Frequently Asked Questions
   Fasttrack Civics
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What is Fasttrack Civics?

   Fasttrack Civics is a 168 page interactive learning guide with a matching Internet site for middle school Civics students.  It guides students and teachers through the essential facts, concepts, and vocabulary found in the Virginia Standards of Learning for middle school Civics and Economics.
 
   It is now sold as a master page binder along with a school or district wide site license that gives permission to photocopy its pages for students.

   Fasttrack Civics uses a graphics-rich and interactive design that helps students of all backgrounds build a solid foundation of knowledge and skills.  It has been used in hundreds of classrooms and by over 25,000 students in schools all across Virginia.
 
   The project was developed by a veteran Civics teacher eager to make the subject more engaging and personally meaningful for students.  It favors a strategy that blends direct instruction of core knowledge with wide opportunities for student directed learning and skills development.


What academic skills does the book emphasize?

   Fasttrack Civics emphasizes active student engagement in:

  • developing a core vocabulary of essential concepts and vocabulary.
  • developing an understanding of the historical roots of key Civics concepts.
  • developing skills for analyzing current political and economic issues.
  • developing an appreciation for the responsibilities and duties of citizenship.
  • developing skills in using Internet technology in their studies.
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   Just as importantly, students practice all year long how to take notes and keep an academic notebook binder neatly and well organized.  It's a skill that is too often neglected in our digital era, but one that will help students enormously not just in your classes, but also in later grades and in college. 


What support is available for teachers and students using Fasttrack Civics?  

   The Internet support site has a full set of Teacher Key pages for each section.  These are sized so they can be projected on a large screen for the note taking parts of your classes, and for activities and class discussion based on the pages.

  The site also has many additional resources, including PowerPoint presentations on Civics and economics topics, unit review questions, and interesting links to other Internet sites.

   Be sure to click on the link for Tips for Teachers for suggestions about using Fasttrack Civics in your classroom most effectively.

Does it align well with the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs)? 

   Yes, it follows the SOL for middle school Civics and Economics very closely.  It also includes some additional material to flesh out certain topics more effectively.

Click here for SOL correlations (2008 standards and numbering)

    The Virginia DOE 2015 revisions to the 2008 Civics/Economics SOL documents made some tweaks, but as the DOE told division superintendents in a January 2017 memo, "the changes are not substantial."  So our Second Edition of this title remains a very close match to the current state standards. 


What about the cost?

   Fasttrack Civics is now available in a master page binder format that includes all 168 pages of the study guide, printed one-sided on heavy paper for easy photocopying.  These are $75.00 each, plus shipping.  Your school will need at least one of these, but may want to order one for each of the main Civics teachers.

   With the master page binder you will also need an annually renewable school or district wide site license that allows the pages to be photocopied for students as desired.  The modest license fee supports maintaining the Internet support site and all its resources for your school's students, teachers, and parents.  A school wide site license for this title is currently $250.00 / year.  Please contact us for a quote if you wish to purchase a district wide license.

    Please click on the link for Prices and Ordering on this title's home page for more information.


Can I copy the pages for my students, without a current site license?

   To copy pages from Fasttrack Civics for your students, you must have a current school or district wide site license, which is annually renewable.  The license fee goes toward maintaining the Internet support site.  We operate on the honor system so that students and teachers can access the Internet support site without the hassle of sign-ins or passwords.  Please keep your site license current.  Copying the materials without permission is a violation of one's honor as a teacher, of copyright law, and of academic ethics.


How do we renew our school's site license?

   Submit a Purchase Order request to your finance office for "Annual school wide site license renewal for use of Fasttrack Civics printed materials and web site by teachers and students."  The yearly renewal fee for this title is $250.00 for a school wide license.

   Once the P.O. is approved, send it to our office via email attachment or regular mail.  We will send a new site license certificate to place in the plastic sleeve in the front of your master page binder for this title.  Please call or email us if you have any questions.


May we place a link to pages on this web site?

   Teachers are welcome to place links from their own teacher web pages to this title's home page, to a section main page, or to other specific pages.  You may not, however, take or copy content to transfer to your web pages.  (Just like in a museum: You may visit and have your students visit, but you are not allowed to steal the exhibits!)

How can I get more information?

    Please contact our office in Springfield, Virginia, by phone at:  (703) 644 - 4612, or by email at:  ftm.contact@verizon.net

Click here for the main index page to see our other titles.