Semester Finals - Class Recap

Sunset over Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was a great semester, everyone! Thank you for your hard work! Photo taken in 2011.

Hi everyone,

Today was our last day of actual class for the semester (as it was our scheduled final, next class will be a study hall). We had our final test, reflection on the year, and then talked about life for a while. Here's what we did today in class:

Learning Targets: 
Knowledge LT 1: I can demonstrate an understanding of the interplay between citizens and their governments.
Knowledge LT 5: I can demonstrate an understanding of the principles, structures, and functions of different levels of U.S. government.
Research LT 5: I can effectively conduct and apply research.

Soundtrack: "Thankful" by Kelly Clarkson. Selected for today because I always choose this song for the last day of class, since I am so thankful to get to teach you all. Thank you! Lyrics (some of which I read aloud in class) are here.

AGENDA 6/18/18:

News Brief – Lucas
Final Test
Reflection
School's Out

Homework: Read the blog (if you want)! Have a great summer! Let me know if I can help you at any point in the future! :-)

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News Brief: Lucas had the news brief today and selected an article about this story to talk about: CNN.com - 'We will not apologize': Trump DHS chief defends immigration policy. We discussed this story for a bit in class, before moving on.

I talked in class about the importance of following the news and trying to stay up to date with what is happening in your city, state, country, and world. Knowledge is power! Try to stay plugged in to what is going on, if you can!

Final Test: As promised, this was a cumulative multiple choice final on the work we have done this semester. I anticipate having the grades submitted later this week (final grades are due on Wednesday at 3:00 PM).

Reflection: The last part to the test was a reflection short answer about how the semester went in Government - what you learned, what you will put into practice in your life, and what you will remember five years from now. I look forward to reading these!

School's Out: The end of class was set aside for study time.

Thank you all so much for being so wonderful to work with. If I don't see you tomorrow on the last day of finals, take care of yourselves and I hope to see you around! Have a great summer! :-)

State and Local Government, Day 8 - Class Recap

Delicate Arch in Utah. A bridge between this semester and next! Photo taken in 2014.

Hi everyone,

Our last class together before semester finals was today, so we did some preparation! Here's what we did today in class:

Learning Targets: 
Knowledge LT 1: I can demonstrate an understanding of the interplay between citizens and their governments.
Knowledge LT 5: I can demonstrate an understanding of the principles, structures, and functions of different levels of U.S. government.

Soundtrack: "Final Hour" by Lauryn Hill. Selected for today because we are in our final hours before finals! Lyrics here.

AGENDA 6/14/18:

News Brief – Syd
Finish Lift Ev'ry Voice
Jeopardy Review
Study Time

Homework: Read the blog! Study for your final test! Finals are next class, on Monday. Next news brief: Lucas.

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News Brief: Syd had the news brief today and selected an article about this story to talk about: CNN.com - New York attorney general sues Trump Foundation. We talked about this story and a little bit about what else is happening with the government.

The next news brief was assigned to Lucas.

Finish Lift Ev'ry Voice: We finished watching an excellent recent documentary from OPB, called Lift Ev'ry Voice. If you want to watch again, share, or get caught up, it is here:

OPB.org - Portland Civil Rights: Lift Ev'ry Voice

Here is the worksheet that goes along with the documentary:

Google Drive - Lift Ev'ry Voice Documentary Questions

I think it is super important that we understand our own history regarding race in Portland, especially as I think there are some common assumptions that are just not true. As such, I was glad to see that almost everyone was glued to this in class. Thanks for your focus and willingness to learn about our own history! It was great to hear student responses after the film about what they learned.

Jeopardy Review: Due to the shortened schedule today for our class, we did not get to this. Too bad! I know you will all be well prepared by Monday.

Study Time: Here is the Study Guide that I passed out in class, if you missed class or wanted to see it again:

Google Drive - Government Semester Final Study Guide

See you on Monday, for finals! Good luck on all of them! :-)

State and Local Government, Day 7 - Class Recap

The famous "White Stag" building sign in downtown Portland. Photo taken over Winter Break, 2015.

