What is Congress in the Classroom®?

What Do Participants Say About the Program?

Session Titles, Presenters, and Presentations, 2010

Selected Presentations, 2009

Selected Presentations, 2007

Online Application

Contact



Endorsed by the National Council for the Social Studies

What is Congress in the Classroom®?

Congress in the Classroom® is a national, award-winning education program now in its 19th year.  Developed and sponsored by The Dirksen Congressional Center, the workshop is dedicated to the exchange of ideas and information on teaching about Congress.

Who Should Attend?

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 to take part in the program.

What Will I Learn?

Although the workshop will feature a variety of sessions, the 2010 program will feature a broad overview of Congress with special attention to the mid-year elections of 2010. 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.

Throughout the program, you will work with subject matter 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.

“Until now so much of what I did in my class on Congress was straight theory—this is what the Constitution says,” noted one of our teachers. “Now I can use these activities and illustrations to help get my students involved in the class and at the very least their community but hopefully in the federal government. This workshop has given me a way to help them see how relevant my class is and what they can do to help make changes in society.”

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 the federal legislature.

When is Congress in the Classroom®?

The 2010 workshop will be held Monday, July 26 - Thursday, July 29, at Embassy Suites, East Peoria, Illinois.  

What Do Participants Say About the Program?

Comments from teachers who participated in recent workshops:

"The program exceeded my expectations. Each presenter was quick to present a fresh perspective and new material which will change my presentations and instruction on our government. I have been revitalized. Thanks so much for the experience."
Leigh Sullivan, Greene County Tech, Paragould, AR

"Congress in the Classroom® provided a tremendous amount of in-depth insight into a topic that I use to not only instill institutional understanding, but also to inspire leadership ambitions among my students. The conference did the same for me!"
Shanna Shipman, Limestone Community High School, Bartonville, IL

"This was a fantastic opportunity to be exposed to such quality speakers. It served to re-energize me as an educator and sparked new, creative ways for me to engage my students in the teaching of Congress."
Joan Moore, St. Joseph School, Pekin, IL

"Thank you for allowing me to attend. This conference will raise the level of my teaching for my students. I will also be able to share all of this information with fellow teachers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
Tammy Ripley, Morristown West High School, Morristown, TN

Comments from participants in past workshops:

"I am delighted that I have had the opportunity to be a part of this workshop and I appreciate the work of the Dirksen Center in making it possible.  I’m sure that these four days will have a significant impact on my work as a teacher."                        Joe R. Colley, Martin Luther King, Jr., High School, Lithonia GA

"Congress in the Classroom® was a tremendously productive program for me.  The presenters brought a wealth of personal experience to the topic of Congress, and how to most effectively tech complex ideas and concepts to my students.  The materials are exceptional and will most definitely be used in my classroom.  The opportunity to collaborate with teachers from around the country on “best practices” was the icing on the cake."
Susan Cole Mullis, Frederica Academy, St. Simons Island GA

"This was a wonderful experience for me.  I grew as a person and as a teacher.  I thank you for including me even though I’ve taught for so long. . . .  I cannot wait to share what I’ve learned with the other teachers in my building."                      Anonymous

"This has been a great experience and I’m leaving full of new contacts and armloads of resources for my classroom."
Jenny McIntosh, St. Catherine’s School, Richmond VA

"This conference was amazing! I met a ton of interesting people and got a TON of resources for the classroom."                     Sara Piotrowski, Plainfield Central High School, Plainfield IL

"Congress in the Classroom® is a must do for all government teachers.  It was the most valuable experience I have encountered thus far in my continuing teacher development." 
David Geisel, Trinity High School, Camp Hill PA

"Congress in the Classroom® provides an excellent, well rounded study on Congress.  Thanks for a wonderful learning experience." 
Lana Burns, Cy-Fair High School, Cypress TX

"There were so many bits of helpful information that will help me convince students to be more active citizens.  I came away with a renewed sense of the importance of my efforts to train active, informed citizens."  
Rick Williams, Judah Christian School, Champaign IL

"Congress in the Classroom® is the best program I have done in years.  Everything was extremely pertinent to the teaching of AP government and I am excited about talking back what I have learned." 
Meybe Carr, St. Joseph's Catholic School, Greenville SC

"In the eleven years of teaching, this was the BEST workshop I’ve ever attended. The most beneficial part was listening to former fellows, professors, and people ‘in the know’ on the Hill. I will recommend this workshop to everyone in my department. It was just great."
Ellen Fox, Ridgefield High School, Ridgefield, CT

"The resources and information that I acquired at this conference will certainly be used and has left me very inspired for the upcoming school year."
Loreen Prinz, High School for Public Service, Brooklyn, NY

[Addressed to presenter Jeffrey Weinberg] " Dear Mr. Weinberg, Thank you very much for your presentation at “Congress in the Classroom” seminar. Of all of the presentations, I found yours the most engaging and interesting. I honestly would have sat there, listening and asking you questions, for hours more! What was most helpful was putting “legs” on the textbooks I’ve read. In conveying to us the variety of procedures, tactics etc… used in the White House, by different Presidents, in relationship to the OMB was quite informative. I feel much better equipped after only one hour with you. Thanks for the resources. It will be great to have students examine and analyze these sources. They will come out richer, as I did."
Randy Smith, Naperville Central High School, Naperville, IL

