My name is Jessica Torres and I serve as the ESC Region 12 Social Studies content specialist as well as the Continuous Improvement Liaison. The purpose of the newsletter is to provide resources specific to social studies content, general instructional tools, resources, updates, and professional development opportunities that are beneficial to all.

As expected, this year has taken off at a very fast pace! I know that your time is limited but I would encourage you to find a way to have your voice heard in the upcoming TEKS revision process. Additionally, there is a great opportunity for networking face to face at this year's Texas Council of Social Studies conference. Registration information is included below. As always, if you ever need assistance or have a question, please do not hesitate to contact me via email (jtorres@esc12.net) or social media (@owl_b_torresedu).

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.

While HB 3979 went into effect September 1st, the SBOE is required to revise the TEKS, as needed, by December 31, 2022. Since teachers must teach the current TEKS, they should continue teaching the current TEKS until the revision of the TEKS and the implementation of those revised TEKS have occurred.

SB 1063 provides for a new course combining personal financial literacy and economics, This course, once it is developed and has approved TEKS, can be used to satisfy a social studies graduation requirement. The bill did not add the course to the required curriculum. However, the State Board of Education (SBOE) has the authority to decide if the course should be part of the required curriculum and could make it so at some future date. If the SBOE does not take action, local districts will have the option to offer the course or to not offer the course.

In their new book, Teaching for Deeper Learning: Tools to Engage Students in Meaning Making, my friend, Jay McTighe, and his co-author, Harvey Silver, write about an active reading strategy that encourages students to engage with texts before, during, and after reading. Their approach contrasts with classic reading comprehension questions, which students typically respond to after completing a reading assignment. Instead, this strategy presents students with an open-ended, debatable, or controversial statement to consider before they begin the reading. As they read, they analyze the text, pulling evidence that supports and refutes the statement. This prepares them to engage in a dynamic discussion with their peers about the statement and the reading.

https://catlintucker.com/2021/03/active-reading-strategy/

Are you looking for some NEW ideas to spark student engagement AND higher-level thinking? Watch this interview with author and educator Rebecca Stobaugh, Ph.D. and hear her talk about some practical strategies and tips to transform your classroom. On-Demand webinar sponsored by Mentoring Minds.

https://www.mentoringminds.com/webinar-boosting-cognitive-complexity?utm_source=smartbrief&utm_medium=inline&utm_campaign=2021-advertising

After much deliberation, the NCSS Board of Directors has made the decision to host the 101st Annual Conference as a fully virtual event. (Read the full announcement.)

The NCSS 101st Annual Conference will be held online from Monday-Sunday, November 15-21, 2021. Last year we delivered the hottest virtual conference of the season, and this year will be no different as we focus on Solidarity in Social Studies.

This year’s conference is designed with you in mind, based on what we have learned from hosting and attending virtual conferences. This is professional learning designed to fit your lifestyle. Our full week will provide you with the most engaging and comfortable environment to experience your best virtual event yet.

• Experience more than 300+ hours of social studies content to increase your professional learning.
• Get the latest in social studies and law-related education.
• Learn from prominent keynote speakers.
• Explore the virtual exhibit hall highlighting the latest social studies products and services.
• Connect with others via virtual networking.

Come get to know the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum in our first-ever K-5 educators’ professional development. Receive the tools, resources, and confidence you need to teach your students the importance of empathy, acceptance, and kindness through historical Upstanders. Participants will have the unique opportunity to hear from Brad Meltzer, author of the Ordinary People Change the World book series, and Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum PBS series, which helps kids build character, kindness, and compassion, one real historical hero at a time. Register here --> https://dhhrm.formstack.com/forms/2021_espd

Are you teaching the new Ethnic Studies from TEA? Would you like to learn ways you can implement forgotten voices in history into your curriculum? Join Region's 10 & 11 for a lunch and learn cohort this fall! https://txr10.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=2641596

I am so excited to be part of the #sschat moderator team! I would love to have you join us for a great conversation via Twitter each Monday evening. Need help getting started with Twitter chats, reach out to me and I'll walk you through the steps. All of the Twitter chats are archived for future reference using Wakelet. Check them out here ->> https://sschat.org/archives/

Check them out here:

Volume 1 (2018-2019) Issue 1 Issue 2 Issue 3 Issue 4 Issue 5 Issue 6 Issue 7 Issue 8 Issue 9 Issue 10

Volume 2 (2019-2020) Issue 1 Issue 2 Issue 3 Issue 4 Issue 5 Issue 6 Issue 7 Issue 8 Issue 9 Issue 10 Issue 11 Issue 12 Issue 13

Volume 3 (2020-2021) Issue 1 Issue 2 Issue 3 Issue 4 Issue 5 Issue 6 Issue 7 Issue 8 Issue 9 Issue 10 Issue 11 Issue 12

Volume 4 (2021-2022) Issue 1

Special Editions: Celebrate Black History - Celebrate Women's History - 9/11 Remembered - Holocaust Remembrance Week - Memorial Day - Constitution Day - Juneteenth

Instructional Leadership/Continuous Improvement Liaison

Social Studies Content Specialist

ESC Region 12

o: 254-297-1284

Email: jtorres@esc12.net
Website: https://www.esc12.net/page/ge_socialstudies
Location: ESC Region 12, West Loop 340, Waco, TX, USA
Phone: 254-366-3856
Twitter: @owl_b_torresedu