For Your Information

Fall 2013 Vol. 110 No. 1 DELAWARE • MARYLAND • NEW JERSEY • NEW YORK • PENNSYLVANIA • WASHINGTON D.C.

F Y I

Middle States Council for The Social StudiesAn Affiliate of the National Council for the Social Studies

Serving 110 Years of Excellence in the Social Studies

C3: Social Studies A World of InquiryCOLLEGE

CAREER

Involvement •  •  • • • • CIVIC LIFE • • • • • Activity

The 111th Middle States Regional Conference for Social StudiesFebruary 21-22, 2014

Westin Tyson’s Corners, VA

FALL 2013 FYI Vol. 110 No. 1 2President’s Message

I send our readers and members warm greetings at this special time of year. School is resuming soon or has resumed for students across the United States. I have recently returned from living and working in China. I was a mentor to teachers in the southeastern city of Shenzhen as they piloted a civics program in primary and middle schools. Prior to my tenure in China, I had the pleasure of working with Social Studies curriculum in the United States. This year it is with a renewed vigor and firsthand perspective that I connect with you as a middle school social studies teacher! The timidity and promising energy that the students exude over the first week has been palpable. Their excitement in reaction to my obvious passion for the social studies is contagious. We have already ignited each other to inquire and learn from one other. Whether you are returning as a teacher in the public or private schools or you find yourself at a university as a new or returning professor, I am again in your shoes (as a classroom teacher and implementer of curriculum). I wish you the same excitement and prospect of possibilities that I have experienced over the course of our first week of school.

As the Social Studies becomes fully engrained in the Common Core standards, assessments, and implementing and maintaining the best practices, I look forward to continued collaboration between and among our English/Language arts colleagues. NCSS curricular guidelines call for curriculum that is meaningful, integrated, value-based, and challenging. Social Studies can continue to support and lead the way in developing lessons, units, projects, and assessments that address skills across content areas, especially literacy. I wish you the very best school year in 2013-2014. Please join the middle state social studies educators, professors, and administrators on the 21-22 February 2014 in Falls Church, VA for the 111th Annual Middle States Social Studies Conference. Information is available on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/#!/MiddleStatesCouncilforSocialStudies or our website at http://www.mscssonline.org/ . Best, Mary Davis, President MSCSS

Are schools embracing gaming in the classroom? Gaming has long been part of teaching and learning, but with increasingly sophisticated programs comes the question of whether such games are helping or hurting learning. Supporters say gaming is a great way to engage students and make learning fun and effective. Critics, however, point to some obstacles to using gaming in today's classrooms and question whether some games are simply a waste of time. T.H.E. Journal magazine (exclusive preview for SmartBrief subscribers) (8/2013)

The best vision is insight.” -- Malcolm Forbes, American publisher

FALL 2013 FYI Vol. 110 No. 1 3

Middle States Council for the Social StudiesDelaware * Maryland * New Jersey * New York * Pennsylvania * Washington, D.C.

An Affiliate of the National Council for the Social Studies

The 111th Middle States Regional Conference for the Social StudiesFebruary 21-22, 2014

The Westin Tysons Corner, 7801 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22043

THEME: “C3, Social Studies A World of InquiryC3= College, Career, and Civic Life

This year’s conference is dedicated to investigate the adoption of the C3 Framework for social studies. In the past few years, social studies has been neglected in many schools due to the emphasis on preparation for testing in reading and mathematics. C3 is an effort to reemphasize the importance of social studies in preparing for life as a citizen, as well as preparation for college and career. The C3 Framework focuses on inquiry skills and key concepts, and guides—not prescribes — the choice of curricular content necessary for a rigorous social studies program. CCSSO recognizes the critical importance of content to the disciplines within social studies and supports individual state leadership in selecting appropriate and relevant content. States that decide to incorporate the inquiry arc and concepts of the C3 Framework into their state standards will then need to engage in a rigorous local process of selecting the appropriate content to be taught at each grade level to ensure that students develop the knowledge and skills to be civic-ready before graduation. The concepts expressed in the C3 Framework illustrate the disciplinary ideas, such as political structures, economic decision-making, spatial patterns, and chronological sequencing, that help organize the curriculum and content states select. As a core area in the K12 curriculum, social studies prepares students for their postsecondary futures, including the disciplinary practices and literacies needed for college-level work in social studies academic courses and the critical thinking, problem solving, and collaborative skills needed for the workplace. The C3 Framework encourages the development of state social studies standards that support students in learning to be actively engaged in civic life. Engagement in civic life requires knowledge and experience; children learn to be citizens by working individually and together as citizens. An essential element of social studies education, therefore, is experiential — practicing the arts and habits of civic life. The C3 Framework is a significant resource for all states to consider in their local processes for upgrading state social studies standards. While hosted by members from Washington D.C., the conference will take place at the Westin Tyson’s Corners, located on the Leesburg Pike at Falls Church, VA, a suburb of Washington, D.C. This location was chosen to ease parking problems, as well as to attract teachers from northern VA who have not had a major conference for a few years.