Hi everyone,

It is a busy last week before finals week! Here's what happened in class:

Learning Targets Addressed:

Knowledge LT 1: I can demonstrate an understanding of the interplay between citizens and their governments.
Knowledge LT 5: I can demonstrate an understanding of the principles, structures, and functions of different levels of U.S. government.
Research LT 5: I can effectively conduct and apply research. 

Soundtrack: "Summertime Sadness" by Lana Del Rey and Cedric Gervais. Selected for today because it is almost summer, but we unfortunately still have plenty of work to do for finals! Lyrics here.

AGENDA 6/12/17:
News Brief – Sofia
Finish S+L Presentations
Lift Ev'ry Voice
Discussion

Homework: Read the blog. Continue studying for finals! Next news brief: Syd.

News Brief: Sofia had the news brief today and selected an article about this story: CNN.com - Trump's new world order. We watched a bit of this video before moving on to check in about what we have been up to outside of class.

Finish State and Local Presentations: We completed this in class today! Thanks to everyone for your effort on this. If you have not already, please submit an electronic copy of your paper on Google Classroom, or a physical copy to me in person, by the end of this week.

Lift Ev'ry Voice/Discussion: As I tried to point out today, there is a LOT of history in our own community of racism, that I think students do not typically know about. But, there is a reason that Portland is one of the whitest major cities in the United States. A few links for curious students to check out:

Gizmodo.com - Oregon Was Founded As a Racist Utopia

TheAtlantic.com - The Racist History of Portland, the Whitest City in America

Google Search - "Oregon Racist Utopia"

I also wanted to be sure that we talked about the laws that prevented people of color from owning property in places like Lake Oswego and throughout Oregon. Here is an example:

We also watched the first 4 minutes or so of this video, to help set the stage for the main documentary we wanted to show in class:

Lift Ev'ry Voice: For the rest of class, we started watching an excellent recent documentary from OPB, called Lift Ev'ry Voice, and ended class about 38 minutes in. If you want to watch again, share, or get caught up, it is here:

OPB.org - Portland Civil Rights: Lift Ev'ry Voice

Here is the worksheet that goes along with the documentary:

Google Drive: Lift Ev'ry Voice Documentary Questions

I think it is super important that we understand our own history regarding race in Portland, especially as I think there are some common assumptions that are just not true. As such, I was glad to see that almost everyone was glued to this in class. Thanks for your focus and willingness to learn about our own history! We will finish this next class and then prepare for the final!

State and Local Government, Day 6 - Class Recap

Rowena Crest Viewpoint, near Moiser, Oregon. Photo taken in 2016.

Dear class

I enjoyed talking with everyone about their projects today, and also our work with analyzing how race has impacted our state and local government, especially in Portland. Here's what happened in class today:

Learning Targets Addressed:

Knowledge LT 1: I can demonstrate an understanding of the interplay between citizens and their governments.
Knowledge LT 5: I can demonstrate an understanding of the principles, structures, and functions of different levels of U.S. government.
Research LT 5: I can effectively conduct and apply research. 

Soundtrack: "Coming Home" by Mat Kearney. Selected for today because it is a song about Oregon. Lyrics here.

AGENDA 6/8/18:
News Brief – Carlos
State and Local Presentations
Lift Ev'ry Voice
Discussion

Homework: Read the blog. Continue studying for finals! Next news brief: Sofia.

News Brief: Carlos had the news brief today and selected an article about this story: CNN.com - Trump picks 'attitude' over prep work ahead of Singapore summit. This meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong Un is scheduled to take place next Tuesday, when we have class! So I am sure we will have plenty to talk about then.

State and Local Presentations: Most of the rest of class was spent presenting these projects about a state or local issue of student choice. Woo hoo! If you have not turned in the corresponding paper, please do so ASAP (link to do so on Google Classroom), as I will be grading these soon. The rest of these presentations will be next class.

