Standard2

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** Teachers know how children grow. **  The teacher understands how children with broad ranges of ability learn and provides instruction that supports their intellectual, social, and personal development.

Evidence 1: []

Rationale 1: I found this lesson that could be formatted for a variety of purposes. This lesson could be used in a government class for high school students. The assignment could be used as an opener for a current events/political science course and finish with a class debate on an issue of controversy such as stem cell research, abortion, or animal testing just to name a few. I would modify this assignment to require students to write a letter to the president on a topic from a specific point of view. For instance, on a specific current issue such as immigration, I would assign a student to write a letter not from their point or position, but from an assigned group. Assign a student to write a letter from a domestic organized labor point of view. Another group of students would write a letter to the president from a business owner’s point of view. Have students write letters to the president with a specific political viewpoint. How would the conservative republican viewpoint compare to a liberal democrat on issues like stem cell research, gay marriage, or government entitlements? Have the students write letters on issues that compared the viewpoint of urban and rural groups of people on social, political, and economic issues.

The purpose of the assignment is to assess student understanding of the wide ranging viewpoints that exist on current issues in the nation’s political system. It is important to help understand the diversity that exists in the socio-political system. The purpose of developing that understanding is to build tolerance, sympathy, and empathy in young adults. Tolerance, sympathy, and empathy are social components that typically develop later in young adults compared to intellectual development.


 * 2.K.1 The teacher understands how learning occurs -- how students construct knowledge, acquire skills, and develop habits of mind – and how to use instructional strategies that promote student learning for a wide range of student abilities.**

This assignment forces student to develop and understand a point of view that is not their own. Students need to understand that controversial issues are complex and nuanced. Exchange of these positions is important in a democratic society.


 * 2.S.3 The teacher assesses students’ thinking and experiences as a basis for instructional activities (i.e., encouraging discussion, listening and responding to group interaction, and eliciting samples of student thinking orally and in writing).**

Students in high school have typically a very narrow scope of the life’s experiences. This assignment would force them to develop their own views on a topic, but would also require them to develop a viewpoint of someone outside of their environment. A debate on topics help students understand that there are valid points to any issue.


 * 2.D.1 The teacher appreciates individual variation at each developmental level and shows respect for the diverse talents of all learners, and is committed to help them develop self-confidence and competence.**

The goal of this assignment is to develop an understanding of the political process, the role of citizens in a democratic society, and to appreciate the variety of viewpoints in the political spectrum. Also, I would hope students mature psychologically by understanding the diversity that exists in our nation. Ultimately, the goal is to have students develop tolerance, empathy, and sympathy.