Once again, welcome back to another school year. As we have learned over the last couple of years, nothing is really ever as "normal" as we think. In the last, almost, two years we have heard lots of - "this is an unprecedented situation", "when we get back to normal", "we are living in historical times", etc. However, if we think like historians those statements are always true in some sense. Twenty years ago we were living in another unprecedented, historic time when our nation was attacked. This year marks the 20th anniversary of that horrific day, however, we now have students in our classrooms that have no personal memory of that day. They are a generation living in a post-9/11 world that is ever so different and yet similar in many ways. They are, however, a generation that will forever remember the year when school "ended early" due to a pandemic and when school began to look a bit different. They will be a generation that will have their own historic and unprecedented times. I am reminded of all of this as I reflect upon my own teaching career which was just beginning when 9/11 occurred. I was in my second year of teaching sixth grade. We had no internet the beginning of that year due to construction nearby so as the events of the day unfolded, my students and I sat by the radio I had in my classroom and took time to listen to the broadcasting and then discussed answers and questions. It was surreal considering that my students then were living in a time before cell phones and social media were ubiquitous but 24 hour news was commonplace and yet we were experiencing the day through the radio. Those students are now in their early 30s. What memories and reflections will our students today have of the times we are living in now? How will they tell their stories to future generations?

Here are just a few items to bring to your attention in this issue:

• Check out the Region 10 Social Studies offerings coming this Fall. Registration will be open soon.
• Registration for Mock Trial teams is open (see below).
• Registration is open for the TCSS Conference in Round Rock at the new Kalahari Resort
  
• Update: NCSS will be going virtual again this year. New registration information coming soon.
• Resources included for 9/11, Constitution Day and National Hispanic Heritage Month

As always, I would like to help in any way that I can to take something off your plate. Please feel free to reach out any time for a resource, idea, or support of any kind.

Join us for a series of monthly cohort meetings this Fall to explore the process of implementing Ethnic Studies courses (specifically the Mexican American and African American Studies courses) in your district. If you have already implemented these courses but would like to join to share your experiences and learn new ideas to implement next year, we encourage you to join in with us. We will discuss proposal ideas, planning the courses, instructional resources, and strategies for teaching with cultural sensitivity. Find support from educators in both Region 10 and Region 11 to create curriculum that will be ready to implement in the 2021-2022 school year.

These sessions are open to teachers, curriculum specialists, coordinators either currently teaching, implementing or planning either Ethnic Studies course or those that have plans to do so.

UPDATE:

OUR COHORT WILL CONTINUE THIS FALL WITH DATES ON SEPTEMBER 7, OCTOBER 5, NOVEMBER 9 & DECEMBER 7. REGISTRATION IS OPEN NOW.

FREE HUMANITIES TEXAS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEBINARS (FALL 2021)

Beginning in September, Humanities Texas will hold FREE professional development webinar series for social studies and ELA teachers in Texas schools.

Teachers can apply to attend on the Humanities Texas website.

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).

*This is just the beginning of our fall programming. Stay tuned for more announcements on additional online opportunities for both social studies and ELA teachers.*

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 can apply to attend here:

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

Teachers who apply will receive information about and access to each weekly session in the series.

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

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

Hello Mock Trial Coordinators! The time has come to start building your teams and getting ready to register. As of right now, we will be FACE TO FACE this year!

REGISTRATION:

• Online team registration is open now! The link to register is HERE.
• The registration fee is $175 per team. Checks and credit cards only. No purchase orders will be accepted.

REGION 10 DATES:

• Saturday, November 13, 2021 (8:00-1:00) - Mock Trial Clinic - George Allen Courthouse
• Saturday, January 29, 2022 - Region 10 Competition, George Allen Courthouse
• Saturday, February 5, 2022 - Dallas ISD/Region 10 Semi-Finals

STATE COMPETITION

• Thursday, March 3, 2022 3:00PM – 7:00PM State Competition Registration/Orientation – Belo Mansion
• Friday, March 4, 2022 7:00AM – 8:00PM State Competition – Rounds 1, 2, 3 – George Allen Courthouse
• Saturday, March 5, 2022 7:00AM – 8:00PM State Competition – Round 4 & Semi-Final and Final Rounds

COURTROOM ARTIST CONTEST:

• Reminder - Participation in the artist contest is not required and artists may compete without a mock trial team.
  

REGISTRATION DEADLINE -- JANUARY 15, 2022

More details will be coming soon regarding calendar dates.

For Additional Information Contact:

Melissa Garcia

Law-Related Education Coordinator

State Mock Trial Coordinator

Dallas Bar Association

214.220.7484

mgarcia@dallasbar.org

Kelly Bellar

Region 10 SS Consultant

972.348.1432

kelly.bellar@region10.org

The State Board of Education (SBOE) today announced updates to the TEKS review and revision schedule. Approved at the Board’s April meeting, the updated schedule moves up the review and revision of the social studies TEKS to the 2021-22 school year and pushes back the review and revision of the mathematics TEKS to the 2022-23 school year.

The instructional materials adoption cycle was also revised in response to the changes.

Located at the World Trade Center in New York City, the 9/11 Memorial Museum tells the story of 9/11 through media, narratives, and a collection of monumental and authentic artifacts, presenting visitors with personal stories of loss, recovery, and hope. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is committed to providing relevant and engaging learning opportunities for students, teachers, families, and the general public. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum engages a variety of stakeholders to fulfill its mission to educate the public about the lasting consequences of 9/11.

Check Them Out Below:

2018-2019:

September 2018, November 2018, February 2019, March 2019, April 2019, May 2019, June 2019

2019-2020:

August 2019, September 2019, October 2019, November 2019, December 2019, January 2020, February 2020, March 2020, April 2020 (Part 1), April 2020 (Part II), May 2020 (Part I), May 2020 (Part II) June 2020, July 2020

2020-2021:

August 2020, September 2020, October 2020, October 2020 (Part II), November/December 2020, December 2020, January 2021, February 2021, March 2021 (Part I), March 2021 (Part II), April 2021 (Part I), April 2021 (Part II), May 2021 (Part I), May 2021 (Part II), July 2021, August 2021

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