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.

Short Constructed Response Questions have probably garnered the most attention because of the difference in scoring vs. other new-item types. I've included some graphics below to help clarify the process and provide additional information about these question types.

The 2023 SCR Scoring Guides are now available! Each scoring guide provides student exemplars at all score points, as well as annotations made by the Anchor Approval Committee. It's helpful to remember that each SCR question has an item-specific rubric, so these questions are scored, not graded.

Classroom teachers, instructional coaches, campus and district content specialists, and administrators can serve in a variety of ways.

• Educator Item Review - each potential question for a state test is reviewed and approved by a committee of Texas educators
• Subject-Area Advisory Groups - groups of educators are convened to provide feedback on subject-area-specific topics
• Standard-setting - groups are convened to establish cut scores that define the performance levels
• Anchor Approval Committee - educators are convened to set the scoring boundaries for student constructed responses based on the rubric

Educator Committee Application

Click picture below

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: 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, 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

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

Get Your Biscuits in the Oven: The Domestic Side of Life at Starr Family Home

Ever wonder what a working kitchen from the 1880s would have looked like, what recipes might have been used, and who might have prepared them? Join us as we visit Starr Family Home State Historic Site for a step back in time. We’ll learn about the restoration of the Maplecroft kitchen, which took the room from a more modern-day style back to a full working 1880s kitchen, learn about the lives of the domestic staff, and browse some authentic 1880s recipes! Join site manager Barbara Judkins for this fun foodways event.

Date: Thursday, October 24, 6 p.m.- 7:30 p.m. Central Time
Platform: Zoom (Registrants will receive the link to attend closer to event date. Please check spam or junk folders for link)
Cost: Free (Donations in support of the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission are welcome and appreciated!)

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

(September 2023 Newsletter) https://www.smore.com/jybau