Sunday, November 7, 2010

Week of 8 November 2010

The second quarter is under way! I apologize for any confusion regarding report cards and SPAN. I am looking into the discrepancy and will prevent it from taking place at the end of the second quarter. This week we will be exploring the criminal justice system, civil laws, and the juvenile justice system. Mixed in, the students will be investigating some more supreme court cases.

The schedule is a little odd this week regarding days off - Thursday is Veterans Day, and then we are back to school for Friday. Always an interesting week when there is a single day before or after a holiday. We will also be having a Fire Drill and Lockdown Drill on Monday during Pride Period!

I also have some more news. It has been decided that ALL of the Civics & Economics teachers will be giving a "Civics-Term" exam on November 19. There will be a study/review guide forthcoming so please be on the lookout for that. It is assumed that we will all be done with the Civics portion of the course by that day!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Week of 18 October 2010

This week is all about Congress. The highlight is the movie "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." From 1939, this classic movie, featuring James Stewart, demonstrates how members of Congress can be corrupted and how the system can easily hide the corruption. Despite the movie being over 70 years old, the message is just as clear today as it was in the 1930s.

This week we also learn how technology today has made it easier to get in touch with our elected officials and keep tabs on how they are voting on the bills. The websites for the House of Representatives and the Senate make it easy to look up your representatives and sites, like THOMAS, make it easy to follow their actions. And iPhone apps, such as Congress Bills, allow you to track members of Congress right in your handheld device!

Thursday this week we will also be testing on the current unit, Unit 4A: Political Parties (chapter 9) and Congress (chapter 6). And students should be preparing for the end of the quarter (which is little more than a week away) by checking SPAN to make sure they have all their tests and quizzes and homework turned in! We don't want to have any unnecessary zeros being averaged into the quarter grade.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Week of 27 September 2010

Looks like a short week ahead! Friday is a teacher workday, so enjoy the longer weekend. But before that we still have school to attend to. This week interim reports will be distributed on Monday. Monday we will also have our Unit 2B Test on The Constitution (chapter 3.3, 3.4, and all of chapter 4). We will be heading to the computer lab Monday after the test for the students to look at some Supreme Court cases regarding the First Amendment. Tuesday we will be watching a great movie, The Ghosts of Mississippi. This movie is about the trials of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers. It has an all star cast but more importantly demonstrates MANY goals and objectives for Civics & Economics including

  • 1.07 Evaluate the extent to which the Bill of Rights extended the Constitution
  • 2.06 Analyze court cases that demonstrate how the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights protect the rights of individual
  • 5.02 Identify the jurisdiction of state and federal court
  • 5.03 Describe the adversarial nature of the judicial process
  • 6.02 Cite examples of common, criminal, civil, constitutional, administrative, and statutory law
  • 6.08 Evaluate methods used by society to address criminal and anti-social behaviors
  • 10.02 Develop, defend, and evaluate positions on issues regarding diversity in American life
  • 10.05 Describe examples of recurring public problems and issues

On Thursday we will also be having a vocabulary quiz for Unit 3. In some cases, vocabulary quizzes have not been going well. Please make sure your students are studying a little every night. There is a lot of information, if they are neglecting their studies, they are also neglecting their grade.

Thursday this week is Picture Day. Photos for the Yearbook will be taken throughout the day. Parents should have already received literature for purchasing pictures through their student's second period teacher. Even the students who are not ordering pictures will be taking picture that day as well. These pictures will not only be in the yearbook but also be the student's identification picture for their Leesville ID. Leesville ID are required for entry to some school events, such as dances. So be sure to dress for pictures on Thursday!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Week of 20 September 2010

I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend. We kick things off this week with a test on Monday! (Unit 2A - Road to the Constitution - chapter 3.1, 3.2, 12.1, 12.2). This test includes all of the information beginning with the Declaration of Independence through the Constitutional Convention. Unit 2B will be about the Constitution itself - the parts of it, the principles, the goals, location of important elements and rights, as well as the Bill of Rights and the Amendments. The test for this unit will likely be early next week.

Grades are posted - that is, of the things I have graded. I MUST remind students that their grade is a direct reflection of the effort they put into the course. If a student puts in little effort, does little work, does not pay much attention, it will be reflected in a lower grade. Consistently, those students who put in the effort to turn in their work on time, those who pay attention in class, those who pay attention to their work, those who do their own work and do not simply copy from other, earn higher grades. I am asking parents to keep up with their students - make sure that their student is keeping up, doing their work, reading the sections required of them, and studying regularly (not just the day before a test or quiz). Of the students, these are habits that can be taken to other classes as well as to everyday life with regard to daily responsibilities and in the workplace. Those of you doing well and putting in the effort, KUDOS to you. Those who are not, it never too late to start!

