My name is Jessica Torres and I serve as the ESC Region 12 Social Studies content specialist as well as the Continuous Improvement Liaison. The purpose of the newsletter is to provide resources specific to social studies content, general instructional tools, resources, updates, and professional development opportunities that are beneficial to all.

James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, has a weekly newsletter called the 3-2-1. Here are some words of wisdom he shares as we get ready to close out the year.

“Improvements are only temporary until they become part of who you are.

• The goal is not to read a book, the goal is to become a reader.
• The goal is not to run a marathon, the goal is to become a runner.
• The goal is not to learn an instrument, the goal is to become a musician.

This year, focus on the identity you want to build.”

I look forward to working with each of you to build your identity as a teacher...whether that be a rebuild, a remodel, or a build from the ground up. As always, if you ever need assistance or have a question, please do not hesitate to contact me via email (jtorres@esc12.net) or social media (@owl_b_torresedu).

One of the things I am hearing from all grade levels this year is the increased amount of students struggling behaviorally. This article entitled, 5 Words to Support a Dysregulated Child, provides some great suggestions for providing support and strategies to use with students.

https://allysonapsey.com/2021/11/12/5-words-to-support-a-dysregulated-child/

Recently came across a tweet from Brooke Higgins @higginsb, who serves as an eMINTS Teacher/Coach for @emintsnc, that references the instructional power of delivering effective directions. Take some time to reflect through these images and head over to Twitter to follow Brooke!

Look at this great idea from Mr. Matera, former transformED keynote! How could you use this creative idea with your students? https://www.mrmatera.com/

Here is a template if you are interested in doing this activity! <<Template>>

I've been diving into a new book, 50 Strategies for Cognitive Engagement, and I'd like to devote a section in each newsletter to think about thinking. Oftentimes educators tend to misidentify the level of instruction that they are using to engage students in higher levels of thinking. If we understand our levels better then we are able to better select strategies at various critical-thinking levels. Let's start with Thinking at the Remember Level.

At the Remember level, learners must recover information they previously memorized. There are two cognitive processes within the Remember level: (1) recognizing and (2) recalling.

What does recognizing look like in the classroom? Students should be selecting the correct memorized answer from provided answer choices.

• Vocab matching - terms and definitions both provided
• Who, what, when and where questions when students must select the answer

What does recalling look like in the classroom? Students are providing a correct memorized answer that is not provided for them on the assignment or task.

• Fill in the blank questions
• Questions that often begin with, "What is..., Who was..." where an option is not provided

Take a moment and evaluate the tasks you ask your students to complete. How many of them are at the Remember level? Why do you think we often remain at this level? Each month we'll take a look at a different level and what we can do to increase cognitive engagement in our classrooms.

• CLOZEit Fill in the Blank Add On for Google Docs: You can create worksheets in Google Docs with a Word Bank using this tool!
• Voice Typing in Google Docs is great for the student who is hesitant to write, perhaps takes longer to write things down, or when you just want students to get their thoughts on paper.

To build critical thinking skills

As a class or in small groups, have the students read several biographies and construct compare-and-contrast charts, or Venn diagrams, comparing the subjects. Have them write critical essays evaluating such things as how different people approached the same subject or problem; how certain people influenced their own times or field of expertise; or what might have happened if certain people had lived in a different time.

More advanced students could present a “Meeting of the Minds” skit. (Each student portrays a person profiled in one of the books. A conversation is staged among a diverse set of people. Each student must respond and react to ideas as his or her historical figure would have.)

OR

To summarize a unit

When you have finished teaching “the facts” about a time period or event, reading one or two biographies of people from that same era brings students a sense of closure. Biographies allow students to understand the generalities they have just learned by filling in some specific and personal details of the time. Students will recognize familiar events in the biographies and can predict what may happen next, making them more ready to move on to the study of the next chronological period.

Registration is OPEN!