Registration and proposal forms are found on Pages 15 - 19

Nothing is as dangerous as an ignorant friend; a wise enemy is to be preferred.” -- Jean de La Fontaine, French writer

FALL 2013 FYI Vol. 110 No. 1 4

DelawareDelaware MSCSS Report

September 1, 2013Alycia M. Jefferson

State of Delaware Pre & Post Tests for Social Studies:This year, DDOE will be continuing the use of the Pre & Post Test for each grade in Social Studies as a part of the DPAS Evaluation Procedure for teachers. The Pre-Test for both 7th and 8th grade Social Studies is different from the 2012-2013 assessment, but is still focused on banded standards. Students in grades 3-12 are completing those pre-tests at this time at our school. The test typically consists of either all multiple choice questions or multiple choice questions and one to two short answer responses. The MC questions are graded on a bubble sheet while the short answers are graded by the teacher using the provided rubric.

DRC Unit Trainings for Social Studies The Social Studies Coalition of Delaware is working to organize several new Delaware Recommended Curriculum Unit trainings at a variety of grade levels beginning in late September. These units and trainings are based on the recommended curriculum and standards (prioritized) for each grade level. Members of the Social Studies Coalition and lead content area teachers provide hands-on trainings for teachers of specific grade levels at the Collette Center in Dover, Delaware.

DRC/Close Reading Programs: This past summer several teachers in the Secondary Social Studies Content Area were invited to participate in Close Reading in the Content Areas Program. We attended a two day training session and submitted a Close Reading Lesson that we will use in our classroom this Fall based on both our Content Area Standards and the Common Core Reading and Writing Standards. My lesson is based on the 8th Grade DRC Unit “Money, Banking and Taxes.” We will use these lessons and then meet again in late Fall to evaluate and analyze our student work and responses.

Geography Distinguished Teaching Award: The Delaware Geographic Alliance (Exciting News!)

The Delaware Geographic Alliance is inviting school administration and teaching colleagues to help them give recognition where it is due by nominating a good teacher for the Geography Distinguished Teaching Award. Nominations may be from school administrators or teaching colleagues. Self-nominations are also accepted. To nominate a deserving teacher, contact Anne Deinert at delawaregeoalliance@gmail.com or mail a letter to Delaware Geographic

FALL 2013 FYI Vol. 110 No. 1 5Delaware

Alliance, 216 Pearson Hall, Newark, DE 19716. Nominations must be received by October 15, 2013.

Del. council creates website to collect what's working in STEM The Delaware STEM Council, composed of educators and business leaders, has created a website to collect information about successful programs in science, technology, engineering and math education. DelawareSTEM.org includes information about STEM camps, after-school programs and other enrichment opportunities, and links for teachers to find STEM-related classroom ideas and instructional materials. The News Journal (Wilmington, Del.) (tiered subscription model) (8/1)

high school launches project-based learning program with iPads

Students at Putnam County High School in Georgia can take a class called "iPad Investigations," in which they use iPads to conduct project-based learning activities. Students are allowed to choose their research topics and must apply concepts from English, social studies, science and math to their projects. "The point is for them to support each content area while doing their research," media specialist Becky Nipper said. "It's project-based learning engaged with technology. They are not just going to Google." The Eatonton Messenger (Ga.) (8/29)

Why Education Is Not Like Medicine

Rather than embracing quick fixes, education reform should address context, complexity, and history, James H. Nehring writes.

There are three bad ideas popular among education writers in the United States right now. First is the idea that American public education should learn from the medical profession. Second is the idea that better skills are the route to higher income. And third is the instructional core, an idea that teaching consists of three elements—teacher, student, and content. For each of these ideas, there is a better way that will set us on a more constructive path.

View more Commentaries from Education Week. Follow Education Week Commentary @EdWeekComm

Each day is the scholar of yesterday.”Publilius Syrus Latin writer

NO!

NO!

YES!

FALL 2013 FYI Vol. 110 No. 1 6

MarylandMiddle States Conference for the Social Studies

Executive Board Meeting – June 8, 2013State Report – Maryland

Donna Olszewski

The Social Studies Advisory Council continues to meet. Issues requiring action include revisiting legislation from last year’s General Assembly session that:

• called for a survey to assess the status of social studies instruction in the schools

• required that a middle school assessment be developed and implemented in 2015

• put social studies back in the Master Plan• reinstituted the High School Government Assessment• Members of the Council seek to monitor the State Department of

Education’s compliance with these mandates. The Council’s Policy subcommittee plans to meet with key legislators to discuss the current legislation and possible future legislative actions.

• One encouraging development was the attendance of the new state superintendent for instruction at the May meeting. His presence and comments signaled an improved level of communication and cooperation regarding social studies policy.

As a part of Race to the Top, Maryland has been conducting summer academies for principals and select staff from every public school in Maryland. This will be the 3rd year for the academies. In previous academies, only RLA, Math, and STEM were included. This year a social studies teacher will be invited to participate on days 1 and 4. Master Teachers (academy presenters) have been trained to provide professional development regarding the new C3 social studies curriculum.

• Maryland is rewriting its social studies curriculum using the C3 as a framework. The work will be completed by the summer of 2013.

