U.S. Govt & Politics Course

Investigative Question: What is this class about and what am I going to be doing?

Your Education this Far… Preamble- AKA Warm UP/DO NOW (Your brain is a muscle, it needs to warm up, just like an athlete before practice) Freewrite (3 minutes) Describe in your own words what most of your education has been like? What have you been doing in classrooms?

Maybe your education has been like this… Take a look at the short clip from the movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day off” and write down any observations about what you see between the teacher and student… Jedi Partner-You watch what the teacher is doing… Empire Partner-You watch what the students are doing… Voo Doo Economics Take 1 min each with your partner to discuss what you noticed… Is this the best environment for letting brains do their work?

A visual for your education so far… Can you figure out what these two pictures are telling you about your education so far…

To slay the beast, you gotta know the beast! What am I studying: Why am I studying this: U.S. Govt & Politics- Govt is structure, systems, rules, that tell govt how to do it’s job; Politics- how people play the game 1. Because you have to if you want to graduate! 2. Unless you have been hiding under a rock, we are not in the best of times!!!!

A Moment to Discuss Perspective… Limited Perspective 360 Perspective

Morgana’s Approach to the class… This is a class about IDEAS and how they play out in the real world This is called Conceptual Learning This is all about YOU and YOUR learning, not mine STOP DOING WORK FOR TEACHERS! You study the idea first, then look at how it plays out Helps you develop critical thinking- which is what you do in college and the real world- problem solve The 360 Degree Approach-You will “look” at everything to make rational, evidence based, logical conclusions in your analysis How is this approach different than what you’re used to?

A Different Approach Contd Most of you have been going to school looking to get the right answer to get a good grade and feel good about yourself…I ain’t mad atcha! But, are you really learning? Not just the information, but about WHO YOU ARE? I am less concerned with getting the right answer, but more about the process of learning and figuring out how to solve problems AND… in that process you learn about YOU That is really what life is about, right?

Building Our Team Before we get to work, it is important to get to know each other… Our first session I had all of you write ONE special aspect of who you are We are now going to use that information to get to know each other We are going to play “Human Bingo” Can someone explain the rules of Bingo? What you are going to do?: You will use the Human Bingo sheet Your task is to get a signature from the person that matches the statement in each box Just like Bingo first person to get all in a row wins!

#Goals for Learning in Life… Behavior Skills This is how you feel and what you do with those feelings: I.e. For example Confidence Motivation Disposition (qualities) for success This is what you know how to do: I.e. For example Problem solving Knowledge Critically Think

Anyone know how to BBQ?... Marinated Steak Non Marinated Steak Can someone explain the basics of putting a steak on the grill when it has not been seasoned or marinated? Can someone else explain how the steak is different once it has been marinated?

What will I be doing to get ready for the Stampede! Part 1 Reading- You’ll be reading every week most of the time- You’ll be reading variety of documents,-goal is to get you ready for the level and volume of reading next year

What will I be doing to get ready for the Stampede! Part 2 Academic Discussion- How do you practice to see if what you have read, taken notes, etc has actually stuck in your head… by talking

What will I be doing to get ready for the Stampede! Part 3 Writing- Your time to shine! This helps you to put your thoughts and ideas and communicate to the world what you think!

#GOALS…Why we are doing this?... Short Term #goals: By May of 2020 in Economics… Your final for the course is an 8-10 page research paper on the financial collapse of Detroit, Michigan in 2013 Long Term #goals: In order to do the research paper and be an adult… You have to learn how to be independent… Independence is your final goal

Marinate!!!!!! (Sazonar en Español) Why and how are reading, writing, and speaking connected? (how do they help you to learn?) Reading Speaking Writing Critical Thinking

Nuts and Bolts: Day to Day Session 1-2: Usually will be an introduction to concept(s) of the unit Will be some lecture of some kind, with some activities to help you chew/marinate on ideas presented Session 3-4- Will be where YOU read the variety of documents you will use to support your arguments Session 4-5- Will be where YOU talk about the ideas so far and together and individually work out the challenges Session 6-7 Will be where YOU will do, make, create, write, draw, SOMETHING to make sense of ALLLL the work

Course Website Website where you will have access to: Get the breakdown of the week Documents/Resources Turn in assignments Participate in online discussions This is your lifeline for the course! Here is an example of what it will look like: http://animoleadershipgovecon.weebly.com/ Let’s go over the basics right now.

Thinking Logs & Blogs How are you suppose to know how you’re doing? How do you know if you understand a concept? I will be providing tools to show you how to track your own thinking & learning so you can be successful in class You will be blogging online (using site) to not only turn in your thinking but also be able to dialogue with your colleagues

Thinking Log Example

Thinking Logs & Reflections For example:  How do I feel about this concept?: “I get it” = I can teach it to a stranger “So-So” = I can’t teach it, but I know what to study & will get it on my own “I’m lost” = I don’t get it & need help understanding it “WTH” = I have no idea what this is at all.

So how do you feel about all this??? Take 1min to write about info presented so far- I will ask everyone to share: 1 strength that you feel you can bring to the Nuts & Bolts of course 1 area for possible help(where you are worried, feel anxious about, etc)

Debrief/Reflections (aka Exit Slips)… You will often be writing a short reflection at the end of a session. I will collect these to get an understanding of where you are. Below are guidelines for exit slips… In paragraph form In full sentences At least ONE full paragraph or more (depending on task) More on this later…

Highlights from this session… Write a reflection of some the items we talked about that stood out to you… OR something you have a question about, OR something you agreed with OR something you disagreed with. Be sure to write in full sentences! We will be working on setting up our work for the year for the next 3-4 sessions before we hit any actual Government course work.