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Welcome

Hello, I am Teaven Barnum the District Instructional Specialist for Secondary Social Studies. I'm excited to help you in any way that you need. You can reach me at teaven.barnum@killeenisd.org, text at 254-446-2873 or call my desk phone at 254-336-0253.

Celebrating 250 Years: Honoring America's Semiquincentennial

In 2026, the United States will celebrate the semiquincentennial, or 250th anniversary, of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Over the next year, the TEA Social Studies Newsletter will honor America’s 250th anniversary by highlighting events from 250 years ago. We are highlight two pivotal events that occurred on the same day in 1775.

On May 10, 1775, the Second Continental Congress met for the first time. This body went on to establish the Continental Army with George Washington as Commander-in-Chief and to adopt the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

Also on May 10, 1775, in a surprise attack, Ethan Allen, his Green Mountain Boys, and Benedict Arnold seized Fort Ticonderoga from the British. The British cannon captured here were painstakingly transported to Boston where George Washington used them to force the British to evacuate Boston in March 1776.

The websites The White House: This is the Story of America, America250, and Texas America250 provide information, commemorative activities, and opportunities to participate in the celebration of America’s semiquincentennial.

American Patriotism Month

House Bill 2703, enacted by the 89th Texas Legislature and effective May 28, 2025, officially designates the month of July as American Patriotism Month to celebrate the United States of America and honor the values and principles on which it was founded. To learn more about American Patriotism month see House Bill 2703.

Texas Historical Commission’s New Texas History Navigator App

The Texas Historical Commission has launched an interactive mobile tool designed to locate and explore Texas historical markers and sites. Users of the app can read or listen to detailed descriptions, locate nearby landmarks, and plan personalized historical journeys across Texas. To learn more, visit the Texas Historical Commission web page for the Texas History Navigator.

Lowman

If you have tried to log into Lowman you may have noticed a change. In order to get access to the 25-26 Library you will need to follow the instruction below. Reminder the district has purchased all items for 8th and 11th grade and it is required to use the spiraled warm ups.

EVERYONE will need to create a new account and register by following the directions below.

Go to LowmanEducation.com/Library

Click on the “Login” button

Click Alternative Login

Complete your profile to access your library of products.

If you have any questions, you can email support@lowmaneducation.com for customer support.

Purpose Know & Show Charts

1. Clarify expectations for learning and mastery ("Know" and "Show"):

The "Know" side lays out the essential conceptual understandings students must grasp.
The "Show" side specifies how students should demonstrate that understanding—through actions, responses, or evidence of learning.
For example, in weekly data meetings, educators use a know/show chart to unpack a target standard—defining what students need to know and how they’ll show mastery. This then guides lesson focus and assessment. relay.edu

2. Anchor collaborative instructional planning and analysis:

Teachers and administrators use know/show charts as shared reference points during planning cycles and data meetings. Together, they dissect standards, align exemplars to expectations, surface conceptual or procedural gaps, and design reteach lessons tailored to the identified needs.

3. Identify and address learning gaps through focused reteaching:

After marking areas where students struggle (evidenced by student work or exit tickets), instructional teams revisit the know/show chart to determine whether the issue is conceptual ("know") or procedural ("show"). Then, they craft reteach plans that explicitly target the gap—whether through modeling, questioning, or guided discourse.

4. Build consistency and clarity across teachers and lessons:

By defining exactly what counts as "knowing" and how to "show" it, know/show charts help ensure that lessons, exemplars, and assessments are all aligned and consistently rigorous across classrooms

While this video is Math it still shows the process and purpose of a Know & Show chart.

Using AI to create a Know & Show

DOs

Upload the UFD (Unit Focus Document) or documents from TCMPC that include the specificity this is to ensure accuracy and alignment.
When creating prompts, reference GSE Relay (Graduate School of Education), as this is the foundation for the theory and practice behind Know & Show charts. Provide as much detail as possible in your prompt to generate the strongest product.
Carefully review the AI-generated product. Pay particular attention to potential issues such as AI hallucinations (fabricated information) or the inclusion of unrelated content. Best practice is that you always vet any product AI generates for you.

DON’Ts

Do not use AI to generate the Show portions of the chart. These must be tailored to your classroom context. As the teacher, you best understand your students’ needs and what strategies will most effectively engage them in demonstrating mastery.

Social Studies After School Special (Civil Discourse) Sept. 22 @ Palo Alto Middle School

We will continue our learning of Civil Discourse through a book study of the book we received last year titled Civil Discourse Classroom Conversations for Stronger Communities. If you attended Job-Alike last year (2024) you will need to bring your copy of the book. Limited copies are available for new social studies teachers only.

Click the link to sign up. https://killeen.schoolobjects.com//wshop/default.aspx?cid=25928

Social Studies After School Special (Civil Discourse) VIRTUAL Oct. 6

We will continue our learning of Civil Discourse through a book study of the book we received last year titled Civil Discourse Classroom Conversations for Stronger Communities. If you attended Job-Alike last year (2024) you will need to bring your copy of the book. Limited copies are available for new social studies teachers only. THIS WILL BE VIRTUAL AND I WILL ADD PARTICIPANTS TO TEAMS THE WEEK BEFORE.

Click the link to sign up. https://killeen.schoolobjects.com//wshop/default.aspx?cid=25929

America Before the American Revolution (Fall 2025 Webinar)

On September 16, 2025, Humanities Texas will hold a webinar on the American colonies in the British Empire on the eve of the American Revolution. This is the first in a series of Humanities Texas webinars during 2025–2026 commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.

humanitiestexas.org

The Imperial Crisis in British North America, 1763–1775 (Fall 2025 Webinar)

On October 6, 2025, Humanities Texas will hold a webinar exploring events in British North America from the end of the French and Indian War in 1763 until the eve of independence. This is the second in a series of webinars during 2025–2026 commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.

humanitiestexas.org

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Welcome

Celebrating 250 Years: Honoring America's Semiquincentennial

American Patriotism Month

Texas Historical Commission’s New Texas History Navigator App

Lowman

Purpose Know & Show Charts

Using AI to create a Know & Show

Social Studies After School Special (Civil Discourse) Sept. 22 @ Palo Alto Middle School

Social Studies After School Special (Civil Discourse) VIRTUAL Oct. 6

Texas Council for the Social Studies - Conference

Teaching the U.S. Constitution (Fall 2025 In-Person Workshop)

Teaching the Progressive Era (Fall 2025 In-Person Workshop)

Teaching Early Texas History, 1528–1821 (Fall 2025 In-Person Workshop)

America Before the American Revolution (Fall 2025 Webinar)

The Imperial Crisis in British North America, 1763–1775 (Fall 2025 Webinar)

Previous KISD Secondary Social Studies Newsletters

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Welcome

Content Content

Celebrating 250 Years: Honoring America's Semiquincentennial

American Patriotism Month

Texas Historical Commission’s New Texas History Navigator App

Lowman

Consistency Consistency

Purpose Know & Show Charts

Using AI to create a Know & Show

Coaching Coaching

Social Studies After School Special (Civil Discourse) Sept. 22 @ Palo Alto Middle School

Social Studies After School Special (Civil Discourse) VIRTUAL Oct. 6

Don't make me repeat myself. -History Don't make me repeat myself. -History

Previous KISD Secondary Social Studies Newsletters

Created with

Communicate quickly and effectively with interactive newsletters.