I'm  extremely  nervous  about  the  portfolio.  I  went  to  NCCAT  and  feel 
better  but
could  use  any  other  tips  others  of  you  may  have.  How  did  others  of 
you  study
for  the  assessment?

**Congressional Research Awards Announcement**

DEADLINE: Proposals must be postmarked no later than February 1, 2005

The Dirksen Congressional Center invites applications for grants
totaling $35,000 in 2005 to fund research on congressional leadership
and the U.S. Congress. The competition is open to individuals with a
serious interest in studying Congress. Political scientists,
historians, biographers, scholars of public administration or
American studies, and journalists are among those eligible. The
Center encourages graduate students to apply and awards a significant
portion of the funds for dissertation research. Undergraduate or pre-
Ph.D. study, research teams of two or more individuals, and
organizations are not eligible.

There is no standard application form. Applicants are responsible for
showing the relationship between their work and the awards program
guidelines. Applications are accepted at any time. Incomplete
applications will NOT be forwarded to the screening committee for
consideration.

All application materials must be postmarked on or before February 1,
2005. Awards will be announced in March 2005. Complete information
about eligibility and application procedures may be found at The
Center's Web site:
http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_grants_CRAs.htm. Frank Mackaman is
the program officer -- fmackaman@....

The Center, named for the late Senate Minority Leader Everett M.
Dirksen, is a private, nonpartisan, nonprofit research and
educational organization devoted to the study of Congress and its
leaders. Since 1978, the Congressional Research Awards (formerly the
Congressional Research Grants) program has paid out $620,000 to
support 325 projects.

** CALL FOR PARTICIPATION: Congress in the Classroom® 2005 **

DEADLINE: March 15, 2005

Congress in the Classroom® --
http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_programs_CongressClassroom.htm --
is a national, award-winning education program now in its 13th year.
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 teachers
who teach U.S. history, government, civics, political science, or
social studies. Forty teachers from throughout the country will be
selected in 2005 to take part in the program.

You will gain experience with The Center's educational Web site,
CongressLink - http://www.congresslink.org -- which features online
access to lesson plans, student activities, historical materials,
related Web sites, and subject matter experts.

Throughout the program you will work with national 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.

In sum, the workshop consists of two types of sessions: those that
focus on recent research and scholarship about Congress (and don't
always have an immediate application in the classroom) and those
geared to specific ways to teach students about Congress.

The 2005 program theme will be "Our New Congress -- the 109th."
Confirmed session titles are:

* A View from Capitol Hill
* The Importance of Teaching Democracy Appreciation
* George W. Bush's Second Term: What's in Store for Congress?
* Congress Has a Humorous Side
* How Congress Members Decide (Hint: It Looks Like a Game of
Billiards)
* Teaching Congress Through Visuals
* The Struggle to Reform Congress and Its Consequences
* The Civil Rights Act of 1964: Using Document Analysis to
Tell the Story
* How to Get Your Point Across to Congress Members
* The Dirksen Center Web Suite as a Resource for Teachers
* Congressional Insight: A Computer Simulation of a Member's First
Term in the House of Representatives, and more.

The workshop will take place from Monday, July 25 through July 28,
2005, at the Radisson Hotel in Peoria, Illinois. Teachers who are
selected for the program will be responsible for (1) a non-refundable
$135 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 $25,000 and $30,000 to host
the program each year

Those teachers who are not selected for the program will have an
opportunity to register for the Web-based Congress in the Classroom
course.

The deadline for applications is March 15, 2005. Enrollment is
competitive and limited to forty. Selection will be determined by The
Center. Individuals will be notified of their acceptance status by
April 1, 2005.

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 and to learn more
about the scheduled sessions and presenters.

If you are interested in registering for the Congress in the
Classroom® 2005 workshop, you can complete an online registration
form found at:
http://www.dirksencenter.org/programs_CiCapplication.htm.

** FINAL CALL FOR PARTICIPATION: Congress in the Classroom 2005 **

** SPECIAL NOTICE: Past Participants are welcome to apply! **

DEADLINE: March 15, 2005

Congress in the Classroom® is a national, award-winning education
program now in its 13th year. 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 teachers
who teach U.S. history, government, civics, political science, or
social studies. Forty teachers from throughout the country will be
selected in 2005 to take part in the program.