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Week of 13 September 2010

This week we are looking into the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the debates that created the United States Constitution. The Declaration of Independence is a remarkable document, it contains the most important ideas on government that we are still attempting to reach. It has also been a model for many other declarations of rights, such as France's "Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen", the United Nations' "Universal Declaration of Rights" the "Declaration of the Rights of the Child." In my opinion, a clear understanding of the principles in the Declaration of Independence helps the student better understand civics and will better prepare them for the End of Course exam.

On the page for this Unit there are MANY links and videos. I highly suggest you take a look at them. They will be very helpful in understanding this document, its principles and historical context. Remember, what the founding fathers were doing was never heard of before - rebelling against Great Britain and setting out to establish a government based on the will of the people, not the will of the king and divine right. A monumental experiment!

We will also be looking at North Carolina's first constitution of 1776, specifically its "Declaration of Rights," keeping in mind that the US Constitution, which had yet to be created, would borrow the ideas embodied in the 13 state constitutions that had already existed.

It is not likely we will be tested on this information this week, but one can be expected early next week.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Week of 6 September 2010

I hope you enjoyed your long weekend but we have a busy week ahead of us. We will be working independently and in groups to obtain information about the events leading up to the American Revolution. We will also wrap up Unit 1B and test later this week (period 3 on Thursday, period 4 on Friday). The calendar includes information about upcoming events such as tests and quizzes. Click on an event to get more details. Be careful to pay attention to the color for your class (either period 3 or 4).

PS, our first test will be returned on Tuesday.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Week of 30 August 2010

We have one short week behind us; next is five full days! I hope everyone has rested up. This week I will be giving instructions on how to set up your notebook so I hope you have bought your school supplies! We will be wrapping up Unit 1A and can expect a test on Wednesday, September 1. Next we will be moving ahead to Unit 1B which will cover the history of government and the colonial experience through the Revolutionary War. Heads Up! Unit 1B will include a bit of history!

If you have been paying attention to the website you have noticed that I successfully embedded the Twitter feeds right onto this page. Now you can keep up with announcements and the homework right from this main Civics & Economics page! Although I have not yet gotten the alignment of page items right, the content is here and that is what is most important.

I look forward to another great week!

Monday, August 16, 2010

End of Summer

Here it is, for the students it is the last week, for the teachers we are back to work and gearing up for an exciting semester! I hope you have taken the opportunity to enjoy your time away from school, but it is time to start getting back in the mind set of regular classes.

Hopefully you are not looking at this as a time of unhappiness or disappointment, but instead as a new opportunity, a new opportunity, a new chance to grow. I am looking forward to a brand new school year - I have been teaching at Leesville Road High School for 14 years and am looking forward to year 15. For me, each year is a chance to improve on what I have done in the past and discover new techniques to grow as a teacher.

This week I will be returning to school, planning lessons, arranging the classroom and preparing lessons to make this semester one of the most memorable and productive of your educational career. Wednesday evening is Open House for the first semester - an opportunity for parents and students to get an overview of what to expect from their courses this term and to briefly meet their teachers.

I am looking forward to getting started and ready for a great semester and school year. Enjoy the rest of your summer and be sure to check back for updates before the school year begins!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Review Materials

Wow! The end of the semester snuck op on me! It does not feel like the semester will be over and final exams beginning next week (just 5 school days to go). While I am always excited for the summer vacation, as I am sure you all are too, it is a bit bitter sweet this semester as I know it will be a long time before I have the opportunity to teach such a great group of students all day long!

However, we still have work to do. I have uploaded a couple of specific review materials:

  • This document includes Unit 1A through Unit 4A. Each page has the essential ideas and concepts that need to be remembered for the EOC.
  • This document includes 33 Exercises with about 10 questions each to practice for the EOC.
This definitely crunch time, and although I confident in what everyone will be able to do, please do not take the EOC lightly. Go in prepared and do not put yourself in the situation walking out where you say to yourself, "I wish I had studied more." The ball is in your court. What are you going to do with it?

