Civics and history teachers: How are you bringing the 2020 election into your classroom?

Poll worker Wardell Chambers tears stickers Tuesday, March 3, 2020, while voting at Pine Hills Community Center in Memphis. (Max Gersh / The Commercial Appeal)

Guiding students through an election cycle is a big task in normal times. 

Social studies, history, government, civics teachers — we know you’re busy helping students understand the mechanics of the Electoral College, find ways to feel civically involved, and eventually process the results of the presidential race and local ones, too.

These aren’t normal times. Some of you are trying to reach students through a screen, and also connect this moment to the ongoing national reckoning about racism.

We’re looking for teachers willing to give us a peek behind the curtain, before, on, and after Election Day. How are you planning for the weeks ahead? Are there lessons you’re excited about or conversations you’re dreading? Do you have ideas you’d like to share with other educators? How has the pandemic changed your work? What are your students struggling to understand?

If you’re open to sharing, fill out the form below. (Elementary school teachers, we want to hear from you too!)

If you are having trouble viewing this form on mobile, go here.

The Latest

The district’s two STEM middle schools will launch a STEM Scholars program and create STEM Future Centers where students can go for academic support and hands-on opportunities.

The changes to the Detroit school district’s special education department will mean some students will be transferred to different schools for the coming school year.

The Trump administration cut a prestigious national award for STEM teachers, prompting a campaign to save it.

In a dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor called the decision ‘indefensible.’ Education Secretary Linda McMahon has said the job cuts are a first step toward eliminating the department, although a legal challenge to the layoffs can continue in the lower courts.

Despite the judge’s ruling, officials at American Paradigm Schools charter network, which operates Memphis Street Academy, say they expect to continue to operate the school this fall.

Students will be expected to demonstrate that they are global citizens and critical thinkers to graduate. How they will be assessed remains an open question.