Finals Day - Class Recap

Go forth into the next school year, wonderful students. Picture taken in New Zealand, February 2014.

Dear class,

Today was our last class together! I am so glad that I do not have to say goodbye for too long, since I will be at Westview next year to see you in the halls and say hello, if you aren't in one of my classes. I had so much fun teaching you all, and I hope that you learned a lot about Government, as well!

Learning Targets:
SS.HS.KN.ALT.01: I can demonstrate an understanding of the interplay between citizens and their governments.

SS.HS.KN.ALT.05: I can demonstrate an understanding of the principles, structures, and functions of different levels of U.S. government.

Soundtrack: “Thankful" by Kelly Clarkson. Just like "Changes" by 2Pac at the start of my time with you, I always use this song as the soundtrack at the end of teaching classes. The lyrics read (in part):

I'm thankful

for the blessings

and the lessons that I've learned with you

by my side

I'm thankful, so thankful, for the love

that you keep bringing in my life

in my life

I truly am so grateful to get to teach such wonderful young people. Thank you for all of your efforts this semester!

AGENDA 6/11/14:
News Brief
Final Test
Study Time

Homework: Have a wonderful summer! See you next year!

News Brief: Cam brought in the last news brief of the semester, which was about President Obama's response to another tragic shooting, this time close to home: KGW.com - Police: Shooter at Reynolds High School is dead. I hope that the news brief throughout the semester inspired everyone to follow what is currently going on in the United States and the world! It is so important to remain engaged as a citizen. Thank you, everyone, for participating in this!

Final Test: As promised, 100 multiple choice questions and a short essay response about your reflections on how class went this year. I will grade these and have the final grades for the semester posted as soon as I can.

Study Time: The rest of time in class was for study, since I know everyone has plenty of other finals to study for. Thank you for your focus here, while some students were finishing up their tests!

State and Local Government, Day 5 - Class Recap

Today, we played a game of Jeopardy in class. This weekend is the championships of another kind of game: the French Open. This is a picture I took in Paris at the French Open last year, when Rafael Nadal won.

Dear class,

Welcome to your last weekend of the 2013-14 school year at Westview! I had a lot of fun playing Jeopardy review with everyone! Here's the class recap for today:

Learning Targets:
SS.HS.CR.ALT.03: I can apply understanding of ideas and concepts to a new context or problem.
SS.HS.RE.ALT.05: I can effectively conduct and apply research.
SS.HS.KN.ALT.01: I can demonstrate an understanding of the interplay between citizens and their governments.
SS.HS.KN.ALT.02: I can demonstrate an understanding of the role of governments in current issues.
SS.HS.CO.ALT.05: I can communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.

Soundtrack: “My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark" by Fall Out Boy. Selected because it is pump up song for playing Jeopardy. Lyrics here.

AGENDA 6/6/14:
News Brief
Council Presentations
Jeopardy Review
Study Time

Homework: Review notes and material for in class final on Wednesday. Read the blog! Last news brief: Cam.

News Brief: We did not have the news brief today, due to a student forgetting. Next time!

Council Presentations: Everyone that did not present last class did so today. Thanks again for your work and effort on this, everyone! I enjoyed them a lot.

Jeopardy Review: This is definitely my favorite way to prepare for an upcoming test. Again, the first four categories contain questions that will actually be on the semester final. The final will be 100 multiple choice questions. Here is the PowerPoint again to review, if you want:

Google Drive - Government Semester 2 Final Review Jeopardy PowerPoint

There are obviously questions on the final that are not on the review, and the review does not have the answers.

Study Time: The rest of time in class was given as study time. There were all sorts of handouts in the room available to study from and I am happy to answer questions at any time!

See you next week! Our final is from 9:30-11:00 on Wednesday!

State and Local Government, Day 4 - Class Recap

The sun is setting on the seniors and our time with them! I took this photo in Aruba, in 2011.

