American Government

Join Teachers.Net

Chatboards

Recent Groups

Student Teaching

MEMBERS

4 Members

+ Join Group

Pinned Posts

ALLAll Teachers

Teachers.Net LIVE CHAT Support group - Tues eve!

Featured Jobs

Full-timeMontessori Teacher

Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada

TemporaryTeachers, rural schools

Peace River North School District

Full-timeHead Teacher: 2nd/3rd Grades – Mills College Children’s School

Mills College

Teaching Jobs on Teachers.Net

Featured Job special only $39!

https://teachers.net/jobs

Become a Teachers.Net sponsor!

Student Teaching Chatboard

American Government

by David

Feb 2, 2011

I am student teaching 4 Am. Gov. classes and 1 Am. History class. It's been rough so far but I feel like I'm starting to get it even though at times the classes can feel like death. Civics isn't my strongest background, history and international politics is. I'm having trouble "making it interesting" or "relating" to the students. Right now we're in using Magruder's American Gov. and we're in the foundations of Gov. Unit at the beginning. I'm putting it out there, but does anyone know an effective technique, strategy or resource to engage students in American Gov.

Comment

(6)

report post

view previous comments

David On 2/02/11, Denise wrote: That's Great! Thanks for the input I really appreciate it. My Coop Teach gives some help but basically leaves everything to me, I too am teaching from the 2nd week on and felt like I was drowning for a little while. I would greatly appreciate any plans you have written out. Please feel free to email me at [email removed]!

Feb 2, 2011

report post

jt I've taught from various editions of this book for 5 or 6 years. I literally have hundreds resources. And I will share anything with you. Sorry if I missed it. What grade are you teaching? At my school, 12th graders take govt. And we are on a 90 minute block schedule.

I've been trying to get a wiki going where teachers can have easy acces...See MoreI've taught from various editions of this book for 5 or 6 years. I literally have hundreds resources. And I will share anything with you. Sorry if I missed it. What grade are you teaching? At my school, 12th graders take govt. And we are on a 90 minute block schedule.

I've been trying to get a wiki going where teachers can have easy access to lots of resources. Maybe we can get this going, and you can look through my materials. What chapters are most relevant to you?

On 2/02/11, Denise wrote: > On 2/02/11, David wrote: >> I am student teaching 4 Am. Gov. classes and 1 Am. History >> class. It's been rough so far but I feel like I'm starting >> to get it even though at times the classes can feel like >> death. Civics isn't my strongest background, history and >> international politics is. I'm having trouble "making it >> interesting" or "relating" to the students. Right now we're >> in using Magruder's American Gov. and we're in the >> foundations of Gov. Unit at the beginning. I'm putting it >> out there, but does anyone know an effective technique, >> strategy or resource to engage students in American Gov. > > I taught from that book 2 years ago when I did my student > teaching. It was tough, because it can be kind of a dry > subject, plus my coop insisted on including particular > readings. There were a few things that I remember doing that > the kids did seem to like. > > When we discussed the beginning of the nation, I passed out a > handout on what actually occurred to the signers of the > Declaration of Independence. I then had students think about > what they might be willing to give up for personal beliefs. > > As we progressed through the various amendments, I set up > scenario sheets, for instance when we discussed search and > seizure, I gave the kids a scenario where search and seizure > would be thrown out, but also discussed the idea of in loco > parentis, which gives the school the power to behave as a > parent would. Therefore, searching school lockers for drugs is > currently legal. > > We did a current events day every once in a while, students > really seemed to enjoy those. I read the paper each morning > and cut out pertinent articles to copy and discuss. We did > point counterpoint where one side took one perspective and the > other side argued the opposing view. My coop gave me > absolutely NO help in planning, I taught everything from week > two onward for the next 14 weeks. My advice is try to stay at > least one week ahead. We spent a week in the library for a > research project on the presidents. We ended up the semester > with each student preparing a 10 slide powerpoint presentation > on a controversial topic, for instance, the legalization of > pot. Again, the kids spent time researching, I took them to > the computer lab to do slides, and the entire project took > about 8 class periods. The presentations ran about 3 days. > Hope this helps, I still have my plans book if you need more > hashed out ideas. Good Luck!

Feb 2, 2011

report post

jt i literally put this site up today. once you let me know what your looking for (chapters./content), I will start uploading stuff.

On 2/02/11, jt wrote: > I've taught from various editions of this book for 5 or 6 years. I > literally have hundreds resources. And I will share anything with > you. Sorry if I missed it. What grade are...See Morei literally put this site up today. once you let me know what your looking for (chapters./content), I will start uploading stuff.