You will gain experience with The Center's educational Web site,
CongressLink - http://www.congresslink.org -- which features online
access to lesson plans, student activities, historical materials,
related Web sites, and subject matter experts.

Throughout the program you will work with national 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.

In sum, the workshop consists of two types of sessions: those that
focus on recent research and scholarship about Congress (and don't
always have an immediate application in the classroom) and those
geared to specific ways to teach students about Congress.

The 2005 program theme will be Our New Congress -- the 109th.
Confirmed session titles are:

* A View from Capitol Hill
* The Importance of Teaching Democracy Appreciation
* George W. Bush's Second Term: What's in Store for Congress?
* Reporting on Congress: The Role of the Media
* How Congress Members Decide (Hint: It Looks Like a Game of
Billiards)
* Teaching Congress through Visuals
* The Struggle to Reform Congress and Its Consequences
* What are the Ten Most Important Things High School Students Should
Know about Congress?
* Congress Has a Humorous Side
* How to Get Your Point Across to Congress Members
* The Dirksen Center Web Suite as a Resource for Teachers
* Congressional Insight: A Computer Simulation of a Member's First
Term in the House of Representatives, and more.

Speakers for this year's workshop include a member of Congress;
political scientists from Rutgers University, the U.S. Naval Academy,
the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American
University, Dickinson College, and the George Bush School of
Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University; a historian
from Boston College; and a former congressional staffer who now runs
her own consulting company.

The workshop will take place from Monday, July 25 through July 28,
2005, at the Radisson Hotel in Peoria, Illinois. Teachers who are
selected for the program will be responsible for (1) a non-refundable
$135 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 $25,000 and $30,000 to host
the program each year.

Those teachers who are not selected for the program will have an
opportunity to register for the Web-based Congress in the
Classroom® Online professional development workshop --
http://www.congressclass.org.

The deadline for applications is March 15, 2005. Enrollment is
competitive and limited to forty. Selection will be determined by The
Center. Individuals will be notified of their acceptance status by
April 1, 2005.

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 and to learn more
about the scheduled sessions and presenters.

If you are interested in registering for the Congress in the
Classroom® 2005 workshop, you can complete an online registration
form found at:
http://www.dirksencenter.org/programs_CiCapplication.htm.

**Congressional Research Awards Announcement**

DEADLINE: All proposals must be received no later than February 1,
2006.

The Dirksen Congressional Center invites applications for grants
totaling $30,000 in 2006 to fund research on congressional leadership
and the U.S. Congress.

The competition is open to individuals with a serious interest in
studying Congress. Political scientists, historians, biographers,
scholars of public administration or American studies, and
journalists are among those eligible. The Center encourages graduate
students who have successfully defended their dissertation prospectus
to apply and awards a significant portion of the funds for
dissertation research.

The awards program does not fund undergraduate or pre-Ph.D. study.
Organizations are not eligible. Research teams of two or more
individuals are eligible.

There is no standard application form. Applicants are responsible for
showing the relationship between their work and the awards program
guidelines. Applications are accepted at any time. Incomplete
applications will NOT be forwarded to the screening committee for
consideration.

All application materials must be received no later than February 1,
2006. Awards will be announced in March 2006. Complete information
about eligibility and application procedures may be found at The
Center's Web site:
http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_grants_CRAs.htm . Frank Mackaman
is the program officer -- mailto:fmackaman@....

The Center, named for the late Senate Minority Leader Everett M.
Dirksen, is a private, nonpartisan, nonprofit research and
educational organization devoted to the study of Congress and its
leaders. Since 1978, the Congressional Research Awards (formerly the
Congressional Research Grants) program has paid out $650,000 to
support 337 projects.

The Dirksen Congressional Center
2815 Broadway
Pekin, Illinois 61554

For more information about the Congressional Research Awards, contact
Frank Mackaman at:
mailto:fmackaman@...
phone: 309.347.7113

** CALL FOR PARTICIPATION: Congress in the Classroom 2006 **

DEADLINE: March 30, 2006

Congress in the Classroom is a national, award-winning education
program now in its 14th year. 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 from throughout the
country will be selected in 2006 to take part in the program.

