Looking for a way to improve your grade over break?

Start studying for the final exam. Here is a link to Mr. Bussey's website. He has posted all of the past notetaking guides and chapter tests for you to go over. Remember the final exam is 15% of your grade so it can make a big impact.

http://cbussey.wordpress.com/mr-busseys-american-studies-page/downloadable-content/

Ch.11 Notetaking guide

Some of you have been asking for another note taking guide. Here is chapter 11.

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B2SfhJ-tB6PtZDY1MzM3MGEtMzY3Ni00MTUyLWFmOTUtMjU3OGVjMGExOTlj

New Grades have been posted

Please review your grade. If there are any mistakes, please bring the assignment, with an attached note stating the issue and put it in my white bucket. Thanks!!!

We are heading into the home stretch!! Now is the time to kick into high gear!! Do not slack.

Grades have been updated

Please check your grade. I am human so occasionally mistakes can happen. Please let me know.

Thanks!!

The Online Saga has arrived!!!

Check out the Saga online!!!! Support our school's journalism program.

http://saga.guhsd.net/

Grades

Six week Progress reports have been updated!!! I am still in the process of grading the unit exam from Wednesday. I will be updating grades again later this week. But that will not change the progress report grades which were due this morning. The grades do include the essay, however, that was turned in on Monday. I was able to grade some of the uhnit exams, so you may see a grade there. If not, it will be blank. A blank does not effect your grade.

New Grades!!

Hello! New grades have been posted. Also, I just wanted to remind everyone that I will not be in class for the next three days. I have an amazing opportunity to go to Philadelphia and I am excited to visit Independence Hall and the Constitution Center. I can't wait to enrich our class with the things I get to see there. I have never been so I am excited.

If you need help with your essay, please do not hesitate to see Mr. Bussey in room 204.

See you soon!!

QUIZ ON WEDNESDAY!!!

"Doing" the homework is often not enough for student's to comprehend and retain content. They must also study. Many students will just skim the text in order to get the work done. But this causes problems because they do not get the context of the term or idea. Please look at HOW you are doing your homework. Doing the assignment is often not enough to truly grasp the content.

Try this: First make sure all distractions are removed from the study area. No ipods, t.v.s, phone, etc. If there is something more interesting than the history text around, you will want to pay attention to that!! You will be surprised; cleaning your room may suddenly become very interesting when it comes time for homework. You may need to make it a rule that you do your homework in a certain area, like at the kitchen table.
A suggestion for how to do your history notes:

Step 1: Read over the note taking guide. Preview the objectives, key terms and ideas that we expect you to know.
Step 2: Read the section once through without taking any notes. Pay attention to all of the headings, pictures, captions, maps, etc. Really read it!! Do not just skim!
Step 3: Re-read the note taking guide for that section. Then read the section in the book again, this time taking notes. Yes, reread it!! Do not just skim!
Step 4: Review the notes. Then write the summary for the notes, answering the objective in the summary.
Step 5: Have a parent or other adult look at the note taking guide and quiz you on the terms. You should be able to explain them without looking at the notes. Use the note taking guide as a check list. If you can explain it, check it off. If not, then you need to go back and review that item. Keep going until you can explain everything on the sheet. Kind of like the old spelling list practice.

Hope this helps!!!! Remember the more times you have contact with information, the more likely it will stick in your head!!!!

Grades have been updated!!!

Thanks to all the parents who came out last night! Don't forget to subscribe to this blog so you can get e-mail updates.

Animated Map

Hello everyone!! If you want to look at the map that we viewed today in class, the link is at the top in the directions. Or you can click here!! http://www.animatedatlas.com/movie2.html

Scholastic Book Orders

Online Ordering Information
Web address: scholastic.com/bookclubs
Class Activation Code: HBR9W

Dear Parent,

Now it's easier than ever to find the perfect books for your child -- shop our NEW online Book Clubs Web site. Choose from a much-wider selection of books than in the printed flyer. Plus, you can send your orders directly to me online and use your credit card to pay.

Best of all, we earn a FREE book for the classroom library every time a parent places an order online.*

It's so simple! Here's how it works:

• SIGN UP at www.scholastic.com/bookclubs. On the parent page, click the "Register" button in the "First Time Here?" section. Register for your own user name and password. When prompted, enter the one-time Class Activation Code shown above. This unique code ensures that your order is sent to me.
  
  
• SELECT the books you'd like to order -- choose from thousands of titles -- many more than in our monthly flyers.
  
  
• SEND your order to me online by the due date and your child's books will be delivered directly to my classroom.

