Subscribe and Connect with each Area in the Office of Academic Standards  

Do you want to stay up to date on the latest news, opportunities, resources, standards updates, etc. from one or more of the NCDPI Office of Academic Standards content areas? 

Sign up today to receive newsletters and announcements from the  area(s) or topic(s) of your choice: 

• Arts Education
• CTE and Career Pathways
• Character Education
• Computer Science
• Dual Language/Immersion
• English Language Arts
• English Language Development
• Global Education
• Guidance/School Counseling
• Healthful Living
• Information and Technology
• Legislative and Community Affairs
• Mathematics
• Science
• School Social Work
• STEM
• Social Studies
• World Languages

Spread the word about how to Stay Informed and Connected!

New Resource for World History

NCDPI Social Studies has an exciting new resource for World History! The Chronological Documents for World History tool is designed to help teachers find primary source examples that could be used in their instruction of specific objectives during specific chronological periods. This supplemental document provides potential sources that can be integrated into curriculum and lesson plans to provide students with additional materials to analyze and evaluate. Public School Units (PSUs) have local control to determine curriculum, therefore, the Chronological Documents for World History tool is not meant to be:

• curriculum
• an exhaustive list of primary sources,
• required to use for teaching and learning
• a checklist of documents that are required to use or access

In the footer of the document, there is a link where educators can recommend additional sources that can be used in certain time periods for specific objectives.

The new  Chronological Documents for World History tool is live now and ready for you to use today! 

Access other NCDPI-created Resources

Disclaimer:  Because North Carolina is a local-control state, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) does not provide lists of resources outlining specific reading texts, books, authors, or other primary and secondary resources. Prior to use, the Social Studies leadership in local PSUs should carefully analyze the resources. Learn More

Teaching Historical Inquiry 

Join the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and OER Project on September 5, from 4:00 to 5:30 PM ET for a free session on teaching historical inquiry.

Problem-solving like a historian requires both training and practice. Teaching students how to find a problem, locate evidence, and craft a clear solution takes careful coaching and a set of critical learning tools. Join this session to discuss the importance of historical inquiry, build capacity for teaching students to recognize problems and craft clear solutions, and walk away with a few tools to use in your own classroom.  

This will be the first of a series of sessions scheduled during the 2023-24 school year.

Important Registration Details

You will need to first register with OER Project in order to the September 5th webinar.

Please be sure to keep the following in mind when you register: 

1. If you already have an OER Project account:

•  If you are already a member of the OER Project registration only requires the click of the registration button and your email and OER password. 

2. If you DO NOT already have an OER Project account:

• If you do not already have an OER Project account, you will register by typing in your email, creating a password, and identifying your role and school. Quick and easy!  
• You will then get an email asking you to confirm your account to finish registering for the OER Project Teacher Community and the NCDPI Historical Inquiry session.  You must open this email and confirm your new account in order to be sent the Zoom link for the webinar. Check your spam if you do not see anything in your inbox.

REGISTER NOW!

This session will be the first professional development in a six-session series focused on the social studies skills and practices in the new Inquiry strand. Each session will run from 4:00 pm-5:30 pm EST.  The six sessions in this PD series are:

1. 9/5/23  -  Historical Inquiry
2. 10/03/23 – Historical Thinking Skill: Causation
3. 11/07/23  - Historical Thinking Skill: Comparison
4. 02/06/24 – Historical Thinking Skill: Continuity and Change Over Time
5. 03/05/24 – Historical Thinking Skill: Contextualization
6.  04/02/24 – Geography Skills 

For questions, please contact events@oerproject.com.

Webinar Series: Integrating SEL and Character Education in Social Studies 

September 27, 2023, 4-5 pm EST 

Are you looking to enhance your classroom experience and empower your students to become more empathetic, responsible, and caring citizens?  Join our 2023-2024 webinar series on integrating Character Education and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) into your social studies classrooms. 

The first webinar will focus on Self-Management where you will discover practical strategies to help your students regulate emotions, set goals, and demonstrate self-discipline. Don't miss this valuable opportunity to create a positive and productive learning environment in your social studies classroom! 

Register Now

The School of Character Application is Now Available 

Has your school or district cultivated a supportive and caring community? Do you think your staff, students, and the larger community have successfully implemented the 11 Principles of Effective Character?