You will gain experience with The Center's educational Web site,
CongressLink (www.congresslink.org), which features online access to
lesson plans, student activities, historical materials, related Web
sites, and subject matter experts.

Throughout the program you will work with national 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.

In sum, the workshop consists of two types of sessions: those that
focus on recent research and scholarship about Congress (and don't
always have an immediate application in the classroom) and those
geared to specific ways to teach students about Congress.

The 2006 program will feature a broad overview of Congress with
special attention to the mid-year elections of 2006. Tentative
session titles are listed below. Additional sessions will be
announced as presenters are confirmed. More information about the
content of each session will be posted on our Web site as it becomes
available shortly after February 15.

*A View from Capitol Hill -- The Honorable Ray LaHood, (R-IL, 18th
District, U.S. House of Representatives)

* Congressional Insight: An Interactive Simulation of a Member's
First Term in the House of Representatives -- National Association of
Manufacturers

* We Already Know the Winners: The Demise of Congressional General
Elections -- Harvey Tucker, Texas A&M University

* How Legislators' Experiences as Candidates Affect Their Behavior as
Policymakers in Congress -- Tracy Sulkin, University of Illinois

* Ten Things Your Students Should Know about Congress -- Frank
Mackaman, The Dirksen Congressional Center

* C-SPAN in the Classroom: New and Improved -- Joanne Wheeler, C-SPAN

* How to Get Your Point Across to Congress Members -- Stephanie
Vance, AdVanced Communications

* The Dirksen Center Web Suite as a Resource for Teachers -- Cindy
Koeppel, The Dirksen Congressional Center

* View from the Other End of the Avenue: The Legislative Presidency --
Jeffrey Weinberg, Office of Management and Budget

* What We Can Expect from the 2006 Congressional Elections -- Lauren
Whittington, Roll Call

Other Program Highlights:

In addition to the hour-long sessions above, The Center will offer
what we call Sound Bites, or 15-minute sessions, on campaign
commercials, campaign literature, a film clip of Senator Dirksen
explaining the nature of congressional leadership, a new Web feature
dealing with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, among other possibilities.

The workshop will take place from Monday, July 31 through Thursday,
August 3, 2006, at the Radisson Hotel in Peoria, Illinois. Teachers
who are selected for the program will be responsible for (1) a
non-refundable $135 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.

Those teachers who are not selected for the program will have an
opportunity to register for the Web-based Congress in the Classroom
workshop -- http://www.congressclass.org.

The deadline for applications is March 30, 2006. Enrollment is
competitive and limited to forty. Selection will be determined by The
Center. Individuals will be notified of their acceptance status by
April 15, 2006.

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 and to learn more
about the scheduled sessions and presenters.

Registration:

If you are interested in registering for the Congress in the
Classroom 2006 workshop, you can complete an online registration form
found at:
http://www.dirksencenter.org/programs_CiCapplication.htm.

NEW SESSIONS ADDED

** CALL FOR PARTICIPATION: Congress in the Classroom 2006 **

DEADLINE: March 30, 2006 -- APPLY SOON!

Congress in the Classroom is a national, award-winning education
program now in its 14th year. 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 from throughout the
country will be selected in 2006 to take part in the program.

You will gain experience with The Center's educational Web site,
CongressLink (www.congresslink.org), which features online access to
lesson plans, student activities, historical materials, related Web
sites, and subject matter experts.

Throughout the program you will work with national 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.

In sum, the workshop consists of two types of sessions: those that
focus on recent research and scholarship about Congress (and don't
always have an immediate application in the classroom) and those
geared to specific ways to teach students about Congress.

The 2006 program will feature a broad overview of Congress with
special attention to the mid-year elections of 2006. Tentative
session titles are listed below. Additional sessions will be
announced as presenters are confirmed. More information about the
content of each session will be posted on our Web site as it becomes
available shortly after February 15.

