Happy Teacher Appreciation Week
You matter! Each and every day you impact the lives of students. Sometimes the impact is immediate and sometimes you don't see the impact of what you do for years to come, but always know the work you do each and every day is valued.
"It is greater worker to educate a child, in the true and larger sense of the world, than to rule a state. " -William Ellery Channing
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 2018 Best Practices Institute - Registration Closes Soon
The 2018 Best Practices Institute is taking place June 20-21 in Des Moines at Grand View University. This year's institute will directly address implementing Iowa's new social studies standards. Participants will have the chance to learn from Dr. Tina Heafner on one day of the institute and attend breakout sessions on the other day of the institute. Breakout sessions will be targeted to elementary and secondary audiences. Elementary examples include Real People, Real Stories, Really Amazing Books, Anchoring a Text Set Into Unit Design, Iowa History at Your Fingertips, and much more. Secondary session examples include Tech for the Social Studies Classroom, Become a National Geographic Certified Educator, Tools for Teaching Contemporary Global Issues, and much more. Check out the full schedule here. To find out more information or register go here. One license renewal credit will be available. Registration closes June 1st.
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 Professional Development Opportunities in Iowa this Summer
There are a wealth of opportunities for professional development for Iowa teachers this summer. Please take advantage of all of the wonderful opportunities available. Check out this document which outlines several of these opportunities. They include:
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Iowa State University Summer Institute- Iowa State University’s School of Education is offering its first annual Summer Institute! The Summer Institute provides workshop opportunities for practicing educators for which participants can earn licensure renewal credit. The cost of the workshop is $85.00 per licensure renewal credit. This summer we are offering workshop opportunities in technology, the Next Generation Science Standards, effective classroom management, the New Iowa Social Studies Standards, and literacy. Information about each workshop opportunity for the Summer Institute 2018 can be found here. For registration information, please contact Heidi Doellinger at hldoell@iastate.edu
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Teacher's Law School- This workshop is sponsored by the Iowa chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). It will take place at Drake University on August 6th from 9 AM-4 PM. Topics include issues in the Iowa Supreme Court, search and seizure, the 2nd amendment and the importance of the American jury system. To learn more or register, go here. Lunch will be provided and teachers will have the opportunity to win prizes.
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Workshop on the Middle East- The Council on Middle East Studies is coming to Iowa to do a two-day workshop on teaching about the Middle East. The workshop will take place August 13-14 in Des Moines from 9:30-4 pm each day. Teachers will receive free books, resources, and breakfast and lunch each day. Register here. Check out this flyer for more information.
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Teaching and Learning Iowa History- This online asynchronous course takes place from June 1-30, 2018 and offers two strands- the Civil Rights Movement and Anti-Black Racism in Iowa or Iowa Indians and Struggles for Sovereignty and Representation. Participants can take the course for free for no credit or earn 1, 2, or 3 license renewal credits. There is a face-to-face component on June 15 and attendance at this is required to earn the 2 or 3 credits. Go here for more information.
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Teaching Iowa History with Local Resources- This workshop takes place June 18-19 at the Pella Historical Society. The workshop focuses on strategies for using primary sources to engage students, build critical thinking skills, and construct knowledge. Go here for more information.
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Iowa Ag Literacy Foundation is offering several workshops around the new standards and how to integrate agriculture and social studies.
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Last Chance to Apply for James Madison Legacy Project- Stipend Offered
The James Madison Legacy Project (JMLP) is a three-year nationwide initiative of the Center for Civic Education that aims to increase the number of highly effective civics/government teachers through engaging professional development. Participants will spend four days on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa engaging in discussion with experts in Constitutional principles and government concepts. In addition, a master teacher will provide sessions on how to best incorporate this new learning in your classroom. Participants will then spend a follow up weekend (Friday night/Saturday) finalizing their learning and discussing implementation of what they learned. This date will be determined based on what works for the cohort. Apply today to be part of cohort 4 of the James Madison Legacy Project. Please note that the cohort is limited to 15 participants. Three license renewal credits will be offered. Apply here.
PD Being Offered at National Resource Centers
National Resource Centers provide various kinds of support related to international or global education. In many cases, the resource centers offer professional development. Check out this list of the upcoming professional development being offered.
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Last Chance to Submit a Proposal for the 2018 Iowa Council for the Social Studies Conference
The 2018 Iowa Council for the Social Studies (ICSS) conference takes place October 1st at the Prairie Meadows Events Center. This year's conference theme is "The Journey Continued: Your Place in the Standards." ICSS seeks a variety of proposals; particularly those which highlight how individuals, districts, or organizations are thinking about the standards or which share resources related to the new standards. Go here for more information and go here to submit a proposal.
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Article Addresses Loss of Social Studies
This article from the Cedar Rapids Gazette examines whether a focus on other subjects are creating less of a focus on social studies and why that matters.
