SERVING AMERICA:PROMISING PRACTICES FOR BUILDING LITERACY AND CIVIC LEARNING

Monday, May 23, 2016 Boston, Massachusetts

First Annual Civics Literacy

Conference

CONTENTS

Welcome Letter ...................................................................1

Agenda ................................................................................2

Workshop Session Descriptions ...................................... 3-7

Site Map ..............................................................................8

Presenters ...........................................................................9

Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate 210 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, Massachusetts

Special thanks to Mitchell Chester, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Jean MacCormack, President of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. SenateRepresentative Alice Peisch, Chair of the Joint Committee on Education

Meira Levinson, Professor, Harvard Graduate School of EducationStaff from the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

and the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate

SERVING AMERICA:PROMISING PRACTICES FOR BUILDING LITERACY AND CIVIC LEARNING

May 23, 2016

May 2016

Dear Colleagues,

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate welcome you to the inaugural Civics Literacy Conference, “Serving America: Promising Practices for Building Literacy and Civic Learning.” Senator Edward Kennedy dedicated his career to serving America. The Serve America Act that bears his name increased opportunities for national and community service for Americans of all ages. The Edward M. Kennedy Institute and this conference carry forward his spirit and challenge us to consider how we can make it a way of life for the next generation. The essential question guiding the presentations today is:

What can educators and the state do to support civics learning and engagement for all students?

The goals of the conference are to understand the role civic learning plays in maintaining our democracy, increase civic knowledge and engagement among K-12 students, and make the natural connections between this discipline and literacy. Presenters will include K-12 educators as well as representatives from state, education, and community organizations. The workshop sessions during the morning and afternoon are organized around the six strands identified as “promising practices” in the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools report, Guardian of Democracy: the Civic Mission of Schools:

1. Instruction in government, history, economics, law, and democracy 2. Discussion of current events and controversial issues 3. Service learning 4. Extracurricular activities 5. School governance 6. Simulations of the democratic process

In addition to a workshop presentation by Representative Alice Peisch, Chair of the Joint Committee on Education, as well as workshops by many other leaders in civic education, we are fortunate to have Meira Levinson, professor of education at Harvard Graduate School of Education and author of Making Civics Count and No Citizen Left Behind, who will present current research on building civic learning and engagement.

We hope that you will take full advantage of the remarkable exhibits and programs that the Kennedy Institute has to offer. Take part in the interactive digital tour. Engage in a debate. Witness an historic debate. Above all, we hope that the experience today will renew your own commitment to serve our nation and to engage all of our students in that same spirit.

Sincerely,

Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D. Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education

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Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D. Commissioner

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education75 Pleasant Street, Malden, Massachusetts 02148-4906 Telephone: (781) 338-3000

TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370

A G E N D A 8:00AM–8:45 AM Registration

8:45AM–9:00AM Welcome

Jean MacCormack President, Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate

Introduction and Overview of the Day

Brooke Clenchy Senior Associate Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

9:00AM–9:45AM Opening Plenary Session

Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D. Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

9:45AM–10:00AM Transition to Workshop Sessions

10:00AM–11:15AM Workshop Sessions A

11:15AM–11:30AM Transition to Senate Chamber

11:30AM-12:15PM Plenary Session

Meira Levinson Professor, Harvard Graduate School of Education

12:15PM–1:15PM Lunch

1:15PM-1:30PM Transition to Workshop Sessions

1:30PM–2:45PM Workshop Sessions B

2:45PM–3:00PM Transition to Senate Chamber

3:00PM-3:30PM Simulated “Great Senate Debate”

Edward M. Kennedy Institute Staff

Following the conference, please fill out the evaluation at: http://bit.ly/CivicsConfEval

Presentation materials are available at: http://bit.ly/CivicsConf_Materials

In addition to the feedback on this conference, please give us your input on the essential question for the conference that will guide our continued work to support civic education: What can educators and the state do to support civics learning and engagement for all students? http://sgiz.mobi/s3/CivicsEd