• Maryland Council for Social Studies’ fall conference is October 18, 2013 in Annapolis, Maryland. The theme is Preparing Students for Civil Discourse and Responsible Citizenship. Taylor Branch, Pulitzer Prize winning Historian and Cokie Roberts will give the two keynote addresses. MDCSS Mission for 2013 includes three components: non-partisan advocacy, building a social studies community, and professional development.

An idea is not responsible for the people who believe in it. -Don Marquis, humorist and poet (1878-1937)

FALL 2013 FYI Vol. 110 No. 1 7

MarylandMd. middle-school students learn about Sept. 11 in summer

program ! Middle-school students enrolled in a summer-school program in Carroll County, Md., are learning about the attacks on Sept. 11 as a historical event. Teacher Mike Chrvala favors using the stories of individuals to teach history, in this case, calling upon a firefighter and a survivor to share their stories, as well as field trips, to teach students who are too young to remember the attacks of 2001. The Baltimore Sun (7/7)

Maryland County Executive Criticizes Common Core. David Craig, county executive of Harford County, Maryland, writing in a Washington Times (7/12, Craig) op-ed, dismisses the notion that the Common Core Standards are necessary in “the nation that sent men to the moon,” and says that they “slipped under the radar of the public’s consciousness during the Great Recession.” He pans the standards as a “fad,” and says that many are arriving at this conclusion. Craig criticizes the standards as being confusing and impossible to implement, and criticizes Maryland politicians for “jumping head-first” into the “federal takeover scheme.”

District Denies Request To Expunge Record After Pastry Gun Suspension.

The Washington Post (6/11, George) reports that school officials in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, “turned down a request to expunge school records for a second-grade boy disciplined for chewing his Pop-Tart-like pastry into the shape of a gun,” noting that the district “disputed the portrayal of the case as ‘a singular incident, having to do only with a breakfast pastry.’” The family “plans to pursue the appeal further, taking it to the school board president, as procedure allows.”

Maryland Teacher Evaluation Systems Continue To Spark Controversy.

Andrew Ujifusa writes at the Education Week (6/11) “State EdWatch” blog that the Maryland State Education Association “plans to seek a court injunction to stop state-approved teacher evaluation systems from being imposed on several county school districts,” arguing “that the state has usurped what should be the districts’ power to decide, along with local teachers’ unions, which tests are included in the portions of evaluations tied to student growth.”

Md. school teaches STEM lessons in Chinese The Startalk program at the New Life Christian School in Frederick, Md., looks much like a school you would see in China, with children learning about science, technology, engineering and math in Chinese. The program -- funded by the U.S. Department of Defense -- was started to help ensure Americans learn critical world languages, such as Chinese, Arabic and Hindi. "The idea then is that you have a practical use for the language, which helps it cement better," said Robin Maliszewskyj, site director. The Frederick News-Post (Md.) (6/24)

FALL 2013 FYI Vol. 110 No. 1 8

New JerseyMIDDLE STATES COUNCIL FOR THE SOCIAL STUDIES

STATE REPORT FOR NEW JERSEYAugust 1, 2013

State Representatives: Dorothy L. Baldwin, Ed.D. and Arlene Gardner

As the oldest professional organization in the country devoted solely to supporting the strengthening of knowledge and skills for social studies educators, a review of the recently published NCTQ Teacher Prep Review would appear to be of interest to the members and Board of the MSCSS. The report consists of a review of more than 1,100 programs around the country that prepare future teachers and was done in partnership with the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) and U.S. News & World Report. As contained in the Mission Statement of the MSCSS, “Social studies educators play a critical role as citizens in their respective communities, states, country and the world.” So it would seem that a critical component in the lifecycle of the social studies teacher is professional preparation and the importance it plays as those in leadership positions invite candidates for interviews and extend offers for employment given the importance of ensuring high-quality professionals in the classroom. It is interesting to note that countries, such as Finland and Singapore, where students consistently outperform the US, set high standards for teacher preparation programs and recruitment of candidates from the top third of the college population. Yet in NJ, the report indicated that only 17 percent of the teacher preparation programs restrict admission to the top half of the college going population. The scope of review in New Jersey for the report included 24 elementary undergraduate and graduate programs and 24 secondary undergraduate and graduate programs and a review of 4,376 new teachers from the state’s higher educational institutions. The programs reviewed collectively provide for 76% of the state’s teachers. Highly rated programs included Kean University (graduate secondary), Rutgers University-Camden (undergraduate secondary) and Seton Hall University (undergraduate secondary) which each earned at least three out of four possible stars. (Nationwide, only 84 secondary programs were rated with at least three stars.) Of interest to the MSCSS is that one component included in the review of programs was content preparation. In New Jersey, only 4 percent of the elementary programs earn three or four stars for providing adequate content preparation compared to 11 percent nationwide. At the secondary level, 42 percent of the programs earn four stars for content preparation compared to 35 percent nationwide. While NJ is doing somewhat better in content preparation on the secondary level than the rest of the country, it is still inadequate. Perhaps as