Writer's Workshop at State Historical Museum
Share this information with any students who are interested in writing! Join the ranks of Nathaniel Hawthorne and Edgar Allan Poe and learn how to write short fiction when award-winning author Stephanie Hemphill of Chicago returns to the State Historical Museum of Iowa June 11-15 for this year’s Young Writers’ Workshop. You’ll take a private tour of the museum’s vault, select an object from the archives and weave a short-short fictional story about Iowa history using no more than 800 words. You’ll cap off the week by giving a public performance of your story and celebrating at a reception with family and friends. Go here for more information.
Danville Connection to Anne Frank- You're Invited
Anne Frank exchanged pen pal letters with a student in Danville, Iowa. Danville has since started the Danville Station Library and Museum to honor the connection between Danville and Anne Frank. Check out this story about the connection. On May 24th at 6 pm Danville is hosting Eva Schloss for a meet and greet and to celebrate the connection between Danville and Anne Frank. Eva is a Holocaust survivor of Auschwitz and the step-daughter of Otto Frank. Check out more details here.
Chance to be Awarded Book Sets about the Holocaust for Your Classroom
A BOOK by ME [abookbyme.com] is a book series created in the Quad Cities. The true stories (primarily of WWII subjects) are written and illustrated by children for children.There are dozens of titles available at the bookstore link on the top right hand side of the home page. Check out the promotional video here. Donors will provide book sets of 20 titles to educators who request them on a first come, first serve basis. Please fill out this request form and you will be considered for this opportunity.
Teacher Appreciation Day at Living History Farms
As a thank you to all of the teachers who put in the time and effort to bring learning to life for their
students, we’re offering free admission to all teachers who present a school ID on Friday, June 22.
If you’ve never been to Living History Farms with your students, come out to preview what the
museum has to offer. Or if you’ve already visited many times with students, enjoy exploring at a
leisurely pace. Education staff will be on hand to lead short informational sessions on incorporating
an educational visit or program into your classroom. Take a special behind-the-scenes tours of our
historic collections. To sign up for the exclusive tour, email education@LHF.org.
Holocaust is Fading from Memory, Survey Finds
This article from the New York Times outlines information from a recently released survey showing that many adults lack basic knowledge about the Holocaust and its impact. Check out this article which addresses this issue.
CultureALL Open Book Project
Read any good people lately? Let’s turn the page on diversity & inclusion. OPEN BOOK promotes social cohesion and inclusive communities by using dialogue to create greater understanding between people. BOOKs are people in our community who have been labeled. They are prepared to tell you their personal experiences. READERs are your employees, colleagues, customers, neighbors, and others who attend an Open Book event to hear their stories and engage in intimate dialogue. The Open Book Project is taking place June 23-24 from 1-4 pm as part of ArtFestMidwest at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
Senator Grassley Q & A on Importance of Library of Congress
Senator Grassley recently spoke about the qualities of the Library of Congress and why it holds such national importance as a center of knowledge and learning. Check out the article here.
 Bring Students to Iowa Ideas Conference
If you want to have a voice in shaping the future of Iowa, Iowa Ideas is for you. We'll convene to explore key issues, discover solutions and connect Iowans to state leaders. During a day and a half of learning together, attendees will hear a variety of perspectives from Iowa and beyond, take in a keynote luncheon and have plenty of opportunities to network. The Thursday sessions will be available for high-school field social studies field trip groups and teachers are able to return for Friday sessions at no added cost! Allow your students to engage with concepts related to taking informed action and applying civic virtues and democratic principles. You can view a flyer about the event here and more information about how the conference will help address Iowa's new social studies standards here.
Details:
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When- Sept. 20-21, 2018: Thursday morning through midday Friday
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Where- Downtown Cedar Rapids: The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cedar Rapids Convention Complex
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High School Field Trip Opportunity- Thursday Sessions ($8.00 per person, transportation is not provided byThe Gazette)
Check out some of the ideas they will be exploring here.
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Humanities in Class: Thinking and Learning in the Humanities
The National Humanities Center recently published a document which unpacks what thinking and learning look like in each area of the humanities such as geography, history, art, and literature. You can access the PDF version of the publication here. You can access the resource as an iBook here. Find out more and see additional resources here.
Todays Meet is Shutting Down- Here are Six Alternatives
Today's Meet, a popular tech tool to have backchannel discussion, is shutting down. Richard Byrne, however, has offered six alternative tech tools. Check out the list here.
New Choices Unit on Japanese Incarceration in WWII
Japanese American Incarceration in World War II draws students into the history of Japanese American incarceration in the United States. To better understand this history, students examine U.S.-Japanese relations before World War II, the varied experiences of incarcerated Japanese Americans, and the ways that members of the Japanese American community and others in the United States have remembered and continue to remember incarceration. Check out the resource here.
New Vote Smart Blog
Vote Smart has released a new blog which keeps you up to date on their work to capture information on local, state, and national candidates and their votes.
Question Formulation Technique and the Use of Primary Sources
This blog post outlines how teachers might use the Question Formulation Technique (QFT) as they use primary sources with students.
Rise Up: The Movement that Changed America
This new documentary from the History Channel explores the key battles in the Civil Rights Movement that transformed American society–from the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955 to the Chicago Campaign which led to the Fair Housing Act of 1968. The special will uncover what it took to translate protest into real legislative change. Check out the teaching guide here.