On 2/02/11, jt wrote: > I've taught from various editions of this book for 5 or 6 years. I > literally have hundreds resources. And I will share anything with > you. Sorry if I missed it. What grade are you teaching? At my > school, 12th graders take govt. And we are on a 90 minute block > schedule. > > I've been trying to get a wiki going where teachers can have easy > access to lots of resources. Maybe we can get this going, and you > can look through my materials. What chapters are most relevant to > you? > > > > On 2/02/11, Denise wrote: >> On 2/02/11, David wrote: >>> I am student teaching 4 Am. Gov. classes and 1 Am. History >>> class. It's been rough so far but I feel like I'm starting >>> to get it even though at times the classes can feel like >>> death. Civics isn't my strongest background, history and >>> international politics is. I'm having trouble "making it >>> interesting" or "relating" to the students. Right now we're >>> in using Magruder's American Gov. and we're in the >>> foundations of Gov. Unit at the beginning. I'm putting it >>> out there, but does anyone know an effective technique, >>> strategy or resource to engage students in American Gov. >> >> I taught from that book 2 years ago when I did my student >> teaching. It was tough, because it can be kind of a dry >> subject, plus my coop insisted on including particular >> readings. There were a few things that I remember doing that >> the kids did seem to like. >> >> When we discussed the beginning of the nation, I passed out a >> handout on what actually occurred to the signers of the >> Declaration of Independence. I then had students think about >> what they might be willing to give up for personal beliefs. >> >> As we progressed through the various amendments, I set up >> scenario sheets, for instance when we discussed search and >> seizure, I gave the kids a scenario where search and seizure >> would be thrown out, but also discussed the idea of in loco >> parentis, which gives the school the power to behave as a >> parent would. Therefore, searching school lockers for drugs is >> currently legal. >> >> We did a current events day every once in a while, students >> really seemed to enjoy those. I read the paper each morning >> and cut out pertinent articles to copy and discuss. We did >> point counterpoint where one side took one perspective and the >> other side argued the opposing view. My coop gave me >> absolutely NO help in planning, I taught everything from week >> two onward for the next 14 weeks. My advice is try to stay at >> least one week ahead. We spent a week in the library for a >> research project on the presidents. We ended up the semester >> with each student preparing a 10 slide powerpoint presentation >> on a controversial topic, for instance, the legalization of >> pot. Again, the kids spent time researching, I took them to >> the computer lab to do slides, and the entire project took >> about 8 class periods. The presentations ran about 3 days. >> Hope this helps, I still have my plans book if you need more >> hashed out ideas. Good Luck!

Feb 2, 2011

report post

Denise Hi David,

I emailed several things to your address. I have some more, let me know what you think.

On 2/02/11, jt wrote: > i literally put this site up today. once you let me know what your > looking for (chapters./content), I will start uploading stuff. > > > On 2/02/11, jt wrote: >> I've taught from various e...See MoreHi David,

I emailed several things to your address. I have some more, let me know what you think.

On 2/02/11, jt wrote: > i literally put this site up today. once you let me know what your > looking for (chapters./content), I will start uploading stuff. > > > On 2/02/11, jt wrote: >> I've taught from various editions of this book for 5 or 6 years. I >> literally have hundreds resources. And I will share anything with >> you. Sorry if I missed it. What grade are you teaching? At my >> school, 12th graders take govt. And we are on a 90 minute block >> schedule. >> >> I've been trying to get a wiki going where teachers can have easy >> access to lots of resources. Maybe we can get this going, and you >> can look through my materials. What chapters are most relevant to >> you? >> >> >> >> On 2/02/11, Denise wrote: >>> On 2/02/11, David wrote: >>>> I am student teaching 4 Am. Gov. classes and 1 Am. History >>>> class. It's been rough so far but I feel like I'm starting >>>> to get it even though at times the classes can feel like >>>> death. Civics isn't my strongest background, history and >>>> international politics is. I'm having trouble "making it >>>> interesting" or "relating" to the students. Right now we're >>>> in using Magruder's American Gov. and we're in the >>>> foundations of Gov. Unit at the beginning. I'm putting it >>>> out there, but does anyone know an effective technique, >>>> strategy or resource to engage students in American Gov. >>> >>> I taught from that book 2 years ago when I did my student >>> teaching. It was tough, because it can be kind of a dry >>> subject, plus my coop insisted on including particular >>> readings. There were a few things that I remember doing that >>> the kids did seem to like. >>> >>> When we discussed the beginning of the nation, I passed out a >>> handout on what actually occurred to the signers of the >>> Declaration of Independence. I then had students think about >>> what they might be willing to give up for personal beliefs. >>> >>> As we progressed through the various amendments, I set up >>> scenario sheets, for instance when we discussed search and >>> seizure, I gave the kids a scenario where search and seizure >>> would be thrown out, but also discussed the idea of in loco >>> parentis, which gives the school the power to behave as a >>> parent would. Therefore, searching school lockers for drugs is >>> currently legal. >>> >>> We did a current events day every once in a while, students >>> really seemed to enjoy those. I read the paper each morning >>> and cut out pertinent articles to copy and discuss. We did >>> point counterpoint where one side took one perspective and the >>> other side argued the opposing view. My coop gave me >>> absolutely NO help in planning, I taught everything from week >>> two onward for the next 14 weeks. My advice is try to stay at >>> least one week ahead. We spent a week in the library for a >>> research project on the presidents. We ended up the semester >>> with each student preparing a 10 slide powerpoint presentation >>> on a controversial topic, for instance, the legalization of >>> pot. Again, the kids spent time researching, I took them to >>> the computer lab to do slides, and the entire project took >>> about 8 class periods. The presentations ran about 3 days. >>> Hope this helps, I still have my plans book if you need more >>> hashed out ideas. Good Luck!