FALL 2013 FYI Vol. 110 No. 1 9

New Jersey State Report - Cntinued from last page

an organization MSCSS needs to ask how it can support the efforts of teacher preparation institutions in better preparing the next wave of social studies educators. To read the full report or to ascertain how institutions in your state are rated go to:

http://www.nctq.org/teacherPrep/findings/byState/index.jsp

Social studies class visited by Marines who served in Iraq, Afghanistan

Four Marines who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan recently visited students in the forensic social science class at Red Bank Regional High School in New Jersey. Invited by social studies teacher April Chichelo, the Marines shared stories of their firsthand experiences in combat, plus their work in rebuilding schools, hospitals and other features of the local infrastructure. Patch.com/Red Bank-Shrewsbury, N.J. (7/17)

Book-making project imagines new life for a local landmark Students in a New Jersey school created books for a school contest about the legacy of a decaying landmark -- Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, N.J. Students who worked on the winning book -- "Hinchliffe: Then, Now and Tomorrow!" -- interviewed people about the stadium's history and considered ways to use the stadium now, including hosting popular performers. NorthJersey.com (Hackensack, N.J.) (free registration)/Patterson Press (6/23)

N.J. fourth-graders learn civics lessons can be sweet Fourth-grade teachers and students at Samsel Upper Elementary School in Parlin, N.J., turned a lesson about how government works into a real-life campaign to make saltwater taffy the state candy. As part of the lesson about civic engagement and how bills become laws, educators invited Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski to present to the class. Students asked him to sponsor the bill, and now it is being reviewed by lawmakers. Suburban News (Clark, N.J.) (6/27)

N.J. high school encourages students to become active in community ! Teachers at Ridge High School in New Jersey encourage students to voice their opinions and get involved in local organizations such as the Ridge Empowerment for Political Participa-tion, Project Citizen and the school Ethics Club, which was formed to address cheating and student integrity. Social studies supervisor Kristin Fox said teachers want their students to become "thoughtful, reasoned and active participants in their communities." New Jersey Hills Media Group (8/9)

A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.” --Francis Bacon, British author and statesman

FALL 2013 FYI Vol. 110 No. 1 10New York

NY REPORTEileen Gerrish 6/8/13

• The NYSCSS will hold its annual conference in Albany, NY, March 27-29, 2014. • The New York K-12 Social Studies Framework has not yet been finalized nor been approved by Board of Regents. • New York has joined other New England States in applying for a federal SEED grant that, if successful, would provide funding for extensive professional development in NY, and summer institutes in Rhode Island, using the Center for Civic Education’s We the People program as its foundation. • The Law, Youth and Citizenship Program of NYSBA (LYC) and the PATCH Program at Northport UFSD will hold its annual summer institute the last week of June. Mary Beth Tinker will be one of several guest speakers. The Institute hosts five strands of law-related study for teachers over four days, and attracts over 100 educators every year. • LYC will hold its 37th annual civic and law-related education conference in Geneva, NY, Oct. 17 and 18, 2013. Michael Rebell, Executive Director of the Education Equity Campaign will be the keynote speaker. The 2014 LYC Conference will be held Oct. 9 and 10, 2014 at Stony Brook University.

Kim O'Neil elected Kim O'Neil from Liverpool, New York has been elected vice-president of National Council for the Social Studies and is line to assume the NCSS presidency 2015-2016. Kim is currently serving her second term on the Board as the elementary representative. During her tenure she has served as co-chair of the International Visitors' Task Force, is a member of the editorial board for Social Studies and the Young Learner publication and of the review board for the NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People. She is a co-author of the 2012 Goethe Institut curricular materials and serves as the outreach teacher liaison for the Moynihan Institute Center for European Studies at Syracuse University. She is a National Board Certified teacher and has taught for 35 years as an elementary and middle school teacher in Liverpool, NY. She is a member of the NYSCSS and served as its president 2007-8.

NYTimes Says US Must Rethink Its Obsession With Tests In Schools.

In an editorial, the New York Times (7/14, Subscription Publication) bemoans “test mania” in US schools, documenting how schools made “exams the center of the educational mission” while “the country underinvested in curriculum development and teacher training, overlooking the approaches that other nations use to help teachers get constantly better.” The Times says “some problems could be partly solved by the Common Core learning standards,” but only if schools address issues with “test-weary parents” and worried teachers. Congress, too, could help “by rethinking the way schools are evaluated under No Child Left Behind.” In all, the US “needs to reconsider its obsession with testing, which can make education worse, not better.

FALL 2013 FYI Vol. 110 No. 1 11

PennsylvaniaPennsylvania Stays in Consortia, But Won't Use Tests

(August 2, 2013, Curriculum Matters Blog) NV Pennsylvania department of education spokesman Tim Eller told Education Week that the state has decided to develop its own tests. But for the time being, it will maintain "participating" membership in the two consortia, which entitles it to be part of each group's discussions.

Pennsylvania Schools Must Wait Until Fall For School Safety Grant Program.

The Harrisburg (PA) Patriot-News (7/23, Murphy) reports that Pennsylvania’s Department of Education is working to finalize rules for a competitive school safety grant program, and as a result, schools may “have to wait until late August or early September to apply.” The piece notes that “the grant program earmarks $

Pennsylvania Districts Considering Scaling Back Kindergarten.

