APUSH text books - rising 9th grader

[Anonymous]

Can anyone recommend the textbooks high schools use for APUSH? I tried looking this up, but I don't get the textbooks, there are a lot of exam prep books. Anu suggestions?

[Anonymous]

This can vary by school.

[Anonymous]

APUSH textbooks are dry. It would be better to pick up some books on US History topics from the library and then watch Hamilton on Disney plus

[Anonymous]

I use America: A Narrative History by Shi for my classes.

If you want something that is enjoyable, try William Bennett's series, America: The Last Best Hope (but you need the three volume set, not the single volume). Those are written in a narrative style and are pretty balanced.

The most popular choice among AP teachers is Amsco Advanced Placement United States History. While this book technically doesn't meet the requirement for a college textbook, many teachers use it because it provides both the needed facts and exam practice (much better than a typically prep book).

Here it is on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Placement-United-States-History/dp/1690305509/ref=sr_1_2?crid=IL7O2N04UY6M&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.yeoMTc2_qT3YL8hN5vzq3Ma8SKAUghkohMCPedN8U93ouNZ6YHDRpGXlCXYQ6i7cHokSVs63dMfY55eFrHcGTykZcihZIPCwMZeYTxEI2vYUxE9hmkhZB7ta-3HqtkURdf7UbOugGxtwYNSpeX_qul0NDkF7-FYhsqyw7zE7w6cXn9WQoKtrNNBEqFjpuvzTdun6fIZ0-9EaXQ2k-Vfv7VKd21bDl-u7OiMaLNAke3Y.RPOrXq3KbElmEzexLSqgom-8Qc374iJez6zcMKxYr9g&dib_tag=se&keywords=amsco+ap+us+history&qid=1718934937&s=books&sprefix=Amsco%2Cstripbooks%2C225&sr=1-2

Finally, for quick review, I like the Crash Course book. https://www.amazon.com/History-Course-Online-Advanced-Placement/dp/0738612693/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1TOH51LGVJ4DN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qEzOKPB_baGCTBsWX6sLNdOFsJFkxzuSUPEA5OotTJFzywxhgqjQ6fj4kM_XTa2PjVlhZBmgzHxOGpcnDpWcspcCb2RTlhC9kZNbCheghyZ5PezNtsXHeCgkvpGN2KYoHylKxSRuXBipFWtEh7fukpqPxNXr0x2UT6TcEnn9z11ZXPnxrH1Oqi9bygSRlf6ZMqhbrTb0dniSbeHgF67Kv-EA2bRT7l-m1QC_a8S8HlE.dP-wG1ing23C4HgoCM73Xf4xp3h7bsRa8jlaFzwzB6k&dib_tag=se&keywords=Crash+Course+APUSH&qid=1718935068&s=books&sprefix=crash+course+apush%2Cstripbooks%2C188&sr=1-1

[Anonymous]

DD used American Yawp volumes 1+2 as well as AP specific prep book. They did not attend MCPS.

[Anonymous]

They’ll get a text book from their teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They’ll get a text book from their teacher

It sounds like OP wants her kid to get a head start this summer. I would do this too if I had a 9th grader taking APUSH. Much better to take it in 10th.

[Anonymous]

I would suggest calling the high school your child will attend. It can be hard to get in touch with teachers at this time of year. As an alternative, find a kid or a parent. PTA contacts might help.

There are many different textbooks. See link below. Based on what my kid says, kids actually prefer to use video resources to prep and cram for APUSH.

https://library.fiveable.me/apush/faqs/best-ap-us-history-textbook/blog/MUH02htqBzztuzv3L4lg

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD used American Yawp volumes 1+2 as well as AP specific prep book. They did not attend MCPS.

Yawp is free, but dry...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would suggest calling the high school your child will attend. It can be hard to get in touch with teachers at this time of year. As an alternative, find a kid or a parent. PTA contacts might help.

There are many different textbooks. See link below. Based on what my kid says, kids actually prefer to use video resources to prep and cram for APUSH.

https://library.fiveable.me/apush/faqs/best-ap-us-history-textbook/blog/MUH02htqBzztuzv3L4lg

Yes, of course kids prefer videos, but adults should encourage them to read - APUSH teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would suggest calling the high school your child will attend. It can be hard to get in touch with teachers at this time of year. As an alternative, find a kid or a parent. PTA contacts might help.

There are many different textbooks. See link below. Based on what my kid says, kids actually prefer to use video resources to prep and cram for APUSH.

https://library.fiveable.me/apush/faqs/best-ap-us-history-textbook/blog/MUH02htqBzztuzv3L4lg

Yes, of course kids prefer videos, but adults should encourage them to read - APUSH teacher

PP. I understand. However, my child didn't enjoy APUSH although he had a good teacher. And he is already a good reader.
The book was dry, really dry. I looked at it. I love reading and history and I did not think it looked fun to learn from. Can't remember the author. I bought him two prep books to study for the exam. He didn't use them very much and went for the videos instead.

APUSH was a real notes-generation slog for both of my sons (9th graders at the time). I'm not sure it aided in fostering a love of history. And I never took notes like that in college (graded chapter notes on a textbook). What it did do was get my kids into classes with the smartest kids in the school instead of detracked classes including relentless goof-offs and kids that can never "get" the material. My older son got a 4. Still waiting to see what younger son got.

