President Obama Declares Combat Missions in Iraq have Ended

President Obama declared this tonight:

"The United States has paid a huge price to put the future of Iraq in the hands of its people," Obama said in an address from the Oval Office. "... Through this remarkable chapter in the history of the United States and Iraq, we have met our responsibility. Now, it is time to turn the page."

Here is the speech.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/08/31/obama.oval.office.address/index.html?hpt=T1



Please leave a comment and let me know what you thought about the speech and about the war in Iraq.  Ideas are all I'm looking for here.  There are no right or wrong ones.  We are all Americans and should share our voice about what is happening in our country and in our world.

We did not have an opportunity to cover the story this week, but we will in the future.

Agenda: Wed. & Thu. Sept. 1 & 2, 2010

Quote of the Day:  “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there”

- Will Rogers

Learning Targets:
*   The Neolithic Revolution, the period of human history from 10,000 to 4000 B.C., is marked by the rise of systematic agriculture—the domestication of animals and the growing of crops on a regular basis. 
*   Systematic agriculture often resulted in the production of more crops than local people could consume. This meant that some people could leave farming and work in trades and crafts. During the last stages of the Neolithic Age, craftspeople discovered ways of making improved tools and weapons using copper and later bronze. 

Agenda:
1.  Quiz Chapter 1.
2.  Collect any homework that was not turned in yesterday.
3.  Notes Chapter 1.  Finish section 2 through Neolithic Revolution.

TEST IS FRIDAY.  Project is due next TUESDAY.
We will also watch portions of this video in class to discuss First Humans and chapter 1:

PreQuiz Chapter 1

2010 Chp-1-PreQuiz

Notes Chapter 1 First Humans

2010 Chp1 Notes First Humans

Agenda: Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Donald Johanson with "Lucy"

Quote:  "Cellophane flowers of yellow and green
Towering over your head
Look for the girl with the sun in her eyes
and she's gone

Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds, ah" Beatles lyrics to the song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"

Learning Targets:
* Human beings have developed in stages and humans have changed and adapted over time to be able to take advantage of their environment and survive.
*  The first humans lived in small communities that were focused on very basic needs—food, shelter, and safety. Early humans left no written record of their activities and thoughts. Without such records, archaeologists and anthropologists have had to rely on fossils, artifacts, and skeletal remains to develop theories about the lives of early humans.
*  Researchers have concluded that the earliest humans lived a meager hunter-gatherer existence. Only later did they develop the skills and tools necessary to engage in agriculture and to build the first civilizations.
*  Describe the nature of human life during the Old Stone Age or Paleolithic Age.
*  Scientists believe the earliest humanlike creatures lived in Africa three to four million years ago. Over the next several million years, more advanced species appeared, first Homo erectus, then Homo sapiens. From Homo sapiens, subgroups emerged. Today, all humans belong to the subspecies Homo sapiens sapiens. Each surviving species and subgroup used more advanced skills and tools than the last.

Agenda:
1.  Collect Chapter 1 Homework Questions.  I will pick them up the next day for full credit.  Get them done!
2.  Notes Chapter 1

Quiz is next class.
Test is on Friday.

Student Information Form

Remember to fill out the Student Information Form.  This is your first grade.  I have already graded those who have done theirs and put it in the computer.  I will give you until Friday and then if you want to bring the grade up to an 85, you'll need to come see me during tutoring.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Mr. Duez is out at the doctor today.  Please be on your best behavior for the substitute.

Quote of the Day:  "Duez I say, not as I do."

Mr. Duez when he was just "Dave Duez #40" in college.  (top right corner)

Learning Targets:
* How has world population growth created problems for the world and it's future?
* Understand the vocabulary and what the vocab quiz will look like for Chapter 1
* Understand what Rock Art is and why early humans created them.

Agenda:
1.  Substitute will pass out the Pre-Quiz for Chapter 1.  Students can work on this quietly for 10 minutes and then with their learning partner for 10.  Substitute can then go over the answers with the kids.
2.  Substitute will show 2 videos.  First is the World Population Video.  Second is a Cave Art video from our book's Chapter 1 collection.  Students will write their summary of what they saw once the video ends.  The videos are 10 minutes a piece, they will have 5 minutes to write their summaries.  The sub will collect the summaries at the end of the period.
3.  If any time remains, students will work on their college essay.  It will be a quiet writing time for them to think about the person who most influenced them and write.

Rubric for the College Essay - Rock Art Project

19692999 Rubric College Essay

Agenda: Friday August 27, 2010

Quote of the Day:  "Ads are the cave art of the twentieth century." - Marshall McLuhan

"World History Pre-AP is so easy, a caveman can do it!"

Learning Targets:
* What was the nature of life like during the Paleolithic Age?
* Where did the first human-like creatures live?
* What were the major developmental periods in early human history?


Agenda:
1.  We will distribute the Rock Art Project - College Essay Rubric.  Students will write for the first 5 minutes of class about the person who has influenced them the most.  We will discuss what a THESIS STATEMENT IS:  The Answer to the Prompt.  
2.  Rock Art Project reminder.  Check out these great projects from the past:

3.  Notes on Chapter 1 "First Humans"

On Monday Mr. Duez will be out of school and at the cardiologist.  I will return on Tuesday.  We will work with the substitute to complete the pre-Quiz for Chapter 1 on vocabulary.  You will also watch Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 videos from the textbook.  And you'll have time to write about the College Essay for the Rock Art Project.  Use your time wisely and behave for the sub!

Katrina - 5 years later

This is from a CNN Story that highlights the photos of before and after shots around New Orleans after Katrina.  Can you believe it's been 5 years?  My students today were in 5th grade then!  Hard to believe.