Despite Millage Increases, Pennsylvania Districts Struggle With Deficits. The AP (8/12, Miller) reports that since kindergarten is not mandatory for Pennsylvania districts, some of them are considering eliminating or reducing their programs in the face of “declining revenue and mandated costs.” The piece quotes Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials Jay Himes saying, “Unfortunately, it’s a reflection of the new fiscal reality for school districts that extreme measures like this have to be considered.”

Pa. schools use mobile apps to distribute information Several Pennsylvania school districts have mobile applications -- or are in the process of developing them -- allowing users to access students' grades, school meal accounts and other data. Carlynton Superintendent Gary Peiffer also saw the need for a mobile application to alert parents about school closures, emergencies and other situations. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (7/21)

Pa. high-school students to receive artistic opportunity As part of his push to implement project-based learning, Pennsylvania high-school principal Ken Lockette has launched a program in which between 30 and 50 students will partner with professional artists at five local institutions. With the help of grant funding, the students will work in teams to learn more about the art world and blog about the experience. "It's about applying things in the real world, not just doing classroom presentations," Lockette said. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (8/1)

FALL 2013 FYI Vol. 110 No. 1 12

Washinton, D. C.District of Columbia State Report on Social Studies

Social studies in Washington, D.C. has been gaining momentum as we approach the start of the 2013-2014 school year. While many challenges lie ahead, progress is happening across many fronts and we are working strategically to return social studies to prominence in the nation’s capital. D.C. will continue working to achieve its vision of setting the example for effective social studies education in the nation and developing students to be high achieving, informed citizens and productive members of society.

Standards Having joined the worked of the Social Studies, Curriculum, Assessment, and Instruction (SSACI) group within the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), D.C. contributed feedback to the C3 Framework during the recent targeted review. There is strong support for the C3 Framework within D.C. Public School administration and the concepts will be embedded within curricular resources as lobbying efforts for adoption proceed with the State Board. D.C. is looking for partners to upgrade our existing grade level content standards in alignment with the C3 Framework when approval is granted.

Assessment While there are currently no district or state social studies assessments in the District of Columbia, DC Public Schools has recently received a grant to use Race to the Top funds to develop pre-test and post-test assessments for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade social studies courses. Work will commence immediately to create these assessments using a combination of items written by locally recruited and trained teachers and nationally recognized vendors and the project will be managed by a grant-funded Assessment Manager as soon as a suitable candidate can be hired. The assessments will reflect a balance between social studies content, social studies skills, and Common Core Literacy standards for social studies and will be piloted during the 2014-2015 school year.

Curriculum After a 4 year gap in providing social studies curriculum, D.C. Public Schools began work on curricular resources in 2012 to align to the current content standards and the Common Core Standards for Literacy in Social Studies. To date, the required social studies courses in grades 6-12 have Scope and Sequence documents and source lists available. Additionally, DCPS has worked in partnership with the Center for Inspired Teaching to create Literacy Design Collaborative (LDC) modules aligned to the Scope and Sequence documents for grades 6-8 with hopes to expand this work to high school.

Continued on next page

FALL 2013 FYI Vol. 110 No. 1 13

Washinton, D. C. Continued from previous page

Prior to the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year, DC will complete work on Scope and Sequence documents for grades K-5, revisions on new curriculum using feedback from teachers and significant expansions to the current Source Lists done in partnership with the D.C. Geographic Alliance. During the 2013-2014 school year, curriculum work will continue to develop Unit Overviews, LDC Modules, and Close Reading modules for grades K-12. To help increase the speed and quality of curriculum design, DC Public Schools will be hiring a Social Studies Specialist.

Partnerships Over 100 museums, non-profits, and professional organizations are collaborating with D.C. teachers and students. Several marquee initiatives include:

• Embassy Adoption Program, partnering diplomats with 50 fifth and sixth grade classrooms each year

• Georgetown Street Law program, using 25 law students preparing students for a major Mock Trial competition

• Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Law program, with 40 law students teaching elective courses in law and justice

• D.C. Geographic Alliance, providing professional development and curriculum support to build geographic literacy

Externship program gives D.C. teachers real-world exposure to STEM

Some Washington, D.C.-area teachers are spending part of their summers seeing how professionals in science, technology, engineering and math fields use STEM in their jobs, and learning how those real-world applications and workplace skills can be used to enrich classroom instruction. The Teachers in Industry Project is sponsored by George Washington University. Leesburg Today (Va.) (7/17)

How to make classroom review of history facts fun, inclusive

Turning a review of history facts into games can encourage participation by students who may not be as strong in the subject as their classmates, Aaron Brock writes in this blog post. Games add a little fun and variety into what might otherwise be a routine Q-and-A. Brock suggests two rounds of review questions, with students being allowed to use their textbooks or notes to answer questions in the first round, but not in the second round. He also suggests games with two- or three-person teams. MiddleWeb/Future of History blog (7/7)

FALL 2013 FYI Vol. 110 No. 1 14

Democracy Inside—and Outside—an Egyptian Classroom As events continue to unfold in Egypt, teacher Adam Herzig recalls the scene inside his Cairo classroom in 2011 when the revolution began. (Education Week)

Writer Laments Common Core Debate’s Effects On Students. An op-ed in the Baltimore Sun (7/14, Hettleman) by Kalman R. Hettleman, a former member of the Baltimore school board, explores the movement opposed to the Common Core Standards, calling the issue “the fiercest political battlefield in the education wars,” and describing the “unusual bipartisan coalition...seeking to stall or kill implementation.” The piece laments the patchwork of state standards, describing them as trailing the rest of the world, but notes that opposition to high-stakes testing and “new and controversial teacher evaluations...linked to student test scores” are panicking educators. Hettleman laments the political distraction’s negative impact on students, and calls for a delay in “the consequences of the new standards” until schools are acclimated to the Common Core.