Follow the conference on Twitter: #civics16

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SERVING AMERICA:PROMISING PRACTICES FOR BUILDING LITERACY AND CIVIC LEARNING

May 23, 2016

Agents of Change PRESENTERS: Megan Tincher, Jimmy Odierna, Ken Brooke Needham Public Schools

STRANDS: 2. Discussion of current events and controversial issues 3. Service learning

The Greater Boston Project course at Needham High School

engages students in civic learning and exploration through

historical and modern issues. Students research and

discuss current events in the area, present on these issues

and engage in additional research to design and execute a

plan of action to address a particular issue. This session will

address how teachers can help students research, explore,

and act on issues of civic engagement in their community

through classroom instruction. This session will detail short

and long-term practices and projects that both encourage

students to look at issues with the goal of empowering them

to become their own agents of change.

Location: Studio C1

Welcome, Senators! The EMK Institute SIM Experience PRESENTERS: Sarah Yezzi, Nate Gundy, Ed O’Connell Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate

STRANDS: 1. Instruction in government, history, economics, law, democracy 2. Discussion of current events and controversial issues 3. Service learning

The EMK Institute engages students in the process, content,

and language of lawmaking in the Senate Immersion

Module (SIM). Students build understanding of complex

issues as they build a law, and practice valuable critical

thinking and collaboration skills. This session looks at

pre-work curriculum comprehension; demonstrates the

SIM sub-committee process and differentiation strategies;

and discusses the synthesis and persuasive-writing

opportunities in the SIM speech-writing process.

Location: Studio C2

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Political, Not Partisan: How to Teach Controversial Issues Without Becoming the Center of Controversy PRESENTER: Meira Levinson

Harvard Graduate School of Education

STRANDS: 2. Discussion of current events and controversial issues

Controversial public issues are engaging (almost by

definition!) because they capture real and meaningful

disagreements about how we should lead our collective

lives. This session will offer multiple techniques for engaging

students in researching and discussing controversial issues.

We will also discuss how teachers can avoid becoming

centers of controversy themselves.

Location: Studio B1

Teaching for Democracy – How Edu-gaming and Active Learning Can Create Opportunities to Teach Practical Democracy Lessons to All Students

PRESENTERS: Louise Dubé, iCivics Valerie McVey, Florida Joint Center for Citizenship, University of Central Florida Tim Matthews, Newton Public Schools

STRANDS: 1. Instruction in government, history, economics, law, democracy 3. Service learning 6. Simulations of the democratic process

Teaching about the election is challenging this year.

Students are eager to learn, yet teachers need quality, non-

partisan tools to teach about this core democratic process.

iCivics’ free Win The White House game takes students

behind the scenes of how our nation will elect the next

president in 2016. The session will discuss how games for

learning such as Win the White House can support literacy

development through such activities as matching message

to audience, developing close reading skills, matching

arguments to core issues, and assessing the impact of

messaging on audiences.

Location: Studio B2

Session 3-A

Session 4-A

WORKSHOP SESSION A DESCRIPTIONS

Session 1-A

Session 2-A

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WORKSHOP SESSION A DESCRIPTIONS (continued)

Service-Learning – What is It and Why Do it? PRESENTER: Kristen McKinnon Massachusetts Department of Elementary and

Secondary Education

STRANDS: 1. Instruction in government, history, economics, law, democracy 3. Service learning

Service-learning is a teaching and learning approach

through which students learn and apply new academic

knowledge and skills to understand and address community

needs and problems. This engaging instructional

methodology, which can be implemented across all content

areas, has been shown to increase student engagement,

achievement and civic participation. In this workshop,

participants will gain a clear understanding of what service-

learning is and how it differs from other community-oriented

learning strategies and experiences. Participants will learn

the three basic principles of quality service-learning and

explore examples of successful service-learning projects.