A bright spot is that the teacher said my son's writing improved a lot over the year. And he respected the teacher for having high standards. But he probably won't take any more history in high school now because it was such a slog. Just the remaining mandatory social science classes - AP Micro and AP Govt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would suggest calling the high school your child will attend. It can be hard to get in touch with teachers at this time of year. As an alternative, find a kid or a parent. PTA contacts might help.

There are many different textbooks. See link below. Based on what my kid says, kids actually prefer to use video resources to prep and cram for APUSH.

https://library.fiveable.me/apush/faqs/best-ap-us-history-textbook/blog/MUH02htqBzztuzv3L4lg

Yes, of course kids prefer videos, but adults should encourage them to read - APUSH teacher

PP. I understand. However, my child didn't enjoy APUSH although he had a good teacher. And he is already a good reader.
The book was dry, really dry. I looked at it. I love reading and history and I did not think it looked fun to learn from. Can't remember the author. I bought him two prep books to study for the exam. He didn't use them very much and went for the videos instead.

APUSH was a real notes-generation slog for both of my sons (9th graders at the time). I'm not sure it aided in fostering a love of history. And I never took notes like that in college (graded chapter notes on a textbook). What it did do was get my kids into classes with the smartest kids in the school instead of detracked classes including relentless goof-offs and kids that can never "get" the material. My older son got a 4. Still waiting to see what younger son got.

A bright spot is that the teacher said my son's writing improved a lot over the year. And he respected the teacher for having high standards. But he probably won't take any more history in high school now because it was such a slog. Just the remaining mandatory social science classes - AP Micro and AP Govt.

World History is a graduation requirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would suggest calling the high school your child will attend. It can be hard to get in touch with teachers at this time of year. As an alternative, find a kid or a parent. PTA contacts might help.

There are many different textbooks. See link below. Based on what my kid says, kids actually prefer to use video resources to prep and cram for APUSH.

https://library.fiveable.me/apush/faqs/best-ap-us-history-textbook/blog/MUH02htqBzztuzv3L4lg

Yes, of course kids prefer videos, but adults should encourage them to read - APUSH teacher

PP. I understand. However, my child didn't enjoy APUSH although he had a good teacher. And he is already a good reader.
The book was dry, really dry. I looked at it. I love reading and history and I did not think it looked fun to learn from. Can't remember the author. I bought him two prep books to study for the exam. He didn't use them very much and went for the videos instead.

APUSH was a real notes-generation slog for both of my sons (9th graders at the time). I'm not sure it aided in fostering a love of history. And I never took notes like that in college (graded chapter notes on a textbook). What it did do was get my kids into classes with the smartest kids in the school instead of detracked classes including relentless goof-offs and kids that can never "get" the material. My older son got a 4. Still waiting to see what younger son got.

A bright spot is that the teacher said my son's writing improved a lot over the year. And he respected the teacher for having high standards. But he probably won't take any more history in high school now because it was such a slog. Just the remaining mandatory social science classes - AP Micro and AP Govt.

World History is a graduation requirement.

Probably right but I'm not in DMV. My point is my younger kid doesn't like history after what might have been an interesting class. Because of a dull book and too much notetaking - neither of which are 100% linked to AP. My older one took a two year IB European History. So he did extra. But his APUSH was somewhat less demanding in terms of notes. Plus it was a pandemic year. So not a lot of distractions.

My husband and I enjoyed high school and had near perfect grades. Our kids are equally bright but have far more motivation issues. I have a lot of regret when classes don't go well because I hope to see my kids have the same engagement that we did.

[Anonymous]

The American Promise

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would suggest calling the high school your child will attend. It can be hard to get in touch with teachers at this time of year. As an alternative, find a kid or a parent. PTA contacts might help.

There are many different textbooks. See link below. Based on what my kid says, kids actually prefer to use video resources to prep and cram for APUSH.

https://library.fiveable.me/apush/faqs/best-ap-us-history-textbook/blog/MUH02htqBzztuzv3L4lg

Yes, of course kids prefer videos, but adults should encourage them to read - APUSH teacher

PP. I understand. However, my child didn't enjoy APUSH although he had a good teacher. And he is already a good reader.
The book was dry, really dry. I looked at it. I love reading and history and I did not think it looked fun to learn from. Can't remember the author. I bought him two prep books to study for the exam. He didn't use them very much and went for the videos instead.

APUSH was a real notes-generation slog for both of my sons (9th graders at the time). I'm not sure it aided in fostering a love of history. And I never took notes like that in college (graded chapter notes on a textbook). What it did do was get my kids into classes with the smartest kids in the school instead of detracked classes including relentless goof-offs and kids that can never "get" the material. My older son got a 4. Still waiting to see what younger son got.

A bright spot is that the teacher said my son's writing improved a lot over the year. And he respected the teacher for having high standards. But he probably won't take any more history in high school now because it was such a slog. Just the remaining mandatory social science classes - AP Micro and AP Govt.

Sad - I don't make my students do notes (although, of course, they should take them) and try to have them love history by the end. But I'm sure that the teacher requires those because many kids don't read or take notes from the videos, and then when they score low on the exam, they blame the teacher for not teaching them anything...