<p> We the People Unit/Group Practice Sessions 2013 Parent/Discussion Leader Guidelines *(Please refer to the Parent/Teacher Packet provided at practice times)</p><p>Note: Please be prepared to time student speeches with stopwatch, phone, or timer. Also please be sure to return the parent/teacher packet to the teacher before you leave a practice session so the next parent volunteer may use it. Thanks so much for helping!!!</p><p>*Student Responses & Participation: there will be certain students who speak out the most and seem to understand the topic better than others at first. We want the whole group to listen and learn from these students, and then begin to draw all members into the discussion by asking what opinions they have.</p><p>*General: Use about ½ of practice sessions through May 6 for polishing speeches, and the other half practicing answering/giving opinions on Judges’ Questions. Later sessions, particularly from May 15 and on, will focus more on answering Judges’ questions using historical and current events as examples, as well as discussing the Unit Important Ideas page and the Core Ideas page.</p><p>1) Practice and Time Speeches (see Speech & Judges’ Questions page of packet): Students will give speeches in number order from 1-5, etc. Help students with pronunciation, speaking loudly with heads up & eye contact, and smooth flow of speech without going too fast! Time each speech with a goal of maximum of 6 total minutes for all speeches.</p><p>2) Discuss Speeches Focus Points page so that all members of the group understand ideas from all questions/speeches, not just their own!</p><p>3) Judges’ Questions (these are not the exact questions judges will ask, but they will be similar): Students should all practice giving a variety of different opinions in response to these questions. There is NOT A RIGHT ANSWER. Students should state their opinion on the question, give their reasons based on ideas from their unit, and give examples from history, current events, and their own thinking. It is important that several students, if not all, in the group give a brief response to each question. Students should have different opinions from one another, not merely echo one another, and respectfully disagree. However, it is NOT an argumentative debate! Judges want to hear from all members of the group (or at least a majority of them), and do not want 1 or 2 people answering all the questions!  First, let students practice answering with their ideas based on their knowledge of the unit  Next, begin adding and suggesting current events and political issues that can be used as examples in their responses. This includes current issues at school, community, state, country, and world. Students should also be able to give examples from the US history they have learned this year.</p><p>4) Final Week: Review and have all students understand and discuss the unit’s Important Ideas, making sure they tie these ideas into their responses to judges questions.</p><p>Thank you again so much for your help with this important learning experience. Please find the revised parent volunteer schedule on the back of this page, and let us know if you have any questions.</p><p>Sincerely, Judy Steinmeyer (We the People Coordinator) & Michelle Jones</p>