Democracy Schools Network

Monthly Update

November 2022

"On Thanksgiving Day we acknowledge our dependence."

William Jennings Bryan

How our Democracy Schools prepared their students for the election...

Mike DiNovo,York

We held mock elections on Monday, November 7. Students had a GoogleForm to complete a ballot, similar to the one that they would see in the Congressional District that York is in. The elections were held in our 9th and 11th grade Social Studies classes, and our 10th and 12th grade English classes. Teachers included other activities into the election day, or after the school-wide results were known, as they saw fit.

Adrijana Bisevac, Grayslake North

The Grayslake North Government and Civics students volunteered for campaigns and signed up to be Election Judges. Students completed candidate research (local/federal), created registration posters that we hung in the school, and participated in a simulation on Illinois Amendment 1. Students also had the opportunity to participate in a Mock Election (through the DSN Network, so thank you!) in their Social Studies classes.

Lisa Willuweit, West Chicago

Our Government classes have been doing lessons on the election that culminated in participating in the mock election sponsored by DSN. We also hosted a League of Women Voters Candidate Forum on October 19 for the IL 49th Representative and IL Senate District 25 candidates. Our Government classes crafted questions based upon a lesson and chose the best one to be asked at the Forum. Students ran the Forum, asking questions and acting as moderator.

Hayley Lotspeich, Wheaton North

We held mock elections for the entire student body with a ballot that Mary Ellen Daneels helped us create. We had Republican Candidate Justin Burau (new Congressional District 3) here to speak with our students on Friday, October 14 about election campaigning. (We also reached out to the Democratic candidate, but did not hear back.) Justin did not speak about his political views, just the process of campaigning. All students were invited to come hear him speak before school that day. In addition, the League of Women Voters of Wheaton organized the opportunity for the journalism students of District 200 to interview candidates for several local offices.

Andy Conneen, Stevenson

Stevenson's Political Action Club hosted a Campaign Fair in which nearly 20 campaigns and candidates ranging from U.S. Senate to Illinois Supreme Court to County Board attended to meet with first-time voters and other interested students.

We also organized a Stroll to the Polls where first-time voters and their supporters walked to a Lake County early voting center after school.

Brenda Shay, Oswego

We hold mock elections for Midterm and Presidential Elections. We made a ballot on Google forms for easy counting and had Chromebooks available in the auditorium to access the ballot. Our Social Studies teachers took their classes down to the auditorium, and it was open to students during lunch if they didn't currently have a Social Studies class. Students had to check in with poll workers and sign the register. We had tri-fold posters for privacy at the "voting booth" and gave out "I Voted" stickers after they voted.

In the past, we have made posters of each candidate for each race on our ballot including Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, and sometimes Independent or Green party candidates. Students collaborate to get this done among our Democracy School Team, Rho Kappa, and AP GOV classes. We hang those posters in the Social Studies hallway so when kids pass by, they can read at their convenience. Sometimes our Social Studies teachers use those posters as a gallery walk for class if time permits them to do so. Any time posters are in the hallway, we deal with vandalism, but I still support their use!

This year we ran a bit short on time so we used class-time to have our AP GOV students prepare a Google slide for each race. Each slide included photos, parties, and incumbent/challenger indicated. There's also a QR code for each candidate's website. Each teacher has access to this Google slide presentation to post on their Google Classroom pages or to go through with their classes as time permits.

C.L.A.D. Webinar

"Civic Equity for Students with Disabilities"

In our second session of the CLAD (Civic Learning Across Disciplines) webinar series on November 10, Dr. Leah Bueso, a postdoctoral student at the Civic Engagement Research Group (CERG) at the University of California, Riverside, explored the access of students with disabilities to civic education. Dr. Bueso emphasized the importance of the civic mission of the school–equipping students with what they need to be active, engaged citizens. Adolescents who embrace civic commitments have a much higher probability of becoming adults who are engaged in their communities. Yet, the current state of our schools seems to reveal that access to these types of civic learning experiences for students with disabilities is hindered in many ways. A recent study offers some new insights. Read a summary or watch a recording of this session on our Illinois Democracy Schools Network Webinar archive .