*A View from Capitol Hill -- The Honorable Ray LaHood, (R-IL, 18th
District, U.S. House of Representatives)

* Congressional Insight: An Interactive Simulation of a Member's
First Term in the House of Representatives -- Bethany Dame, National
Association of
Manufacturers

* We Already Know the Winners: The Demise of Congressional General
Elections -- Harvey Tucker, Texas A&M University

* How Legislators' Experiences as Candidates Affect Their Behavior as
Policymakers in Congress -- Tracy Sulkin, University of Illinois

* Ten Things Your Students Should Know about Congress -- Frank
Mackaman, The Dirksen Congressional Center

* C-SPAN Classroom: Where Content Clicks! -- Joanne Wheeler, C-SPAN

* How to Get Your Point Across to Congress Members -- Stephanie
Vance, AdVanced Communications

* The Dirksen Center Web Suite as a Resource for Teachers -- Cindy
Koeppel, The Dirksen Congressional Center

* View from the Other End of the Avenue: The Legislative Presidency --
Jeffrey Weinberg, Adjunct Faculty, George Washington University and American
University

* What We Can Expect from the 2006 Congressional Elections -- Lauren
Whittington, "Roll Call"

NEW!  *The Capitol Hill Experience: From the Viewpoint of American
Political Science Association Fellows -- Artemus Ward, Northern Illinois
University
and APSA Fellow, 2002-03, assigned to the House Judiciary Committee

NEW!  *Teaching About Civic Competency -- Jeffrey Bernstein, Eastern
Michigan University

Other Program Highlights:

In addition to the hour-long sessions above, The Center will offer
what we call Sound Bites, or 15-minute sessions, on campaign
commercials, campaign literature, a film clip of Senator Dirksen
explaining the nature of congressional leadership, a new Web feature
dealing with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, among other possibilities.

The workshop will take place from Monday, July 31 through Thursday,
August 3, 2006, at the Radisson Hotel in Peoria, Illinois. Teachers
who are selected for the program will be responsible for (1) a
non-refundable $135 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.

Those teachers who are not selected for the program will have an
opportunity to register for the Web-based Congress in the Classroom
workshop -- http://www.congressclass.org.

The deadline for applications is March 30, 2006. Enrollment is
competitive and limited to forty. Selection will be determined by The
Center. Individuals will be notified of their acceptance status by
April 15, 2006.

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 and to learn more
about the scheduled sessions and presenters.

Registration:

If you are interested in registering for the Congress in the
Classroom 2006 workshop, you can complete an online registration form
found at:
http://www.dirksencenter.org/programs_CiCapplication.htm.

I was just wondering if their is a more organized way to complete
entry 1 - I teach 8th grade S.S. and I have been having the students
write about certain issues per chapter  - having them be analytical,
interpretive, persuasive and descriptive.  I feel that their might be
an "easier" way to organize this entry.  Any ideas??  Thanks, Keith

I was wondering if anyone had suggestions on Entry #3? I video taped a
small group discussion/activity on political cartoons. Students looked
at cartoons and found symbols and talked about how cartoons show
history and stereotypes.They selected a cartoon and analyzed using
small lap tops in the class. I am worried that this is not really
hitting the promoting social understanding, but just civic competence.
Any advise?

**Congressional Research Awards Announcement**

DEADLINE: All proposals must be received no later than February 1, 2007.

The Dirksen Congressional Center invites applications for grants totaling
$30,000 in 2007 to fund research on congressional leadership and the U.S.
Congress.

The competition is open to individuals with a serious interest in studying
Congress. Political scientists, historians, biographers, scholars of public
administration or American studies, and journalists are among those
eligible. The Center encourages graduate students who have successfully
defended their dissertation prospectus to apply and awards a significant
portion of the funds for dissertation research.

The awards program does not fund undergraduate or pre-Ph.D. study.
Organizations are not eligible.  Research teams of two or more individuals
are eligible.

There is no standard application form. Applicants are responsible for
showing the relationship between their work and the awards program
guidelines.

Applications are accepted at any time. Incomplete applications will NOT be
forwarded to the screening committee for consideration.

All application materials must be received no later than February 1, 2007.
Awards will be announced in March 2007.

Complete information about eligibility and application procedures may be
found at The Center's Web site:
http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_grants_CRAs.htm.  Frank Mackaman is the
program officer -- mailto:fmackaman@....

