Model United Nations & Global Current Events Club

Class
Erik, Professor, J.D, MS, BS
Popular
Average rating:4.9Number of reviews:(1,019)
Be a United Nations Ambassador and learn international current events, geography, politics, debate, & public speaking! Model United Nations is one of the largest academic competitions in the world! Offered each month with new topics!

Class experience

US Grade 5 - 8
I have ten learning goals for every student! 

1.  Model United Nations teaches every subject! In Model United Nations students learn geography, current events, international diplomacy and our Model United Nations topics include every topic from environmental affairs to military conflicts to space exploration! Students will explore a diverse number of subjects.

2.  Writing skills. Students will learn how to write Position Papers, Speeches and Resolutions for our Model United Nations conference. 

3.  Research skills. Students will role play a country in Model United Nations and research and learn everything about their assigned country. 

4.  Diplomacy and Negotiation Skills. Students must also learn skills in negotiating and discussing with others.

5.  Public Speaking. Students develop public speaking skills in our daily fun activities to prepare for our Model United Nations Conference. 

6.   Leadership Skills. Students role play as the Ambassador of their country and represent their country throughout our Camp in solving an international problem. 

7.  Problem Solving Skills.  At its core, Model United Nations is about problem solving. Students are presented with a global problem that they have to brainstorm, research, write, negotiate, discuss and ultimately create a solution or "resolution" that is agreed on by all countries. 

8.  Worldly Knowledge. Geography and International Affairs are often neglected in school curriculums but they are the most important subjects in a globalized world. Students will learn and appreciate diverse nations, cultures, and perspectives. Students will learn about global issues, problems and solutions. Students will put themselves in the feet of another country rather than their home country. Students will study current events on a daily basis. The United Nations is one of the most incredible organizations and our future will be determined by how we all work together. 

9.  College Preparation. Nearly every college has a Model United Nations Team and colleges often look towards extracurricular programs like Model United Nations.  Additionally. by learning Model United now, I hope you continue Model United Nations through college.
In addition to being a Model United Nations teacher, I was the New York City Model United Nations Global Classrooms Coordinator to help teachers and schools implement Model United Nations programs and curriculum. 

I have been involved in speech and debate as a student and educator my entire life.  I learned more in my Speech and Debate Club than all my high school, college and law school classes combined. I joined the Speech and Debate Team at my middle school because I was very shy of public speaking. I have been hooked in speech and debate since! 

I received my B.A. from U.C Berkeley, Jurist Doctorate from Hastings College of Law, and Masters Degree in Education at Pace University.  In 2002 I was accepted to Teach for America and I have been teaching since. I have been a public school teacher for ten years with the New York City Department of Education and taught speech and debate classes for about ten years with thousands of NYC students. My debaters have gone on to win city, state and national champion titles. I currently serve as Professor at Baruch College in the Communications Studies Department. I teach Debate and Argumentation classes as well as Political Rhetoric. 

As a teacher I helped to co-found the Big Apple Debate League which is now the NY Debate League. In 2011, I founded our city's Debate League with the mission that every middle school and high school should have a debate team. I served as Founder and Executive Director from 2011-2019 building the league into the largest citywide debate league in the nation, serving thousands of students every year.  In 2020, I left the nonprofit world, and I returned to my passion as a full time teacher! 

I have received numerous awards in education including the United States Supreme Court Summer Institute for Teachers Fellowship, Fund for Teachers Fellowship, Plank Foundation Fellowship, and Teach for America Innovation Award Finalist.

I love teaching. My grandparents, parents and my brother are all educators. There is nothing more fun than sharing your passion with others. 

My philosophy of teaching is learning should be fun and challenging.  I always begin my classes with current events trivia.  My lectures are interactive with movie clips, songs, puzzles and other engaging tools.  We always practice our public speaking and debate skills. All my classes end with a fun and competitive speech and debate practice or tournament.  My mission is all students should have access to speech and debate.

Press. Below are some news articles about me and my debaters! I owe everything to my own debate teacher and coach and so everyday my mission is to support future debaters! 

1. First Lady Michelle Obama Honors Erik and the Great Debaters
https://tinyurl.com/29u2cfpw

2. Bronx debate team one of 12 school groups nationally to get visit with Michelle Obama
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bronx/skilled-young-orators-heading-white-house-article-1.1203407

3. New York City Teacher Creates After School Debate League Lauded by the White House
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/11/prweb10156172.htm
Homework Offered
Students will be expected to research and write a Position Paper, which is a short essay. Estimated homework time is 2-4 hours per week.
2 - 4 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
1. Daily Trivia. Each class we start with trivia and questions about our countries and issues. 2. Model United Nations Conference. The class culminates with our own Model United Nations Conference.
Grades Offered
We will be discussing current events ranging from environmental issues to human rights to politics. Model United Nations Club will be offered each month with new topics! I understand that current events can be controversial. I have been teaching debate for about twenty years, I was a debater for another ten years, and I have founded and directed the largest debate league in the nation! So I have substantial experience in speaking and debating on issues of controversy. My rule of thumb and one of the first things I say in class and our number one rule: RESPECT - we respect all viewpoints, politics and perspectives. As a teacher I am not focused on what the politics of students are but focused on HOW students express their opinions - public speaking skills, writing skills, reading skills, presentation skills, debate skills and social skills of respect towards all others. Additionally, for any issues of controversy we always discuss other viewpoints and arguments so that students learn and respect different perspectives.

External Resources Statement: We will be using a variety of classroom tools, readings, links and other external resources. Please review the Materials section before signing up for this class.  These resources are optional. No accounts have to be created. All these resources are free.  All these resources have been vetted and used widely by students, schools and teacher. But I do recommend that students read, listen or watch some sort of news and current events for the class. 

Registration price includes current events reading materials which we will be using in class.  All reading materials are age appropriate and award winning current events resources used in thousands of classrooms nationwide. 
Popular
Average rating:4.9Number of reviews:(1,019)
Profile
Hi Everyone!  I have been involved in speech and debate as a student and educator my entire life.  I learned more on my Speech and Debate Club than all my high school, college and law school classes combined. I joined the Speech and Debate Team at... 
Group Class

$80

for 4 classes
1x per week, 4 weeks
60 min

Completed by 522 learners
Live video meetings
Ages 10-15
9-18 learners per class

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