We have two sections, one taught by Daniel Burns and one taught by Susan Richman.

Section 1

Teacher: Daniel Burns

Email: swampfox185@gmail.com

Texts Required: America: A Narrative History, 7th edition by Tindall and Shi; Barron's AP U.S. History Guide by Kellogg.

Tech Needs: Full internet access.

Class Fees: $465, plus approximately $45-75 for texts.

Who should apply: This course is open to homeschooled students who will be in grades 9 through 12 in the 2008-2009 school year. There are no prerequisites, but a basic understanding of U.S. History and enjoyment of its study will be helpful. Students should also be willing to regularly engage in thoughtful discussions of historical issues and events.

This course is ideal for those who enjoy an academic challenge. There will be large readings required along with primary source documents, two essays each month, and other assignments, so strong reading and writing skills are important. Students should expect to devote an average of 10 hours each week to this course. I will ask for PSAT/SAT scores or other measures of academic preparation and writing samples in the application process. Perhaps most importantly, students should have self-motivation and a love of learning.

Class Description: As preparation for the AP U.S. History exam in May, the course will cover U.S. history from colonization through the 1990’s, including political, social, cultural, and economic themes. The main textbook will be supplemented with primary source documents and internet research, and students should seek out their own sources through videos, novels, or visits to historical sites. There will also be editorial cartoon analyses, interviews, and lively discussions. Students will write two longer biographical papers of historical figures.

The course will have a highly interactive website (interactive rating of 3) where students get to know each other, respond to each other’s work, ask questions, etc. In addition, the textbook has a supplementary website that will be used, with timelines, study questions, quizzes, and primary documents.

An average month will include about 200 pages of textbook reading, two essays (roughly 500 words each), a number of primary documents, an interview, several quizzes, and whatever extra credit or bonus assignments the student chooses to complete.

I will post frequent updates on the website as a reminder of assignments. Parents are encouraged to check the website regularly for details about course work and student interaction. I will also send out a midyear progress report and a final progress report to parents (very useful to show evaluators or to include in a portfolio!).

Registration: Please email me for an application or if you have any questions. Class size is limited and there will be a summer reading assignment, so sign up soon.

Instructor Qualifications: This will be my fifth year teaching AP U.S. History, plus an additional year as a teaching assistant to Susan Richman. Student scores on the AP exam in the last four years of my class have been higher than the national average, and I hope to continue to build on their success in 2008-2009. I am a PHAA graduate and a graduate of Patrick Henry College with a degree in Government/Public Policy. I have always had a voracious appetite for U.S. history, and I look forward to another year teaching this course as a means of sharing that interest with others.

Click here to read class reviews from past participants in Daniel Burns' section of this class

Section 2:

Teacher: Susan Richman

Email: mailto:richmans@pahomeschoolers.com

Texts required: America and its Peoples, by Martin, et al; OR the free online multi-media text at www.hippocampus.org ; Barron’s AP US History guide by Kellogg.

Tech Needs: full internet access, VCR/DVD for watching related history videos highly recommended.

Class fees: $525 plus approximately $16 to $75 for required texts (students have a choice of a free online multi-media text OR a standard print text—text can often be purchased 2nd hand).

Who should apply: Class is limited to 30 students max, and I receive lots of applicants, so apply early. This class is for high school students having a strong passion for history, who have advanced writing and reading skills. This is not an easy class, and each student must be willing to put in the required time (roughly 8 to 12 hours of study per week, including watching history video lectures online). I will ask for SAT I, PSAT, other AP scores or other achievement test scores when available to help in making decisions on which students to accept into the class, as there has been shown to be a high correlation between verbal abilities and success in AP US History. Students will also be asked to submit a personal essay describing their background in history and their goals for taking part in the class. Ideally a recent US history class has been completed, or at least some demonstration that the student comes into the class with a good background in basics and strong interests in at least some aspects of our country’s history. As important is assurance that the student is ready to take part actively in the class through regular discussion on the website. Highly Interactive, rated 3.

Class Description: This class will cover mainstream US History from early colonization to the present, using a basic college text (students have option of either a standard print text or a free online multi-media text—more info on this in application) as well as many original source documents, varied Internet sources, and the archive of material on our class site (including all past original history interviews, biography projects, history film reviews, and more, completed by past students—this year I plan to add a section where students can post reviews of ‘real world’ history sites they’ve visited, plus a section for alumni students to share what their further history activities and studies are like, especially at the college level). Students are also encouraged to use other outside sources (websites, videos, novels, magazines, biographies, and visiting historical museums, etc.). Students will be required to submit 2 formal essays per month similar to AP US History exam essays as well two shorter less formal responses to 'History in the News', Historical Cartoons or summaries of original History Interviews. December includes a history film/documentary review project. Students also complete two major Biography projects, with one as a website. For those students who can readily keep on top of regular assignments, there are also many optional quick bonus assignments for extra credit-- many students really find these engaging and fascinating. Further, we hold three simulated 'Dinner Parties' where students take on the role of various historical characters, who meet and discuss issues related to a particular era or theme (Revolutionary War era, Civil War era, Social Reform/Labor/Industry Leaders Theme). A summer history book review project is also part of the class-- I send out a list of possible titles, and students can also suggest books they own that might meet this requirement. Each week students also complete a regular round of requirements: regular reading in primary documents, readings in the New York Times historical archive, and weekly practice quizzes, while also learning about various effective review techniques.

The class will again have a lively website with many ways for students to interact with one another, debate issues, react and respond to one another’s essays, post history interviews, reviews of books and videos, take quizzes, and much more. We also have a direct link and full access to our core text website, which has many excellent resources that we will use regularly. Our site also has links to many other history sites on the web.

After families apply and are accepted, I will allow access to the course website so that families can see what is involved in on-line AP US History. The class website is password protected to insure privacy as the students learn together. The 2008-2009 website will be updated and ready for action by July 15, 2008.

Instructor Qualifications: This will be my 13th year leading this class on-line with homeschool students, and I have also completed three different one-day College Board workshops on teaching AP US History. I am a PA certified teacher, and have a BA from Carnegie Mellon University. My strongest qualification may be that all four of my own children who have taken the class have received high rankings on the AP US exam, and the student scores from this class are in general much higher than the national average- and that my own US history personal library threatens to require yet another bookshelf very soon. I also love learning with and from my students, and each year I am awed by the abilities of so many of the teens taking part in this course.

Click here to read class reviews from past participants in Susan Richman's section of this class