The Center, named for the late Senate Minority Leader Everett M. Dirksen, is
a private, nonpartisan, nonprofit research and educational organization
devoted to the study of Congress and its leaders. Since 1978, the
Congressional Research Awards (formerly the Congressional Research Grants)
program has paid out $680,000 to support 350 projects.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Dirksen Congressional Center
2815 Broadway
Pekin, Illinois 61554

For more information about the Congressional Research Awards, contact Frank
Mackaman at:

email: mailto:fmackaman@...
phone: 309.347.7113

DEADLINE: Congressional Research Awards Announcement

All proposals must be received no later than February 1, 2007.

The Dirksen Congressional Center invites applications for grants totaling
$30,000 in 2007 to fund research on congressional leadership and the U.S.
Congress.

The competition is open to individuals with a serious interest in studying
Congress. Political scientists, historians, biographers, scholars of public
administration or American studies, and journalists are among those
eligible. The Center encourages graduate students who have successfully
defended their dissertation prospectus to apply and awards a significant
portion of the funds for dissertation research.

The awards program does not fund undergraduate or pre-Ph.D. study.
Organizations are not eligible.  Research teams of two or more individuals
are eligible.

There is no standard application form. Applicants are responsible for
showing the relationship between their work and the awards program
guidelines.

Applications are accepted at any time. Incomplete applications will NOT be
forwarded to the screening committee for consideration.

All application materials must be received no later than February 1, 2007.
Awards will be announced in March 2007.

Complete information about eligibility and application procedures may be
found at The Center's Web site:
http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_grants_CRAs.htm.  Frank Mackaman is the
program officer -- mailto:fmackaman@....

The Center, named for the late Senate Minority Leader Everett M. Dirksen, is
a private, nonpartisan, nonprofit research and educational organization
devoted to the study of Congress and its leaders. Since 1978, the
Congressional Research Awards (formerly the Congressional Research Grants)
program has paid out $680,000 to support 350 projects.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Dirksen Congressional Center
2815 Broadway
Pekin, Illinois 61554

For more information about the Congressional Research Awards, contact Frank
Mackaman at:

email: mailto:fmackaman@...
phone: 309.347.7113

--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.15/659 - Release Date: 1/30/2007
9:31 AM

Call For Participation: Congress in the Classroom 2007

DEADLINE: March 30, 2007

Congress in the Classroom is a national, award-winning education program now
in its 15th year.  Developed and sponsored by The Dirksen Congressional
Center, the workshop is dedicated to the exchange of ideas and information
on teaching about Congress. This year, for the first time, The Center will
join with the new Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service in
conducting the workshop.

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 in 2007 to take part in the
program.

The 2007 program will feature a broad overview of Congress with special
attention to the new 110th Congress with the Democrats in charge for the
first time in more than a decade.

The workshop will be held Monday, July 30 - Thursday, August 2, at the Hotel
Pere Marquette, Peoria, Illinois, with workshop sessions to take place in
the Peoria Civic Center's new addition.

Tentative session titles are listed below.  (NOTE: Additional sessions will
be listed as presenters are confirmed. More information about the content of
each session will be posted as it becomes available.)

* Opening Remarks: A View from Capitol Hill -- The Honorable Ray LaHood,
(R-IL, 18th District, U.S. House of Representatives)

* Congressional Insight: An Interactive Simulation of a Member's First Term
in the House of Representatives -- Bethany Dame, National Association of
Manufacturers

* Legislative Life and the Meaning of Public Service -- Grant Reeher,
Associate Professor of Political Science, Maxwell School of Citizenship and
Public Affairs, Syracuse University

* Rules, Rules, Rules: Congress Relies on Them -- Don Wolfensberger,
Director of the Congress Project, Woodrow Wilson Center

* Finding the Humor in Congress -- Frank H. Mackaman, Staff Member, The
Dirksen Congressional Center

* Electoral College Strategy 2008 -- Thomas F. Schaller, Professor of
Political Science, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

* Why Principled Leadership in Public Service Matters -- Brad McMillan,
Executive Director, Institute for Principled Leadership in Public

* A Former Staff Member’s Perspective on Congress -- Brian D. Posler,
Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Southern
Indiana

* What Every New Senator Should Know about the U.S. Senate -- Richard A.
Baker, Historian, U.S. Senate Historical Office

* How to Get Your Point Across to Congress Members -- Stephanie Vance,
AdVanced Communications, Washington DC

* The Dirksen Center Web Suite as a Resource for Teachers -- Cindy Koeppel,
The Dirksen Congressional Center

Other Program Highlights

In addition to the hour-long sessions described above, we will offer what we
call "Sound Bites," or 15-minute sessions, on campaign commercials, campaign
literature, a film clip of Senator Dirksen explaining the nature of
congressional leadership, a new Web feature dealing with the Civil Rights
Act of 1964, among other possibilities.

