Meet Our Very Own Susan Dosemagen!

Susan Dosemagen makes up the other half of the Social Studies Department. This is her first year at Catholic Central High School. Before CCHS, Susan taught at Union Grove High School, Washington Park High School, and Westosha Central High School in long-term subbing positions. She received her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Journalism from University of Wisconsin- Madison, her master’s degree in Journalism from Northwestern University and is one credit away from her master’s degree in Teaching from Cardinal Stritch University. At Catholic Central she teaches 20th Century U.S. History, World History, and U.S. Government. In addition to that, she is also the Student Council and Model UN advisor.

As a high school social studies teacher, it is her goal to help all students become interested, informed and active members of society. For this to happen, she feels that it is her duty to show students the relevance of history and the relationship between the past, present and their future. These connections stimulate interest and ignite a desire to learn. She aims to find ways to make learning more hands-on and exciting for students, especially through student-led projects.

In 20th Century U.S. History, students recently completed class videos detailing the rise of the Third Reich. For this project, students had complete control over the entire process: researching the topic, writing the script, filming “historians” and recreations of events, and editing and producing the video. They will also later have the opportunity for more hands-on activities, such as: class debates, presentations, Socratic seminars, and other projects. As this class is a graduation requirement, so is their senior thesis. Each student will select a topic from the 20th century that they would like to research for a culminating thesis project.

Picture of students filming a “historian” interview for their Rise of the Third Reich film.

Check out one class’s Rise of the Third Reich video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC7DnurdN_k&feature=youtu.be.

In U.S. Government, the class takes a student-led approach to learning the functions and importance of government. While discussing the executive branch and election process, students participated in their own school-wide election for president of CCHS. Each candidate, with the support of a campaign team, created a website complete with posters, videos, platform stance explanations, and editorials supporting their candidacy. Through the remainder of the class they will also participate in debates, the creation of their own state, and a courtroom simulation in which students will have the opportunity to play the role of lawyer, plaintiff, defendant, or others.

Picture of students working together to organize their election campaign.

Screenshot of candidates’ campaign sites.

In World History, students learn about important people and eras of the past while making comparisons to modern times. Students complete projects where they create visual representations of their topic to then share with the class. As this is a year-long course, students will have many opportunities to research topics and create projects. Upcoming plans include recreations of ancient times, a look at Roman and Greek Mythology, Socratic seminars, group presentations, and more creative projects.

Students working together on group presentations.

If you have any questions about Susan Dosemagen’s classes or would like to hear more about what is happening in the classroom, please call or email. Her school phone is 262.763.1510 ext. 206 and her email is sdosemagen@cchsnet.org. Go Toppers!