Ideas and Advice from Teachers
Interview: Cynthia Golden
Northern High School, Dillsburg, Pennsylvania
AP Government Class
E-mail: cgolden@nycsd.k12.pa.us (please keep "NOYS" in the subject line)
What is the first thing you do to prepare for a summit?
The first thing that I did was skim through the resource binder provided by the ABA to get an idea of the key activities that I would do in my classes.
How much time do you spend planning for the summit before it begins?
It takes at least 4-5 hours to get an idea of what is important in the binder.
How much time do you spend per week during the summit (class time and planning time)?
Approximately two hours of planning time per week, and two hours of class time.
How do you integrate the summit topic and curriculum into your course?
Last year's topic, "Law in an Age of Terror" was a perfect way to discuss the balance of power between the three branches of government. My students learned practical application of the principles of American Government.
Does teaching the summit present particular challenges in an AP government class?
Yes it does. I sometimes felt that I asked them to spend more time on the NOYS projects rather than in preparation for the AP exam. This year, I plan to assign more time out of class for students to work on their projects individually. The ABA provides models of final projects, which is useful, particularly since we had never done merit briefs before.
Does the summit help you meet applicable standards?
Yes. It fits the Pennsylvania standards.
What is your biggest challenge in the summit, and how have you addressed it?
Budgeting time for each activity is the biggest challenge. The next time I would try to set earlier deadlines for my students, anticipating that they will ask for an extension.
Do you have any tips for teachers thinking about participating in the summit in 2007?
After going through the NOYS binder, pull the student activities to be copied. Then make a folder for each activity with the due date on the folder as well as on a master calendar which you can post in the classroom or hand out to the students.