Citizenship EducationStarted by Kent Minor, Lecturer at The Ohio State University

Robert Pondiscio says we worry about our kids' math and science abilities, but we forget that most of them don’t know much about U. S. History and democracy.

Best Blogs to Follow Diplomacy and UN IssuesDecember 19, 2012 by CORY LEONARD

A few of the better diplomacy blogs to add to your gReader regular reading:1. Big Think | Power Games by Ali Wyne of the Belfer Center for Science and

International Affairs covers big questions such as the future of power, resolving the South China Sea Dispute, and more.

2. Turtle Bay by Washington Post reporter Colum Lynch is the must-read source for insider reports from the UN global HQ on 1st avenue in New York.

3. The Internationalist by Stewart Patrick at the Council on Foreign Relations blends new theoretical and policy developments with an approach grounded in academics and policy.

4. Global Observatory from the International Peace Institute offers astute commentary in digestible short articles.  Follow “united nations” as well as other

5. The Multilateralist by David Bosco navigates the layers of complex bureaucracy within international organizations.  Second great source via ForeignPolicy.com.

Other worthy but more specialized options include pass blue on peaceekeeping and other UN issues by CUNY, What’s In Blue on the Security Council, and of course the usual news sources–especially the Economist, FT, Wall Street Journal, New York Times/IHT

They defend their errors as if they were defending their inheritance. -Edmund Burke, statesman and writer (1729-1797)

FALL 2013 FYI Vol. 110 No. 1 15

An InvitationDream of a Nation is designed to be used by teachers in science and

English as well as Social Studies in order to broaden students’ exposure to civic education. All our resources—from the articles themselves to chapter questions and unit plans to alignment guides—are free and open access. I know how difficult it is, as a classroom teacher, to obtain high quality resources for students. Budgets are limited and only becoming more so. We also understand how little time teachers have. That’s why we’ve spent so much time ourselves developing in depth unit plans, aligned with ELA Common Core, which teachers can implement in their classrooms without spending hours in planning they don’t have. Over 400 secondary school teachers and professors at higher learning institutions are already using these resources but we want to reach more students.

The book and materials are geared for grades 8-12 and students in higher education and the format is accessible for even the most struggling readers, while the content will challenge even the most nuanced thinkers; making this a resource that teachers can feel comfortable using with all students. The book is filled with diagrams, pictures and charts that encourage visual literacy in economics, civics and math, as well as narratives which deepen social and historical understanding. Dream of a Nation makes social studies, civics, and economics relevant for students, through the discussion of issues and solutions which define our world, and encourage young people to take an active part in addressing these issues to create a better world for tomorrow. Dream of a Nation is also an excellent tool for demonstrating teachers’ connection to 21st century learning, which is a necessary criterion in many new teacher evaluation tools.

The downloadable book and materials are available on our website (http://dreamofanation.org/educators). Our students deserve the best resources for civic engagement possible; our future depends upon it.Sincerely,Moira Bradford, MLA, MA, NBCT • Doctoral Candidate, UNC Chapel HillEducation Program Director, Dream of a Nation

D.C. program on primary sources gives Ohio teacher a first-hand look at history

Jennifer Lawler, a middle-school language arts teacher from Ohio, recently participated in the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Summer Teacher Institute at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The training focused on educational uses of primary-source documents, such as the 13th Amendment, which Lawler said still had a crease in it from after it was signed. Lawler, who called the experience "game changing cool because it was so awesome," this fall will teach her students lessons she created while in D.C. about Samuel Clemons, his character and stories of Tom Sawyer. Hudson Hub-Times (Ohio) (8/11)

Each day is the scholar of yesterday.” - Publilius Syrus Latin writer

MSCSS Call for Proposals- Presenters and Vendors

Middle States Council for the Social StudiesDelaware *Maryland * New Jersey * New York * Pennsylvania * Washington D.C.

An Affiliate of the National Council for the Social Studies

The 111th Middle States Regional Conference for the Social StudiesFebruary 21-22, 2014C3: A World of Inquiry

C3= College, Career and Civic LifeThe Westin Tysons Corner- 7801 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA

22043sburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22043Prospective presenters complete entire form; vendors complete identified sections.Title of Proposed Session/Vendor site/company: ______________________________________Person Submitting Proposal: ______________________________________________________Affiliation/School System: _________________________________________________________Address (City, State, zip code): _____________________________________________________Email: ___________________________________ Phone: ________________________________

Session Description: (50 words or less that includes content and format of the session- this description will be printed in the program; vendors provide an overview of what social studies resources you will share.)

