I am conflicted. I usually offer my students extra credit for watching the SOTU address

[demtenjeep]

but I really don't want them to watch all the lies that dotard will be spewing tomorrow night.


Maybe I will ask them to list pros and cons and their feelings of them?

I don't know...

any advice?

[Pantagruel]

1. Ask them to fact check

should keep them busy for days

[Cha]

25. That's a good idea.

[ehrnst]

37. YES!!! (nt)

[Kajun Gal]

2. Give em an "A" for boycotting it!

[LenaBaby61]

9. "Give em an "A" for boycotting it!"

My next door neighbor whose a school teacher told me that his class of 38 8th graders told him last Monday that to a person that they weren't going to be watching the State of the Union Address because they said that the president is a liar, racist and doesn't care about our country (They're mostly African-American & Hispanic students).

Today he told me that ALL 38 8th grade students told him AGAIN that the president is a liar, racist and that he doesn't care about our country. He said he's not going to force them to watch.

Good on him

[lunasun]

31. Smart kids !!

[BigmanPigman]

3. What grade are they in and what is the class?

[Takket]

4. if you ask them to watch it...........

make sure they watch the democratic response as well. Have them pick out one statement made by both men and make it a project to do their own fact checking to verify or prove false a claim for each side.

We all know how that is going to turn out...........

[MadDAsHell]

5. They're adults, Id treat them as such.

You’re enforcing the snowflake myth if you attempt to “protect” grown adults from hearing bad ideas.

[TheMastersNemesis]

6. Certainly Have To Be Careful In Your Position.

Probably would not encourage or discourage it. It is a no win situation in today's charged political environment. I do not envy you.

[rickford66]

7. Make it a drinking game.

They won't remember the lies on Wednesday.

[IluvPitties]

8. Colleague, let them watch it.

They need to be engaged in the political process... at least if there is going to be any hope for the future.

[demtenjeep]

10. its an 8th grade SS class with a Civics piece

I like the fact check piece.

Maybe I will just have them write down questions they want clarified and then on wed we can look up the true facts

[mascarax]

11. Extra credit for watching Joe Kennedys response?

Then pick a topic to contrast? (No doubt they’ll be many to pick from!)

[demtenjeep]

14. that is a great idea

I think this is the route I will go

[Ms. Toad]

19. I was about to suggest something similar. n/t

[moriah]

35. Watching both and writing a thematic compare/contrast?

I don't know if you'd feel this was beyond the non-GT kids who need the extra credit, but perhaps just for "evidence they watched" have them name 2-3 issues each speaker focused on, and one issue both addressed with each speaker's stance on the issue summarized?

It'd at least be "balanced" insofar as having your students watch both speakers, and I don't think parents could be offended by strict analysis of what was said and the credit being awarded no matter what was said (edit to clarify, which issues they chose to mention, as parents may help on this) as long as it was clear they watched.

[underthematrix]

12. Don't mention it.

[Kirk Lover]

13. I know...I'd skip it this year and keep my fingers crossed for next. n/t

[democratisphere]

15. Provide extra credit if they don't watch the sotu.

[briv1016]

16. Have them factcheck the first 5-10 minutes. Due Friday.

Checking 50+ lies should keep them busy.

[pnwmom]

17. You could give them extra credit for watching it AND Joe Kennedy and Maxine Waters.

They have to watch all 3 to get credit.

[Hekate]

18. Ask them to critically analyze it as a work of propaganda, and to rate the half-truths, untruths. ..

...and truths (if any) that are in it. Compare with Dem responses (Kennedy and Waters).

Even in the 8th grade there should be rich fodder these days for teaching critical thinking to them.

[benld74]

20. Newspapers print the next day

Make it a reading assignment

Easier on the ears

[JI7]

21. unless they are expecting it just don't offer it this time around

maybe give some other extra credit assignment . maybe something involving separation of powers and checks and balances. since this is just 8th grade nothing too complicated.

[GulfCoast66]

22. You have an obligation to be consistent

Do what you have always done.

[MichMary]

36. +1

Doing otherwise just give more fodder to the RWNJs.

[edbermac]

23. Surefire way to make them watch.

[rownesheck]

24. Please...

don't offer anything for them watching. Offer them extra credit for a 1500 word essay which outlines the parallels between the rise of Hitler and the rise of Trump. It should scare the hell out of them, but you could become the subject of a rwnj parent's facebook rant which may get you in some trouble.

[dewsgirl]

26. My son is in 8th grade and is in Civics

Although I know the teacher leans left, he appears terrified of touching this mess. I can't really blame him, with everything so politicized right now.

[Sanity Claws]

27. Credit in comportment?

Maybe you could give them credit for not throwing something at the television while watching. That shows Ninja-grade self-control.

But, really, don't do it. You don't want their minds poisoned.

[Trueblue Texan]

28. You could offer them credit for...

...watching the Stormy Daniels and Jimmy Kimmel interview!

[Vinca]

29. Have them watch the Democratic response as well.

Trump's "message" cannot be left to stand alone. (I hope you realize watching Trump read a speech might be construed as cruel and unusual punishment. LOL.)

[WhiteTara]

30. You've got this. nt

[Proud Liberal Dem]

32. Give them extra credit

just for being able to watch the entire thing.

[dsc]

33. you could have them watch Trump and one of the responses

[lunasun]

34. If their parents are boycotting it at home they will learn why if they ask to turn it on

Also if you offer extra credit for the dem response and they come back and tell you there was none on TV , you know what channels they had on at the home

[demtenjeep]

38. I offered it. They can get credit for watching and WRITING what they hear

more extra credit for writing what they feel

and more extra credit for watching either Maxine Waters or Joe Kennedy III

I told them anything was fair game but no bullshit because I will be watching too

They can even criticize the way he comports himself because they are in public speaking