Location: Studio A1

A Civic Leader’s Perspective on Civic Learning and Engagement

PRESENTER: Representative Alice Peisch Chair of the Joint Committee on Education

Massachusetts House of Representatives

STRANDS: 1. Instruction in government, history, economics, law, democracy 2. Discussion of current events and controversial issues 3. Service learning 4. Extracurricular activities 5. School governance 6. Simulations of the democratic process

Representative Alice Peisch, who has represented the

14th Norfolk District in the Massachusetts House of

Representatives since 2003 and serves as the Chair of the

Joint Committee on Education, will present and engage in

discussion with participants on what the state and educators

can do to better promote civic engagement and learning

for students. In addition to addressing this issue from a

policy perspective, she will share the role of civic learning in

shaping her path to become a leader in crafting and guiding

key legislation on a range of education issues over many

years.

Location: Studio A2

Session 5-A

Session 6-A

Edward M. Kennedy Institute Programming PRESENTERS: EMK Staff Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate

STRANDS: 1. Instruction in government, history, economics, law, democracy 6. Simulations of the democratic process

This session will include two major features of the EMK

Institute. One feature is a guided tour of the Institute’s

interactive exhibits where participants will preview the exhibit

and digital tablet content students encounter as part of

the Senator-in-Training tour. Another feature is a live floor

debate in the Institute’s Senate Chamber. This simulated

Senate session provides an introduction to a bill currently

under consideration by the U.S. Senate.

Future Senator: (designed for students from grades 3 - 5)

Preview the Future Senator program – part of the school

tour experience for students in grades 3-5. Students explore

the question of whether the school day should be extended,

with help from a video featuring Ruff Ruffman and Senator

Kennedy. Meet the “expert witnesses” students interview

as they explore the issue, and cast your vote in the Senate

Chamber.

Exhibits Tour: Take a guided tour of the Institute’s

interactive exhibits and preview the exhibit and digital tablet

content students encounter as part of the Senator-in-Training

tour. Explore People of the Senate. Work together with

others to try and pass the National Ice Cream Sundae Bill

in How a Bill Becomes a Law. Visit the replica of Senator

Kennedy’s D.C. office. Debate and negotiate current

legislation in Cloakroom Conversations.

Location: Senate Chamber/Gallery

Session 7-A

WORKSHOP SESSION B DESCRIPTIONS

Providing Civic Literacy for Our Students in the Twenty-First Century

PRESENTERS: Roger Desrosiers Massachusetts Center for Civic Education

Laura Honeywood Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter School

STRANDS: 1. Instruction in government, history, economics, law, democracy 2. Discussion of current events and controversial issues 6. Simulations of the democratic process

By stressing a civic culture in our schools, we encourage

an understanding of our government and a participatory

inclination for our students. Through interactive activities

and a simulated congressional hearing, students solidify

their learning and manifest their application and analysis of

historical and contemporary issues. Simply put, students are

empowered!

Location: Studio C1

Debating the News: Using Current Events as Evidence to Form Arguments About the World PRESENTERS: Dr. Sarah Mayper, Marisa Suescun

Boston Debate League

STRANDS: 1. Instruction in government, history, economics, law, democracy 2. Discussion of current events and controversial issues

In this workshop, participants will experience how to use

current events as a springboard for engaging students in

a multi-faceted and evidence-based class debate that can

sustain multiple arguments. Participants will engage in a

full class debate using current events as evidence, see

examples of other evidence based activities that use current

events, and explore possible extension activities that can

lead to student civic action and leadership. Participants will

reflect on their experiences as learners and connect to how

they might apply these strategies in their own classrooms

and literacy instruction.

Location: Studio C2

Session 1-B

Session 2-B

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Civic Learning and Engagement in Research and Practice PRESENTER: Meira Levinson Harvard Graduate School of Education

STRANDS: 1. Instruction in government, history, economics, law, democracy 2. Discussion of current events and controversial issues 3. Service learning 4. Extracurricular activities 5. School governance 6. Simulations of the democratic process

Civics, perhaps ironically, has come to be treated as

a second-class citizen in education. Districts, states,

and nationwide actors devote fewer resources to

curriculum, professional development, and other

types of supports for civic education than to fields

like math and literacy. In this plenary session, Meira

Levinson will offer research-based evidence for why

civic education is important, what we know about

promising practices, and models for how to promote

civic learning and engagement across the curriculum.