Apply this fall for State and National School of Character to receive valuable feedback for improvement whether you reach School of Character status this year or not.The 2023 School of Character Application deadline is November 10, 2023.

Learn More and Get Started! 

The Global Educator Digital Badge

The NCDPI Global Educator Digital Badge (GEDB)  provides an opportunity for educators to focus their professional development on developing their own global context and understanding of how to integrate global education throughout curricula. It also provides the opportunity to build global competency in students. The State Board of Education approved North Carolina Global Educator Digital Badge (GEDB) is available for the following educator categories: 

• Teacher 
• Teacher Leadership Specialist 
• Library Media Coordinator 
• Instructional Technology Facilitator 
• School Counselor 
• Career Development Coordinator 
• School Social Worker, School Psychologist 
• Speech-Language Pathologist 
• Instructional Central Office Staff 
• Principal/Assistant Principal, Superintendent 

In this short video,  educators, who have earned the NCDPI Global Educator Digital Badge (GEDB), shared their thoughts on the benefits of getting the badge and how it has impacted their teaching.  The words of wisdom from the GEDB recipients may help you to make a decision about applying for the badge. For more information on the Badge (SBE Policy, FAQs, Process Flyer, Implementation Guide, MOA), please visit our website or email NCGlobalEducation@dpi.nc.gov. 

Attention Teachers of Founding Principles of the United States of America and North Carolina: Civic Literacy!

~Did you know that there are 13 Founding Principles required by N.C. law to be taught in the Founding Principles of the United States of America and North Carolina: Civic Literacy Course?

~Are you currently teaching all 13 of the “Principles”  identified by the N.C. General Assembly?

If you would like to learn more about the Founding Principles contained in the legislation and discuss ways you can ensure  all of them are incorporated in your curriculum, consider taking the Founding Principles course in Canvas. You will earn 2.0 CEUs , reflect on some of the Founding Principles you may already be teaching, and plan ways to integrate those you are not currently teaching.

If interested, fill out this form. When asked the name of the course, put in “Founding Principles”.  The course will run from Sept 11 – November 6. Registration ends September 16, 2023.

Contact Tom Daugherty with any questions.

NCDPI K-12 Social Studies: On-Demand Professional Learning Sessions

One-Stop Shop: Refresher on the SS Standards & Supports and Onboarding Materials for Teachers to New NC SS Classrooms

This professional development session will contain brief overviews of the standards and objectives for the social studies standards. In addition to basic terms and ideas surrounding objectives, we will also cover resources and materials that currently exist for the newly adopted social studies standards.  

American History

The American History on-demand professional development session will help teachers of the high school American History course determine how to approach curriculum decisions. Since the American History I and II courses have been condensed into one course, teachers need to make decisions about what concepts and topics will help them cover the required material in a timely fashion in alignment with the new standards.

Building the Case for Social Studies and ELA Integration in K-5

This professional development will help participants learn ways and best practice pedagogy for appropriately integrating elementary Social Studies standards into the English Language Arts curriculum and instruction. The primary focus will be to help districts struggling to meet the goals of the statewide literacy mandates while simultaneously advancing the teaching of Social Studies in the K-5 classroom. 

Teaching the Standards for Founding Principles: Civic Literacy  

This professional development has been developed into a five-part mini-series.  This PD will take teachers through ideas, activities, resources, and best practice strategies for teaching the Civics Literacy course. Special attention will be given to alignment to the “principles” outlined in the Founding Principles legislation and the Geography, Behavior Science, & History Strands. The recordings for this PD are presented as a 5-Part Series: The Introduction , Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and a Bonus Session!

Teaching SS with Primary Sources

In this session you will learn from Elementary, Middle, and High School teachers who are using high quality primary sources to teach the NEW Social Studies Standards. This session will engage you with ideas for where to find and how to use primary source material to facilitate meaningful learning. Teacher presenters will walk you through lesson activities using high quality primary sources aligned to specific standards. An expert from the North Carolina State Archives will share examples of primary sources from their collection that would be impactful in supporting teaching and learning. Gain strategies and resources to build your personal primary sources toolbox!

