Region 10 Social Studies Support

December 2021

Happy Holidays!

Hello dear Social Studies friends,

It's astounding how quickly this semester seems to have been, and yet, August feels so far behind us now. I hope that these upcoming weeks give you time off to reflect, rest and reset for the Spring. Please take time for yourself and your family.

Here are just a few items to bring to your attention in this issue:

TEKS Revision Work Group Information and Application
TEA Updates
Mock Trial - Registration deadline is December 17
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities

As always, I would like to help in any way that I can to take something off your plate. Please feel free to reach out any time for a resource, idea, or support of any kind.

TEA/LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

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Social Studies Work Group Application

The SBOE is now accepting applications to serve on social studies TEKS review work groups. The SBOE's TEKS review and revision process calls for multiple, separate work groups. Applicants do not need to be educators to apply. Please enter information in the application that best reflects your experience. A link is provided below to the application.

https://tea.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_39LY0ZqSaPRQO6a

Work Groups

Throughout the revision process, applications are submitted to SBOE members for their review and approval. TEA then builds work groups from the pool of approved applicants and notifies selected applicants of their invitation to serve on a work group.

Work group members will be expected to complete an online orientation session prior to their work group meeting.
Work group members may be asked to complete pre-work exercises prior to their meeting.
Work group members may be asked to provide invited testimony at SBOE meetings.

Questions related to the application for the social studies TEKS review and revision process can be directed to teks@tea.texas.gov.

TEA Social Studies Work Group Application

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Let Your Voice Be Heard!

Don't have time to participate in the work group? You can still make your voice heard!

As part of the State Board of Education’s process to review and revise the social studies Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), the Texas Education Agency (TEA) is surveying educators to help inform the recommendations of the social studies TEKS review work groups. We encourage you to provide your feedback regarding the current social studies TEKS by completing the survey.

Please note that survey will only be open for four weeks, so you are encouraged to complete the survey as soon as possible. The Social Studies TEKS Review Survey will close on December 10, 2021.

The link to the Social Studies TEKS Review Survey is https://tea.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6PXR2JYyIHIv2jc

REGION 10 SPRING PD OPPORTUNITIES

REGISTRATION OPEN NOW!

Law Related Education Professional Development

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Powerful Geography Professional Development

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OTHER UPCOMING SPRING OPPORTUNITIES...

Come join us this Spring for some other exciting learning opportunities. Registration will be coming soon:

Feb. 9 -- Teaching with DBQs: Engaging Students in Historical Inquiry and Thinking
March 23 - Understanding the Federal Budget: Debt & Deficits (Breakfast and Lunch provided)
April 29 - Exploring the Past, Imagining the Future with the Frisco Heritage Museum
May 18 -- Understanding Our Students and Making Geography Learning Authentic w/ Powerful Geography (Virtual)

Ethnic Studies Cohort

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Join us for a series of monthly cohort meetings this Spring to explore the process of implementing Ethnic Studies courses (specifically the Mexican American and African American Studies courses) in your district. If you have already implemented these courses but would like to join to share your experiences and learn new ideas to implement next year, we encourage you to join in with us. We will discuss proposal ideas, planning the courses, instructional resources, and strategies for teaching with cultural sensitivity. Find support from educators in both Region 10 and Region 11 to create curriculum that will be ready to implement in the 2021-2022 school year.

These sessions are open to teachers, curriculum specialists, coordinators either currently teaching, implementing or planning either Ethnic Studies course or those that have plans to do so.

UPDATE:

OUR COHORT WILL CONTINUE THIS SPRING WITH DATES ON JANUARY 18, FEBRUARY 15, APRIL 12 & MAY 17. REGISTRATION IS OPEN NOW.

Webinars for Texas Holocaust Remembrance Week

The Presidential Primary Sources Project

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Presidential Primary Sources Project

With the Presidential Primary Sources Project (PPSP), your class can engage in live, interactive discussions and use primary source documents to understand our nation's presidents. Transport your students to places that helped shape past presidents' lives. It's easy to sign up for the PPSP, a free service, which is a partnership between Internet2, the National Park Service, and the National Archives.

internet2.edu

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Texas Law Related Education Opportunities

Texas Law Related Education (LRE) provides an awesome opportunity (and some phenomenal resources) each year to showcase students' U.S. history knowledge. It's also a great way to review your kids before the STAAR administration. All events will be virtual, and you can find more information in the links below:

Region 10 Citizen Bee (High School)

Written -- March 29th, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Oral -- March 30th, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Region 10 Bee in a Box (Middle School)

Written -- April 26th, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Oral -- April 27th, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

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ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL COORDINATORS!

Hello Mock Trial Coordinators!

Registration for Mock Trial this year is quickly approaching. The last day to register is December 17!

REGISTRATION:

Online team registration is open now! The link to register is HERE.
The registration fee is $175 per team. Checks and credit cards only. No purchase orders will be accepted.

REGION 10 DATES:

Saturday, January 29, 2022 - Region 10 Competition, George Allen Courthouse
Saturday, February 5, 2022 - Dallas ISD/Region 10 Semi-Finals

STATE COMPETITION

Thursday, March 3, 2022 3:00PM – 7:00PM State Competition Registration/Orientation – Belo Mansion
Friday, March 4, 2022 7:00AM – 8:00PM State Competition – Rounds 1, 2, 3 – George Allen Courthouse
Saturday, March 5, 2022 7:00AM – 8:00PM State Competition – Round 4 & Semi-Final and Final Rounds

For Additional Information Contact:

Melissa Garcia

Law-Related Education Coordinator

State Mock Trial Coordinator

Dallas Bar Association

214.220.7484

mgarcia@dallasbar.org

Kelly Bellar

Region 10 SS Consultant

972.348.1432

kelly.bellar@region10.org

Geography Resources...

Open Geography: Free Curriculum and Resources

Need free curriculum for teaching that most necessary of subjects, geography? Then you are in luck. A solid knowledge of geography provides an understanding of politics and culture. It grants a sense of perspective to understand the map. In this blog entry, you'll explore a brand new revamped website that offers free resources.

blog.tcea.org

Map-Making Resources and Tools to Teach Critical Thinking

"Come look at Aida," my dad said to me as I walked in the door of his house. It had been a long day and I was looking forward to quick pickup and then home. In the family room, my daughter hovered over a puzzle piece map.

blog.tcea.org