Leaping Back Into School! February 29, 2016

Happy Leap Day, everyone!!! I hope you enjoy the "extra" 24 hours we get this year - and use them well!

Today, you were grouped with some students from Team 11 for a unit on change in the early US.  This is an exciting opportunity to work with some different people and approach our subject in a different way :).  I hope you have fun and learn something interesting!

You need to know that midterm grades are closing on WEDNESDAY, March 2.  If you need to complete work, please see me ASAP!  I may be approaching you to turn in assignments, especially the 3/5ths Compromise assignment and the Presidential candidate assessment.  If you missed the Bill of Rights assessment, see me anytime to get that done.

HOMEWORK:  None tonight, but check your grade!

Google Form

http://goo.gl/forms/EFTqLxF6Gh

Studying for the Bill of Rights! February 16 and 17, 2016

If you need help studying for the Bill of Rights, here are some things to help you!

My Bill of Rights PowerPoint

Videos! Videos!! Videos!!!

And more...

Still more...

Happy Presidents' Day!!!

Hello everyone, and happy Presidents' Day to you!!!!  How fitting is it that we are working on George Washington's Presidency on Presidents' Day???

Today in class, we reviewed your knowledge of the Bill of Rights at the beginning of class.  Your assessment on this is scheduled for THURSDAY.  Be sure to start studying for that NOW and not just the night before the test!!!  When we were done with our review, you had work time to get information about George Washington's administration so you can put it in time order.

HOMEWORK:  Study for your assessment!!!

ALSO:  We have two forms you are asked to fill out.  One is from the PTO looking for ideas:

PTO Survey

We also have a unit of study coming up where you may have a chance to request a topic, and possibly do some work with our friends on Team 11!  Please fill out this form by Wednesday of this week:

Flexible Grouping Unit Survey

And So Another Week Ends...February 12, 2016

Hi everyone,
Today, we started talking about the events of George Washington's presidency.  We'll be working on this through next week.  Other news you can use:

1) Relearn/retakes available for Critical Period assessment.  See me for details...
2) The PTO wants feedback!  Please click the link below to add your two cents:

PTO survey

3) Bill of Rights assessment next THURSDAY.  Make sure you practice!
HOMEWORK; Prepare for B of R quiz; complete your Works Cited for your Presidential candidate assessment!

Talking It Up: February 11, 2016

Today in class, we ran a fishbowl conversation to talk about the Presidential candidates and their qualifications for the most important job in the free world.  I hope you got a chance to express your views, but even more importantly, I hope you learned a little bit about the importance of looking more deeply into a topic and doing some research, instead of just relying on commercials or public opinion to make up your mind.

If you did not submit your report in hard copy or on line today, please make sure you do so ASAP!

HOMEWORK:  None.  Tomorrow, you will get back your Critical Period assessments and will learn how to make that up if you want to raise your grade.

Here they are -- the class of 2016!

First in The Hearts Of His Countrymen: February 10, 2016

Hi everyone,
Today, I was off for the day learning how to do this teachering thing better.  You guys worked with Mr. Mason on an introductory activity to get you thinking about the first, the best, the main man himself ... President George Washington!!!  (He lets me call him Gee Dubs, BTW.)  We will look at his administration over the next week as we get closer and closer to vacation.

HOMEWORK:  Your Presidential Candidate report is due TOMORROW.  Please come in with your report, and with any background notes, drafts, materials you may have so that you can talk intelligently about your candidate!

First In The Nation Primary Day!!! February 9, 2016

Hi everyone,
It's Primary Day!!!  After today, the phone calls and visits and TV cameras are all going to disappear, so enjoy the attention while it lasts....

Today in class, we practiced identifying our rights under the Bill of Rights - it didn't count for anything, it was just a chance to see what you know. We also reviewed the Supreme Court cases we discussed in class, and talked about the limits of free speech in regard to Super Bowl commercials.  It was a nice way to begin our short week!

HOMEWORK:  Keep working on your Presidential Candidate assignments!  They are due Thursday. If you left your work at school, you can have until Friday to get this done.  Please bring all your materials (rough drafts, notes, etc.) to class on Thursday.

For the Good of the Order: February 4, 2016

Hi everyone,
Today in class, you did a nice job looking at some famous Supreme Court cases and deciding how the  Bill of Rights apply to them, and how you would rule if you were the judges on the case.  Tomorrow, we will find out how closely you came to the actual decisions!

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE REPORT:
Please make sure you check the suggested timeline and stay on top of the report.  It is linked under Jan 27th/28th.

Also, I still see a lot of people are telling me what their candidates plan to do as President, instead of looking at whether that candidate is qualified to be President.  Please make sure you are clear about the difference between those two things.  For example, I might say I plan, as President, to give everyone one million dollars and a unicorn.  However, since I am not wealthy and do not own a unicorn ranch, I am not qualified to make that promise.  Review last night's blog post for ideas and resources about how to avoid that trap.

Your report is DUE one week from today!  If you have any issues, please come see me.

You Gotta Fight for Your Rights!! February 3, 2016

Today, we either finished up our Bill of Rights lecture and spent some time reviewing, or you got a chance to work with your Bill of Rights notes and get those concepts down... and some classes got a chance to annoy Mr. Wiggin with our Candy Dance Party!!!!

We reviewed your Presidential research sheets quickly in class, and I noticed a few things that you might want to think about.  First, make sure you are reviewing more than one website!  I have linked websites for you that will be helpful.  If you only use one website, you are not really summarizing information.

Also, in your notes about qualifications for the duties of the Presidency, many of you are telling us what your candidate plans to do if elected President.  The point of this section of the report is for you to tell me if your candidate is qualified to be the President.  Does s/he have the life experiences, education, skills, personal qualities to do the job?  I created a new handout for those of you who may be having problems with this part of the report.  Here's how to use it:

• Open the "Qualifications for the Presidency" link on yesterday's blog post.
• Open the document linked below ("Can This Candidate Do The Job?")
• Choose TWO of the duties the President must fulfill from the Qualifications document to analyze
• Write one of the Presidential duties at the top of the "Can This Candidate" document
• Choose 3 - 5 qualities listed under that duty.  Write those down on the form under "what this responsibility requires".
• Go through what you know about your candidate.  Does s/he show evidence of having these qualities?  Has s/he completed similar tasks before?  Has s/he done similar or comparable things in other areas of their life? Write down your proof in the proof column.  

Please note:  This is NOT homework and I will NOT collect it.  It is intended to help you make sure you fulfill the requirements of the assignment.  It is meant to help you if you want it.  

Can This Candidate Do The Job?

Do They Have What It Takes? February 1, 2016

Here are the qualities you identified as being necessary for the President of the free world to have:

Qualifications for the Presidency

Also, you will want to check POWERSCHOOL.  I have entered our assignments for Q3 to date, and many of you may have something here or there that you need to address. For most of you, it is just a question of showing me work from absences or work that you didn't have with you on the day I checked it.  For a few of you, you have some work to do!  Many of you did not have your Presidential Candidate Commercial Analysis done for today.  Also, a few of you need to complete your Constitution Scavenger Hunt because it wasn't finished on Friday.  This shows me that you need to pay closer attention to assignments you can complete over multiple days.  Please make sure you take care of business!