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Aug. 15, 2018

Since many of you are getting back to email for the first time this summer, I want to take a moment to welcome you back from a well-deserved break. Over the past few years, I have written on multiple occasions about how much I appreciate the work you do in preparing your students for both the rigors of academic life and for the challenges of being civically responsible individuals. As a parent of a high school student, and of a recent high school graduate, my appreciation is both professional and personal. Over the course of this school year, I hope to be able to continue to connect you with information and resources for helping support our students as they prepare to become participatory members of their local, national, and global communities.

Matt Hayes

History-Social Science Coordinator, SDCOE

858-292-3820

History-Social Science Framework Rollout: Phase 2

The California Department of Education (CDE) is beginning the second phase in its ongoing support for the implementation of the 2016 History-Social Science Framework. The focus will be on professional learning in the inquiry-based approach of the framework, as well as on the topics mandated by AB 97: civic education; the Bracero Program; the Armenian Genocide; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender contributions to American history; and Filipino American contributions to the farm labor movement. Additionally, special attention will be paid to the integration of environmental literacy into history-social science curriculum and instruction.

The CDE will be establishing teams within each region of California to facilitate this work. The San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) has been identified as the lead for Region 9, which includes San Diego, Imperial, and Orange Counties. More information about opportunities available for local educators will be forthcoming. 

Instructional Materials Adoption

SDCOE provides support to districts participating in history-social science instructional materials adoptions. The Learning Resources Display Center has copies on display of the K-8 instructional materials approved by the State Board of Education (SBE). The materials are available for the public to preview at 5304 Metro St. Suite C in San Diego. Please email Oscar Ramirez or call 619-718-4987 to arrange your visit. For additional questions about the adoption and how instructional materials relate to the History-Social Science Framework, please email Matt Hayes or call 858-292-3820.

Integrating Environmental Literacy with History-Social Science

In 2010, the SBE adopted the California Environmental Principles and Concepts, which state law required to be integrated into the next version of the History-Social Science Framework. The Framework addresses this in multiple ways. As the blog written by Shelly Brooks of the California History-Social Science Project points out, this includes several of the guiding questions embedded in grade level chapters. For example, in 6th grade, students investigate how the environment influenced human migration, ancient ways of life, and the development of society. In 10th grade, students work toward answering the questions: What were the results of the Industrial Revolution? How were technology and the environment transformed by industrialization?

The framework also includes several references to the Education and the Environment Initiative  curriculum, which was written to support California’s Environmental Principles and Concepts. The Education and the Environment Initiative curriculum includes a total of 85 lessons for students in elementary, middle, and high school. Forty-five of the units are aligned to California’s history-social science standards.

The California Global Education Project (formerly the California International Studies Project) has developed another model for integrating environmental literacy into the history-social science classroom. Last summer, SDCOE hosted the California Global Education Project as it led the week-long institute Teaching for Sustainable Communities: Empowering Eco-Literate Global Citizens. History-social science teachers (as well as science and English language arts teachers) who participated learned about local resources for including environmental education in the curriculum. They also developed a plan to guide their students as they identify a local environmental issue, conduct an investigation, and take informed action to address the problem. Students will be working on these projects during the 2018-19 school year.

2019 San Diego County History-Social Science Conference

Mark this date on your calendar: Feb. 8, 2019. Planning is underway for the 2019 San Diego County History-Social Science Conference. This year’s theme is From Inquiry to Action, emphasizing the special role history-social science plays in preparing our students to become participatory members of their local, nation, and global communities. The conference will include multiple breakout sessions led by teachers and by content and curriculum experts. During these sessions, participants will discuss how, through a process of inquiry, students develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for success in college, career, and civic life. More information about the conference will be available later this fall.

Planning with the Framework

Depth vs. breadth? The current History-Social Science Framework might not be able to definitively resolve that debate, but it does provide a path, using questions and themes, to help teachers make purposeful decisions about how to strike a balance. During this workshop, participants will learn about tools that help them use the framework to make long- and short-range plans. As a result, they will be better prepared to determine when and where to go deep. This session will last from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.. Participants then may opt to stay, plan, and receive technical assistance. Or, they can return to their sites to plan on their own. This workshop is intended for middle and high school teachers who have some familiarity with the framework, including its focus on content, inquiry, literacy, and citizenship. 

This workshop will be offered Sept. 6 at SDCOE’s main campus. The registration fee is $30 per participant or $25 each for teachers attending in teams of two or more. Click here to register.

History-Social Science Leadership Network

This network is designed to bring educational leaders in the area of history-social science and professional development together with the goal of building capacity within their schools and districts. The network will focus on considering how leaders can support teachers as they align their instruction to the 2016 History-Social Science Framework. Areas of consideration will include pedagogy, instructional resources, and access to language and literacy. Tentative topics for discussion are:

 

High School Voter Education Week

The California Education Code designates the last two full weeks in April and September as High School Voter Education Weeks. This provides an opportunity for high schools and their students to partner with county elections officials to promote civic education and participation on campus and foster an environment that cultivates lifelong voters and active citizens. With important statewide elections occurring in November, this provides a perfect opportunity to engage students, especially those who will be eligible to vote, in the election process. The California Secretary of State website has several suggestions for how students can become involved.

Sam Wineburg Lecture at SDSU

San Diego State University’s Common Experience program and History Department are cosponsoring a lecture by Dr. Sam Wineburg on Nov. 15 at 4 p.m. Professor Wineburg directs Stanford’s Ph.D. program in history education, the only program of its kind in North America. His interdisciplinary scholarship on historical thinking, teaching, and learning sits at the crossroads of history, cognitive science, and education. He will talk about central themes in his new book, Why Learn History (When It’s Already on Your Phone), due to be released in mid-September. To RSVP or for questions, contact Professor Eve Kornfeld.

San Diego County Civic Learning Partnership

The San Diego County Civic Learning Partnership has launched a website to provide information on local civic-learning programs, resources, and student scholarships. This website provides information on several local civic-learning opportunities, links to resources, and much more 

GeoInquiries

GeoInquiry collections are available for advanced placement human geography, U.S. history, American literature, world history, and elementary classrooms. GeoInquiries are designed to be fast and easy-to-use K-12 instructional resources that incorporate ArcGIS online web-mapping and are closely tied to the College, Career, and Civic Life Framework from the National Council for the Social Studies. Check out lessons on the Reformation, Hiroshima, African independence, migration, the Dust Bowl, and even weather forecasting for upper elementary. For more information and access to all the lessons, visit the Esri GIS Education Community. 

Literacy and the Law

Deepen students’ understanding of civics while improving their literacy skills at Literacy and the Law. The four units available for free are No, David!, Journey to Topaz, The First Amendment, and By the Great Horn Spoon. Literacy and the Law is designed to engage your K-12 students in civics, language arts, and visual and performing arts through units of study that include mock trials. The free curricula, resources, and tools meet state standards and will engage your students.