On the Freedom Trail

The last day of NCSS always seems a bit anticlimactic.  It a a great conference,  filled with dynamic speakers, interesting workshops and fun social events,  but it slowly comes to a close Sunday morning. Many people are heading out of town and sometimes it feels like you missed the last bus out of town. 

It is too bad because Ken Burns closed the conference out on a high note with him presentation. It was a nice end to what has been a great conference. I am already looking forward to New Orleans next November! 

After the conference,  we spent the day along the Freedom Trail.  Tony and I walked from Boston Common past such historic sites as the Old State House (site of the Boston Massacre), Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere's House, and the Old North Church.  We finished with a tour of the USS Constitution and a walk up to the Bunker Hill Monument. It was a day ful of Revolutionary history,  but it was a great day for a history nerd like me. It is hard not to feel patriotic when you are surrounded by so much history.

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We finished our night with a ride back to the convention center on Boston's bike share system . It has been a great time in Boston for NCSS 2014. Coming to events like this are what sustain me, my love for social studies, and our hopes for professional development in Washington. I feel energized, inspired, and ready to go back and do the real work. I am definitely committed to the civic mission of schools. 

Atlas Shrugged

Another exciting day at the NCSS conference in Boston. It was a day spent with colleagues from Washington and from across the nation. With few events happening tomorrow,  the conference has ended for us for the most part. Tomorrow and Monday will be some sightseeing and then we are back to the Evergreen State. We hope you will continue to check in throughout the next two days to see more of the WSCSS in Boston. 

Presidential Politics

An event I have looked forward to since I arrived at NCSS has been the Council Presidents meeting. I have been part of the WSCSS for eight years and we have taken some large strides forward in those eight years, but we want to do more. Coming to this meeting always gives me ideas about where we can go in Washington.

Hearing about partnerships between the department of education and the New York social studies conference or Connecticut and its new policy of "every student in social studies every year," give me ideas about where Washington can go in the future. The worst thing any organization can do is fail to bring in outside voices, and events like these are great for our organization to hear what is happening beyond our borders.

As we move forward this year and into next, the WSCSS is committed to growing into one of the preeminent state social studies organizations in the country. Seeing what other states are doing is part of that,  but so is hearing from our members. Hopefully many of you are ready to help us move forward. 

The 3 C's

My first session this morning after the House of Delegates is on the C3 Framework. In my own classes, I am constantly trying to get my students to be engaged and active in their communities. The C3 Framework is a good guide for how to get my students to examine issues and then translate their learning into action.

This year I took over the AP American Government and Politics class at Todd Beamer High School, and I began the class telling the students that this is the one class in which everything we do will have a real world connection. Every one of my students will  soon become full fledged citizens of the United States and part of the Federal Way community. This means the will have expanded responsibilities to go along with their expanded rights. I have a firm belief that I am training them for future leadership of our country and take seriously what we do.

The entire conference has reminded me of the value of what I am doing and the support that NCSS has for teacher like me. I have been frustrated with all of the focus on monetary benefits of education. While students will need to earn a living, they will not earn that living in a authoritarian regime in which they will work and not think. Instead they will be asked to think and then act. They will be needed to be prepared to do both the job that pays their bills and the job that supports a Liberal democracy.

The C3 Framework brings the focus back on the fact that civic life cannot be left behind on the path to college and career.

The Future Looks Bright

The NCSS conference is always a bit of a marathon. Last night there were receptions, followed by the annual dance, and then time out with colleagues to collaborate on ideas for the WSCSS. This morning we are up early to go back to the House of Delegates and hearing from more candidates and then resolutions.

There are some amazing teachers here at NCSS.

Listening to the speeches of the candidates for the different NCSS offices. The social studies has some great leaders willing to step forward and try to change the profession. Social studies has been long neglected, but I think this group will help make it part of the conversation going forward.

Democracy in Action

The NCSS House of Delegates is one way I can put my civic engagement money where my active citizenship mouth is. I think I am one of the few people that actually enjoys seeing how democracy works. It usually includes a lot of sitting,  a lot of listening and very little talking, but it is the best way to get things done. 

Today we heard the budget, committee reports, and some rousing speeches from the vice presidential candidates. It will be an exciting day tomorrow with elections and resolutions. 

Social studies is not preparation for life, it is life itself. 

Civics and Social Justice

I have often thought about my roles as a teacher as distinct and separate. In one role I am an American Government teacher. I am focused on getting my students to be engaged and active citizens and to take advantage of their rights and fulfill their responsibility. In my other role, I am an AVID teacher, trying to help many of my students be the first in their family to go to and graduate from college. I am trying to support their future aspirations and give them access to the American Dream. Today, as I was sitting in my session on closing the civic education opportunity gap, I came to the conclusion that my two roles are actually part of the same mission.

