Hi! I am taking AP US History this year and I’m having some trouble so I would like to know what you guys think. My teacher says that this class is very hard so we should read the textbook since she can’t teach us everything (we all agree and read the textbook). However, aside from having us read the textbook we do not do anything else, so we are teaching ourselves.</p>
Some parents and students complained and now she “lectures”, which is just highlighting important sounding sentences from our AP review book and reading them outloud to the class. She doesn’t give us any material to study (I’m taking 3 other AP’s and took 2 last yr. In all of them I had worksheets, online assignments, etc…). Last week she gave us this speech about how nice she is and how she took 2 hours making a review of the chapter for us. This ‘review’ was just a summary of the chapter she printed from the book’s website!</p>
We have had several test and everyone in the class has failed them. She claimes this is normal and we can only get better (No duh, one can’t possibly get anything lower than a 18%!). For the last one I read the chapter twice, outlined the chapter, and studied my outline and the key terms. I knew the material like the back of my had and I still failed. She puts 3 of of 5 answers in the multiple choice that are correct (I crossed referenced it with the textbook) and expects us to ‘infer’ which one is the ‘correct’ one. Many kids have droped the class and she makes really mean and crude jokes about how they are “too stupid”.</p>
Also, last year she made students try and learn 10 chapters in 1 week before the AP test. Obiously this was impossible! Those who passed the AP test did so because they self taught and had tutors. I don’t have the money to hire a tutor and I can’t dedicate 4 hrs. (outside of school) daily to the class since I have other APs. I am willing to do anything to pass the AP test but I can’t afford to fail the class in the meantime (I am on my junior year so I don’t want colleges to see Cs and Ds!). I have never gotten anything bellow an A in a class and I’m really frustrated now.</p>
Oops, sorry that was long… Anyway, what do you guys think I should do? Should I drop the class? Should I keep taking it and hope for the best?</p>
Just in case this are the other classes I am taking:
-AP Language
-Calculus H
-AP Biology
-AP Chemistry
-French III Honors</p>
<p>You have to use online resources, no way around it. The ap exams won’t cut you a break because the teacher didn’t teach you everything. My teacher last year only made us read like 50% of the book! Anyone who didn’t use extra prep materials would have been screwed. Make sure you use high quality prep materials to study so you can get a good score.</p>
<p>Great! You’re taking AP Language, which means that even despite your History’s teachers awful abilities, we won’t have to worry about your ability to write quick and organized. All we need to do is get you the information you need.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Read you Textbook!
When I self-studied APs, I’d go to the Library once a week and just sit down for 4-5 hours and read the text and take notes.</p></li>
<li><p>Do practice quizzes out of Barron’s
Barron’s is often the best review book out there. After reading textbook chapters, take a practice quiz on the corresponding section</p></li>
<li><p>Do practice essays with other teachers.
If you have other History teachers (or even another US History teacher at your school) that you know somewhat well, see if you can do timed-writing with them and have them give you feed back.</p></li>
<li><p>Review with Barron’s the month before the exam
After reading your textbook throughout the year, use Barron’s the final month to prep for the exam.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Of course, if your problem is that the way the class is structured will make you get a low grade and not prep you, you might want to considered dropping out of your AP US History class and just take the AP on your own.</p>
<p>In my opinion, I have found that Barrons is way too detailed.
Use either Amsco or “The complete Insider’s guide to AP US history” (its by the same author who write direct hits)
Also, read the textbook. There is really no other way around it. Then reinforce with what ever review book you are using so that way you make sure the you are reinforcing the essential knowledge.</p>
<p>As for what you should do, I would recommend that you drop the class and either take it online or move to US honors or something. </p>
<p>I was in a similar situation and now have apush online.</p>
<p>Which edition of the Barron’s book are y’all referring to? The newest 2012 one has good reviews on amazon, but I do know that the previous editions were bad.</p>
<p>My APUSH teacher also sucks, which is especially sucks because my previous AP teachers have been amazing. I went from too notch to sub par and its definitely disappointing but it happens…Currently, I am reading the Princeton Review along with the textbook as we go along in hopes that it’ll be enough. PR is the best… I’ve used t for every AP I’ve ever taken:)</p>
<p>History teachers aren’t really necessary, history is all about reading so they don’t have to “teach”. I would just recommend reading the text, I do sympathize though, stuff is easier with a good lecturer.</p>
<p>Yea, stay away from Barron’s, the content is not only insufficient but wayyy off the mark for the actual exam.</p>
<p>What I did to get a 5 was basically, as Longstride stated, read the book. If the teacher doesn’t teach, read the book at your own pace in a way such that you finish around mid-late March. After the book, instead of reading that gigantic AMSCO guide (which is good as a comprehensive review–not as a last minute one), get a book like REA crash course and just annotate/add stuff from your textbook that you think could be usable for the essays.</p>