Registration for the Best Practices Institute is Open
The Best Practices in Social Studies Institute is designed to support Iowa teachers in implementing Iowa's new social studies standards. There will be two strands- elementary and secondary, to provide specific support around the inquiry and content expectations of the standards. Attendees will attend an all-day elementary or secondary workshop on one day of the institute and have the opportunity to attend breakout sessions on the other day of the institute.
Dates: June 19-20, 2019, 9AM to 4 PM each day
Location: Johnston Middle School (6501 NW 62nd Ave. in Johnston, IA)
Who: Open to any pre-service or in-service social studies teacher or to those who support social studies teachers.
Cost: Free
Other: Registration closes June 1. License renewal credit will be available. Go here for more information.
REGISTER HERE
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Elementary Keynote: Noreen Naseem Rodriguez, Iowa State University
Noreen Naseem Rodríguez is an assistant professor of elementary social studies in the School of Education at Iowa State University. She works with teachers, school districts, and national organizations to develop culturally relevant and culturally sustaining social studies curriculum and to critically engage with diverse children's literature. Her research focuses on pre- and in-service teachers of color and preparing future elementary teachers to foster more inclusive renditions of U.S. history and citizenship. Her scholarship has been published in peer-reviewed and practitioner journals such as Theory & Research in Social Education, The Journal of Children’s Literature, Literacy Today, and Social Studies & the Young Learner. Before becoming a teacher educator, Noreen was a bilingual elementary teacher in Austin, Texas for nine years and earned her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on social studies education from The University of Texas at Austin. |
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Secondary Keynote: Joel Breakstone, Stanford History Education Group (SHEG)
Joel Breakstone directs the Stanford History Education Group. He received his Ph.D. from the Stanford Graduate School of Education. Along with Mark Smith and Sam Wineburg, he led the development of SHEG's assessment website, Beyond the Bubble. He received the Larry Metcalf Exemplary Dissertation Award from the National Council for the Social Studies in 2014. He holds a B.A. in history from Brown University and a M.A. in Liberal Studies from Dartmouth College. After college, he taught high school history in Thetford, Vermont. His research focuses on how teachers use assessment data to inform instruction.
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World War I Workshop with $40 Stipend
The Gilder Lehrman Institute will be offering a FREE one-day workshop in Des Moines on May 11th from 9 AM to 3 PM to commemorate the centennial of World War I. Please note that this is a different date than was originally advertised. Teachers who attend will hear a lecture from an eminent professor about WWI, receive training from a Gilder Lehrman master teacher on resources to teach about World War I and receive a $40 stipend and free breakfast and lunch. Teachers will also receive free classroom materials. The workshop will take place at the Gold Star Museum in Johnston. Go here for more information and to register. To view a flyer about the event go here.
National Humanities Center Seeks New Members for Teacher Advisory Council
The National Humanities Center is currently accepting applications for the 2019-20 Teacher Advisory Council This 14-person cohort contributes to the Center in a variety of ways during this one-year appointment by representing the needs and goals of the current humanities educator and classroom. Each position comes with a modest stipend and includes a funded 2-day orientation at the Center in Durham, North Carolina in October.The deadline for submission is May 6, 2019, and the term of service starts on August 1, 2019.
https://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/education-programs/teacher-advisory-council-2019-20/
Results of CivXNow Research
The CivXNow Coalition recently surveyed over 7,000 teachers, researchers, parents, students and more about what we need to improve civic education across the country. You can see the network map they created to share the results here.
2018-2019 Webinar Learning Series
This year, we offered a series of seven webinars to support learning about Iowa's new social studies standards. You can view recordings of all those webinars here.
Are you an Early Childhood or Elementary Teacher?
If so, the National Council for the Social Studies would like to connect with you. You can follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NCSS.EC.ELE/, Twitter at @EcNcss, and Instagram at ncss.ecele.community.
American Historical Association (AHA) Releases New Guidelines
The AHA recently released new guidelines for states to consider as they are adopting history standards. See the full list here.
Article: Americans' Ignorance of History is a National Scandal
This article, from The Washington Post, explores American knowledge of history and why the lack of that knowledge is detrimental to us a country.
