Janey Chambless

Education: BHHS Class of 1976, Sam Houston State University, Bachelor of Arts in Teaching (History and English), 1980, Master of Arts in History, 1981.

Certifications:
Advanced Placement and Gifted/Talented

Experience: BHHS, 20 years

Family: husband Scott; son Jesse Parks, BHHS Class of 2002; daughter Katie Parks, BHHS Class of 2004

Why is United States History a required class?

The US government was created as a experiment in democracy and is today the model for all democratic governments throughout the world. The United States Constitution gives the people of the United States the power to participate in our government. A general understanding of the United States and how we came to be what we are today is the reason why US History is a required course in high schools and colleges throughout the nation.


What is the objective of this course?

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to

• explain the impact of geography on US history
• apply research skills and investigative thinking to solve a problem
• trace the impact of historical events on contemporary society
• analyze the sources and consequences of conflict between people, cultures, and the environment
• develop social and political participation skills
• clarify problems, evaluate information, draw conclusions, and evaluate consequences of solutions
• trace the role of the US in world affairs
• make connections between literary, musical, artistic, social, political, and economic events in history

The College-Prep course is designed to prepare the student for college-level work in US history.


* Course will begin with early US history, covering material from the 8th grade course in more depth
* Pace will be faster
* Students will be required to read independently from the text
* Students will read and analyze primary documents from US
history
* Students will do more analysis of events and their impact on our country's history and present-day America
* Students will write essays regularly
* Students will be tested on larger amounts of material, i.e. unit tests
* Students will be expected to participate in class discussions
* Students will complete a research paper each semester

Course Requirements and Goals


Course Description: The course is intended for students who wish to complete studies in secondary school that also apply as two college introductory semesters in U.S. history. The dual-credit course in United States history is designed to provide students with the analytic skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials in United States history. The course will explore the economic, cultural and intellectual, social, political-constitutional, and diplomatic history of our nation from the pre-colonial days to the present-day. This is primarily a lecture course supplemented by audio-visual presentations and class discussions.

Course Goals: The dual-enrollment US History class at BHHS is aimed at preparing students for a university experience with guided instruction in note-taking and text study. Students will gradually be expected to retain larger amounts of material. General course objectives include 1) to understand the general political, economic, and social developments of the nation’s past, 2) to develop writing and listening skills, 3) to give consideration to the interpretation and utility of history, 4) to formulate well-argued assessments of events and documents, and 5) to form a critical view of the American past.

History Department Goals: The Lee College history faculty requires that all students receiving a passing grade for a history course must: 1) demonstrate mastery of 60% of the content of history courses on tests and examinations, 2) demonstrate the ability to evaluate and synthesize historical material and to form credible judgments and conclusions regarding the same in the completion of course requirements, 3) demonstrate the ability to evaluate in writing historical materials through book review, journal, or research paper assignments with a minimum of 1,000 words.

I have designed the AP US History course with three goals in mind:

• Provide a well-rounded history class. This is a rigorous course that moves quickly and is devoted to developing a deeper understanding of historical issues. Students will have to confront controversial issues head on and deal with them in a thoughtful manner that considers multiple points of view. Students will have to go beyond the study of presidential trivia in order to gain a full understanding of the forces that have shaped this nation and its history.
• Develop skills that will serve them in college. This is a college-level course and it will require college-level work. Part of the purpose of this class is to help students develop study skills, note-taking skills, writing skills, speaking skills, reading skills, analytical skills, and a work ethic that will serve them well in college and beyond.
• Prepare them for the AP exam. I save this goal for last. I sincerely believe that if we achieve our first two goals, this one will take care of itself. I do not teach to a test; I test to the test. I have designed assessments in class to prepare students for the format of the exam. This means that essays will be timed and that exams will be longer than they may have seen in the past.