ON YOUR RADAR

DSN announcements, upcoming events, Professional Development opportunities, and information about activities in our Democracy Schools.

~ATTENTION SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHERS

If you would like to be kept current on current Social Studies standards, course mandates, and resources to support both, we invite you to sign up for the Illinois Civics Hub newsletter here.

~CIVIC LEARNING ACROSS DISCIPLINES Webinar Series

Please join us as we continue to explore Student Voice in this year's series—the second Thursday of the month (except December), from 4–5 pm.

January 12– Helping Students Navigate the Public Policy Process: Dr. Shawn P. Healy, Senior Director, Policy and Advocacy at iCivics.

February 9– Student Voice 360: Heather Van Benthuysen and Chicago Public Schools Department of Student Voice and Engagement.

March 9– Taking Informed Action with Data from the Illinois Democracy Schools: Dr. Kelly Siegel-Stechler, Senior Researcher at the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement CIRCLE at Tufts University.

For detailed description of sessions and registration, click here.

~ANNUAL CONVENING FOLLOW-UP

Six weeks ago, we sponsored our Annual Convening, and we are curious about how our members have been able to apply what they learned that day. If you attended the Convening or had resources shared with you from the Convening (by a colleague or from those we posted on our website), would you please offer some brief feedback.

~ILLINOIS CIVICS HUB Professional Development

November 16- The History Wars Past and Present: Dr. Bonnie Laughlin-Schultz

January 18- Reading Like a Historian to Teach Inclusive History: Dr. Joel Breakstone

February 15- Using SCOTUS to Teach Inclusive History: Dr. Steve Schwinn

Here is detailed description of sessions and registration links.

PRACTICING CIVIC LEARNING ACROSS DISCIPLINES

~On October 28, the Constitutional Democracy Project conducted its Annual Law-Related Conference, where presenters explored the theme “Law, Elections, and Civics: Exploring the Cornerstones of Democracy." Read the highlights of the conference (with links to resources).

~Our theme this year for our CLAD webinar series is Student Voice. There are several resources on the Illinois Civics Hub website (Civic and Reflective Classrooms) that we think you will find useful: Engaging Student Voices to Reflect, Recalibrate, and Renew' Engaging Students' Lived Experiences to Inform Instruction; Engaging Student Voice in Creating Questions for Inquiry and Reflection.

Enhance your classroom practice with these five-week, asynchronous, micro-credential courses hosted on Canvas. Explore strategies and resources to create a classroom climate in which there are equitable opportunities for ALL students to engage in the proven practices of civic education delineated in the middle and high school course requirements: current and controversial issue discussions, simulations of democratic processes, and informed action through service learning.

Learn from academic experts like Dr. Diana Hess, Dr. Paula McAvoy, Dr. Joe Kahne, Dr. Jane Lo, Dr. Walter Parker, and more! Collaborate with fellow participants to support brave, civil, and reflective civic engagement.

Thise introductory courses (Bronze level) will be offered in the fall: and winter:

January 9-February 24, 2023: Current and Controversial Issue Discussions- Bronze Certified Educator Badge
January 13-March 17, 2023: Simulations of Democratic Processes Bronze Certified Educator Badge

For those who have already completed the Bronze level, additional courses (at Silver and Gold levels) are also being offered. Details are on our website.

2022-23 DSN Advisory Council

John Aldworth, Maine West: North Cook and Chicago

Jason Janczak, Grayslake Central: Northern Illinois

Stacey Posey, Belleville West: Metro East

Pat Riley, J. Sterling Morton West: West Cook and Chicago

Nick Vassolo, Streamwood: Kane, Kendall and Will Counties

Deanna Wiist , Normal Central: Central and Southern Illinois

Whitney Wilda, Hinsdale Central: DuPage

Melinda Wilson, Curie: South Cook and Chicago

Check out our website for PD opportunities, resources and inspiration.

illinoiscivics.org