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.

Click the picture to learn more about the TEKS revisions that will be implemented for the 24-25 school year.

It's a good time of the year to use or bookmark the popular Teaching About 9/11 collection.

With more than 25,000 pageviews since its launch last August, this collection includes four videos (two released with PBS and The New York Times,) lesson plans, student activities, an interactive timeline and the recording of an educator webinar hosted by Retro Report and PBS Newshour Classroom.

Whether you want to focus on the heroism of first responders, the war in Afghanistan or issues related to civil liberties and human rights, this collection has you covered. Not convinced? Here are five reasons to teach about 9/11 on the anniversary.

Are you an APUSH educator? These resources are helpful when teaching about the challenges of the 21st Century (Topic 9.6).

Click on the image below to access the collection.

Click the picture above to start your self-paced course that will teach you the ins and outs of using Active classroom. This course is good for beginners or as a re-fresher. Remember lessons on Active Classroom can be printed as well. It is a great resource that I don't want you missing out on.

I just love lap books!

• Lap Books engage students - they are hands-on and give students ownership over their own learning.
• They help with organization, everything a student needs is in one location.
• Lap books help teach the concept of an era. One lap book contains all of the information of your unit, so students can start to think about eras with the visual cues of a lap book.
• Lap books are perfect for review. Once a student has completed a lap book, they can use it to review for their test.

World Cultures

This lap book is a great start to a 6th grade World Cultures class. Your students visit stations with images and readings on the different regions of the world. As they visit each center, they add to their lap book. When they are done, they have an overview of the course.

What is World Cultures Lap Book

Texas History

Are your students learning about the geography of Texas or the first people to live here? I actually have two different lap books for these units. The Geography of Texas Lap Book - goes great with the Bus Tour of Texas, and the Native Americans of Texas.

Abolitionist Teaching Network's mission is simple: develop and support educators to fight injustice within their schools and communities. Utilizing the intellectual work and direct action of Abolitionists in many forms, including community organizers, educators, parents, social workers, counselors, lawyers, therapists, artists, health care providers, and incarcerated folx, we will organize and take action for educational freedom.

https://abolitionistteachingnetwork.org/

This fall, Humanities Texas will hold FREE online and in-person professional development programs for social studies and English language arts teachers in Texas schools.

Teachers can apply to attend on the Humanities Texas website.

The programs are free of charge to teachers and their schools. All participants will receive CPE credit and a wealth of curricular materials.

More fall programs– both in-person and online–will be announced soon!

UPCOMING ONLINE PROGRAMS

Teaching the U.S. Constitution

Tuesdays: September 12 and 19 and October 3 and 10, 2023 (5-6:15pm CT) • Online via Zoom

This series for U.S. history and government teachers will include four 75-minute webinars on teaching the U.S. Constitution. Topics to be addressed include the Articles of Confederation, compromises made in adopting the Constitution, the Federalist and Antifederalist debates on the Constitution’s ratification, and the Bill of Rights.

National History Day Webinars with TSHA

Monday, September 18 and Monday, October 16, 2023 (5-6:30pm CT) • Online via Zoom

Humanities Texas and the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) will hold two 90-minute webinars to introduce teachers to National History Day and guide teachers in engaging students in historical research using primary sources.

Using Chat GPT and AI in the Writing Classroom

October 11, 2023 (5-6:30pm CT) • Online via Zoom

This webinar teachers will provide strategies to help social studies and English language arts (ELA) teachers navigate the new technologies of Chat GPT and AI. The webinar will support students' development in the skills of digital and media literacy, critical thinking and analysis, and research and writing.

Social Annotation Tools for Writing Instruction

November 8, 2023 (5-6:30pm) • Online via Zoom

This webinar for social studies and English language arts teachers will provide strategies to help teachers and students use social annotation tools for collaborative notetaking, peer-to-peer discussion, and engaged interaction with texts. The webinar will support students' development in the skills of digital and media literacy, critical thinking and analysis, and research and writing.

UPCOMING IN-PERSON PROGRAMS

Teaching the American Revolution

San Antonio: Wednesday, September 27th, 2023• 8am-4pm CT

Dallas: Thursday, September 28th, 2023 • 8am-4pm CT

This one-day workshop will expand participants’ understanding of the American Revolution. Topics to be addressed include the colonies’ growing separation from Britain, the Declaration of Independence, turning points of the Revolutionary War, and women and African Americans during the Revolution. The workshops will feature close interaction with scholars, the examination of primary sources and the development of effective pedagogical strategies and engaging assignments and activities.

World War I: History, Literature and Culture

Austin: Wednesday, November 1 • 8am-4pm CT

This one-day workshop will expand participants' understanding of the history of World War I and its representation in poetry, prose, and visual cultures/print media. The workshop will feature close interaction with scholars, the examination of primary sources and texts, and the development of effective pedagogical strategies and engaging assignments and activities. Teachers will receive books and other instructional materials.

Teachers can apply to attend here:

http://www.humanitiestexas.org/education/teacher-institutes/application.

Please contact us with any questions: institutes@humanitiestexas.org

First person to email me with the correct answer gets a prize!

(October 2022 Newsletter) https://www.smore.com/5xkvg

(November 2022 Newsletter) https://www.smore.com/akyd6

(February 2023 Newsletter) https://www.smore.com/28pcj

(March 2023 Newsletter) https://www.smore.com/yge4w

(April 2023 Newsletter) https://www.smore.com/rfs32

(May 2023 Newsletter) https://www.smore.com/2j9zw

(August 2023 Newsletter) https://www.smore.com/cwy23