Students will meet weekly to discuss the assigned reading/topic and any outside research they may have. This conversation will be largely driven by the chapter themes they found the most interesting. The teacher will act as a guide, asking thought provoking questions and balancing the conversations.  Each week students will have between 10-15 guide questions to help with comprehension. These questions may be turned in weekly for grading, no additional cost. Many of the questions will be reviewed in class as well, as time permits. Students will be charged with coming up with one additional thought question per chapter to ask their peers and engage in conversation. It is these thought questions that will guide most of our conversations. I have found that  asking students to invest in their learning by coming up with  questions and engaging directly with peers significantly increases critical thinking skills. Students are encouraged to share their responses and any supporting materials during the class discussions. They may also post their thought questions in the classroom prior to class.
Students will be provided a weekly array of articles, videos, websites, or book suggestions to further explore the topic at hand. Any required items will be listed and provided for. The class is heavily conversational in nature. Students are encouraged to turn on their cameras as much as possible. Students can choose to communicate via chat if needed. No prior knowledge is required for this class however it is helpful for students to have a foundational base to pull from regarding major US events, people and themes.  A private link for the second semester of this course will sent to parents approximately two weeks before the class ends.