Welcome to my webpage!  Here you will find information about the courses I am currently teaching, expectations for classroom conduct and participation, rules and procedures regarding late work and links to various projects and assignments.  My goals is for this site to provide useful information for parents and students--please contact me with your suggestions for changes or additions to this site.

 

      I currently teach United States History I. This class is generally taken by tenth graders.  This class traces the development of our country from the French and Indian War through the period of Industrialization before the turn of the 20th century.  A copy of my course outline, which provides a detailed picture of each unit of study, is available on this site.  I also teach two other classes in my role as Service Learning Coordinator here at MHS.  Students who volunteer here at the high school can enroll in Student Volunteer Program and those who volunteer off campus can choose Advanced Service Project.  You will find additional information about these classes here on my webpage.

 

      I am always receptive to parent contact and am easily reached via my school email at debiassem@madisonpublicschools.org or on my office telephone (with voicemail option) at (973) 593-3117 X3134.  Please feel free to contact me with any concerns or questions.  Students seeking extra help can usually find me in the Social Studies Department Office before 11:00 a.m. I am also scheduled for tutorial each day in during Period 5A in the media center or Social Studies office. As Department Head and Service Learning Program Coordinator, I am often observing other classes, at meetings, or out in the community.  Therefore, making an appointment for assistance is always a good idea.

 

     I am very interested in having students develop the skills that historians use in their daily work.  We regularly engage in the analysis of primary source documents and historic artifacts.  I have developed educationally rewarding partnerships with the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts (METC) and the Madison Historical Society (MHS) to help students explore different aspects of everyday life in early America.  Each year some of my students volunteer to complete an innovative and exciting project with the METC and/or MHS staff.  For examples of this type of "hands on" history work, click here. 

 

   Thank you for visiting my website and feel free to write or call with questions about the program!

 

 For more information, you can also visit the Social Studies Department website.