CALL FOR PARTICIPATION: CONGRESS IN THE CLASSROOM 2011 - OUR 20TH YEAR    
   
* Deadline: April 15, 2011 *    
   
Congress in the Classroom is a national, award-winning education program now in    
its 20th year. Developed and sponsored by The Dirksen Congressional Center, the    
workshop is dedicated to the exchange of ideas and information on teaching    
about Congress.    
   
Congress in the Classroom is designed for high school or middle school teachers    
who teach U.S. history, government, civics, political science, or social    
studies. Forty teachers will be selected to take part in the program. All    
online applications must be received by no later than April 15, 2011. We will    
notify individuals of our decisions by April 30, 2011.    
   
Although the workshop will feature a variety of sessions, the 2011 program will    
feature a broad overview of Congress and blends two kinds of sessions. Some    
emphasize ideas and resources that teachers can use almost immediately in their    
classrooms-sessions about primary sources and Best Practices are good examples.    
Other sessions deal with more abstract topics. Think of them as resembling    
graduate-level courses, stronger on content than on classroom applications. If    
you are looking for a program that features one or the other exclusively,    
Congress in the Classroom® is probably not right for you.    
   
Throughout the program, you will work with subject matter experts as well as    
colleagues from across the nation. This combination of firsthand knowledge and    
peer-to-peer interaction will give you new ideas, materials, and a    
professionally enriching experience.    
   
"Until now so much of what I did in my class on Congress was straight    
theory-this is what the Constitution says, "noted one of our teachers." Now I    
can use these activities and illustrations to help get my students involved in    
the class and at the very least their community but hopefully in the federal    
government. This workshop has given me a way to help them see how relevant my    
class is and what they can do to help make changes in society."    
   
The 2011 workshop will be held Monday, July 25-28, 2011, at Embassy Suites,    
East Peoria, Illinois. The program is certified by the Illinois State Board of    
Education for up to 22 Continuing Education Units.    
   
The program also is endorsed by the National Council for the Social Studies.    
Participants are responsible for (1) a non-refundable $125 registration fee    
(required to confirm acceptance after notice of selection) and (2)    
transportation to and from Peoria, Illinois. Many school districts will pay all    
or a portion of these costs.    
   
The Center pays for three nights lodging at the headquarters hotel (providing a    
single room for each participant), workshop materials, local transportation,    
all but three meals, and presenter honoraria and expenses. The Center spends    
between $40,000 and $45,000 to host the program each year.    
   
What follows are the sessions planned for the 2011 edition of Congress in the    
Classroom. Please re-visit the site for changes as the program develops.    
   
Session Titles, 2011:    
   
* Jumping Right In Frank Mackaman, The Dirksen Congressional Center CONFIRMED    
   
* Congressional Insight:  A Simulation Colleen Vivori, National Association of    
Manufacturers  CONFIRMED    
   
* Using Fantasy Congress to Engage My Students Scott Corner, Government and    
Politics Teacher, Palma High School, Salinas CA CONFIRMED    
   
* Congress at Work Christine Blackerby, Center for Legislative Archives,    
National Archives and Records Administration CONFIRMED    
   
* Help for Teachers from the Office of The Historian Kathleen Johnson, Oral    
Historian, Office of the Historian, U.S. House of Representatives CONFIRMED    
   
* A View of Congress from the White House:  What the Presidential Tapes Reveal    
KC Johnson, Department of History, Brooklyn College CONFIRMED    
   
* The Congressional Time Line Project Frank Mackaman, The Dirksen Congressional    
Center CONFIRMED    
   
Congress for Kids Cindy Koeppel, The Dirksen Congressional Center CONFIRMED    
   
A Journalist's Take on Congress David Lightman, Congressional Correspondent,    
McClatchy News Service CONFIRMED    
   
Teaching with Primary Sources Cindy Rich, Project Director, Teaching with    
Primary Sources, Eastern Illinois University CONFIRMED    
   
Leadership in the House During the 112th Congress Bryan Marshall, Department of    
Political Science, Miami University of Ohio CONFIRMED    
   
New Approaches to Teaching about Congress Paul C. Milazzo, Department of    
History, Ohio University CONFIRMED    
   
Listen Up Legislators:  How to Get Your Point Across Stephanie Vance, Advocacy    
Associates, Washington DC CONFIRMED    
   
Best Practices CONFIRMED    
   
The Impact of Congressional Redistricting on the 2012 Elections TENTATIVE    
   
Take a look at The Dirksen Center Web site --    
http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_programs_CongressClassroom.htm -- to see    
what participants say about the program.    
   
* REGISTRATION *    
   
If you are interested in learning more about the sessions and registering for    
the Congress in the Classroom 2011 workshop, you can complete an online    
registration form found at:    
http://www.dirksencenter.org/programs_CiCapplication.htm    
   
Cindy Koeppel    
   
The Dirksen Congressional Center    
   
2815 Broadway    
   
Pekin, IL 61554    
   
309.347.7113    
   
309.347.6432 Fax    
   
Email: [log in to unmask]    
   
Web site: http://www.dirksencongressionalcenter.org    
   
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DirksenCenter    
   
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/dirksencenter