Hi everyone,

A bittersweet day today, as it was the last day for the seniors! I really enjoyed your presentations! Here's the class recap for the day.

Learning Targets:
SS.HS.CR.ALT.03: I can apply understanding of ideas and concepts to a new context or problem.
SS.HS.RE.ALT.05: I can effectively conduct and apply research.
SS.HS.KN.ALT.01: I can demonstrate an understanding of the interplay between citizens and their governments.
SS.HS.KN.ALT.02: I can demonstrate an understanding of the role of governments in current issues.
SS.HS.CO.ALT.05: I can communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.

Soundtrack: “Wake Me Up When September Ends" by Green Day. Selected because we started the school year in September and it was the last day for the seniors in class today. Lyrics (which some may argue directly relate to the War on Terror) here.

AGENDA 6/4/14:
News Brief
Council Presentations
Senior Final/Junior Study

Homework: Please study for the final! Read the blog! Next news brief (short version): Cam.

News Brief: Nobody did a news brief to present today, so we skipped on to the study guide.

Council Presentations: As I said at the beginning of the post, I thought these went really well! Students were generally prepared to talk about a range of issues and problems. I particularly liked the council members asking questions. If you did not get the chance to go today, you will next class, for sure.

Senior Final/Junior Study: The presentations took up the vast majority of the day. I had the seniors present first, so they could begin immediately taking the final, since it was their last day in class. There were about 10 minutes at the end of class for general study. On Friday, we will play Jeopardy to review the key concepts you are going to need on the test.

If you want the study guide for the final, here it is to download:

Google Drive - Government 2014 Semester Final Study Guide

That's it for today! Thank you again, Seniors! It was a pleasure to be your teacher this semester. All the best in your future endeavors. :-)

State and Local Government, Day 3 - Class Recap

Almost every subway station in Washington, D.C. looks like this. The light at the end of the tunnel is getting bigger!

Dear class,

Last full week of the year! Here's what we did today in class:

Learning Targets:
SS.HS.CR.ALT.03: I can apply understanding of ideas and concepts to a new context or problem.
SS.HS.RE.ALT.05: I can effectively conduct and apply research.
SS.HS.KN.ALT.01: I can demonstrate an understanding of the interplay between citizens and their governments.
SS.HS.KN.ALT.02: I can demonstrate an understanding of the role of governments in current issues.
SS.HS.CO.ALT.05: I can communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.

Soundtrack: “Waterfalls" by TLC. Selected because of the Watergate scandal that made President Nixon resign. Lyrics here.

AGENDA 6/2/14:
News Brief
Study Guide
Computer Lab N229

Homework: The final project is due next class! Seniors: please also study for the final! Read the blog!

News Brief: Nobody did a news brief to present today, so we skipped on to the study guide.

Study Guide: I passed out the study guide for the semester final (100 questions, multiple choice), which we will be reviewing throughout the rest of the week. Here it is to download if you need it again:

Google Drive - Government 2014 Semester Final Study Guide

Computer Lab N229: Again, this is the final project for the semester, which is a group activist project on a state or local issue that you are passionate about. We will be conducting a "public hearing" in class with these. Seniors will present first on Wednesday, then take the final. Juniors will then present and study.

Here is the link to check out the final project online:

Google Drive - State/Local Government Final Project

And here is the worksheet that will help you and your group answer the questions (the second page has a bunch of options for state/local problems):

Google Drive - State/Local Government Final Project Research Guide

These are the groups we made in class:

1) Mel, Kenny, Chris
2) Emi, Rachel, and Anab
3) Marco, Micah, Austin
4) Reed, Olivia
5) Jesse, Cam, Hailey
6) Jonathan, Eddy, Kevin
7) James, Dawnte

Make sure you split up the work evenly! If your partner does not show up for the presentation, you will be assessed on your own work!

The rest of class was spent in the computer lab working. Wednesday is the seniors last day, and will be project presentation time (followed by the final for seniors and studying for everyone else). Let me know if you have questions!