OC for SS After Party // Keynote by Jane Kamensky with Rodney Pierce // 08-04-2021

Jane Kamensky’s conversation with Rodney Pierce focused on the importance of teaching the American Revolution. This is an excellent topic to be thinking about as we return to the classroom. What was your biggest takeaway after listening to Jane and Rodney’s conversation? Leave a comment below on how you will use the information from her keynote address to prepare for this upcoming school year! Looking forward to learning from each other.  

Top Replies

  • We have a very demanding form of government. It’s a lot easier to be a subject of a king. It’s really hard to be in a democracy/republic because you have to be accountable and responsible to participate…

  • Taking away the idea that the American Revolution is still happening! Also, What does it mean to be American sounds like a great question to have a discussion about.

  • This conversation brought up a key piece of what we're missing to create a true full K-12 social studies program, and that is access.  Not just for high school teachers.  What if elementary school teachers…

Parents
  • We have a very demanding form of government. It’s a lot easier to be a subject of a king. It’s really hard to be in a democracy/republic because you have to be accountable and responsible to participate - be informed, skilled in arguing and listening, and ok with being imperfect. This framing presents a wonderful challenge to our students as citizens and will empower them. I also appreciated (as a recovering perfectionist) the idea that we are imperfect people doing imperfect work, but how are we working towards “a more perfect union” that changes with time as the contest of ideas continues.

  • I loved that part of the conversation too! My students and I often talk about how fragile democracy is because it is so complex (a theme in Big History). There are a lot of working parts that have to be maintained to keep it working! If we keep these conversations going, and give students MORE talk time in our classrooms, we will be helping our union to be be more perfect in its experiment.

    How do you guys facilitate student talk? 

Reply
  • I loved that part of the conversation too! My students and I often talk about how fragile democracy is because it is so complex (a theme in Big History). There are a lot of working parts that have to be maintained to keep it working! If we keep these conversations going, and give students MORE talk time in our classrooms, we will be helping our union to be be more perfect in its experiment.

    How do you guys facilitate student talk? 

Children
  • Creating multiple ways to "talk" - Socratic Seminars, fishbowls, circles, Padlet discussion boards, etc. I think a lot of it starts with some of what we discussed yesterday in the engaging conversations by starting with small, low risk contributions to build up to the heavier stuff. Relationships are key so people feel safe to share. I think also reiterating the imperfect/unfinished piece can help students say "I don't know" or "I'm not sure yet".

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