A TEACHABLE MOMENT
The updated Dept. of Education teacher guidelines for today's Obama speech include "who is President Obama addressing?" Huh? How stupid are America's kids? What's the correct answer they'll get? "Uh, us?" Here's actual text from the revised teacher's guide for The Speech:
"Guided Discussion:
· What resonated with you from President Obama’s speech? What lines/phrases do you remember?
· Who is President Obama addressing? How do you know? Describe his audience.
· We heard President Obama mention the importance of personal responsibility. In your life, who exemplifies this kind of personal responsibility? How? Give examples.
· How are we as individuals and as a class similar? Different?
· Suppose President Obama were to give another speech about being educationally successful. Who could he speak to next? Who should be his next audience? Why? What would he say?
· What are the three most important words in the speech? Rank them. What title would you give
"this speech? What’s the thesis?
· What is President Obama inspiring you to do? What is he challenging you to do?
· What do you believe are the challenges of your generation?
· How can you be a part of addressing these challenges?
Video Project:
· Teachers could encourage students to participate in the Department of Education’s “I Am What I Learn” video contest. On September 8th the Department will invite K-12 students to submit a video no longer than 2 min, explaining why education is important and how their education will help them achieve their dreams. Teachers are welcome to incorporate the same or a similar video project into an assignment. More details will be released via www.ed.gov.
"Guided Discussion:
· What resonated with you from President Obama’s speech? What lines/phrases do you remember?
· Who is President Obama addressing? How do you know? Describe his audience.
· We heard President Obama mention the importance of personal responsibility. In your life, who exemplifies this kind of personal responsibility? How? Give examples.
· How are we as individuals and as a class similar? Different?
· Suppose President Obama were to give another speech about being educationally successful. Who could he speak to next? Who should be his next audience? Why? What would he say?
· What are the three most important words in the speech? Rank them. What title would you give
"this speech? What’s the thesis?
· What is President Obama inspiring you to do? What is he challenging you to do?
· What do you believe are the challenges of your generation?
· How can you be a part of addressing these challenges?
Video Project:
· Teachers could encourage students to participate in the Department of Education’s “I Am What I Learn” video contest. On September 8th the Department will invite K-12 students to submit a video no longer than 2 min, explaining why education is important and how their education will help them achieve their dreams. Teachers are welcome to incorporate the same or a similar video project into an assignment. More details will be released via www.ed.gov.
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