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California We the People, RDA Partner Together for Weekend Seminar on Congress and Representative Democracy.

Sept. 28, 2009
Always thinking outside the box, California We the People, along with the RDA program held a weekend seminar for 25 Advanced Placement Teachers from around the State of California, September 25-27 on the Central Coast. The diversity of teachers, coming from rural mountain communities, the Central Valley, as well as from large urban areas, combined with a shared focus on We the People’s Unit 4 lessons on Congress, and the Representative Democracy in America materials, established a level of excitement and intensity that provided for an extremely successful training.
The event was the brain-child of Terri Richmond, Region 4 Coordinator, and was jointly planned by Mentor Teachers and RDA Trainers Kevin Fox and Cheryl Cook-Kallio. According to State Coordinator David Richmond, “joining together the WTP curriculum and the RDA materials for a focused seminar on Congress and Representative Democracy seemed like a natural fit, and given the response of the teachers, we will be looking forward to building on this model of cooperation and partnership.”
The other main goal of the training was to tear down the barrier that has long existed between the We the People curriculum and AP Government Teachers. According to Ms. Richmond, “we more than achieved that goal.” Led by the scholarship of Political Science Professor, Dr. Mike Williams, from the University of San Diego, the mentor teachers were able to show how We the People can be used to enhance and advance AP Government goals. According to one participant, “This was very helpful in getting ideas on how to blend WTP and AP Gov together as well as how to implement the WTP culminating activity. I’ll encourage other AP teachers to come to trainings and use the WTP curriculum.”
Lastly, it is important in the current educational environment that educators find and build a network of support. The seminar, held in the beautiful central coastal town of Morro Bay allowed these 25 teachers to become part of the CA WTP network of outstanding teachers and as one participant mentioned on her way to her car, "I now feel that I have 20 more experts that I can access to help make my instruction even better." Questions concerning this training or any other event can be addressed to California's state coordinator at cawtp35@yahoo.com

CALIFORNIA SUMMER INSTITUTE AT UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO “*A MUST FOR ALL.”

Region 8, CA-25 and CA-41 Rural WTP Training Reveals Dedication of Teachers, Administrators, and Coordinators

Aug 31, 2009:  Nearly fifteen teachers from eastern Inyo and Mono Counties traveled far to receive We the People training from Coordinators Jan Carmean and Maureen Johnson in Bishop, California as part of the Constitution Day workshop co-sponsored by Inyo and Mono County Offices of Education.

According to Jan Carmean, “what makes this workshop different from so many others is the many of the participants have to travel considerable distances to get to the workshops, and most of the participants teach at small, rural schools where they ARE the social studies department and have five to six classroom preparations.”  Ms. Carmean and Ms. Johnson were also pleased to have teachers representing Alternative, Opportunity, and Special Day programs.  A special thanks goes out to Katherine Neal, Program Coordinator, Education Services for Inyo County and Stacey Adler, Asst. Superintendent of Curriculum, Mono County.  We would also like to show our appreciation for Jan and Maureen and the team from Region 8 who constantly show their commitment to serve all teachers and all students.  Job Well Done!!

California We the People Advanced Studies Institute: July 2009

Twenty-seven veteran We the People teachers spent four beautiful days on the Central Coast exploring issues of American identity with three distinguished scholars. The Inn at Morro Bay provided a relaxing setting for the content discussion between participants and scholars. Dr. Mike Williams, from the University of San Diego, and The Honorable Sue Leeson, Oregon Supreme Court retired justice, provided in-depth information on both historical and global perspectives on American identity. Tim Moore, from Wisconsin, led the teachers in pedagogy sessions incorporating primary sources. Finally, the participant teams presented their view on a possible amendment to the United States Constitution concerning the issues raised at this advanced studies institute. As one participant summed up, “this Advanced Institute is a rejuvenating experience!”

Below are the four PowerPoint presentations prepared by participants in the New Constitutional Amendments Project
We the People Advanced Institute PPT 1
We the People Advanced Institute PPT 2
We the People Advanced Institute PPT 3
The Creation of a New Amendment