Fighting for the Right to Fight Field Trip
This electronic field trip from the National World War II Museum offers students the opportunity to explore African American experiences during World War II.
Native Land
Would you like to know whose land you are on? Native Land allows you to type in your location and determine which Indigenous languages, treaties, and territories are related to that location.
Skype a Journalist Into Your Classroom
The Pulitzer Center is offering a new opportunity to Skype with journalists. Their journalists can speak to a range of international issues. Go here to learn more.
New Publication for Psychology Teachers
The Society for the Teaching of Psychology (STP; APA Division 2) has published a new e-book on Promoting Psychological Science: A Compendium of Laboratory Exercises for Teachers of High School Psychology. The e-book is available online at http://teachpsych.org/ebooks/promotingpsychscience. The e-book provides lab exercises for most of the topics taught in a high school psychology course. The exercises were created by a dedicated group of high school and college teachers. Each of the exercises provides students with the opportunity to plan and carry out investigations utilizing laboratory procedures just as would occur in biology, chemistry, and physics courses, including suggestions for data analysis and the preparation of lab reports.
New Resource for Teaching about the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
The Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation has released a new guide called Uprising, which provides several resources for teaching about the Warsaw ghetto uprising. Check out an overview here and the guide here.
Share My Lesson Resources on Immigration
Share my Lesson has a curated list of resources on teaching about immigration. Check it out here.
Equity in Social Studies Resource
Equity and social studies is often defined through two lenses. One- that students get access to social studies as we often see a lack of access at the K-5 level, and two- that when students do get access that the curriculum reflects all students and teachers are having discussion of topics related to social issues as it relates to the experiences all students have. Check out this article written by Paul Gorski and Katy Swalwell, a professor at Iowa State, that addresses the idea of equity literacy. Also check out these resources from the Knowledge Matters Campaign which were put together in reaction to the release of the 2017 NAEP results. The panel which responded to the 2017 NAEP results suggested a need for a reading reset and emphasized the need for greater access to science and social studies in order to see better results.
Five Resources for Teaching the American Revolution
Richard Byrne (Free Tech 4 Teachers) recently released a list of five cool resources for teaching the American Revolution. Check out the full post here. They are:
Formative Assessment Resources
Check out this collection of resources from the Center on Standards and Assessment Implementation on lesson planning with formative assessment in mind. The resource includes several templates and guidance about formative assessment as well as model lesson plans in social studies, and other content areas.
Teaching the Vietnam War
Check out these resources from PBS on teaching the Vietnam War and these resources on how Iowans remember and experienced the Vietnam War.
WikiWhere Geography Game
Wikiwhere is designed to test your knowledge of major cities and their geographic locations. Five rounds are played and points are awarded based on how close your guess is to the correct geographic location.
Model Diplomacy Simulation
Model Diplomacy is a National Security Council simulation that engages students to understand the challenges of shaping and implementing foreign policy. The simulation uses hypothetical case studies based on real-world issues and content informed by Council on Foreign Relations experts.
Be Washington Simulation
Mount Vernon has launched a new simulation called Be Washington. Pick from four scenarios to play. Check it out here.
Digital History Resources
Check out this blog from Craig Perrier which identifies 12 digital resources for teaching a global or world history classroom. These include the transatlantic slave trade database, historiography, and more.
2018 Civic Calendar
Download a copy of the 2018 Civic Holiday Calendar from the National Constitution Center. The calendar highlights civic holidays and notable historic events with several interesting facts and pieces of information as well.
New Core Documents Book Released
TeachingAmericanHistory.org has released a new core documents book on the Cold War. These primary source books are all free. Check out the Cold War book here.
Media Literacy Resource
The Sift, a newsletter from the News Literacy Project, is a great resource to stay up to date on whether things that go "viral" are true or not. The newsletter also shares several resources to help students discern fact from fiction. Check out the most recent issue here. Subscribe to the free newsletter here.
Living History Farms Teacher of the Year
Do you know an outstanding teacher who brings history to life for his or her students? If so,
nominate them for the Living History Farms’ Teacher of the Year award. The teacher must be a
K-12 teacher in Iowa and must utilize a tour or program offered by Living History Farms.
Winning teachers receive a commemorative plaque, free admission to Living History Farms’ fall gala
event Farmstasia, a gift certificate to use towards a tour for his or her students next year, and an
ad hoc position on the LHF Education Advisory Commitee.
Nominate a teacher here.
Here are a few resources to celebrate Asian/Pacific American Heritage month.
Stefanie Rosenberg Wager
Social Studies Consultant
21st Century Skills- Civic and Financial Literacy
Iowa Department of Education
Grimes State Office Building
400 E. 14th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone: 515-725-7842
Cell: 515-419-2876
Fax: 515-242-5988
Email: stefanie.wager@iowa.gov
Social Studies Website, Calendar, Iowa Core Social Studies, Newsletter, Diigo, Pinterest
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