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Week of 24 May 2010

We are coming down to it now, just 6 days of instruction until final exams. We have been reviewing a little each day with Blue Diamond questions, but hopefully you are taking the time to round up all your notes and things from this entire semester and have begun looking them over. The EOC is just a few weeks away, and although I am planning review in class, it is expected that you are reviewing on your own. I have given you access to all the North Carolina Standard Course of Study (NCSCOS) Goals & Objectives. Be sure you can explain each one and you will have absolutely no problem on the EOC. If you are unsure where to find the NCSCOS Goals & Objectives you can use each of the Preview/Review Guides I have distributed to begin each unit or you can visit the State Department of Public Instruction (DPI) website or visit the Success Series Video website.

Again, remember that there is only 6 days of class left before the EOC (Monday is Memorial Day, no school). We must use our time wisely!

Beginning Thursday, bring your textbook from home to school everyday. I have already taken up all the textbooks from the desks - you will not need one until Thursday, at the earliest.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Week of 10 May 2010

I know this post is a few days behind, I apologize for being absent on Monday. It was my goal to not miss any days this semester, unfortunately that goal will not happen. More importantly, we are cruising with rational choices and economic thinking in Unit 7: Introduction to Economics. The idea we learn this week are the basic form of the complicated ideas that govern economics for businesses and governments. If you understand these concepts you will be well on your way to understanding Microeconomics and Macroeconomics.

Thursday this week is Awards Day. Students will be honored with awards all day in every class. There will also be an assembly during second period to announce departmental honors to select students throughout the school. From each second period class, select students will have the opportunity to attend, everyone else will watch it on television in their classrooms.

Be prepared, we are in the home stretch. The EOC is less than a month away. Please be sure to go back and review your notes and information. We will begin reviewing in class as well.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Week of 3 May 2010

We will be wrapping up the Civics portion of the curriculum this week and moving on to the Economics portion of our program.

A few things to keep in mind for this week:
1) Interim Reports will be distributed on Monday! They must be signed and returned.
2) Landmark Supreme Court Cases Quiz on Wednesday at the beginning of the period. I know I have said it a dozen times, but I am saying it again, you will get to use ALL three of your Supreme Court Cases charts IF and ONLY IF they are ALL cut and pasted when you get to class that day. If even one of them is not completed, then you will not get to use any. NOTE: You may only use your own, not someone's from another period!
3) We will begin reviewing this week by taking part in the Blue Diamond assessments. We will be conducting these for about 15 minutes everyday from now until the end of the semester. Make sure to have a pencil!
4) Fire drill Thursday during 4th period.
5) Unit 6 - State and Local Government test will be Tuesday for 2nd and 4th period. 1st period will still have to be determined.

I would also like to apologize for the length of time it is taking me to grade the projects. There are two waiting to be evaluated by me. The grading is taking a lot longer than I anticipated, particularly for the Roles of the President Current Events assignment. I assure you, I am working on them but they are more time consuming than I anticipated.

We are in the home stretch! Do not let the fine weather interfere with your efforts and become a distraction. You will be able to enjoy it more knowing you have done everything you could to succeed in school. Also, dress appropriately - the weather outside will be warm (OK, hot at times) and the A/C blows directly down on top of you in the trailer so carry a light jacket or something. Also, refer back to your student handbook and reacquaint yourselves with the dress code. No need for detention or hassles in school because your clothes are not up to the county's requirements.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Week of 26 April 2010

New Unit - State & Local Government. I want to give everyone a heads up, this is the information that students do the worst on the EOC, so PLEASE pay attention, keep up and do not cut corners! It isn't difficult, but students tend to get confused. I highly recommend viewing the videos from the Success Series regarding Goal 3. This will be our last dedicated Civics unit, after this we will focus our attention on Economics.

You will also be receiving the third and final set of Landmark Supreme Court Cases Monday. Make sure you remember to cut and paste all the correct information into the correct charts. We will be having the BIG QUIZ on these cases Wednesday, May 5. As I have mentioned too many times to count, if you do not have ALL of the charts cut and pasted you will not get to use any of them during the quiz. The inverse is also true, if you have ALL of the charts cut and pasted you will get to use ALL of them during the quiz! (I had to throw the logic concepts at you (P→Q, inverse of ∼P→∼Q).

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Week of 19 April 2010

I hope everyone has had a chance to visit the new page added the website: Quarter 4 Handouts. The link will be in the "Handouts" section on each page from here on out. It will make it easier to determine what assignments were handed out to which class, when, and when and if they were collected. Take a look.