She will also share insights into means for promoting

equitable civic learning and engagement for all

students.

Meira Levinson is Professor of Education at Harvard

University, following eight years as a middle school

teacher in the Atlanta and Boston Public Schools. Her

most recent books include Dilemmas of Educational

Ethics, Making Civics Count and No Citizen Left

Behind, which won awards in political science,

philosophy, social studies, and education. Professor

Levinson has long been committed to civics education

in Massachusetts and around the country. She was

a contributing writer for the C3 Frameworks and the

Guardians of Democracy report. She also helped

develop and pilot Boston’s eighth grade Civics in

Action curriculum and Facing History’s Choosing to

Participate program. She earned a DPhil in political

theory from Nuffield College, Oxford, and her BA in

philosophy from Yale University.

Location: Senate Chamber

LATE MORNING PLENARY SESSION

Taking Informed Action PRESENTER: Peter Levine Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life,

Tufts University

STRANDS: 1. Instruction in government, history, economics, law, democracy 2. Discussion of current events and controversial issues 3. Service learning

In the C3 (College, Career, and Citizenship) framework,

the culmination of all the stages of inquiry is “taking

informed action.” What does that mean at various grade

levels and in various social studies disciplines? What

kinds of assignments count as taking informed action?

What obstacles do teachers face? This session will be

an open, moderated discussion that will draw heavily on

the experiences and ideas of the participants and address

connections to literacy instruction.

Location: Studio B1

High Quality Academic Work through Service Learning: Mobilizing Students to Research, Edit, Design and Publish Local Histories

PRESENTERS: Rich Cairn Collaborative for Educational Services Laurie Risler Center School, Longmeadow Public Schools

STRANDS: 1. Instruction in government, history, economics, law, democracy 3. Service learning

Well-planned service-learning projects have proven

power to engage students of all abilities to gain and apply

advanced academic, civic, and social skills. Local history

projects offer a prime example for successful school-

community partnerships. As students research, design, and

publish local history projects (typically websites), they have

multiple opportunities to read and analyze a wide variety of

primary and secondary source materials, to listen to local

historians, write and illustrate their findings in multiple media,

present proposals and drafts, and discuss with community

leaders. See how service-learning can meet state and

national social studies and literacy standards.

Location: Studio B2

WORKSHOP SESSION B DESCRIPTIONS (continued)

Student Government: Giving Students a Real Voice in Decision Making PRESENTERS: Donna Taylor ESE-State Student Advisory Council

Kristen Almquist, Chelsea High School Katherine Barnes, Chelsea High School Allysa Rivera, Chelsea High School Rucellie Jimnez, Chelsea High School Katherine Cabral, Chelsea High School James Madden, The Community Builders Emily Levine, Horizons for Homeless Children

STRANDS: 3. Service Learning 5. School governance

Massachusetts can take pride in being one of a handful

of states with full voting rights for a student on the state

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the only

state where the student Board member is elected by his/

her peers. The State Student Advisory Council (SSAC) has

a distinguished history in representing secondary school

students in the Commonwealth, and provides opportunities

for students to learn and grow while demonstrating their

individual leadership qualities. During this session, current

and past SSAC members along with Chelsea High School

student leaders will share their experiences, discussing

what the impact of involvement in student government has

meant to their life path as well as what schools can do now

to give students a real voice in decision making.

Location: Studio A1

Session 3-B

Session 4-B

Session 5-B

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Edward M. Kennedy Institute Programming PRESENTERS: EMK Staff Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate

STRANDS: 1. Instruction in government, history, economics, law, democracy 6. Simulations of the democratic process

This session will include two major features of the EMK

Institute. One feature is a guided tour of the Institute’s

interactive exhibits where participants will preview the

exhibit and digital tablet content students encounter as part

of the Senator-in-Training tour. Another feature is a live floor

debate in the Institute’s Senate Chamber. This simulated

Senate session provides an introduction to a bill currently

under consideration by the U.S. Senate.