I will never forget the number of people affected by this storm and how Houston welcomed people with open arms.  We got so many "Katrina Kids" and some are so special to me.  They appreciated our high school because it was so new and what they were coming from (in many cases) was completely destroyed.

We are very lucky.
Here is the video that goes with the story:

Agenda: Wednesday & Thursday August 25 and 26, 2010

Quote of the Day:  "Difficulty is the excuse history never accepts."  - Edward R. Murrow

Read Chapter 1!

Learning Targets:
* What is prehistory and how did  historians understand the past without written records?
* What was the nature of life like during the Paleolithic Age?
* Where did the first human-like creatures live?

Agenda:
(Hand out Learning Targets for Chapter 1 to Period 3)
1.  Attendance with seating chart. 
2.  History of the World in Seven Minutes Video - LINK
Students will do a quick write about what they saw for 3 minutes.  Then we will do 2 minute TPS - Think Pair Share.
3.  Notes for Chapter 1 - The First Humans
4.  Introduce the Rock Art Project.  Pass out the Rubric.  LINK

2010 Rock Art Project Rubric

2010 Rock Art Project

Agenda: Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Quote of the Day:  "You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else." - Albert Einstein 

Learning Targets:
* Understand the Rules & Expectations of this class.
* Understand what a Target Sheet is and how to use it.
* What are Cornell Notes and how can they help me succeed in this class?


Agenda:
1. New Seating Chart.  I'll project it on the over head.  This will eliminate the need to do a roll call each day and speed up our chance to get to the learning.  (5 minutes)
2.  What is Cornell Notes?  We will discuss note taking systems and then practice a bit on the beginning of Chapter 1.  LINK TO CORNELL NOTES.  (We won't show this in class, but it could help you if you are struggling with the concept.)
3.  Rules & Expectations.  We will watch a video discussing each.  RULES VIDEO LINK   &   EXPECTATIONS VIDEO LINK.  (15 minutes)
4.  Pass out the Target Sheet for Chapter 1.  POSTED AT THIS LINK.


Assignments:
Fill out the Student Survey at this link.  Must be done by Friday.  See me if  you are having a problem.
Read Chapter 1 Section 1 and 2.  We will discuss over the next week.  Homework questions are due next Tuesday.  Quiz is next block day (Wed or Thu).  The test is next Friday, September 3rd.

Fall 2010 Chapter 1 Targets "First Humans"

2010 Chapter 1 Targets

Welcome Back Letter to Parents

Email sent out to parents last night through our eSchool gradebook system.  Parents, if you did not get this email then there may be a problem with the system.  I would encourage you to double check it with the house secretary or principal so that the problem can get fixed with the email address.  This is the method that 99% of our teachers use to get in touch.

Hope it's a great year:
Hello everyone,

I am writing to introduce myself and to wish you the best of luck this year.  As a parent, beginning this school year is special for me, too.  My son will begin kindergarten in Humble ISD and I know the feelings most parents have as their son or daughter heads off for their first day.  (But I bet it gets a lot easier when they reach 10th grade!)

Anyway, I wanted to say a few quick words about the course - World History Pre-AP and also attach the course information sheet.  You can follow along all year long on our website:  http://mrduez.blogspot.com  I have linked to it off the official AHS website on my page there, but this is where I chronicle EVERYTHING we do in class.  If there are notes, they will be posted here.  If there is a handout, it will be posted here.  Learning targets, agendas, embedded videos... everything that students will need.

I ask that they leave their book at home and read it to prepare for the class.  My job is to bring alive the information in that text and extend it to help their learning. 

My biggest challenge is taking these students and preparing them for college.  The catch is that college begins next year.  This class is World History PRE-AP.  That means I am preparing them to take college level history next year as a junior.  This makes it the hardest and most rigorous class of history they have ever taken before by default.  But, the good news is that it won't be as hard as next year!  :) 

With that said, I am here to help.  I am passionate about this course and I love teaching it.  My record with students over the past 8 years is untouchable by anyone teaching this course in our district.  I stand by what I have done to prepare students for their junior year and for college.  It is the most important part of my job and I take it very seriously. 

But, we also have a pretty good time.  You'll see some links to videos this week on the blog that explain the class, classroom expectations and class rules.  In the videos I will give the students some great tips to do well, but we also will have some fun.  I believe in enjoying ourselves as we work very, very hard.

My tutoring times are Tuesday and Thursday after school from 2:45 to 3:30.  It is always best for students to see me to schedule.  Please see the attached course information sheet for more info and I will be passing it out to students tomorrow.

Good luck this year and please let me know what I can do to help.
David Duez
World History Pre-AP
Atascocita High
http://mrduez.blogspot.com

Welcome back to school and to World History Pre-AP

Welcome to World History Pre-AP.  I am so glad you are here.  There is no question that this will be the most rigorous and difficult year of history for you so far.  But, the good news is that APUSH (US History AP/Dual Credit) next year will be easily twice as hard as this one!  :)  And that is my job:  Prepare you for the opportunity as a junior to take college level history.  This means we are going to have to work very hard.  And because of the hard work... we have no choice but to have a lot of fun to balance it all out!  
Good luck and don't forget to come back tomorrow!


Quote of the Day:  "Begin with the end in mind."

Learning Targets:
* Who is that Mr. Duez guy?
* What is World History Pre-AP?
* Remember to come back tomorrow.

Agenda:
1.  Fill out student card while Mr. Duez takes attendance and puts up the seating chart.
2.  Course information sheet... link to it here
3.  What is World History Video.  link to it here
4.  Two truths and a lie.  Mr. Duez will use his student cards to call on students.

Remember to SLANT:
S - Sit up
L - Lean Forward
A - Activate Your Thinking
N - Notate Important Information
T - Track the Speaker

Course Information

WH Syllabus