This week we will be working on the next set of Landmark Supreme Court Cases. These cases go beyond the 1st Amendment; they involve due process found in the rest of the Bill of Rights. Next week we will research Supreme Court Cases involving the remaining amendments. Remember, in a couple of weeks (exact date to be determined) we will have a BIG quiz in which the students will be able to use their notes from these online cases during the quiz if, AND ONLY IF, they are completely cut and pasted into place, on all three charts! If they all are not completed, the student will not be allowed to use any of their charts.

This week we have an early release day on Wednesday - not the normal "Wake Wednesday" but an actual 2-hour early release. No lunch will be served that day and the students will be dismissed from school at 12:28pm.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

New Feature!

I have been working on a new way of making the list of handouts for the quarter more accessible and easier to find. On the right, in the "Handouts" section is a new link. The first item is "All 4th Quarter Handouts." Clicking on the link will open up a new window showing all of the handouts so far this quarter sorted by class period and by date assigned. If the handout was an assignment that was collected, the collection date is also shown. I hope that this table will make it easier for students and parents to keep track of what students are missing and will make it easier for students to keep up and catch up when they are absent.

Please forgive the appearance, I am still working on some of the formatting aspects of the page.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Week of 12 April 2010

We are really rolling now! 3rd Quarter is over, Civics is winding down and Economics is on our doorstep. This week we will be finishing up Unit 4B, Executive and Judicial Branches and beginning Unit 5: Laws and Cases. As we wrap up unit 4B I have assigned a timeline project for each of the President's cabinet offices. This poster size timeline is due on Monday, April 19. We will also be testing on Unit 4B by the end of the week (the plan is Friday for Period 1, Thursday for Periods 2 & 4).

Enjoy the week, the weather is going to be beautiful. But that also reminds us to make sure we are adhering to the dress code. And we should also consider the walk we have out to the trailer. As the temperature heats up outside I will be running the air conditioner inside. Unfortunately the location of the vents were not well planned and blow directly down on top of the students. So please carry with you a light jacket or sweater.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Week of 4 April 2010

Welcome back, I hope everyone had a good and restful break. If you were out on Monday last week, you missed the conclusion of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington - no I am not going to show the end of it again, we need to keep moving. Speaking of keep on moving, we are into Unit 4B: Executive and Legislative Branches. This week we will focus our attention primarily on the executive branch, the work of the president both here and abroad. We will also be watching the movie Dave. It is a cute movie starring Kevin Kline who fills in as President and must learn the job on the fly. I am sure you will enjoy it. I am also planning a current event activity - more on that when we get to it.



Sunday, March 28, 2010

Week of 29 March 2010

This week we will be covering, well, not too much since it is only one day! We will be finishing up our movie, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. More importantly, we will all have a chance to rest and recuperate. After Spring Break we will be in the home stretch - 9 weeks until the EOC - no matter how you plan on spending your break, make sure you account for plenty of resting up.

When we get back from Spring Break, we will be working on the Executive branch in earnest (Unit 4B).

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Week of 22 March 2010

This is officially the last full week before Spring Break. I understand that some families have had plans already made prior to March 29 being announced as a make-up day. As a result, it is my plan to not have any tests or quizzes on Monday, March 29. This week we will have a test on Unit 4A. It will either be on Wednesday, for periods 2 & 4, or Thursday for period 1. Please be sure you are prepared for that.

After the test we will watch a classic movie, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (watch the trailer below). Although this movie is quite old (1939) it does a fantastic job of illustrating the potential for corruption within Congress and political machines. We will then begin Unit 4B: Executive and Judicial Branches. I do not anticipate we will get too far in that unit as I do not want to do too much that will be forgotten over the break.




Sunday, March 14, 2010

Week of 15 March 2010

Only two weeks to go before the end of the quarter! There will be a Unit 3 test this week, either Tuesday (period 4) or Wednesday (periods 1 & 2) - so please be prepared for that. I have included MANY more things on the Unit 3 webpage - more Vocabulary Games, links to websites about the information in the chapters, links to useful videos also pertaining to the information in the unit.

We will then begin studying about Political Parties and the Legislative Branch - Unit 4A. It is my intent to conduct this test before the end of the quarter, hopefully on Thursday, March 25. Keep up the good work (or catch back up - you can definitely do it!).

I am looking forward to a "normal week" for once!

