Through Michigan State Universitys College of Education I have had multiple teaching placements in the Lansing-area, including my student

teaching, that reflect the diversity and manufacturing base of the Detroit-area. I use these similarities to make connections to the curriculum in both my government and economics classes. Although I do not live in the Detroit-area, it is an important part of my life as an educator in Michigan. In my Michigan history class at MSU I studied Detroits fascinating and complex history from the French settlers to the present. My students enjoy talking about Fort Detroit or the Detroit race riots because they know it is a part of their history as well. In order to make my economics class more relevant for my students I used excerpts from Upton Sinclairs book The Flivver King to talk about the history of the auto companies and their role in the economy today. During my unit on monopolies I focused on the Detroit-Windsor Bridge and the possible construction of a second crossing. Although my students and I do not live in the Detroit-area it is still a major part of our studies and who we are as Michiganders.