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 and to learn more about the
scheduled sessions and presenters.

Registration

If you are interested in registering for the Congress in the Classroom 2007
workshop, you can complete an online registration form found at:
http://www.dirksencenter.org/programs_CiCapplication.htm.

For additional information contact:

Lynn Kasinger
The Dirksen Congressional Center
2815 Broadway
Pekin, IL 61554
Phone: (309) 347-7113
Fax: (309) 347-6432
Email: mailto:lkasinger@...

--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.28/672 - Release Date: 2/6/2007
10:22 AM

Call For Participation: Congress in the Classroom 2007

DEADLINE: March 30, 2007

Congress in the Classroom is a national, award-winning education program now in its 15th year. Developed and sponsored by The Dirksen Congressional Center, the workshop is dedicated to the exchange of ideas and information on teaching about Congress. This year, for the first time, The Center will join with the new Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service in conducting the workshop.

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 in 2007 to take part in the program.

The 2007 program will feature a broad overview of Congress with special attention to the new 110th Congress with the Democrats in charge for the first time in more than a decade.

The workshop will be held Monday, July 30 - Thursday, August 2, at the Hotel Pere Marquette, Peoria, Illinois, with workshop sessions to take place in the Peoria Civic Center's new addition.

Participants are responsible for (1) a non-refundable $135 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.

Tentative session titles are listed below. (NOTE: Additional sessions will be listed as presenters are confirmed. More information about the content of each session will be posted as it becomes available.)

• Opening Remarks: A View from Capitol Hill -- The Honorable Ray LaHood, (R-IL, 18th District, U.S. House of Representatives) 
• Congressional Insight: An Interactive Simulation of a Member's First Term in the House of Representatives -- Bethany Dame, National Association of Manufacturers
• Legislative Life and the Meaning of Public Service -- Grant Reeher, Associate Professor of Political Science, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University 
• Rules, Rules, Rules: Congress Relies on Them -- Don Wolfensberger, Director of the Congress Project, Woodrow Wilson Center 
• Electoral College Strategy 2008 -- Thomas F. Schaller, Professor of Political Science, University of Maryland, Baltimore County 
• A Former Staff Member's Perspective on Congress -- Brian D. Posler, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Southern Indiana 
• What Every New Senator Should Know about the U.S. Senate -- Richard A. Baker, Historian, U.S. Senate Historical Office 
• How to Get Your Point Across to Congress Members -- Stephanie Vance, AdVanced Communications, Washington DC
• Reporting from Congress -- Seth Stern, "Congressional Quarterly"
• How Women in Congress have Transformed It -- Debra L. Dodson, Visiting Research Scholar, Center for American Women and Politics, Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers University
• Teaching with Editorial Cartoons -- Workshop teachers
• Congress Members’ Playbook -- Steve Frantzich, U.S. Naval Academy
• The Dirksen Center Web Suite as a Resource for Teachers -- Cindy Koeppel, The Dirksen Congressional Center 

Other Program Highlights

In addition to the hour-long sessions described above, we will offer what we call "Sound Bites," or 15-minute sessions, on campaign commercials, campaign literature, a film clip of Senator Dirksen explaining the nature of congressional leadership, a new Web feature dealing with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, among other possibilities.

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 and to learn more about the scheduled sessions and presenters.

Registration

If you are interested in registering for the Congress in the Classroom 2007 workshop, you can complete an online registration form found at: http://www.dirksencenter.org/programs_CiCapplication.htm.

For additional information contact:

Lynn Kasinger
The Dirksen Congressional Center
2815 Broadway
Pekin, IL 61554
Phone: (309) 347-7113
Fax: (309) 347-6432
Email: mailto:lkasinger@...

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The Dirksen Congressional Center is pleased to announce the completion of their
Editorial Cartoon Collection project:
http://www.congresslink.org/cartoons/index.htm

The editorial cartoons and related lesson plans from The Dirksen Center will
teach students to identify issues, analyze symbols, acknowledge the need for
background knowledge, recognize stereotypes and caricatures, think critically,
and appreciate the role of irony and humor.