See you next week, everyone!

State and Local Government, Day 5 - Class Recap

Something I care a lot about in our local community is supporting the Portland Thorns women's professional soccer team. I helped paint this banner for the start of last season! Photo taken in 2015.

Hi everyone,

Today was almost entirely devoted to our final work day on State and Local Project Presentations, because it was such a short class, due to the Senior Assembly. Here's what happened in class today:

Learning Targets Addressed:

Knowledge LT 1: I can demonstrate an understanding of the interplay between citizens and their governments.
Knowledge LT 5: I can demonstrate an understanding of the principles, structures, and functions of different levels of U.S. government.
Research LT 5: I can effectively conduct and apply research. 

Soundtrack: "I Want It That Way" by Backstreet Boys. Selected for today because students were presenting on what they wanted to have happen in the state/local government. Lyrics here.

AGENDA 6/6/18:
News Brief – Abby K.
Work Time
State and Local Presentations

Homework: Read the blog. State and Local projects due to be presented next class! Start studying for the final! All late work is due by Friday. Next news brief: Carlos.

News Brief: Abby K. had the news brief today, but was forgot, so I filled in and selected an article about this story to talk about: CNN.com - Exclusive: Trump invokes War of 1812 in testy call with Trudeau over tariffs. This was about the recent tariffs (import taxes) on steel and aluminum that President Trump has imposed on Canada (among lots of other countries).

We also checked in about what students were up to outside of class, before moving on.

Work Time: After the news brief, we had some time to prep for the state and local presentations as I set up.

State and Local Presentations: Thank you for your work and for the class in focusing and respecting the presentations for students who were ready to go today. It was good to see the thought and effort put into these and making possible solutions! I enjoyed hearing all about the ideas for possible solutions in our state and local community! If you have not presented yet, you will be asked to do so next class.

Thank you! See you on Friday!

State and Local Government, Day 4 - Class Recap

Today was the sunset for the seniors in our class! I am wishing them all the best and success in life! Photo taken in 2007, over California.

Dear class,

Another disjointed day today, due to the seniors needing to take their finals in class, and rest of the class just using the class as a study period, before State and Local government presentations are due later this week. Here's what happened in class today:

Learning Targets Addressed:

Knowledge LT 1: I can demonstrate an understanding of the interplay between citizens and their governments.
Knowledge LT 5: I can demonstrate an understanding of the principles, structures, and functions of different levels of U.S. government.
Research LT 5: I can effectively conduct and apply research. 

Soundtrack: "Good Life" by OneRepublic. Selected for today because of the seniors last day! On with the rest of their life soon! Lyrics here.

AGENDA 6/4/18:
News Brief – James
Senior Finals
Study Time
State and Local Project

Homework: Read the blog. State and Local project due to be presented in class on Friday! All late/missing/revised work due Friday as well! Thank you, seniors! Next news brief: Abby K.

News Brief: James had the news brief today and selected an article about this story to talk about: CNN.com - Supreme Court rules for Colorado baker in same-sex wedding cake case. We talked a little bit about this very interesting story and the implications that it could have moving forward. Abby K. has the next news brief.

Senior Finals: During this time, seniors were taking their final in class. Thanks for respecting their time and effort with being quiet! I hope they went well for the seniors! I am grateful for their effort this semester and I am wishing them all the best! Keep in touch, class of 2018!

Study Time: The rest of class (as seniors were taking the test) was devoted to reviewing for the final. Here's the study guide I passed out for that:

Google Drive - Government Semester Final Study Guide

Students who were in class also got a more detailed study guide on the back side of this. Come see me if you missed class for this. Thank you!

State and Local Presentations: We will continue with these as we have time to do so! Next class, we will have a very short work day (due to the senior assembly), before the project is due to be presented on Friday.

Thanks everyone, and especially all of the seniors!