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Week of 8 March 2010

As mentioned on the "Home" page, this week will be a little different schedule wise, please refer to the "Home" tab above to read up on it.

In class, we will begin Unit 3: Voting & Elections (after we finish the movie). In this unit we will focus on Voting, its importance, qualification, and how to do it. Also, we will look at elections, the process, from campaigning to the actual election day.

Since the schedule is going to be off for each class this week due to testing, each period will end up in different places. Also on the agenda for this week is completing the Supreme Court Cases groups in periods 2 & 4, as well as peer evaluating your rewrites from Unit 1B Test.

In addition, I am planning to conduct a review session for Unit 3 on Thursday, however, since I am not sure how far we will have gotten into the unit by then, I am not sure if I will conduct a review session at all this week and instead hold off until Tuesday of next week. I will keep you updated here, on Twitter, and in the class.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Supreme Court Cases

I hope that everyone is enjoying the work we are doing regarding these Landmark Supreme Court cases involving the 1st Amendment. I am enjoying listening in on the group discussions in periods 2 & 4, and engaging in the class discussions in period 1. I hope that you are using these discussion to think more broadly about the 1st Amendment and possible questions regarding free speech and government regarding the establishment of a national religion. Through these discussions you should better understand the ideas and the approach of the government, the laws, and the precedents regarding these issue, and will therefore be better prepared to answer whatever questions may come your way on the End of Course exam regarding this topic.

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Week of 1 March 2010

This week we will be taking a good look at the Bill of Rights and later Amendments to the Constitution. We will also be investigating the role of the Judicial Branch, particularly the Supreme Court, in help to define a couple of key clauses in the First Amendment - the "Establishment Clause" and Expression. This will take us to the computer lab to begin working on a task that will be completed later in the semester. Also, we will be having a couple of quizzes - "Goals & Principles of the Constitution" and "Structure of the Constitution." Plan for a test on Friday on Unit 2B: The Constitution.

I am planning to hold a review session this Tuesday regarding the current unit and the test at the end of the week - Unit 2B: the Constitution.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Review Session and Class Scribe

Just Announced...Mr Lyons has cancelled all after school activities for Tuesday, February 23. As a result, I will be unable to conduct a review session on that day. Unfortunately, there will not be any days before the test on Thursday to conduct the review session as Wednesday is a "Wake Wednesday" meaning students depart at 1:28 pm and teacher will be in meetings until 2:45. I am truly disappointed in this change of schedule, I was looking forward to a review session as I believe many student will benefit from them. However, I plan on conducting review sessions regularly after school - most likely weekly , if possible. Please be on the lookout for an announcement to such ends.

Also, I am looking for someone to help during class time with recording the period's activities in a notebook so that absent students will easily be able to find their makeup work and agenda for the days they missed. Your "application" is due to me by Friday (a hand written paragraph why you are the best person for the job). I will discuss it further in class.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Week of 22 February 2010

Big Week coming up. We will be finishing Unit 2A: Birth of the Nation, including a test, most likely on Thursday. We will be investigating some important ideas and compromises that went into the creation of the US Constitution, which has sometimes been called "A Bundle of Compromises." We will follow up with Unit 2B: the Constitution where we will take a look at the structure and concepts that went into the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. We will wrap up next week with Civil Rights, and the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Radio Performance Tax

Congress has proposed a new tax. This tax would tax radio stations for every song they play on the air. If you are not sure how is it possible for radio stations to play music over the air for free to all its listeners let me explain. Radio stations, just like commercial television, sell time to businesses and companies to run commercials. The money they receive by selling airtime they then use to pay the people who work for the station.

What would happen to radio stations if they had to pay a tax for every song they played?

Here are a few links (via google search) to give you an idea about this tax. How do you feel about it? What can you do about it?

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Week of 15 February 2010

This week we will be transitioning from the ideas and events leading up to the American Revolution to the state of the nation following the Revolution. The new nation will find itself in difficult and trying times - a bold new ideal for government with 13 squabbling states, none of which want to cooperate to become a single nation. We will test on the the previous unit (Unit 1B), examine the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, the Halifax Resolves, and the North Carolina Constitution of 1776.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

A Quick Update

Well, things took a little longer this week than anticipated, as a result we will be having our test on Monday (Unit 1B - Chapter 2 & Notes). Also, Friday is the Winterfest Assembly. It will take place during second period. My second period will be watching the assembly on TV in the classroom.