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Iowa Educator Selected as National Geographic Grosvenor Fellow
Stacey Snyder, a teacher from Waterloo, was selected as one of 45 teachers across the nation to be a Grosvenor Fellow. For Stacey, this means traveling to Antarctica in the fall. Read more about the fellowship here. Congratulations Stacey!
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Orange Elementary in Waterloo Advances to National Finals of GeoChallenge Competition
A team of students from Orange Elementary School participated in the 2018-2019 National Geographic GeoChallenge and have qualified for the national finals. The submission “Spork Not Forks” by the four-person fifth grade team from Orange Elementary in Waterloo named No SACS in the Ocean. The team of Sam Brasch, Adrian Lucas, Claire Vandersee and Sebastian Dalbey, qualified for the regional level of the GeoChallenge and came in first place at their regional site at the University of Northern Iowa on March 29, 2019. Their project, “Sporks to Forks” has eliminated over 200 pounds of single use plastic as they successfully promoted the use of metal silverware in place of plastic straws and sporks. As a regional-level winner, the team received a $1,000 cash prize and support for the team members and their coaches to travel to the national competition in Washington, D.C., on May 19-22. The team that wins the national competition will receive a $25,000 team prize, plus support and guidance from National Geographic staff to implement the team’s GeoChallenge solution. Learn more at NatGeoEd.org/GeoChallenge.
What is a Vote Worth?
This new resource, from the Frazier History Museum, showcases the 2020 celebration of the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage and the 55th anniversary of the voting rights act. There are several inquiries on the site that would be ideal for teaching the suffrage movement, women's history, and voting rights. You can access the site at http://whatisavoteworth.org/.
Votes for Women
Votes for Women: The Story of the Nineteenth Amendment guides students the story of the women's suffrage movement in the U.S. The resources includes narratives, primary sources activities, and classroom-ready lessons. Check it out here.
Taking Across Political Differences
This resource from The Teaching Channel provides several resources for having productive discussions in the classroom.
WWI Resource: Who They Were
Who They Were is a project-based activity that engages students in exploring their community's World War I history and invites them to participates in the World War I Centennial Commemoration. You can find out more here.
Follow an Around the World Adventure
Iowan Chris Gourley is spending the next 15 months sailing around the world to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. He is photographing the journey. Go to www.svsky57.com to see the videos he has posted. (Click on the red “YouTube icon” on the webpage). This could be a great way to expose your students to the journey and help them see parts of the world.
Teaching American History Launches New Website and New Resources
Check out the new TeachingAmericanHistory.org website here. Their website contains hundreds (if not thousands) of resources and has a special focus on the use of primary source documents in teaching American history. They have also released new Core Documents books on The Bill of Rights and the American Presidency.
Psychology Resources from Iowa Teachers of Psychology
Do you teach psychology? The Iowa Teachers of Psychology not only put on a great conference, but have so many amazing resources to share with you. Check out their website at https://sites.google.com/view/itopconference.
New iCivics Game
iCivics recently launched a new game called Sortify. The goal of the game is to see how much you know about what it takes to be a citizen in the United States. Check out more information here.
A Map of Every Building in America
This is such a cool resource, especially for teaching geography. Literally, this site includes a map for every building in America. Check it out here.
In Case You Missed It- Women's History Month Resources
This document was shared in March, but if you missed this extensive resource on teaching women's history, it's not too late. You can teach women's history throughout the year. :)
New Financial Literacy Lesson Plans for K-5
Iowa State University Extension has released a series of lesson plans for K-5 teachers aligned to Iowa's new financial literacy standards. All the lessons are FREE. You can access them here.
New Resource from Ken Burns
This new resource from Ken Burns explores history through several themes. These include triumph and tragedy, innovation, hard times, and many more. Check it out here.
New Iowa History Resource
The anniversary of the Clark v. Board of Directors decision was this past year. This was a landmark Iowa Supreme case which desegregated courts. Check out this video that was created to celebrate the anniversary of the case.
The American Yawp
The American Yawp is a free online textbook and primary source reader on American history.
Iowa Watch
Iowa Watch is an independent, nonprofit and nonpartisan news service dedicated to news important to Iowans. Check out their website here.
American Geographical Society Library
The American Geographical Society Library includes over 1.3 million items. The collection ranges from maps, atlases, books, photographs, and geospatial data. You can access K-12 resources here or the entire website here.