- About the Collection -

Editorial cartoonists loved Everett Dirksen (1896-1969)-his position of
influence as Minority Leader in the Senate (1959-69), his way with words, and,
of course, his distinctive appearance. Over the years, Senator Dirksen's staff
compiled a scrapbook containing more than 300 editorial cartoons. Topics covered
include Vietnam, civil rights, Republican Party politics, the Nuclear Test Ban
Treaty, reapportionment, Taft-Hartley 14(b), school prayer, Dirksen's recording
career, Senate procedures, congressional pay, presidential appointments, and
Dirksen's legacy. Naturally, cartoonists also used these topics to depict
Dirksen's relationship with President Lyndon Johnson, with his Democratic
colleagues in the Senate, and with the Supreme Court. In addition, cartoonists
sent Dirksen between 50 and 60 original sketches on equally diverse topics.

Among the scores of cartoonists represented in the collection are Herblock, Gib
Crockett, Hugo, Bill Mauldin, Gene Basset, Pat Oliphant, Al Capp, Wayne
Stayskal, Jim Berry, Guernsey LePelley, Tom Engelhardt, Paul Conrad, and Jim
Berryman.

There are only six of the original three hundred plus cartoons posted at this
time.  Not all will lend themselves to lesson plans, though we will add to the
list as time permits -- we're working on 14 additional lesson plans at the
moment.  We do plan to post all of the cartoons on the Web site.  As you can
imagine, it takes time and we wanted to start small and adjust as necessary.

We welcome you to take a look and let us know what you think!

Cindy Koeppel
The Dirksen Congressional Center
2815 Broadway
Pekin, IL 61554
Phone: 309.347.7113
Fax: 309.347.6432
E-mail: ckoeppel@...
http://www.dirksencongressionalcenter.org

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During The Dirksen Center's annual Congress in the Classroom® workshop --
http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_programs_CongressClassroom.htm --
participants are asked to introduce the lesson plans, resources, and
techniques that have proven successful in teaching about Congress in their
classrooms. A 2005 participant, Bill Penberthy, Ironwood High School,
Glendale, AZ, presented his lesson entitled, "Role of Congress in
Formulating Policy."

Background information for this lesson follows:

In the modern world, most people associate the policies that the United
States pursues with the President and forget that Congress plays a major
role in how those policies are formulated and carried out. Historically,
there have been times when Congress has played a very strong role vis-ŕ-vis
the Executive Branch, and at other times, it has been willing to let the
President carry the ball. In both situations, there have always been strong
members of Congress who felt they had a constitutional duty to do more than
'rubber stamp' or just sit by idly. This may mean that they proposed
legislation, tried to significantly change proposed or already enacted
legislation, or in some cases, fought to prevent passage. Whatever their
approach, they were instrumental in the formulation of foreign and domestic
policy.

The overall objective of this lesson is to help students learn that Congress
plays a major role in how policies are formulated and carried out. Find
"Role of Congress in Formulating Policy" at:
http://www.congresslink.org/print_lp_roleofcongress.htm.

We hope you find this lesson useful!

Cindy Koeppel
The Dirksen Congressional Center
2815 Broadway
Pekin, IL 61554

Phone: 309.347.7113
Fax: 309.347.6432
Email: ckoeppel@... http://www.dirksencongressionalcenter.org

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During The Dirksen Center's annual Congress in the Classroom workshop --
http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_programs_CongressClassroom.htm --
participants are asked to introduce the lesson plans, resources, and techniques
that have proven successful in teaching about Congress in their classrooms. A
2006 participant, Ellen Fox, Ridgefield High School, Ridgefield, CT, presented
her lesson entitled, "Congressional Power, Organization, The Differences Between
The House And The Senate - Criticisms Then & Now."

Background information for this lesson follows:

In Federalist No. 51 Madison wrote, "In a Republican government, the legislative
authority necessarily predominates. The remedy for this inconvenience is to
divide the legislature into different branches." The Framers of the Constitution
took great care in organizing the legislative branch of the United States
government into a bicameral system to avoid overpowering the other two branches.
There are distinct differences between congressional power and organization of
the House of Representatives and the Senate.

