Note+on+Government

Government at NEH for 2011-2012 will look a little different this year than in prior years.

For one, the Government classroom will be flipped. What is a flipped classroom?

__**Flipping Classes:**__ "Flip your instruction so that students watch and listen to your lectures... for homework, and then use your precious class-time for what previously, often, was done in homework: tackling difficult problems, working in groups, researching, collaborating, crafting and creating. Classrooms become laboratories or studios, and yet content delivery is preserved." -[]

Students have been provided with a list of all the video lectures for the entire year (Under the government tab) and the link to the lectures. They will be asked to watch 15-20 minutes of content-related lecture prior to the week we discuss them. On Monday and Tuesday we will discuss the videos in class, participating in extension activities, and covering content that the students may have been confused about. On Wednesdays we will examine primary source documents (or hear from a speaker) related to the week's topic. On Thursdays we will work with Iowa Core standards and the standards and benchmarks of our district curriculum directly. Fridays will include current events and working through the Center for Civic Education's Project Citizen curriculum in small groups. You can find the link to Project Citizen under the "Citizenship & Service Learning" tab on the right.

__**Grading:**__ Grading will also be different this year. As a district we have had meetings and talks about homework policies. Part of the discussion has focused around the idea that homework is practice for the real skill, and therefore should not make up such a large percentage of a student's grade as it has in the past. Therefore, grade make-up will look like the following:

65% Summative Assessment 25% Quizzes 10% Homework

You will also see less homework than in the past. Most of what would have traditionally been considered "homework" will now be done in class so that I can more easily assess students' needs and abilities.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me immediately.