The session was very powerful and quickly outlined how civic engagement is also a social justice issue. The voices of those most in need are often the ones that go unheard. If we look at many of the issues of dysfunction in our society, much of it comes back to the fact that we have a government in which too few are heard, and they are often saying the same thing. As the presentation went on, I was inspired by all that is being down to help close the civic engagement gap and encourage all students to get involved. It made me hopeful that over time, more voices that feel empowered and understand their rights and responsibilities will help us toward a more a more just America.

My role as an AVID/Government teacher are the perfect combination in order to advance an agenda of social justice. AVID helps my students understand the path to economic self sufficiency. It helps them to succeed in school and college, helping them to find the career  they desire. Government helps them to understand that life is about more than just their own interests and that they have responsibilities in a Liberal democracy. By striving to do my best in both roles, I can help support the development of the whole child, to guide them in creating an engaged and fulfilling life for themselves and their family. I can give them both the means and the tools to change the future.

While in the session, one of the members of the the panel mentioned that her mother always added someday to the end of the pledge of allegiance. I too hope that my work will lead to a nation, "with liberty and Justice fo all...someday." I just hope it will make someday become someday soon.

The Gluttony of Social Studies

One of the best parts of the NCSS national conference is the exhibition hall. There is everything a social teacher could ever want to door buy all in one room. There are more lessons plans for every topic than 1000 teachers could teach in a 1000 classrooms in 1000 days. It is a bit overwhelming. 

Teaching Civic Engagement

I love teaching government. I have always identified as an active citizen and a politics lover and I want to encourage a similar passion in my students. Coming to Boston, where the focus is on the civic mission of school, I am hoping that I am going to get some new ideas to bring back to Washington. As president of the WSCSS, I am hoping that we can continue to support the civic mission of school in our own state.

The session was a good overview of where civics education is, what are the best approaches to civics instruction and the best civic education that is happening in classrooms across the country. Walter Parker was definitely the highlight with some great analogies about trees, a solar system, and nachos. I definitely was reminded of the need to continue to come back to topics I have covered in my government classes. Walter talked about the spiral of instruction, in which classes come back to topics with multiple examples and in multiple ways, which encouraged me to continue to come back to the Constitution, the separation of powers, and individual rights over and over again.

I also deeply enjoyed the discussion of the in classroom research on what good government classes look like. Everyday I wish to get my students to engage in the ideas of the day. The best days are the ones where I talk the least and the students talk the most. It is good to know that this is what the best of government classes should look like.

What would you put over the door of all American schools to instill the values of civic engagement and citizenship in all students? Great question to end on.

In the Beginning

One thing is certain,  I am glad I registered before I came here. The line is out the door to sign up today.

The fun now begins with picking what session I am going to go to first. Both the mission of the conference and my own as I teach American Government, is civics education. Throughout the weekend,  I am going to try and attend anything I can about civics and improving how I teach it. 

I am off to the first session. I will type up a brief review when it is finished.  

The Night Before Social Studies Christmas

After a day of travel, we are now ready to go for NCSS 2014.  The National Conference is always a bit like the holidays for a social studies teacher. It is a chance to learn, to connect to other teachers, and to further the profession. I always look forward to the conference and what I will take away from it all. The holiday begins tomorrow! Check in to see what it holds.

Adventures with Mr T

Tony and I have made it to Boston without any major incidents. We will now embark on one of my favorite urban adventures, navigating public transportation in a new city. I used to be anxious about public transportation,  and I hardly ever rode it in growing up. I quickly lost that fear after two successive trips to Asia.  If you think it is hard to navigate in a city in the US, try doing it in a city without Roman script. But after following the Red Line, to the Red-Orange Line to the Fuscia Line in Tokyo (also with Tony Jonas), I love getting on mass transit in whatever city I land in.

In Boston, the newest adventure will involve Mr T (The T being the name of Boston subway system). The last time I rode it, when I was in town for the Boston Marathon,  I had a positive feeling (in spite of all of the Bruins fans fresh off a playoff loss), so I am excited to see where the adventure takes us. Next stop is the convention center and NCSS. 

The Road to Boston Begins

Tony and I have made it to Sea-Tac and are on the plane to Boston. I have been excitedly following the twitter hash tag #ncss14 to see all of the great things going on today before we arrive. I would encourage you to also check it out to see what is happening throughout the weekend. It is shaping up to be a great conference. 

The Boston Marathon

The hardest part about going to NCSS is all of the preparation that it takes to be able to go. Unlike many jobs, a teacher cannot pick up and go without putting together plans for a substitute teacher. Many times it is easier to simply go to school than it is to make sub plans. As a teacher that wants to get the most out of every day of class, it is always hard for me to miss a day of school.