Registration for the 2022 HOTRHF is open! Reminder: Teachers must register each year and must register before their students. Register here: https://tx-htrhf.nhd.org/?f=b68ec4ee-c453-4bc2-a533-4a7e143d71b7

Annual Theme

The 2022 Annual Theme is Debate & Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, and Consequences. Read the theme narrative and/or watch the theme introduction video to learn more. If you still have questions, watch the recorded 2022 Theme Q&A Session.

Contest Rule Book

There are no rule changes for the upcoming 2022 season but be sure to review the Contest Rule

Book (also available in Spanish). The rules are also covered in this NHD playlist.

Evaluation Sheets

While you’re at it, don’t forget to also check out the judge evaluation sheets. As a reminder, the rubric is clearer regarding the ratings, while still offering judges the opportunity to give specific comments. View the evaluations sheets today!

Free!

All student registration fees for the 2022 HOTRHF have been waived. Hooray for one less thing to do!

T-shirt Design Contest $$$

Texas History Day is offering a $250 reward and free T-shirt to a student who submits the winning design for this year’s history fair theme: Debate & Diplomacy in History. For more information and submission instructions, please visit https://texashistoryday.com/t-shirt-design-contest/. Deadline for submissions has been extended to January 3, 2022.

Law-Related Education and Law Focused Education, Inc. will sponsor two civic trainer sessions in the summer of 2022. These institutes will create a cadre of educators to serve as LRE ambassadors and train educators in their regional service center areas.

Elementary Educator Training - July 10-14, 2022

Middle School Educator Training - July 17-21, 2022

One teacher from each of the 20 regional service center areas in Texas will be chosen to attend. Teachers will be selected based on the strength of their application and will need to be existing classroom teachers, have between six to 15 years of experience, and be comfortable teaching other adults.

Both training sessions will be held in Austin, Texas. Educators selected will be provided a travel stipend [up to $400], hotel accommodations [Sunday - Wednesday nights], meals and all materials. The training will focus on providing the content, resources, and skills to support quality civic education professional development. Components of this training will include:

1. Content knowledge and resource sessions to teach our institutions of government so that attending teachers can share the knowledge and resources with others.

2. Best practices in the design of quality professional development. Each teacher will lead civic education training in their region increasing the availability of civic education training.

3. Instructional strategies and practices to engage learners.

4. Connect educators with opportunities to involve local lawyers and judges in their respective schools and communities to strengthen the teaching of the rule of law.

Applications are now available at www.texaslre.org. The deadline for submission will be March 1, 2022.

I am so excited to be part of the #sschat moderator team! I would love to have you join us for a great conversation via Twitter each Monday evening. Need help getting started with Twitter chats, reach out to me and I'll walk you through the steps. All of the Twitter chats are archived for future reference using Wakelet. Check them out here ->> https://sschat.org/archives/

Check them out here:

Volume 1 (2018-2019) Issue 1 Issue 2 Issue 3 Issue 4 Issue 5 Issue 6 Issue 7 Issue 8 Issue 9 Issue 10

Volume 2 (2019-2020) Issue 1 Issue 2 Issue 3 Issue 4 Issue 5 Issue 6 Issue 7 Issue 8 Issue 9 Issue 10 Issue 11 Issue 12 Issue 13

Volume 3 (2020-2021) Issue 1 Issue 2 Issue 3 Issue 4 Issue 5 Issue 6 Issue 7 Issue 8 Issue 9 Issue 10 Issue 11 Issue 12

Volume 4 (2021-2022) Issue 1 Issue 2 Issue 3 Issue 4

Special Editions: Celebrate Black History - Celebrate Women's History - 9/11 Remembered - Holocaust Remembrance Week - Memorial Day - Constitution Day - Juneteenth

Instructional Leadership/Continuous Improvement Liaison

Social Studies Content Specialist

ESC Region 12

o: 254-297-1284

Email: jtorres@esc12.net
Website: https://www.esc12.net/page/ge_socialstudies
Location: ESC Region 12, West Loop 340, Waco, TX, USA
Phone: 254-366-3856
Twitter: @owl_b_torresedu