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Civic Blueprint for High Schools

 

scheduling & planning

The teacher or administrator who serves as the School Coordinator for a Speakers in Schools event will use the checklist and timeline provided below as a guide to executing a successful event.
View and print a complete copy of the School Coordinator Checklist & Timeline.


Selecting & Requesting a Speaker (5-6 weeks out)
Booking the Speaker & Making Arrangements (4 weeks out)
Preparing Your Students (1-2 weeks out)
Day of Event
After the Event


Selecting & Requesting a Speaker

5-6 weeks out
Choose the speaker and topic you would like to book from the Overview page.
Submit the online Speaker Request Form. You will receive a response from the Freedom Project within 4 business days indicating whether you can proceed with booking your selected speaker.
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Booking the Speaker & Making Arrangements

4 weeks out (with one form due no later than 2 weeks out)
After receiving confirmation from the Freedom Project that you may proceed with booking, contact the speaker.
Describe your school's community, as well as student interests, backgrounds and abilities.
Discuss the timeframe, focus and format of the event; share your expectations.
If both you and the speaker are prepared to proceed, confirm the date and time of your event.
Use the Speakers in Schools Event Confirmation Form to capture important information detailed in the bullet points that follow. **Submit this form via fax to the Freedom Project no later than 2 weeks prior to the event.**
Address how you can best prepare your students for the event; inquire about any materials the speaker may suggest your students review in advance of the event.
Describe the layout of the event space and determine all technology needs.
Discuss strategies for student interaction, as well as classroom management and culture.
Confirm how the class time will be structured with regard to introductions, presentation, discussion and/or Q&A.
Provide directions, parking information and check-in procedures; arrange a meeting place on campus.
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Preparing Your Students

1-2 weeks out
Provide basic information about the speaker's background and topic; pique curiosity by students to consider what they would like to learn from the upcoming experience.
Discuss your rationale for scheduling the speaker and how it relates to your curriculum.
Assign any relevant background reading from your curriculum, the Freedom Project or the speaker's suggestions.
Have students prepare a list of questions for the speaker, especially if anticipated student attendance is high and a Q&A session is included in the format.
Depending upon your curricular goals, identify or reinforce the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment, and how the speaker's topic will relate to any or all of these freedoms.
Consider using Freedom Project resources - or generate your own lesson - to maximize the event's potential to meet student learning objectives.
Discuss expectations for student behavior during the event.
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Day of Event
Confirm that your school's administration is aware of the speaker's arrival and that s/he will have no difficulty gaining access to the school grounds.
Meet or arrange for a colleague to meet the speaker upon arrival and escort him/her to the event space.
  Ensure that any technological equipment is set up and tested before the speaker arrives.
If possible, provide students with nametags so the speaker can address them by name.
Introduce the speaker, restating some of the biographical information you previously shared with students.
Be on hand to assist the speaker in responding to any potential disruptions and facilitating Q&A.
End by thanking both the speaker and students for their participation.
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After the Event
Discuss the event with your students.
Submit the online Post-Event Evaluation Form.
Introduce your students to the Take Action page on the Freedom Project Web site.
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