ELEMENTARY & MIDDLE SCHOOL

HIGH SCHOOL

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EDUCATORS

SPECIAL EVENTS

OTHER INITIATIVES

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2008 CRFC Summer Institutes

• 2008 More Perfect Union Institute (Middle School)
• 2008 Supreme Court Update Summer Institute (High School)
• 2008 Deliberating in a Democracy (DID) Institute (High School)

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MORE PERFECT UNION
Professional Development Program for Middle School Teachers
Who Administer the Constitution Test

August 5-6, 2008
Chicago, Illinois

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE
Open to middle school teachers in Chicago and the metropolitan area, this institute is designed to provide classroom tools to help students develop a comprehensive understanding of the Constitution and Bill of Rights in order to meet the U.S. Constitution Test requirement. Materials and assistance identifying lawyers to work in classrooms provided.

INSTITUTE SITE
The Institute will take place in downtown Chicago. Participants will receive curriculum materials, continental breakfast, and lunch both days of the institute.

REGISTRATION
Click here to apply
Deadline: May 2, 2008.
All applicants will be notified of their acceptance after May 16, 2008.
If accepted, you will be asked to pay the non-refundable registration fee of $100 payable to CRFC by May 30, 2008.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
or more information, contact Jessica Chethik at (312) 663-9057 x 218 or chethik@crfc.org.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This institute is a program of the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago. Support for this program is provided in part by the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation and the Grand Victoria Foundation.

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2008 SUPREME COURT UPDATE SUMMER INSTITUTE

August 6-7, 2008
Chicago, Illinois

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE
The 2008 Supreme Court Update is designed to promote a greater understanding of the Supreme Court of the United States and its roles in American government. This two-day institute will feature two decisions from the Court’s October 2007 Term (2007-2008). Participants will meet with legal scholars, former U.S. Supreme Court clerks, and other experts to review and discuss the implications of the focus cases. Participants also will receive resources about the issues, the Court, and the decisions along with classroom-ready materials. The Supreme Court Update will be held in downtown Chicago. CRFC will provide lodging and reimburse travel expenses up to $200 for participants outside the Metropolitan Chicago area.

NOTE: One of the featured decisions will be the focus of the 2008 Equal Justice Under Law fall semester program. Participation in the Supreme Court Update institute is not required to participate in Equal Justice Under Law.

FEATURES AND HIGHLIGHTS

• Learn how and why the U.S. Supreme Court hears certain cases.
• Examine the facts, constitutional questions, and precedents for two recently decided U.S. Supreme Court cases. Learn how judicial decisions affect state and federal public policy.
• Interact with law professors, former U.S. Supreme Court clerks, and other legal experts who will share their perspectives and demonstrate ways in which resource people can support classroom teaching.
• Acquire practical experience in interactive strategies helpful for teaching students to discuss and deliberate controversial issues and promote their understanding of the Supreme Court and its cases.
• Receive classroom-ready lessons for teaching historical and current U.S. Supreme Court decisions from Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago, Constitutional Rights Foundation, Street Law Inc., and other law-related education leaders.
• Earn 12 Continuing Professional Development Units (CPDUs) for the institute.

INSTITUTE SITE
The Institute will take place at the offices of the Illinois Supreme Court in downtown Chicago. Participants will receive curriculum materials, continental breakfast, and lunch.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Apply on-line here
The application Deadline is May 19, 2008.
If accepted, you will be asked to pay the non-refundable registration fee of $100 by May 30, 2008.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information, contact Nisan Chavkin (chavkin@crfc.org, 312/663-9057x206).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This institute is a program of the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago. Support for this program is provided in part by the Stuart Family Foundation and Illinois LEARN. CRFC gratefully acknowledges the Illinois

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2008 DELIBERATING IN A DEMOCRACY (DID) INSTITUTE FOR HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATORS

Sunday evening - Tuesday afternoon
July 13-15, 2008
The Hyatt Lodge at McDonald’s Campus
Oak Brook, IL

What is Deliberating in a Democracy?
Deliberating in a Democracy (DID) improves the teaching and learning of democratic principles and the skills of civic deliberation. Since 2003, over 200 teachers and 4,000 students in the United States and in the Newly Independent States of the former Soviet bloc have used DID to gain skills and insights when discussing democratic problems. Results from the evaluation of the 2006-2007 year show that over 86% of the students said that the deliberations increased their understanding of the issues; 80% had a greater ability to state their opinions; 76% developed more confidence in talking about public issues; over 50% talked with members of their family about the issues; and 67% talked with peers outside their class about the issues.

What will I be able to do after this 2.5 day institute?

• Conduct an effective deliberation using the Structured Academic Controversy model developed by DID;
• Differentiate between discussion debate and deliberation;
• Understand how deliberation is key to democracy;
• Access materials on controversial issues developed by DID;
• Understand multiple perspectives on controversial issues and examine ways to introduce your students to multiple perspectives.

Who should attend?
High school teachers of

• Government
• Law
• Global Studies
• World History
• Contemporary American Problems
• Related courses

What will I receive if I am accepted?

• Room and board at the summer institute;
• Innovative curricula and resource materials free of charge;
• Professional/personal relationships with like-minded colleagues across Illinois

Are there other benefits?
YES. Teachers in Illinois are eligible for two additional options:

• Participation in the 2008-2009 Chicago area DID program throughout the school year including future professional development sessions, student videoconferences, and travel to partner countries
• Attendance at the annual Illinois Law-Related Education Conference free of charge on November 7, 2008.

How do I apply?
Apply on-line here
The application Deadline is May 19, 2008.
If accepted, you will be asked to pay the non-refundable registration fee of $100 by May 30, 2008. For more information, call Ms. Tawny Lane at CRFC (312/663-9057).

Acknowledgements
This institute is a program of the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago. Deliberating in a Democracy is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools Awards #Q304A040003 and #Q304A070005. CRFC gratefully acknowledges McDonald’s Corporation for hosting this institute.

Last updated: May 1, 2008