Digital Civics Toolkit
The Digital Civics Toolkit is a collection of resources for educators to support youth to explore, recognize, and take seriously the civic potentials of digital life. Access the toolkit at http://www.digitalcivicstoolkit.org.
Teach Japan
If you teach about Japan, or would like to, this site offers extensive resources. These resources include categories such as Stories and Literature, Warrior Government, Tea Traditions, Artistic Techniques, and much more.
Teaching Washington?
If you are teaching about George Washington, Mt. Vernon has several resources that may be helpful. These include:
Extensive List of Summer Opportunities Nationally
This list outlines over 100 opportunities for social studies professional development. Most are entirely free.
Iowa State University Summer Institutes
Iowa State University is offering several institutes this summer that support social studies. Each workshop is available for license renewal credit. You can find more information here. These include:
- Inquiry and Iowa History in Elementary Social Studies
- Integrating Women into the 9-12 US History Curriculum
- Czechoslovakia from Invasion to Revolution
- Five Myths about the Holocaust
- Teaching Iowa History and the New Social Studies Standards
- Critical Approaches to Teaching Children's and Adolescent Literacy
- The Civil Rights Movement in Iowa
Holocaust Remembrance Day
April is Genocide Prevention and Awareness Month and Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) will be observed on May 2. These upcoming events ask us: how do we interpret the various ways of memorializing events and people, and what does it mean to remember? Join Facing History and Ourselves on April 29 as they consider these questions with short films, lesson ideas, and poetry to bring into your classroom. Check out their website to get more information and to register.
Harvard University Case Study Method Workshop
Harvard University has created several case studies based on U.S., world history, and government topics. Their next in-person workshop is September 22-24, 2019. They also an online option if you are just interested in learning more about the curriculum. If you attend the in-person workshop, you have to provide your own transportation, but lodging, meals, materials, etc. are paid for. Find more information about this method here. Apply to attend the workshop here.
Upcoming Workshops in Prairie Lakes AEA
- Culturally Responsive Teaching: EdTech Edition - May 9 in Storm Lake
This one day workshop will start looking at the basic tenets of culturally responsive teaching coupled with digital tools and resources that support them! The first part of the day will focus on creating a common understanding and processing, the second part exploring and discovering new tools and strategies, and the third part operationalizing and action planning. Learn more!
- Book Study: Zaretta Hammond's Culturally Responsive Teaching & the Brain
This 5-week book study will start May 28 (after Memorial Day) and run through June, giving participants a weekly opportunity to participate and make learning collections with colleagues. This book study will also be available for License Renewal credit. Learn more!
- Social Justice Lesson Design Summer Course
This two-day class will be held in Pocahontas on June 18-19. Sign up is not yet available, but please mark your calendar if you are interested in a license renewal course in which we will dig deeper into how to lesson design in any content area with the social justice standards lens.
The Lincoln Forum
Each November, The Lincoln Forum awards four scholarships to educators currently teaching U.S. History in an elementary, middle, or high school in the United States. Teachers of other curricular areas will be considered if they can demonstrate how their work connects with the study of Abraham Lincoln. This scholarship covers the cost of registration for the symposium, three nights lodging, meals, and travel reimbursement. Applications must be received by June 30. Go here to apply.
Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program
The Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Short-Term Program for U.S. Teachers (Fulbright DAST) sends expert U.S. K–12 teachers and educators to participating countries to support projects identified by U.S. embassies and Fulbright commissions in schools, teacher training colleges, government ministries, or educational non-governmental organizations. The Fulbright DAST Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX. Check out their website for more information and to apply. The application deadline is May 6.
Project Citizen Workshop in Nebraska
Project Citizen is an interdisciplinary curricular program for middle, secondary, and post-secondary students, youth organizations, and adult groups that promotes competent and responsible participation in local and state government. The program helps participants learn how to monitor and influence public policy. In the process, they develop support for democratic values and principles, tolerance, and feelings of political efficacy. The workshop will take place in Nebraska City, Nebraska on June 4th. Find out more here and register here.
Religious Freedom Center Summer Institute
The Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum Institute and the National Council for the Social Studies invite you to join us at the Newseum in Washington, DC to:
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Increase professional competence related to the disciplinary concepts and tools of religious studies as an academic discipline.