Today’s Vote: (designed for students from grades 5 - 12)

Participate in a live floor debate in the Institute’s Senate

Chamber. This simulated Senate session provides an

introduction to a bill currently under consideration by

the U.S. Senate. Weigh the pros and cons of the bill as

presented by the Institute’s staff “Senators,” offer your own

statement on the issue, and cast your vote on the Senate

floor. Today’s Vote is part of the school tour experience for

grades 5 -12.

Exhibits Tour: Take a guided tour of the Institute’s

interactive exhibits and preview the exhibit and digital

tablet content students encounter as part of the Senator-in-

Training tour. Explore People of the Senate. Work together

with others to try and pass the National Ice Cream Sundae

Bill in How a Bill Becomes a Law. Visit the replica of Senator

Kennedy’s D.C. office. Debate and negotiate current

legislation in Cloakroom Conversations.

Location: Senate Chamber/Gallery

Great Senate Debates: League of Nations PRESENTERS: EMK Staff Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate

We will conclude the day with Great Senate Debates:

League of Nations a video and live performance

presentation of the factious debate over global security and

national sovereignty.

Location: Senate Chamber

Action Civics: Developing the Next Generation of Civic Leaders PRESENTER: Arielle Jennings, Ed.M. Generation Citizen

STRANDS: 1. Instruction in government, history, economics, law, democracy 2. Discussion of current events and controversial issues 3. Service learning

This interactive workshop will explore an experiential,

service-learning approach to civic education called Action

Civics where students learn civics by doing civics and

use their voice to make real change in their communities.

Facilitated by Generation Citizen, a nonprofit leader in

Democracy Education, participants will learn strategies

for incorporating Action Civics in their school or district in

a way that aligns with literacy standards and enhances

history, social studies or ELA curricula in order to reach all

students.s.

Location: Studio A2

Session 6-B

Closing

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WORKSHOP SESSION B DESCRIPTIONS (continued)

Session 7-B

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SERVING AMERICA:PROMISING PRACTICES FOR BUILDING LITERACY AND CIVIC LEARNING

May 23, 2016

Studio A2

Studio B1Studio B2

Studio C2

Studio C1

Orientation Theater

Exhibit Gallery

Lobby

Cafe

Studio A1

Senate Chamber

Senator Kennedy’s Office

Temporary Gallery

Viewing Gallery Stairs/Elevator

Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate

Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter School

Laura Honeywood

Boston Debate league

Dr. Sarah Mayper Marisa Suescun

Center School, Longmeadow Public Schools Laurie Risler

Chelsea High School

Kristen Almquist Katherine Barnes Katherine Cabral Rucellie Jimnez Allysa Rivera

Collaborative for Educational Services Rich Cairn

Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate

Nate Gundy Ed O’Connell Sarah Yezzi All EMK staff

Florida Joint Center for Citizenship Valerie McVey

Generation Citizen Arielle Jennings, Ed.M.

Harvard Graduate School of Education Meira Levinson

Horizons for Homeless Children Emily Levine

iCivics Louise Dubé

Joint Committee on Education Representative Alice Peisch

Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life, Tufts University Peter Levine

Massachusetts Center for Civic Education Roger Desrosiers

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Kristen McKinnon

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education - State Student Advisory Council Donna Taylor

Needham Public Schools Ken Brooke Jimmy Odierna Megan Tincher

Newton Public Schools Tim Matthews

The Community Builders James Madden

PRESENTERS

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Following the conference, please fill out the evaluation at: http://bit.ly/CivicsConfEval

Presentation materials are available at: http://bit.ly/CivicsConf_Materials

In addition to the feedback on this conference, please give us your input on the essential question for the conference that will guide our continued work to support civic education: What can educators and the state do to support civics learning and engagement for all students? http://sgiz.mobi/s3/CivicsEd

Follow the conference on Twitter: #civics16

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148-4906Voice: (781) 338-3000 . TTY: (800) 439 2370

www.doe.mass.edu

Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate 210 Morrissey Boulevard, Columbia Point, Boston, MA 02125

Voice: (617) 740-7000www.emkinstitute.org