Teachers enrolled in this course will...

Know

1.  The students will be able to know the importance of American History and its relevance within our own classrooms
2. Determine the success and failures of American presidential leadership
3. Importance of American domestic and foreign history that pertains to current events
4. Role of race and ethnic issues that have seen struggles of American citizens to accept the assimilation of new immigrants and the Civil Rights Movement
5. And explain the role of sports within American history (Jesse Owens, Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, Billy Mills, Jim Thorpe, etc.).
6. The importance of writing for our students to be able to clearly express themselves through the expectations that are required of them through state testing
7. Describe the negative actions of Americans that opposed the United States and threatened the security of this country from the Revolutionary War to recent times

Understand

1. The connections in how history for this country can and will repeat itself
2. The importance of using primary and secondary source documents that demonstrate the decision-making rationale of our main leaders
3. And explain the major causes of the wars/conflicts that the United States has fought from 1789 to present times
4. The contributions that have been made by American citizens to defend this country during every type of conflict, especially since 9/11/01
5. And explain the role of music, famous historical pictures, and quotes that relate to American history
6. And describe the serious economic and social concerns that have posed challenges to the domestic peace, stability, and wealth of this nation
7. The connection of reform towards the needs of our people from the Constitution to the economic, social, and political concerns of today

and Be Able To

1. Determine how history, can and will repeat itself
2. Explain the most pressing domestic problems that have impacted this nation since 9/11/01
3. Connect history to media, film clips, the news, and movies
4. Create assignments that are aligned with new state standards that rely a great deal on reading passages, documents, and the ability to connect historical actions to primary documents
5. Identify the earliest exploration and colonial attempts by the Europeans to settle in North America
6. Understand the different tribes in North America, there ways and customs, location, and issues that plagued their growth (Cherokee and Andrew Jackson, Dawes Act, Reservation System).
7. Explain the security changes that the United States has faced since 9/11/01 and its relation to our citizens