Yet while it is difficult to be away from my classroom, I am excited about all that I hope to learn while I am at NCSS. While it is a marathon of preparation to go to NCSS, it is going to be well worth the reward of being around colleagues, learning from some of the best in the nation, and coming back to school energized and excited. With the challenging times ahead, (the time between Thanksgiving and Winter Break is always the toughest three weeks for me) I am hoping that my time in Boston will give me the energy I need to get through.

Sub plans are finished, bag is packed, I am ready to head off to Boston. Keep checking back for more updates as Anthony Jonas and I get to Boston and start living the social studies teacher dream. 

NCSS 2014 - The WSCSS goes to Boston

This weekend, Anthony Jonas, WSCSS Vice President and I, will be in Boston representing the Washington State Council for the Social Studies. It should be an exciting weekend on one of the most history rich cities in America. While the two of us are in Boston, we will continue to post updates from the conference, historical adventures, and highlights from a packed schedule of events and speakers. 

NCSS is the world's largest and most comprehensive social studies professional development conference. Thousands of social studies from across the country will descend upon Boston to learn and grow as educators and collaborate with colleagues. I was able to attend the Seattle NCSS Conference in 2012, and I am excited for the chance to be part of such a powerful and meaningful event again. 

This is the first time that WSCSS members have had a live blog from the NCSS Conference. Even if you are not attending the conference, you can keep up with all of the great things that are happening and be encouraged to attend an NCSS Conference in the future. If the NCSS Conference and places like Boston, New Orleans (2015) or Washington, DC (2016) seem to far away, then hopefully our excitement about the national conference will encourage you to attend one of our local conferences. While not as large as NCSS, the WSCSS Fall In-service, K-8 Conference, and Chelan Leadership Retreat are just as powerful and meaningful for those who attend.

We hope that you find our live blog from NCSS Boston 2014 interesting, engaging, and a little bit funny and continue to check back on it regularly. Next stop, Boston!

John Hines, WSCSS President

November 2014: Upcoming Opportunities and Resources

Europe's Transformative 20th Century: 2014 Master Teacher Workshop

Tuesday, Nov 18, 5:00 - 8pm & Tuesday, December 2, 5-8 pm
Thomson Hall 317

Please join us for a two-part fall master teacher workshop on "Europe's Transformative 20th Century"!

Timed to coincide with the anniversaries of the start of World War I and fall of the Berlin Wall, this workshop will explore how Europe transformed from a continent of warring nations to one of peaceful unification and cooperation between 1914 and 1989.

The workshop will be held on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 and Tuesday, December 2, 2014 from 5:00-8:00PM in Thomson Hall, Rm. 317.

Participants who attend both the 11/18 and 12/2 sessions will receive six clock hours. The cost is $30 and includes clock hours, dinner, parking, and materials.  Fees are non-refundable. Space is limited and priority goes to full-time teachers. Register here: https://catalyst.uw.edu/webq/survey/cwes/249957.

For more information, please email the Center for West European Studies at cwes@uw.edu.

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 From Memphis and Mogadishu: The History of African Americans in Martin Luther King County, Washington, 1858-2014

UW Historians Quintard Taylor and Daude Abe recently completed a project about the history of African Americans in King County: 

http://www.blackpast.org/memphis-and-mogadishu-history-african-americans-martin-luther-king-county-washington-1858-2014 

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 The Hana–Stanford Conference on Korea

If you teach about Korea, we would strongly recommend that you apply for the 2015 conference.

 http://spice.fsi.stanford.edu/fellowships/the_hanastanford_conference_on_korea

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Teaching about the Holocaust: Seminar for Educators

November 14th, 5:00-8:30pm and November 15th, 8:30am - 3:30pm
Rochester High School, 19800 Carper Rd. SW, Rochter

Presented by the Washington State Holocaust Education Resource Center in partnership with the US Holocaust Memorial Museum.  Keynote speaker: Jeannie Opdyke Smith, daughter of Polish rescuer Irene Gut Opdyke, will share her mother's story.  Seminar will provide educators with the background information and tools they need to teach the Holocaust effectively in their classrooms. Geared to teachers in 5th grade and up.  Clock hours available.

Attend either or both days.  Registration required.  $20 registration fee (includes clock hours, dinner on Friday and lunch on Saturday).  

pace is limited!  Register Now!  

Register - www.wsherc.org

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Magna Carta trip to DC

Here is an opportunity for high school students to create a video for the 2015 celebration of the Magna Carta. Students in the US from grades 9-12 or their equivalent are eligible. The prize is a trip to DC for 3 days, 2 nights. Submissions are accepted between October 1, 2014 and January 15, 2015. See the attached flyer. For more information, contact Dee Lee at Dee.Lee@americanbar.org or 312-988-5659.