"As a repeat participant, I know the value of everything I learned in the previous experience and can already see what I can use immediately. But mostly, the time spent with professionals-whether a fellow teacher or presenter or staff member-reinvigorates me and gets me excited about returning to the classroom this August." Lori Dumerer, RL Turner High School, Carrollton, TX

"Until now so much of what I did in my class on Congress was straight theory-this is what the Constitution says. Now I can use these activities and illustrations to help get my students involved in the class and at the very least their community but hopefully in the federal government. This workshop has given me a way to help them see how relevant my class is and that they can do to help make changes in society." Angela Bogenschutz, Middletown High School, Middletown, OH

"I truly will use the ideas and knowledge gained. I will incorporate the web ideas, the classroom activities, and information. This workshop energized me and I'm excited to begin the year using the ideas gained."

How Much Will It Cost?

Participants are responsible for (1) a non-refundable $125 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 $30,000 and $35,000 to host the program each year.

Will I Receive Credit for the Course?

The program is certified by the Illinois State Board of Education for up to 22 Continuing Education Units. The program also is endorsed by the National Council for the Social Studies.

Deadline

We are now accepting applications for the 2010 program. Enrollment is competitive and limited to forty.  Selection will be determined by The Center.  Individuals will be notified of their acceptance status by April 30, 2010.  Click here to go to the on-line registration form. For more information, contact: 

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

Session Titles, 2010

• The View from Capitol Hill
  Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL, 18th District) INVITED
  
  
• Congressional Insight
  A team-oriented, highly interactive simulation of a Congress member’s first term CONFIRMED
  
  
• The Congressional Time Line Project
  Frank Mackaman and Cindy Koeppel, The Dirksen Congressional Center CONFIRMED
  
  
• Can Congress Ever Be Poplular?
  Elizabeth Theiss-Morse, University of Nebraska-Lincoln CONFIRMED
  
  
• Memo to a New Congress Member: How to Set Up Your Office
  Congressional Management Foundation INVITED
  
  
• Help for Teachers from the Office of History and Preservation
  Kathleen Johnson, Historical Publications Specialist, Office of History and Preservation, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives CONFIRMED
  
  
• Teaching with Primary Sources
  Cindy Rich, Project Director, Teaching with Primary Sources, Eastern Illinois University CONFIRMED
  
  
• The Five Best New Books on Congress
  Teacher Panel CONFIRMED
  
  
• Election 2010: Why Do Voters Vote the Way They Do?
  Andrew Civettini, Department of Political Science, Knox College CONFIRMED
  
  
• The Ten Most Important Things to Know about Congress
  Frank H. Mackaman, The Dirksen Congressional Center CONFIRMED
  
  
• How to Get Your Point Across to Congress Members
  Stephanie Vance, Advocacy Associates, Washington, DC CONFIRMED

Selected Presentations, 2009

What follows are links to presentations by speakers at Congress in the Classroom 2009:

The Ten Most Important Things to Know About the U.S. Senate
Betty K. Koed, Associate Historian, United States Senate Historical Office

Among the myriad topics related to understanding the U.S. Senate, Betty K. Koed, Associate Historian, United States Senate Historical Office, offers her version of the ten most important facts or observations about the "upper house." Serving as the Senate's institutional memory, the Historical Office collects and provides information on important events, precendents, dates, statistics, and historical comparisons of current and past Senate activities.

The Ten (Really Twelve) Most Important Things to Know about the House of Representatives
Ray Smock, Director of the Robert C. Byrd Center for Legislative Studies, Shephard University, Shepherdstown, WV

Ray Smock, the director of the Robert C. Byrd Center for Legislative Studies at Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV, served as Historian of the U. S. House of Representatives, 1983-95. His list identifies the distinguishing characteristics of the House

Selected Presentations, 2007

What follows are links to presentations by speakers at Congress in the Classroom 2007:

Rules, Rules, Rules: Congress Relies on Them -- MS Word Remarks, MS Word Appendices
Don Wolfensberger, Director of the Congress Project, Woodrow Wilson Center

A nationally known expert on the rules which govern the House of Representatives, Wolfensberger will examine how the Democrats have changed the way the House operates now that they have the majority.

How to Get Your Point Across to Congress Members -- PowerPoint Presentation
Stephanie Vance, Advocacy Associates

How do you break through the "noise" to communicate with a member of Congress? Ms. Vance has the answers. She advises clients on how to reach Congress people effectively by understanding how congressional offices function and process information. She will introduce her online advocacy course - something you can use even after the workshop ends.

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

Although the next presidential election is more than a year away, presidential candidates are already developing their strategy for winning around the Electoral College, not the popular vote.  What the candidates must do to prevail in the Electoral College vote.

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

Senate Historian Baker has written The New Members’ Guide to Traditions of the United States Senate which serves as an orientation to the traditions and precedents of the Senate. It is a must read for newly elected Senators and covers such topics as seniority, Senate furniture, Senate decorum, and the Floor Leaders’ right of prior recognition among many others.

Questions?