Session Abstract: (brief description of the outcome/s, content, and techniques you will incorporate in this session and brief explanation as to how the session relates to the theme)

Audience: (identify audience as: elementary, middle, high, college/university, or a combination or two or more; vendors also identify audience.) ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Social Studies discipline: (identify discipline as: civics, culture, economics, geography, history, and/or pedagogy- or a combination of several disciplines.)___________________________________ ___________________________________Presenter/Vendor: ______________________________________________________Affiliation/School System: _______________________________________________ Address (City, State, zip code): ____________________________________________ Email: ___________________________________ Phone: _______________________

(Continued on next page)

FALL 2013 FYI Vol. 110 No. 1 16

FALL 2013 FYI Vol. 110 No. 1 17

Proposal Form-P. 2

Presenter/Vendor: ______________________________________________________Affiliation/School System: _______________________________________________ Address (City, State, zip code): ____________________________________________ Email: ___________________________________ Phone: _______________________

Presenter/Vendor: ______________________________________________________Affiliation/School System: _______________________________________________ Address (City, State, zip code): ____________________________________________ Email: ___________________________________ Phone: _______________________

Submit proposal forms electronically to:

Dr. Marcie Taylor-Thoma, program chair, at: mthoma@msde.state.md.us or By mail to: MSDE, Office of Social Studies, 200 W. Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 Proposal deadline:

Monday, November 18, 2013

*** Presenters and Vendors are responsible for providing any materials, including computers and projectors, which will be used during their session/exhibit table. Initial here:

Mark an X after this sentence to indicate that you need a screen for your session (to use with your computer/projector):

Important! Mark an X after this sentence to indicate that you need to be assigned to a room with access to the internet. We will hold sessions requiring internet access in the same room to be mindful of the cost and to streamline the program:

For the purpose of avoiding any misunderstanding, please read the following statement of intent and initial in the space provided: I have completed the attached proposal and have included a session description & abstract. I certify that the named participants have agreed to take part in this conference. I understand that it is my responsibility to notify each of the presenters regarding the status of the proposal and the date, time, and location of the presentation should it be accepted. I also understand that all presenters, facilitators, and vendors must register and pay registration for the conference by the expected deadline of January 10, 2014. Room reservations are made on an individual basis.

Selected session presenters, facilitators, and vendors will be contacted via email and will have several weeks to submit the registration form & fees that will confirm participation in the conference. Direct any questions to the program chair, Dr. Marcie Taylor-Thoma, mthoma@msde.state.md.us or 410-767-0519.

Printed name of person submitting proposal and date- Print and date name here:

FALL 2013 FYI Vol. 110 No. 1 18

Middle States Council for the Social StudiesDelaware * Maryland * New Jersey * New York * Pennsylvania * Washington, D.C.

An Affiliate of the National Council for the Social Studies

The 111th Middle States Regional Conference for the Social StudiesFebruary 21-22, 2014

The Westin Tysons Corner, 7801 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22043

THEME: “C3, Social Studies A World of InquiryC3= College, Career, and Civic Life

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION - PLEASE PRINT ALL INFORMATION

NAME:

STREET COUNTY: CITY: STATE: ZIP CODE:

PHONE: HOME: WORK:

E-MAIL: _________________

GRADE LEVEL(S) _____________________ TEACHING STATE____________________

FORM AND ENVELOPE MUST BE POSTMARKED BY February 1, 2014PURCHASE ORDER NOTE: A purchase order without an accompanying check will not be accepted unless arrangements are made with John Roy at jaroy43@aol.com or 607-583-4439.

VIP: PLEASE LIST SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS (Lenten or other): _________________________________________________________________________________________

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION: (Includes 2014 Membership, Saturday Luncheon, Full conference access) PRE REGISTRATION FEE (FOR INDIVIDUAL REGISTRANT BEFORE Feb 1st ………………………. $85.00 _______SAVE! ADDITIONAL REGISTRANTS FROM SAME SCHOOOL/DISTRICT/CTY/ORGANIZATION......$75.00 _______RETIRED REGISTRATION AND/OR SPOUSE REGISTRATION....................................................................$ 60.00 _______

FULL TIME UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT REGISTRATION ONLY REQUIRED (COPY OF DATED STUDENT ID REQUIRED – FRONT AND BACK) ………………………. $ 40.00 ______

SPECIAL FUNCTIONS: SATURDAY LUNCHEON ONLY ……………………………………...........……... $ 30.00 ______(Special Function fees do not include MSCSS membership or Saturday sessions) MAKE ALL CHECKS PAYABLE TO: MSCSS 2014 Conference TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED $ ______ Mail registration forms and payment to: MSCSS Executive Secretary, John Roy, P. O. Box 1196, Savona, New York, 14879 For MSCSS office use only:Date Received: Amount: __ Personal check #: District check #: _____ _Purchase order #______________________

LODGING INFORMATION: Lodging (rate of $89.00) is available onsite at The Westin Tysons Corner by contacting them direct at 703-893-1340. Free parking is available. Reserve your room early.