Access all available Professional Learning Sessions

New Resource from NextGen Personal Finance (NGPF) 

Did you know that NextGen Personal Finance (NGPF) has a new no-cost personal finance curriculum resource document for educators?! 

Developed by NGPF, the new resource document is an additional tool that can be added to one’s own tool-cabinet of instructional resources for the EPF course. The intent of it is to demonstrate how NGPF's instructional materials and offerings can align to and crosswalk with the North Carolina Economics and Personal Finance Standards. It includes a helpful planning guide that links directly to engaging and customizable resources, including lessons.

 Create a free Teacher Account today to access the
NGPF crosswalk and planning guide! 

For more information or questions, contact Grace Ting, NGPF’s Head of Partnerships & Adoption. 

Please note that these resources are not required for use. See disclaimer below. 

Courts4Civics Promotes Civics Education

Courts4Civics promotes civics education in our schools and communities, to create learning opportunities and to increase public understanding of how courts work to resolve disputes in our society and to protect our constitutional rights.

The program provides educational resources to judges and other court personnel to assist them in their outreach efforts to school and community groups. Courts4Civics seeks to deliver these services to our students, teachers, and other community members in the Fourth Circuit, throughout Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Learn More: https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/courts4civics

Gilder Lehrman: Book Breaks

 Book Breaks is a weekly interview series with historians held every Sunday at 2 pm ET on Zoom. Each week hosts interview renowned scholars and discuss their acclaimed and frequently award-winning works, followed by a Q&A with the at-home audience. Book Breaks is completely free for Affiliate School K-12 teachers and students, and college students. Learn more: 

• Create an account
• Email bookbreaks@gilderlehrman.org.
• Subscribe to the newsletter

 Tar Heel Junior Historian Association Club 

Authorized by the General Assembly in 1953, the Tar Heel Junior Historian Association is made of FREE history clubs located all around the state. Advisers can register as a class, as an extracurricular club, as a homeschool family, or even as a group meeting at a historic site—we accept clubs of any shape and size!Perks include:

• A copy of our twice-yearly publication, the award-winning Tar Heel Junior Historian magazine, for you and each of your students (limitations apply).
• Access to a digital classroom with lesson plans, resources, and discussion boards for advisers.
• An exclusive day (April 26, 2024, this school year) at the North Carolina Museum of History, just for THJHA members, that is filled with hands-on learning experiences and workshops.
• The opportunity to compete in statewide contests for chances to have your students’ projects displayed in the THJHA museum gallery.

You’ll find a lot to love about the Tar Heel Junior Historian Association, so what are you waiting for? Join the thousands of students and advisers who are discovering North Carolina history, and form a club!

Start a THJHA Club Today!

Governor's Educator Discovery Award

Applications are now open for Cycle 11 of the Governor's Educator Discovery Award! Visit http://experiencemorenc.com/educator-discovery-award… to learn more about the $1,000 educator stipend and apply! #NCEducators #EducatorProfessionalDevelopment

The Governor’s Educator Discovery Awards recognize the value of quality professional development for teachers at all phases of their careers. 

The program will provide a stipend of up to $1,000 for preK-12 traditional public and public charter school teachers to pursue a professional development experience of their choosing. Teachers can use the grant award to attend a workshop or conference that deepens their subject area knowledge, such as a coding workshop for computer science teachers, or a session on how to create a project-based learning experience for students. 

Learn More and Apply: https://www.experiencemorenc.com/educator-discovery-award

Tryon Palace: Palace Scholars

Tryon Palace invites all educators at Title I schools in North Carolina to apply for a field trip award. Palace Scholars is an educational program linking students and educators from Title I schools with field trip opportunities to Tryon Palace. This program hopes to connect present and future North Carolinians with their state history in an engaging learning format.

Awards may be used for field trip costs, but are limited to transportation, admissions, and substitute teacher fees. Awards are based on attendance and expenses, and range from $600 to $2000 for the 2023-2024 School Year. Applications are now available and funding decisions are made monthly throughout the school year. Schools will be notified within 45 days of application.

Find the application by visiting the Tryon Palace Foundation Scholars' website.

Please submit your application using either the online form or by email to Kathy Peterson at Tryon Palace, at katherine.peterson@dncr.nc.gov or call (252) 639-3519.