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Increase personal confidence in teaching about religion in constitutionally appropriate ways that engage key stakeholders in your school context.
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Develop working relationships with leading religious studies subject matter experts and curricular resource providers.
The institute will take place July 9-11 in Washington D.C. Find out more here.
2019 World Food Prize Norman Borlaug Poster Contest
To further increase interest in STEM education, the World Food Prize have launched a new opportunity for Iowa high school art students to create a poster depicting some aspect of Dr. Borlaug’s life, work, and legacy. The winning art piece will be used as the focal point of the 2019 Borlaug Day Poster and shared with classrooms all across our state to inform students about Dr. Borlaug’s great humanitarian life-saving achievements. The World Food Prize will be accepting submissions through May 30, 2019. Interested students may find more information on our website at www.WorldFoodPrize.org/PosterContest. All high school students interested in participating can submit their own unique piece of art that encapsulates their vision of the future of food, agriculture and food security with the hope of instilling inspiration for their peers to move towards careers that will support the global initiative of a food secure world. The unveiling of the 2019 Borlaug Day poster will take place at the 2019 Iowa Hunger Summit on October 14.
Scholarships to Attend the National Jump$tart Conference
Are you passionate about building financial capability and find yourself constantly brainstorming and conjuring up ways to bring personal finance education to more students? If so, Next Gen Personal Finance has an amazing professional development opportunity for you! They are awarding 20 scholarships for classroom teachers to attend the Jump$tart National Educator Conference in Washington, D.C. from November 1-3, 2019! To apply for a scholarship, submit a response to the prompt below using the Jump$tart NEC Scholarship Application link. The application deadline is Friday, May 3.
Outstanding Social Studies Teacher of the Year
The annual NCSS Outstanding Teacher of the Year Awards recognize exceptional classroom social studies teachers for grades K-6, 5-8, and 7-12 who teach social studies regularly and systematically in elementary school settings, and at least half-time in middle or junior high and high school settings. Award winners receive $2,500, complimentary one-year membership in NCSS, and present a session on their work at the NCSS Annual Conference, and up to $500 in transportation/lodging reimbursement to attend the Annual Conference. Check out their website for more information. The application deadline is May 31.
Award for Global Understanding Given in Honor of James M. Becker
The Award for Global Understanding Given in Honor of James M. Becker recognizes a social studies educator (or a team of educators) who has made notable contributions in helping social studies students increase their understanding of the world.The award includes a $2,000 cash award, a session to present at the NCSS annual conference; complimentary NCSS conference registration; and up to $700 in transportation/lodging reimbursement. Check out their website for more information. The application deadline is April 30.
FASSE Christa McAuliffe Reach for the Stars Award
In 1986 the Christa McAuliffe Reach for the Stars Award was established to help classroom teachers "reach for the stars" and achieve a dream that under ordinary circumstances would not be fulfilled. The Fund for the Advancement of Social Studies Education (FASSE) was created in 1984 by the Board of Directors of the National Council for the Social Studies. The purpose of the fund is to support research and classroom application projects which improve social studies education, foster enlightened citizenship, and promote civic competence.The purpose of the $2,500 grant is to help a social studies educator make his or her dream of innovative social studies a reality. Grants will be given to assist classroom teachers in: 1) developing and implementing imaginative, innovative, and illustrative social studies teaching strategies; and 2) supporting student implementation of innovative social studies, citizenship projects, field experiences, and community connections. Check out their website for more information. The application deadline is May 31.
Constituting America
Constituting America is working to collect essays from Iowans about Iowa and our thoughts on the following topic: Reserved to the States- Boundaries on Federal Government for the Flourishing of the American People. We would like the essays on the states to cover a brief history of the state’s admission to the U.S., some history surrounding the state's Constitution and any other information the essayist feels is interesting and significant, as part of our 90 Day Study on the role of the states in our system of government. There is no set word requirement or limit. Publication dates have some flexibility. Contact Amanda Hughes at Amanda@ConstitutingAmerica.org.
Stefanie Rosenberg Wager
Social Studies Consultant
21st Century Skills- Civic and Financial Literacy
World Languages
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 standards, website, Iowa Core Social Studies, newsletter, calendar, Pinterest
Financial Literacy website, newsletter, Pinterest
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