Take a look at Unit 1B: Origins of American Government, I have added a couple of School House Rock videos from YouTube: "No More Kings" and "The Shot Heard 'Round the World." Unfortunately Youtube is blocked at school, so you can only watch it at a location away from school.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Week of 8 February 2010

Is it possible? A full week of school? 5 straight days? Rest up, it will feel like a long week.

This week we will be studying the ideas and philosophies that went into the creation of the new government of the United States of America. The history behind the revolution and the ideas that made the Declaration of Independence possible. Although I find the history and the Enlightenment ideas very interesting, it seems that many students do not. If you are bored by this time period, I apologize in advance, however, the ideas and concepts taught here are VERY important to understanding the way the US government functions today and the main concepts behind the US Constitution.

I have added a few new things to each page (or will be adding them to the upcoming pages) including a link to the online version of the student textbook and a link to the online materials to accompany the textbook. I highly recommend you take a look at these extras provided by the textbook publisher, Glencoe, it will help you study and prepare for any upcoming tests and quizzes. The site also provides a set of vocabulary flashcards to help you study - they can even be printed, but I have not attempted this to know how it will work out.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Out again - Wednesday 3 Feb 2010

Ok, so we are off again Wednesday. Surely we won't be out again on Thursday, will we? Well, I will keep pushing everything back a day for each day we are out: homework due Thursday, test on Friday.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Updating the earlier post, we now have off both Monday and Tuesday. Both days will be made up with little interruption to our schedules, but if we miss another day, they will begin cutting into Spring Break! As for this week, homework assigned this past Friday will be due the day we return (hopefully Wednesday) and our test will be scheduled for the day after that (hopefully Thursday).

I hope you got a chance to get outside today as it was quite a nice day - temps reading the mid-60s in the sun! Make the most of your day tomorrow and I'll see you on Wednesday.

Week of 1 February 2010

Welcome to February... and we have a day off. I am sure you are not sitting at home complaining. We will be making today up on Monday, February 15. This would normally have been a teacher workday but is now a regular school day. If we are to miss school tomorrow, it will be made up on June 10. This will essentially push the entire semester back a day making exams start and end a day later. If we should be out on Wednesday the make-up day will be Monday, March 29, the first day of Spring Break. Let's hope we don't go that far into the week. If we miss any additional days, I will update on the homework and test on twitter.

This week we will be wrapping our unit on citizenship and moving on to the history portion of the course - Unit 1B: Origins of American Government. We will focus on the origins of government from the beginning of human history up through the English tradition that formed the colonial identity.

Stay warm, will see you soon!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

2010 State of the Union Address

You can watch President Obama's first State of the Union address online. The site also includes summaries of the President's position on the issues he discussed in the speech. A transcript of the speech is also available. You may also access text archives of State of the Union addresses of the most recent presidents.

The State of the Union Address is required of the President by the US Constitution.

He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient;

US Constitution, Article II, section 3.

It is received by a joint session of Congress and is also attended by the members of the President's cabinet, the Supreme Court Justices, and other invited guests. For security and emergency purposes, one member of the President's cabinet does not attend and will watched from an undisclosed location, outside of Washington, D.C. Recently, it has been added that a few members of Congress be withheld from attending, also for security purposes.

Traditionally, the President begins his speech with "... the State of the Union is..." and then he will describe what he perceives to be the current condition. He gives a summary of his accomplishments of the past year and then the President will follow up by describing what he believes can be done to make things better. He gives a general direction in the form of goals and objectives for the upcoming year and uses this platform to help guide Congress in its upcoming term to craft legislation to support his goals.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Week of 25 January 2010

Welcome to the Second Semester. I hope you are coming off a successful First Semester. I am looking forward to much success here! This week we will be going over the class expectations, syllabus, scope and sequence of the course and jumping right in with the first. Below is a wish list of supplies that we could use in the classroom:

1) Glass cleaner (for the dry erase board)
2) Tissues
3) Hand sanitizer

This website is currently a work in progress. In addition to being brand new, I am still learning the new code as well as all the tricks to make this site useful and user friendly. Please bear with me.

Updates here can be followed as an RSS feed and can be accessed by either clicking on the title of this announcement or by clicking on the Feedburner link below this announcement. On the blog page, on the right click "Subscribe in a Reader".

Are we all set, then? Let's get started....

This week we are covering Unit 1A: Citizenship. Use the link on the left to navigate to that unit's page. Keep in mind, the site is still in development.