Sercl, Kelsey
Office Hours: Posted on Canvas and Whiteboards in Classroom
Contact Hours (email): Monday-Friday 7:00-3:00pm
Office Hours: Monday- Thursday 2:15-3:00pm or by appointment
Room- C223
More About Our Classroom
Class Schedule
About The Teacher
I was born and raised in Colorado (Go Broncos!). I received my bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education- Social Studies, from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. (Go Huskers!) I am the 2019 James Madison Fellow, and I hold a Master's Degree in Teaching American History and Government. I spent the summer of 2021 in Washington DC learning about the foundations of our Constitution and government. I have always had a passion for education and teaching. Throughout College, I spent years working as an early childhood educator. However, I decided to return to my love of secondary education, especially to History and Social Studies. I am entering my 10th year of teaching in DVUSD. I spent 7 years at West Wing School as the 7th grade Social Studies teacher, where I also sponsored NJHS and coached Spiritline. Here at Mountain Ridge, I am the Club Earth Sponsor and the National Honors Society Sponsor. I look forward to exploring the past, our country, and the world with you!
Degrees and Certifications:
B.S. Ed, Secondary Ed. Social Sciences 7-12
M.A. American History and Government
James Madison Fellow
US History Information
This course is aligned with Arizona College and Career Ready Standards and/or national content standards and supports school-wide efforts to increase student achievement. Using inquiry in history, high school students explore a variety of peoples, events, and movements in United States history with a focus on inquiry into the evolution of American democratic principles, changes in society, economic and geographical development, and the emergence of the United States as a global power. A United States history course can be organized in a variety of ways including thematic, chronological, regional, or through case studies. Special attention should be paid to how Arizona and its diverse cultures and individuals contribute to United States history. It is expected that students in elementary and middle school will have analyzed events, documents, movements, and people in Arizona and United States history from the colonial period through contemporary U.S. History. It is recommended that this course maximize time in a manner to allow for depth of content and connection to current issues and events. The course should include but is not limited to content from the following historical eras:
- Revolution and a New Nation including but not limited to causes of the American Revolution, reasons for American victory, impact of the Revolution on politics, economy, and society, and the creation of the American political system looking at origins, and key political and social figures,
- Nation Building and Sectionalism including but not limited to territorial expansion and its impacts on external powers and Native Americans, regional tensions due to industrialism, immigration, and the expansion of slavery, changes in the political democracy after 1800, and cultural, religious, and reform movements in the Antebellum period
- Civil War and Reconstruction including but not limited to causes, course, and impact of the Civil War on various groups in the United States, the impacts of different reconstruction plans, and the emergence of Jim Crow and segregation
- Emergence of Modern America including but not limited to industrialization, immigration and migration, progressivism, Federal Indian Policy, suffrage movements, racial, religious and class conflict, the growth of the United States as a global power and World War I and its aftermath
- Great Depression and World War II including but not limited to social, political, and economic changes during the 1920’s, the role of government, impact of the depression on diverse groups of Americans, the New Deal, and the cause and course of World War II, the character of the war at home, and the impacts of the war on the United States
- Postwar United States including the economic boom and social transformation of the United States, the Cold War, the impact of conflicts in Korea and Vietnam, domestic and international policies, and the struggle for civil rights and equality
- Contemporary United States including but not limited to domestic politics and policies, economic, social and cultural developments, growing international conflict and tension, 9-11 and responses to terrorism, environmental issues, poverty, globalization, nuclear proliferation, and human rights
For additional information on state standards, go to azed.gov
AP US History Information
This course prepares students to take the Advanced Placement Examination. This course includes analysis of major events in United States and Arizona history from the colonial period to the present. Class requirements may include summer readings and projects. Enrolled students are expected to take the AP exam.
This course provides students with the analytic skills and historical literacy necessary to deal critically with the events, issues and trends of American History. It prepares students for future academic success by incorporating college level historical interpretation and writing practices that will support student success on the Advanced Placement Exam taken in May and ready them for college level courses post high school graduation. Consequently, accelerated credit is earned for this course for a “C” or above, and some colleges even offer college credit for a superior score on the A.P. Exam. This course will study U.S. History from the Colonial Period to at least the 1980’s using various teaching methods that include: research, discussion, oral participation, simulation, debate, readings, cooperative groups, etc. This course is aligned with Arizona Common Core Standards and/or national standards and supports the school wide efforts to increase students’ achievement.
Course Standards and Objectives:
The link for our Arizona State Social Studies Standards is here.
By the time the student completes this course of study, the student will know or be able to perform the following:
- Use research skills to interpret historical data.
- Explain the causes and effects of European exploration and colonization of America.
- Examine the economic, political and social effects of the American Revolution.
- Trace the geographic, political, social and economic transformations as a result of Westward Expansion.
- Analyze the causes and immediate and long term effects of the Civil War and Reconstruction.
- Describe the various ways that the United States emerged as a modern nation in the 19th century.
- Explain the causes and consequences of the Great Depression and American involvement in World War II.
- Examine American foreign and domestic policies after World War II.
- Compare and contrast historical happenings to contemporary events.
- Read complex texts for key ideas and details, while integrating their knowledge and own ideas into the analysis of the text.
- Write in a wide variety of styles using research and prior knowledge to create synthesized and complete arguments.
College Board & APUSH- Here
Course Syllabus- APUSH Syllabus