then select "movies" and then select the Mr. Smith movie
---once you press the play button, the movie will start to play on the smartboard. The movie can be paused and volume changed by touching the screen to view those controls.

4. Students are responsible for hanging on to their worksheet until they've completed it. If you finish the movie, collect student worksheets. Otherwise, they're responsible for keeping their worksheets.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

HOA Assignments

Week of January 17 - January 20

Period 4

Wednesday: America's History pp. 466-476 (read and take notes)
Friday: America's History pp. 476-482 (read and take notes)


Period 7
Tuesday: America's History pp. 466-476 (read and take notes)
Thursday: America's History pp. 476-482 (read and take notes)

APGov Assignments

Week of January 17 - January 21

This week we'll be finishing the interest group presentations, continuing the chapter on interest groups, and following the Republican nominating campaign in South Carolina.  The interest group exam is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, January 25th and Thursday, January 26th.

Period 1
Tuesday: Sabato pp. 586-592 (read and take notes)
Thursday: Sabato pp. 592-595 (read and take notes)

Period 3
Tuesday: Sabato pp. 592-595 (read and take notes)
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:

Period 6
Wednesday: Sabato pp. 592-595 (read and take notes)
Friday:

Friday, January 13, 2012

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Cool Primary and Caucus Video

Watch and learn:


HoA Assignments

Week of January 9 - January 13

Period 4
Monday: Paper 3 Question Keynotes must be completed by the end of class on Wednesday
Wednesday:
Friday: America's History pp. 457-466 (Read and take notes); Semester exam on Wednesday

Period 7
Tuesday: Quarter Exam on Thursday
Thursday: America's History pp. 457-466 (Read and take notes)

Newt's SuperPAC Goes on the Attack

Monday, January 9, 2012

HoA: Civil War Paper 3 Questions

Beginning today, and concluding in your next class, you will work with a partner to formulate an answer to an I.B. Paper 3 question on the Civil War.  Your answer will then be shared with your classmates during the second half of next class.  Your outline will be created using Keynote on the iPads.

Your slideshow must include:

  1. The names of your group members
  2. Your assigned question
  3. An outline-style answer to the questions
    1. including a thesis
    2. including supporting details
  4. At least 5 visuals
Your answer and presentation will be given a homework grade and will be marked in the same style as your quizzes (using the I.B. markscheme).

APGov: NH Primary Predictions

Click here to enter your predictions in our NH Primary prediction contest.  A small bit of extra credit will go to the most accurate predictions!

APGov Assignments

Week of January 9 - January 13
We'll be covering more material about interest groups this week, then slowing down the pace to focus on the NH primary and 2nd quarter project presentations.

Period 1
Tuesday: No Homework (pay attention to NH primary results), project presentations begin Thursday
Thursday: Sabato pp. 579-586 (Read and take notes)

Period 3
Monday: No Homework
Tuesday: No Homework (pay attention to NH primary results), project presentations begin tomorrow
Wednesday: No Homework
Thursday: Sabato pp. 579-586 (Read and take notes)
Friday: Sabato pp. 586-592 (Read and take notes)

Period 6
Monday: No Homework (pay attention to NH primary results), project presentations begin Wednesday
Wednesday: Sabato pp. 579-586 (Read and take notes)
Friday: Sabato pp. 586-592 (Read and take notes)

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

HOA Assignments

Week of January 3 - January 6

Period 4
Tuesday: Read the AHR's review of Ken Burns' The Civil War.  Be prepared to discuss on Thursday.
Thursday: Complete the T-Chart on challenges faced domestically by the Union and the Confederacy

Period 7
Wednesday: Read the AHR's review of Ken Burns' The Civil War.  Be prepared to discuss on Friday.
Friday: Complete the T-Chart on challenges faced domestically by the Union and the Confederacy

APGov: Chapter 16 Vocabulary Worksheet

Yes, the vocab worksheets are back for the new year!  Download the Chapter 16 vocab worksheet by clicking here.  The worksheet is due on the day of the Chapter 16 exam.

APGov: Assignments

Welcome back!  Don't forget that your 2nd quarter project is due next week on January 11th.  Expect at least one quiz on the Iowa caucuses this week.

Week of January 3 - January 6

Period 1
Wednesday: Sabato pp. 566-571 (Read and take notes)
Friday: Sabato pp. 572-578 (Read and take notes)

Period 3
Tuesday: Sabato pp. 566-568 (Read and take notes)
Wednesday: Sabato pp. 569-571 (Read and take notes)
Thursday: Sabato pp. 572-578 (Read and take notes)
Friday: Sabato pp. 579-586 (Read and take notes)

Period 6
Tuesday: Sabato pp. 566-571 (Read and take notes)
Thursday: Sabato pp. 572-578 (Read and take notes)