Our 8th graders are in the midst of entering their first essay contest of the year.  The contest is hosted by the local VA branch (the essay contest is linked here).  This week, we are taking information gleaned from our Veteran Interview (and narrative/biographical writing) and further summarizing that information to fit into the prompt “The Bill of Rights and Me.”  Students will take relevant information from their veteran interview, coupled with their opinions on the most important amendment within the Bill of Rights, and write a persuasive essay to explain their opinions.

Our rough drafts are due on Thursday (with students given time in class to write).  At that point, students will be knee deep in peer editing cycles and student-teacher conferencing.  Being able to accept and give critical feedback is an important part of this process so we can assist each other.  We all have unique strengths and by sharing those, we can assist each other.

Feel free to ask your child to look at their essay (or ask them about their favorite amendment in the Bill of Rights).  Our final drafts are due on Tuesday so they should have made good progress thus far.

Many around the country have never heard of Max Rose.  Until yesterday, he was running for reelection as a New York member of the House of Representatives (he has since conceded his race).  Why does that matter to us?  About a month ago, we found out just how diverse Congress really is (trying to find out if there is anyone in Congress that looks like us.  That is not to say someone from a different background cannot effective represent our needs/wishes, but having different demographics and backgrounds makes it more difficult for them to know our true story because they experience life differently).

For an overwhelming majority of class, nobody met the same demographic information as our class (it is of little surprise seeing how we are all teenagers).  For the very few of us that were represented, we were represented by one person: Max Rose, a 33 year old Jewish white male.  Just having a conversation with the students about representation was incredibly powerful.

Feel free to visit the site, located here.  Have a conversation with your student about what representation really means to you and can mean to others.

After numerous in-class discussions, activities, and group work, students got a chance to really participate in the different branches of government (in an incredibly low-stakes game mind you) while playing the Branches of Government by ICivics.  This game simulates the different powers and responsibilities of each branch of the Federal government, allowing students to take an electronic hands-on approach to creating, deliberating, and passing legislation.  Now they should have a better grasp of what it takes to get a bill turned into a law.