Public Review of the K-12 Social Studies Standards: Draft 2

At the State Board of Education Meeting in April 2019, the Board elected to begin the standards revision process for the K-12 Social Studies Standards. The proposed timeline for this process is:

• 2019-2020: Standards Exploration (Research, Creation, & Revision)
  • Anticipated approval by Summer 2020
• 2020-2021: Standards Installation
  • Implementation of EPF course with incoming freshmen in 2020-2021
• 2021-2022: Standards Implementation

Per SBE policy SCOS-012, the revision process is feedback-based, research-informed, improvement-oriented, and process-driven. The NCDPI K-12 Social Studies Team is deeply committed to ensuring that the Revision Process include the consideration of all concerns posed by educators in the schools and local districts. 

The public feedback survey for Draft 2 will open on April 7, 2020, and will close on April 27, 2020. Each course, kindergarten through high school, has its own individual survey. The feedback provided from these surveys will be used in conjunction with input from teachers and social studies specialists from North Carolina Public Schools to create Draft 3 of the standards. A link to a PDF copy of the Draft 2 standards accompanies each survey grades K-12.  

Important Addition to the Survey

Draft 2 of the proposed standards and objectives contains two additional columns beyond the standards and objectives. In these additional columns, you will see examples of POTENTIAL content and activities. The examples you will see in this draft are not intended to be an exhaustive list but rather, an attempt to provide stakeholders with sample ideas of how the standards and objectives may be understood. The activities column provides examples for how teachers might be able to assess learning as students seek to master the objectives. 

Link: Standards Revision Surveys

Please access the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document, watch the Informational Videos about the Revision Process or visit the K-12 Social Studies Standards Revision Process Google Sites page to gain an understanding of the K-12 Social Studies Standards review and revision process, timeline, and opportunities to be involved.

Professional Development for Economics and Personal Finance (EPF) Course

Summer Institutes 
**UPDATED INFORMATION**

• The following email text was sent out to district representatives last week from NC DPI in an effort to provide equity with the limited number of seats available for summer 2020 EPF institutes and in hopes of having representation from each LEA.
• Please read the email text and share the content with administrators from your local education agency.
• Please note: Nominations are only accepted from District Leadership. No teacher may nominate themselves.
• As of  April 8, they have only received nominations from 18 local education agencies.
• If your district leadership did not receive this communication and wishes to make nominations, they should email Sandy Wheat for the nomination link as it has been deleted from the text below to ensure that only 1 person from each LEA provides the nominations.

Greetings LEA Leaders!

NCCEE, in partnership with DPI, is accepting nominations for NCCEE’s inaugural EPF Summer Institutes with the ultimate goal of identifying EPF Master Teachers to assist with presenting professional development for the Economics and Personal Finance course in subsequent summers. The inaugural institutes for the summer of 2020, consisting of 160 available seats, are still on the schedule with one change. The June session planned at ECU has been moved to July. It is our hope that our lives will return to some sense of normalcy by that time frame. This plan may require revisions and if so, we will face that when the time comes.

Prior to nominating a teacher, please ensure they are willing to participate in a residential program this summer (5 days, 4 nights). Please work with all appropriate leaders in your area to recommend teachers for the 2020 EPF Summer Institutes. This nomination should include one teacher to represent your district as well as two alternates. Please complete this form with appropriate information prior to April 15. The nominees will receive an invitation from NCCEE to register for one of the summer 2020 sessions prior to April 30. On May 1, NCCEE will open up registrations on a first come/first serve basis for the remaining seats.

Thank you for your prompt response. We look forward to working with you to serve the teachers and students of North Carolina.

Warmest regards,

Sandy Wheat, NCCEE"

EPF Preview 10 hours of PD

NCCEE was offering of face-to-face EPF Preview sessions this spring. Due to COVID-19, these sessions were canceled. NCCEE is pleased to announce that these sessions are being converted to virtual professional development modules. The goal is to launch this program, which will be offered in Google Classroom, on April 27. Stay tuned for registration details. Thank you to the Council for Economic Education and Fidelity Investments for making funds available.

Financial Literacy Month Webinars with EVERFI and NCDPI

EVERFI continues to support NC educators & families with digital resources at no-cost! Their financial literacy, economics, African-American history and SEL resources are available at no-cost via https://everfi.com/k-12/teacher-remote-learning/.

On April 20th, EVERFI will host two webinars with the DPI for Financial Literacy Month (find out more about FLM here: https://everfi.com/financial-literacy-month ). Please see below for descriptions and registration!

4:30 to 5:30 PM on April 20th: 
Do I Need That? Fostering Financial Literacy in Elementary & Middle School

With a changing financial landscape, teaching financial literacy and economics in Elementary and Middle School is becoming increasingly important. In this session, attendees will explore asynchronous online and offline personal financial literacy and economics resources on the free EVERFI digital platform. Optimized for remote learning, and available at no cost, each EVERFI resource contains digital simulations and problem-solving activities, and offline extensions. Attendees will leave the session with an EVERFI account and next steps for utilizing with students & their families!

Registration: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/184588617250634765

5:30 to 6:30 PM on April 20th: 

Checkbook? Is That an App? Translating 21st Century Financial Literacy for High School

Banks aren’t always buildings, phones are sometimes wallets, and your babysitter prefers an app to cash. Financial services are changing. Shouldn’t financial literacy? In this session, attendees will explore asynchronous online and offline personal financial literacy and economics resources on the free EVERFI digital platform. Educators will also preview two new resources aligned to the coming EPF course for North Carolina! Attendees will explore simulations, problem solving activities, and offline extensions within each of the resources. Optimized for remote learning, and available at no-cost! Attendees will leave the session with an EVERFI account and next steps for utilizing with students & their families!

Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5666380858900057357

Virtual Exchange Program: Teachers Collaborating Across Borders 

The Duke-University of North Carolina Consortium for Middle Eastern Studies and the University of Arizona Center for Middle Eastern Studies are collaborating to introduce an online program that will bring together US and Middle Eastern K-12 teachers for a virtual exchange program: Teachers Collaborating Across Borders (TCAB). 

The TCAB program is a unique opportunity for teachers from the United States and teachers from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to engage in international dialogue and virtual exchange. Throughout the program, teachers will discuss topics related to education and culture in their respective countries and to find ways to share this information in their classrooms. We are now seeking applicants for their first cohort, which will consist of 15 US K-12 teachers and 15 teachers from the MENA region.

We will meet both asynchronously and synchronously through Zoom every other week from September through November 2020. Participants will also plan a classroom project of their choice (working with people from at least one other country), which they will implement in spring 2021. For more information and application materials, go to: https://cmes.arizona.edu/outreach/TCAB_program.

Application deadline is April 30.  

For more information, contact Lisa Adeli - adeli@arizona.edu or Emma Harver - harver@email.unc.edu

World View Weekly Twitter Chats

Looking for ways to engage your teachers in learning about the world during COVID-19?  How about having them join World View for a Twitter Chat?  The chat lasts just 50 minutes. Every Wednesday we will have a new feature, discussing global issues and global education resources.

This week, on April 15^th, we will discuss the powerful BYkids short film My Beautiful Nicaragua. Through the eyes and voice of a child we learn the impact of climate change on a coffee farming family in Nicaragua.

Please share with your staff and watch My Beautiful Nicaragua here: 

http://go.unc.edu/WorldViewChats3 before Wednesday afternoon and then tune into @UNCWorldView and #WorldViewChats WEDNESDAY at 1pm.

Asia Society’s Online Certificate in Teaching for Global Competence

Check out the certificate program for educators in partnership with EdPlus at Arizona State University. The program offers certificates in The Essentials of Global Competence, Project-Based Learning in a Global Classroom, and Classroom Assessment of Global Competence.

To earn each certificate, educators take three online courses comprised of short videos, interactive learning objects, and competency-based assessments, as well as readings and reflective activities. The certificates are designed for any K-12 education professional interested in learning how to incorporate best-practices in global competence education. You can find more information here.

The National Geographic Society: Learn at Home

NEW WAYS OF TEACHING AND LEARNING

These are unprecedented times. The National Geographic Society is committed to supporting learners around the world and the educators who reach them. They have curated resources to teach, connect, explore, and inspire that are free and easy to implement.

TEACH AND EXPLORE AT HOME GO TO

There are many engaging, creative, and fun ways to learn at home. The National Geographic Society invites you to explore collections of activities that have been developed for educators, parents, and caregivers to implement with K-12 learners outside the classroom.

The National Geographic Society believes in the power of fostering community and connection around the globe. They encourage teachers to share resources, provide encouragement, and ask questions. Join the conversation at @NatGeoEducation:

• Share a supportive message using the hashtag #TeacherStrong.
• Share an idea, resource, or instructional tool that’s working for you and your students with other educators @NatGeoEducation.
• Ask questions about how others are engaging learners or how a particular activity worked for them.

To learn more, visit: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/education/classroom-resources/learn-at-home/

Carolina Navigators 

Carolina Navigators has paused sending out culture kits. It has Online  Education Resources that you can use in the place of culture kits! Below is a list of additional resources.

• Explore videos, articles, photo stories, virtual presentations, and culture kits using our Global Resource Finder! 
• Check out the videos and virtual presentations on our YouTube Channel! 
• Explore countries and cultures using our Pinterest page!

Outer Banks Lighthouse Society: Educational Page

On the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society’s educational page: https://www.outerbankslighthousesociety.org/kids-teachers-2.html    Here, teachers and kids have resources for games and activities. They recently added a video which will help students learn about the lighthouses in NC.

K-12 Social Studies
Google Sites

Google Sites now serves as a central hub for Social Studies educators, administrators, institutions of higher education, and other interested parties. This hub houses the repositories, communications, and recommended resources related to the implementation of the North Carolina Social Studies Standard Course of Study (SCoS). Social Studies educators are encouraged to browse, reference, download, share, discuss, and adapt resources. Use the navigation menu to access information and resources.

Also, be sure to visit the Remote Teaching & Learning of Social Studies Google Sites Page. There, you will find Considerations for Planning and Engaging in Remote Learning and Helpful Hints for Teachers, Students, and Parents to Keep in Mind while at home. 

Remember that this is a great time for learning for the sake of learning.  It is the ideal time for teachers and students to focus on the intrinsic value of learning and not just assignments for a grade.  This time of remote learning offers the perfect opportunity to enhance the practice of planning assignments which allow students to deepen their knowledge.

REMEMBER, K-12 Social Studies resources and information can also be found on the shelves of our current LiveBinders.  Click this K-12 SS LiveBinders hyperlink to access all social studies materials!

2020 North Carolina Poet Laureate Awards and Amy Charles Writing Competition

The North Carolina English Teacher's Association is pleased to announce the opening of The North Carolina Poet Laureate Awards and The Amy Charles Writing Competition for 2020.

Deadline for entries is June 1, 2020.

The contests are open to all North Carolina students in grades 6-8 and 9-12. Student writers must have a staff sponsor from his or her school to enter the contest. Staff sponsors must be members of NCETA.

Use the following links for contact information, contest rules, and registration: 

Poetry Contest

Prose Contest