In this lesson, students will discuss among their group why the Framers chose to
organize the legislative branch of the U.S. government in the manner that they
did. Find "Congressional Power, Organization, The Differences Between The House
And The Senate - Criticisms Then & Now" at:
http://www.congresslink.org/print_lp_congpower_org_dif.htm.

We hope you find this lesson useful!

Cindy Koeppel
The Dirksen Congressional Center
2815 Broadway
Pekin, IL 61554

Phone: 309.347.7113
Fax: 309.347.6432
Email: ckoeppel@...
http://www.dirksencongressionalcenter.org

* NEW LESSON PLAN *

Creating a Television Ad for an Interest Group

During our annual Congress in the Classroom® workshop --
http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_programs_CongressClassroom.htm --
participants are asked to introduce the lesson plans, resources, and techniques
that have proven successful in teaching about Congress in their classrooms. A
2007 participant, Gregory Stewart, Whitewater High School, Whitewater, WI,
presented his lesson entitled, "Creating a Television Ad for an Interest Group."

Background information for this lesson follows:

It is important for students to understand what they, as citizens, can do to
become involved in the political process. In addition, students need to
understand the way in which bias and stereotyping are used by various media and
interest groups to influence popular opinion.

In this lesson, students examine propaganda and media bias and explore the ways
interest groups get their message across through the use of media campaigns.
Following the development of their own interest group, students develop an
advertising campaign which includes the development of a radio and television
commercial.

Find "Creating a Television Ad for an Interest Group" at:
http://www.congresslink.org/print_lp_creatingad.htm.

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* NEW LESSON PLAN *

CREATING A TELEVISION AD FOR AN INTEREST GROUP

During our annual Congress in the Classroom® workshop --
http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_programs_CongressClassroom.htm --
participants are asked to introduce the lesson plans, resources, and techniques
that have proven successful in teaching about Congress in their classrooms. A
2007 participant, Gregory Stewart, Whitewater High School, Whitewater, WI,
presented his lesson entitled, "Creating a Television Ad for an Interest Group."

Background information for this lesson follows:

It is important for students to understand what they, as citizens, can do to
become involved in the political process. In addition, students need to
understand the way in which bias and stereotyping are used by various media and
interest groups to influence popular opinion.

In this lesson, students examine propaganda and media bias and explore the ways
interest groups get their message across through the use of media campaigns.
Following the development of their own interest group, students develop an
advertising campaign which includes the development of a radio and television
commercial. Find "Creating a Television Ad for an Interest Group" at:
http://www.congresslink.org/print_lp_creatingad.htm

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* Congressional Research Awards Announcement *

DEADLINE: All proposals must be received no later than February 1, 2008.

The Dirksen Congressional Center invites applications for grants to fund
research on congressional leadership and the U.S. Congress. A total of up to
$30,000 will be available in 2008. Awards range from a few hundred dollars to
$3,500.

The competition is open to individuals with a serious interest in studying
Congress. Political scientists, historians, biographers, scholars of public
administration or American studies, and journalists are among those eligible.
The Center encourages graduate students who have successfully defended their
dissertation prospectus to apply and awards a significant portion of the funds
for dissertation research.

The awards program does not fund undergraduate or pre-Ph.D. study. Organizations
are not eligible. Research teams of two or more individuals are eligible. No
institutional overhead or indirect costs may be claimed against a Congressional
Research Award.

There is no standard application form. Applicants are responsible for showing
the relationship between their work and the awards program guidelines.
Applications are accepted at any time. Applications which exceed the page limit
and incomplete applications will NOT be forwarded to the screening committee for
consideration.

All application materials must be received on or before February 1, 2008. Awards
will be announced in March 2008. Complete information about eligibility and
application procedures may be found at The Center's Web site:
http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_grants_CRAs.htm. Frank Mackaman is the
program officer -- mailto:fmackaman@....

The Center, named for the late Senate Minority Leader Everett M. Dirksen, is a
private, nonpartisan, nonprofit research and educational organization devoted to
the study of Congress and its leaders. Since 1978, the Congressional Research
Awards (formerly the Congressional Research Grants) program has paid out
$680,000 to support 350 projects.