Dear Teachers,
My name is Chelsea Howells, and I serve as the ESC Region 9 Social Studies content specialist. Every year offers us opportunities to grow and change as educators, and this year will be no different. I am here to help you in any way that you may need, including finding resources, supporting initiatives that you take on, and providing feedback and coaching. I am so excited about this school year and the opportunities we have to impact society through our social studies lessons!
The purpose of this monthly newsletter is to provide resources that are specific to types of social studies content, as well as general instructional tools and resources, and updates and professional development opportunities that are beneficial to all.
If you ever need assistance or have a question, please do not hesitate to contact me via email (chelsea.howells@esc9.net) or social media (@ChelseaHowells9).
Wishing you a great start to the new school year!
P.S. Please take 1 minute to complete this google form if
You need me to remove your name from this email list (ex. no longer teaching social studies)
You still teach social studies but have a new teaching assignment (ex. moved from 5th grade to 10th grade)
You are able to help me update my records with the names/email addresses of teachers who need to be subscribed (ex. new SS teachers at your school)
Thank you for your assistance!
#DitchThatTextbook
Ice Breakers! Escape Rooms! Social Emotional Learning! And so much more!
Twitter Treasures
Template- make it your own!!!
"Since so many students get added and dropped due to schedule adjustments the first few weeks, I will have this linked in my auto-reply email. That way when I get emailed about a schedule change students will get all the important info they missed from day 1" ~Amanda Sandoval @historysandoval
Fun Fresh Ideas with Meghan Mathis
"The first few weeks of school are all about getting to know our students. We have them fill out worksheets telling us about their favorite foods or songs, we ask them if they have access to the Internet at home, and sometimes we have them tell us about their summer vacations. But… is it enough?"
Lead4Ward Frequency Distribution
Lead4Ward provides FREE frequency distribution charts to help teachers when planning and prioritizing instruction for the year. Here are this year's charts along with a document that focuses on how to use the information.
Frequency Distribution by TEKS Cluster
Now What? Document (credit Jessica Torres, Region 12)
- snapshot
- scaffold
- academic vocab
- Teacher Learning Reports
- Student Learning Reports
- Social Studies side-by-sides
Patriot Day
September 11th is Patriot Day.
HB 1501 – Requires schools to observe a minute of silence on September 11th, if it falls on a regular school day. The minute of silence does not have to be in addition to the regular minute of silence, observed on any other school day, but this day should include a brief statement with reference to the memory of those who died on September 11, 2001.
This year, September 11th falls on a Saturday. However, below are some resources and opportunities for students to learn more about the events of 9/11.
Resources:
9/11 Memorial and Museum Lesson Plans9/11 Anniversary in the Schools Webinar
9/11 Poster Exhibition Free Download
Remembering September 11 Curriculum Guide
NCSS "We are the 9/11 Class:" Lessons for the Next Generation
Celebrate Freedom Week
Each year, during the week that includes September 17, Texas schools honor Celebrate Freedom Week (TEC § 29.907) to highlight the values and ideals on which the United States was founded as well as the sacrifices that were made for freedom in the founding of the country. Students learn about the intent, meaning, and importance of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights. Students also examine the relationship between the ideas in these documents and subsequent American history.
Celebrate Freedom Week coincides with Constitution Week, established by the U.S. Congress to encourage all Americans to learn about the Constitution. Both Celebrate Freedom Week and Constitution Week focus on September 17, the date in 1787 when delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution. Congress has also designated September 17 of each year as Constitution Day.
Resources:
American Indian Heritage Day
American Indian Heritage Day shall be regularly observed by appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs in the public schools and other places to honor American Indians in this state and to celebrate the rich traditional and contemporary American Indian culture.
Resources:
Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Video: Bullock Museum- Native Cultures in Texas
FREE HUMANITIES TEXAS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEBINARS
Beginning in September, Humanities Texas will hold FREE professional development webinar series for social studies teachers in Texas schools.
Teachers can apply to attend on the Humanities Texas website. Participants will receive CPE credit and a wealth of curricular materials. CPE hours will be based on Zoom attendance and adjusted if a participant misses any portion of the program. Teachers who apply will receive information about and access to each weekly session in the series.
Teaching about American Indians in Texas
Mondays • September 13 through October 4, 2021 • 5:00–6:30 pm CT
This webinar series will offer teachers new windows into the history of American Indians in Texas and a collection of curriculum materials geared toward bringing innovative perspectives into the classroom. Team taught by a historian and two master teachers, the institute will focus on the long arc of American Indian presence in Texas from the pre-contact era through the “Indian Wars” of the 1870s.
Teaching America’s Founding Documents
Wednesdays • September 15–October 13, 2021 • 5:00–6:15 pm CT
Each weekly webinar will cover one of the America’s founding documents: the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and Washington’s Farewell Address. Each session will focus on both the context of the featured document (how it came to be and its impact/significance) and its actual contents (the most important things for teachers to know and share with their students).
Please contact Humanities Texas with any questions: institutes@humanitiestexas.org.
Chelsea Howells
Region 9 ESC
#GCT #iCivicsEducator #MIE #GridGuide #EdPuzzleCoach
Email: chelsea.howells@esc9.net
Website: https://www.esc9.net/564748_3
Location: 301 Texas 11 Loop, Wichita Falls, TX, USA
Phone: 940-397-8106
Twitter: @ChelseaHowells9