Ordering online is fast, easy, and secure.

Of course, you can still order using the form from the printed flyer. But why not see for yourself how convenient it is to order online?

If you are sending the order in to me, our first one is due by September 16. Thanks!!!

REMINDER!!!

Wear comofortable clothes for our Boot Camp on Wednesday and Thursday!!!

Welcome!!!

Hello! I know that some of you picked up your schedules today and might be going online to check out your new teachers!!!! Well, here I am!! Some of you may have noticed you have me for two classes. Yes, I teach both history and English. This year I will have four periods of U.S. history and one of American Literature.

Please subscribe to this blog and you will get e-mail updates whenever I post something new!! That includes grades or other information.

All students: If you are out and about doing your school shopping, you might want to pick up a few things for my class. You will need a lot of lined paper, a good binder to keep track of all of your materials, pens, pencils, highlighters and some colored pencils will be helpful too!

History kids: You will also need a 1 subject spiral notebook that you will leave in my classroom.

English kids: You will need to start thinking about a book that you would like to read for Independent Reading.

I look forward to meeting all of you!!!!!

Grades are posted.

I have posted the semester grades. The Overall grade is your grade in the class. The other grade is your final exam grade. I have posted project grades on my outside window of my classroom, in case you did not see your grades for that.

Have a great summer!!!!

Books and Finals Review

Please bring in all your books Friday, Monday or Tuesday. Also bring ALL of your notes and materials from this semester for Friday!!!!!

Thanks!

P.S. Pass it on!!

Clinton Powerpoint and Final Study Guide

Here are the Clinton Powerpoint and the Final Exam Study Guide.

http://ebackpack.guhsd.net/ssdr89/Sites/PresidentialHighlights/

Grades have been updated

This includes the recent quiz.

Presidential Powerpoints

Here are the powerpoints to help you. The Ford notes are in the Nixon powerpoint. Remember that all of these are also in your book!!!!! There are two for Carter.

http://ebackpack.guhsd.net/ssdr89/Sites/PresidentialHighlights/

Grades Have Been Updated and Other News!!

You guys need to be focusing on getting through the end of the year successfully. As of today, you have one more quiz, one more unit exam, the project and the final exam. You have a few homework assignments in there too. YOU HAVE TO DO WELL ON ALL OF THEM!!!!! Now is not the time to slack. Over the long weekend you should be focusing on studying for the quiz and working on your research project.

Grades have been updated!!

These are the progress report grades. Reminder: there is a quiz on Monday on 17.4 and Ch. 19.

Cold War Unit Exam Study Packet

I am collecting the following assignments tomorrow. Please make a table of contents and put them in the following order:

1. 21.1 Notes
2. 21.2 Notes
3. 21.4 Notes
4. 'Dear America' Assignment
5. Counterculture Study Guide

Grade Printouts

Grade reports have been sent home with your student. Please read them, sign them and return them. You can get a new copy anytime by clicking on the Grades Link.

New Semester 2 Grades

New Grades have been posted. Please review them for any errors or issues.

Teen Jeopardy Registration!!

Have you always wanted to be on Teen Jeopardy? GO here to register to take the test. http://www.jeopardy.com/onlinetests/teen/?hs308=email

Grades Updated- Again

Go to Grades Link. Pull down the box. Select the one that says Term2 and your period.
1. Look at Term 2 to see your final grade. The OVERALL Grade is your Grade for the Semester. 2. The Term 1 grade is everything up until the final exam. Term 2 is just your final exam and passes.
3. Look at the Term 1 grades for inidvidual assignment grades, like the project, unit exam, etc.

Updated again!!

Oops! There was a mistake in 1st period's grades. I fixed it. Please look at them again

Grades are Posted

When you look at your grade:

1. Look at Term 2 to see your final grade. The OVERALL Grade is your Grade for the Semester.
2. The Term 1 grade is everything up until the final exam. Term 2 is just your final exam and passes.
3. Look at the Term 1 grades for inidvidual assignment grades, like the project, unit exam, etc.

See you on Monday with a fresh outlook and a new attitude!! ( I mean you, not me!! :0)

Community Event

Do you know any children who would like to learn cheerleading skills and cheer at a high school basketball game? The Award Winning Valhalla Cheerleaders are hosting a clinic to teach cheerleading skills on January 29. The participants then will be invited to cheer at the Basketball game against Helix on February 4. For more information and to download the registration form, please go to http://valhallacheer.blogspot.com/

Grades have been updated!

Please make sure that you are working on the project and doing everything you can to bring your grade up!