• Civic involvement
• Methodology
• Connecting constructivism and citizenship
• Teaching challenges
• Building consensus and closure
• Student challenges
• Informal assessment
• Getting started
• Forming groups
• Students' presentations
• Lessons learned
• Advice to other teachers
• Newark mayoral campaign
• Remaining neutral
• His background

Jose Velazquez: I would recommend that a teacher begin with actually having students articulate what they feel the issues are. I’d advise them first of all to have students follow the news closely. I’d advise them to investigate the various programs of the various candidates so that students are familiar with the candidates, both personal, biographical information as well as what the candidates stand for. Politics sometimes is dirty business and the media may focus on things that are not issues but more about personalities and scandals. You want to be able to keep the kids focused on issues.