Feb 3, 2011

report post

Frankie Hi, I'm having the same issue as David. Denise, is there any way you can email me those resources as well? Thanks

On 2/03/11, Denise wrote: > > Hi David, > > I emailed several things to your address. I have some more, let me know > what you think. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On 2/02...See MoreHi, I'm having the same issue as David. Denise, is there any way you can email me those resources as well? Thanks

On 2/03/11, Denise wrote: > > Hi David, > > I emailed several things to your address. I have some more, let me know > what you think. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On 2/02/11, jt wrote: >> i literally put this site up today. once you let me know what your >> looking for (chapters./content), I will start uploading stuff. >> >> >> On 2/02/11, jt wrote: >>> I've taught from various editions of this book for 5 or 6 years. I >>> literally have hundreds resources. And I will share anything with >>> you. Sorry if I missed it. What grade are you teaching? At my >>> school, 12th graders take govt. And we are on a 90 minute block >>> schedule. >>> >>> I've been trying to get a wiki going where teachers can have easy >>> access to lots of resources. Maybe we can get this going, and you >>> can look through my materials. What chapters are most relevant to >>> you? >>> >>> >>> >>> On 2/02/11, Denise wrote: >>>> On 2/02/11, David wrote: >>>>> I am student teaching 4 Am. Gov. classes and 1 Am. History >>>>> class. It's been rough so far but I feel like I'm starting >>>>> to get it even though at times the classes can feel like >>>>> death. Civics isn't my strongest background, history and >>>>> international politics is. I'm having trouble "making it >>>>> interesting" or "relating" to the students. Right now we're >>>>> in using Magruder's American Gov. and we're in the >>>>> foundations of Gov. Unit at the beginning. I'm putting it >>>>> out there, but does anyone know an effective technique, >>>>> strategy or resource to engage students in American Gov. >>>> >>>> I taught from that book 2 years ago when I did my student >>>> teaching. It was tough, because it can be kind of a dry >>>> subject, plus my coop insisted on including particular >>>> readings. There were a few things that I remember doing that >>>> the kids did seem to like. >>>> >>>> When we discussed the beginning of the nation, I passed out a >>>> handout on what actually occurred to the signers of the >>>> Declaration of Independence. I then had students think about >>>> what they might be willing to give up for personal beliefs. >>>> >>>> As we progressed through the various amendments, I set up >>>> scenario sheets, for instance when we discussed search and >>>> seizure, I gave the kids a scenario where search and seizure >>>> would be thrown out, but also discussed the idea of in loco >>>> parentis, which gives the school the power to behave as a >>>> parent would. Therefore, searching school lockers for drugs is >>>> currently legal. >>>> >>>> We did a current events day every once in a while, students >>>> really seemed to enjoy those. I read the paper each morning >>>> and cut out pertinent articles to copy and discuss. We did >>>> point counterpoint where one side took one perspective and the >>>> other side argued the opposing view. My coop gave me >>>> absolutely NO help in planning, I taught everything from week >>>> two onward for the next 14 weeks. My advice is try to stay at >>>> least one week ahead. We spent a week in the library for a >>>> research project on the presidents. We ended up the semester >>>> with each student preparing a 10 slide powerpoint presentation >>>> on a controversial topic, for instance, the legalization of >>>> pot. Again, the kids spent time researching, I took them to >>>> the computer lab to do slides, and the entire project took >>>> about 8 class periods. The presentations ran about 3 days. >>>> Hope this helps, I still have my plans book if you need more >>>> hashed out ideas. Good Luck!

Oct 18, 2012

report post