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EH Summer Institute for Teachers: Teaching American History Through Song

June 29-July 31, 2015

Songs are like time capsules, filled with messages from a moment in history.  They’re also fun to sing, making them an appealing and effective tool for the classroom.   The Center for American Music at the University of Pittsburgh, in partnership with the Society for American Music (www.american-music.org), is pleased to be offering its sixth five-week summer institute for K-12 teachers.  “Voices Across Time: Teaching American History Through Song” will be held from June 29 - July 31, 2015 at the University of Pittsburgh.  This Institute, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), will allow 25 secondary school teachers and three graduate students who intend to pursue careers in education, to explore topics in American history through the lens of music.

“Voices Across Time demonstrated the appeal and power of interdisciplinary learning. The extensive curriculum developed by the Center for American Music is easily implemented at any level, with rich bibliographies to encourage further research. Each week during the Institute we will focus on a broad topic in American history, utilizing popular songs as primary source documents. Carefully selected field trips along with historical live performances will offer uniquely engaging evocations of an historical context.

We encourage participation especially from middle- and high-school teachers of social studies or related disciplines, including history, geography, and language arts; other grade levels and disciplines will also be considered, and music teachers are welcome. Additional information, along with application materials, is available at www.voices.pitt.edu or email: amerimus@pitt.edu (please indicate NEH Institute in the subject line).  More information about the NEH and its programs is available at www.neh.gov.

A New Website

Photo Copyright Mikl

Welcome to our new website!  We have lots in store for you, but we hope this new site will make it easier for you to connect with other Social Studies teachers from around the state.  We've tried to keep the best of the old, but some of the new features include:

1. Conference registration and payment embedded within the site
2. The ability to share and download lessons from other social studies teachers
3. A new section on advocating for social studies at the state and federal level
4. Moving the listserv and newsletter to this blog format (that will also post to the WSCSS Facebook page)
5. Full mobile access

Please let us know what you think, and what you'd like to see by leaving a comment below!

Thanks, Your Washington State Council for the Social Studies

Seattle's Ghost Shorelines

The Burke has a great post about the history of Seattle's development and topography.  It would be a great resource for anyone teaching about Seattle geography or the interaction of settlers and Native Americans in Seattle's early years.  Check it out!

Use the C3 Framework to Meet Literacy Standards

Learn how to strengthen your social studies instruction while meeting literacy standards.  

Social Studies Educators... 

• Are you working with a team of social studies teachers who are charged with implementing literacy standards and looking for practical ways to accomplish this goal while also strengthening your social studies instruction?
• Are you interested in learning more about the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards to meet this challenge?
• Are there teachers in your building, department or social studies network who would be willing to meet monthly to get free tools, resources, webinars, and lesson plans to create engaging and powerful social studies approaches to meet the Common Core? 

If you answered YES to any of these questions, then read on to learn more about a free professional learning opportunity for you and your colleagues! 

50 Team Facilitators that meet project requirements will be selected to receive a $400 honorarium for use towards attendance at the 94th NCSS Annual Conference, November 21-23, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts. 

So hurry! The deadline to apply is: October 31, 2014. Selections will be made by November 14. 

Learn More and Apply

Council on Public Legal Education Flame of Democracy Award

Photo Copyright Alexis Grrrrr

The Council on Public Legal Education is accepting nominations for its Flame of Democracy Award, given to an individual, organization or program in Washington State that has made a significant contribution to increasing the public’s understanding of law, the justice system or government. The mission of the CPLE is to promote public understanding of the law and civic rights and responsibilities. Further information about the Council may be found at: http://www.lawforwa.org/civics-washington/council-public-legal-education

First presented in 2002 to the late journalist Richard Larsen, the award was established to highlight the important educational work being done by teachers, lawyers and judges, the media, and a variety of advocacy and community organizations and individuals. Past recipients have been the Yakima County Prosecuting Attorney's Office for its school outreach program, the Northwest Justice Project for its self-help website, the League of Women Voters Education Fund, teachers Rick Nagel and Stan Chalich, June Krumpotick of Legal Voice and Washington Supreme Court Justice Mary Fairhurst.

Nominations, which are due November 1, 2014, should be made in the form of a letter (maximum 500 words) describing the nominee's work and how it addresses the mission of the CPLE. The letter should also include the name of a reference who can provide additional information about the nominee. Supporting material may also be submitted. Self-nominations are encouraged. All nominations will be kept confidential.

Nominations should be addressed to Julia Gold, University of Washington School of Law, P.O. Box 85110, Seattle, WA 98145-1110.   Email submissions are acceptable, and may be sent to julgold@uw.edu