Welcome to April!
It goes without saying that the last year has been one of extreme growth, change and stress for everyone. As we mark one full year of teaching in a pandemic please take time to reflect on what you have accomplished, what you have changed about your teaching, what new ideas/skills/practices you have embraced and what you have determined might be your foundational principles of teaching. For me, there are many things I can't wait to see get back to "normal". Regardless, I hope you know that more than anything, this year has proven that educators are resilient, strong, full of heart for their students and always able to rise to the occasion whatever the obstacle.
Here are a few items to bring to your attention in this issue:
We are excited to announce the dates for our 2nd Annual Metroplex Social Studies Conference on June 22nd and 23rd. Registration is LIVE NOW! We are looking for presenters so please share this with your colleagues.
Other items of note in this issue:
- We still have openings for our remaining Spring Sessions and would love to see you.
- Summer PD opportunities will be coming soon.
- Mark your calendars for April 12th & 13th for the Texas LRE Bee in a Box Competition for all 6th-8th grade students. Details found below.
- Presentation proposals are open for the TCSS Conference in November in Round Rock at the new Kalahari Resort and for the TEKS Resource System TEKSCon in San Antonio in July. (see below)
- We are also excited to announce that Region 10 & 11, along with Frisco ISD, Dallas ISD & the Dallas Holocaust & Human Rights Museum will be hosting a FACE TO FACE Ethnic Studies Conference on July 21st & 22nd at Lebanon Trail High School in Frisco. Registration & Presentation proposal information is included below.
Attention ALL 6th-8th Social Studies Teachers - Bee In a Box Registration is Now Open!
We would LOVE for your students to join us in this year's Region 10 Bee in a Box Competition. This is a WONDERFUL opportunity for students to showcase their knowledge of U.S. History and Civics.
8th Grade U.S. History teachers - not only is this a great opportunity for students to compete and earn prizes but it is also an IDEAL way for students to REVIEW for STAAR as well.
Registration is now open. Please feel free to complete the Google Form linked HERE and below.
Spring 2021 Assessment Updates
- State assessments will not be used for state or federal accountability purposes for the 2020-2021 school year.
- TEA is not lawfully authorized to waive certain related graduation requirements. When students reach their senior year, in order to graduate they must have either passed STAAR EOC assessments, scored high enough on a substitute assessment (e.g., SAT/ACT), or met the requirements of an individual graduation committee.
2021 Candy Brown Holocaust and Human Rights Educator Conference - July 26-30, 2021
On July 26-30, 2021, the Museum will hold its annual Candy Brown Holocaust and Human Rights Educator Conference. This Conference is a full immersive program geared toward not only social studies but ELAR teachers and librarians. This year’s Conference themes will be Sports, Race, and Human Rights – The Nazi Olympics to Tokyo 2021 (July 26-28, 2021) and Antisemitism and Hate Speech – From the Holocaust to Today (July 28-30, 2021). The Conference will be virtual with in-person at the Museum options.
The Conference includes:
- Break out sessions with leading educational and human rights organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League, Echoes and Reflections, USC Shoah Foundation, Special Olympics Texas, International Rescue Committee, and Genocide Watch.
- Survivor Speakers Keynote Panel with Texas of the Year and Holocaust Survivor Max Glauben, Cambodia Genocide Survivor Thear Suzuki, and Rwanda Genocide Against the Tutsis Survivor Yvonne Umugwaneza
- Keynote speakers on the Conference’s themes, including best-selling author Andrew Maraniss, Centre for Sports and Human Rights, and Dr. Robert Williams from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
- Access to exclusive digital resource drive
- CPE credit
- Continental breakfast
Registration deadline: July 12, 2021
Registration link: https://dhhrm.formstack.com/forms/2021_hhrec
Registration fee: $25.00
See the attached flyer and tentative schedule for more information, or go to: https://www.dhhrm.org/educators/educator-professional-development/
Bee in a Box
The Bee in a Box is a classroom competition that 8th grade teachers can use as another way to access their students’ knowledge and understanding of key concepts in American history? Students use an online guide to prepare for a two-part classroom competition. Every effort has been made to use content for the online guide from the 8th grade TEKS as well as enrichment on the U.S. Constitution.
Click HERE for more information about Bee in a Box
Texas Law Related Education
KELLY BELLAR - Region 10 K-12 Social Studies Consultant - Teaching & Learning
Email: kelly.bellar@region10.org
Website: https://www.region10.org/programs/social-studies/service-offerings/
Location: Richardson, TX, USA
Phone: 972-348-1432
Twitter: @Region10SS