We are RREEP'D! Before I continue on with my General Election Plan, I thought I would share a mnemonic device I use with my students. They totally mix up electors, representatives, and delegates... So here is how I fix that problem. I make them make sign language links... Electors to (General) Elections; Representatives to Redistricting; and Primaries to Delegates. When I roll this out, the kids laugh, roll their eyes... think I am a fool... but just wait, cause on their tests they are flashing the their mnemonic devices. What do direct and indirect elections say?To start us off, I hand the 12th and 17th amendment over to the kids. They read them, and the original text of the Constitution, and then answer to 'simple' questions:
There is a lot of great room for discussion about the founding father's elitism (which shockingly many of my kids share... they told me on their essays from our unit on voters that only intelligent people should vote... Um... VRA, anyone?) as well as direct and indirect elections.We also chatted briefly about the separation of the offices of POTUS and VP on the ballots today, even though it doesn't look that way. Back to the 'lections...... and back to the board. I start off by reloading our discussion about primaries & caucuses; who participates and who doesn't... and we do a little discussion about campaign strategy. I highlight a few of the finer points of GE strategy...
This is a great time to reiterate with the kids the importance of certain states at certain stages of the POTUS election ONLY... and the list below is a generalization; not meant to capture all the swing states of modern history... Then we fly through the Electoral College...
After we are done, college is then in session for real. We listen to a 2012 broadcast of the Diane Rehm Show, where she interviews Jeffrey Rosen of George Washington University and James Thurber of American University about the EC. I have a listening guide available for purchase ($1) at my store... check it out if you are interested. Anyways, it is a great interview and gives the kids a depth of knowledge plus the personal satisfaction of listening to their first college lecture. :)
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Jen's bookshelf: nerdcation
I want to start by thanking Mr. Snowden and Mr. Greenwald for their uncompromising dedication to giving the NSA violations air time and transparency.
I wanted to share some of the most important things I have learned from this book bef...
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nerdcation
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nerdcation and to-read
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nerdcation and to-read
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nerdcation and to-read
AuthorI lovgov. LOVE IT! I love teaching government, learning about it, debating, discussing, asking questions about government. And not the standard boiler plate questions, but the hard ones that are NOT in the books. Archives
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