FALL 2013 FYI Vol. 110 No. 1 19

MIDDLE STATES COUNCIL FOR THE SOCIAL STUDIESDelaware * Maryland * New Jersey * New York * Pennsylvania * Washington, D.C.

The 111th Middle States Regional Conference for Social StudiesFebruary 21-22, 2014

Theme: C3: Social Studies A World of InquiryC3 = College, Career, and Civic Life

THE WESTIN TYSONS CORNER, 7801 LEESBURG PIKE, FALLS CHURCH, VA 22043

MSCSS EXHIBITOR’S CONTRACT FOR MUSEUMS AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS

Representative’s Name: !

Organization Name: !

Preferred Contact Address: _______________________________________ Zip: __________________

Email Address and NAME (Representative Attending the conference): ____________________________________________________

Organization Phone: ( ) ! Home Phone: ( ) !

I will participate in The Middle States Council for the Social Studies Conference. I understand cancellations or withdrawals cannot be accepted for refund after February 1, 2014.

[ ]! Enclosed is a check for $!

[ ]! A check for $! will follow All fees must be paid in full and received no later than February 1, 2014 in order to reserve table space and to be listed in the Program Booklet. Payment will not be accepted during the conference.

Authorized Signature: ! ! !

For further information, please contact John Roy at jaroy43@aol.com or (607)-583-4439. You may also write to John at: MSCSS Executive Secretary, P. O. Box 1196, Savona, NY 14879.

SPECIAL NOTE: PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO MSCSSPlease send checks and this contract form to:

MSCSS Executive Secretary, John Roy, P. O. Box 1196, Savona, NY 14879 Continued on Next Page

FALL 2013 FYI Vol. 110 No. 1 20

EXHIBITS AND ADVERTISING---PARTICIPATION PRICE LISTS

Please consult the price lists below and check off the items that best suit your needs. MUSEUMS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE LISTED IN THE CONFERENCE PROGRAM BOOK IF FEES ARE PAID BEFORE February 1, 2014.

PRICES: EXHIBITS

[ ]!MUSEUM AND CULTURAL EXHIBITS! ! 1 table with cloth, 3’ X 6’ – 2 chair..................................................................$100s! ! Please bring your own sign or identifying table drape.[ ]!TWO EXHIBIT TABLES...............................................................................................$200[ ]!ELECTRICAL OUTLET..........................................................................................................................................$25

PRICES: BOOKLET ADVERTISING

AD MUST BE CAMERA READY, BLACK AND WHITE, OR HALF TONE PHOTOS. THE DEADLINE FOR RECEIVING CAMERA READY ADS IS February 1, 2014.

SIZES:! Full page ad:! 7.5” x 10” on an 8” x 11” page! Half page ad:! 7.5” x 4 ½” on an 8” x 11” page

Please send ads to John Roy, MSCSS Exhibit Chair [ ]! Half page ad..................................................................................$100[ ]! Full page ad...................................................................................$250[ ]! Full page ad, inside cover.............................................................$300[ ]! Full page ad, back cover................................................................$350

SPONSORSHIPS/SUBSIDIES

I would like to provide a sponsorship or subsidy as noted below:[ ] Award Reception**......................................................................................................$150[ ] Saturday Breakfast**..................................................................................................$150[ ] Saturday Keynote Speaker**....................................................................................$400

FALL 2013 FYI Vol. 110 No. 1 21

Western Council Website has useful links! Need films strips or videos on geography, history, etc.? Try http://wpcss.org/we-believe/ and click on one of the icons for a variety of links that provide a multitude of useful film strips and videos. A few samples are listed below.

America, c.1940   http://extras.denverpost.com/archive/captured.aspGobekli Tepe  http://www.wimp.com/unexplainedstructure/(Built about 10,000 BC)Vietnam Wall   http://www.virtualwall.org/iStates.htm <Test Your Geography Knowledge >10 sites for teaching financial literacy<Fun with Civics ‎>

In addition, a complete archive of the WPCSS newsletter, THE POINT is found on the publication page. New links are added as often as they are discovered. Users are asked to suggest other useful sites that may not appear. Additions may be sent to <wlrw@yahoo.com>.

THE BIG HISTORY PROJECT The Big History Project started with a simple mission–create a free, online, world-class social studies course to ignite a passion for learning, and help students develop the skills and knowledge they need to thrive. After 3 years of working hand in hand with middle and high schools to create and road test our curriculum, it’s now available to any educator, worldwide. Big history is unlike any other course. It’s inherently interdisciplinary, combining social studies and the sciences to create a holistic experience. It spans 13.7-billion years—from the Big Bang to today. It is grounded in big questions that people have always asked about the Universe, humanity, and where we are headed—but we built it from the ground up to cater to key school and student needs:

• 100% open, online curriculum and content; easy to download, print, share• Curriculum mapped to Common Core ELA and World History standards• Ready-made lesson plans and student activities through the entire course• Custom-designed content including videos, informational texts, comics, and

animations• Unit quizzes, concept assessments, text-based assessments, and culminating

projects Bill Gates has called it his favorite course of all time. That’s what led him to reach out to Professor David Christian and a group of committed big historians to talk about the potential to transform big history into something accessible and useful for students everywhere. The rest is big history! Explore our online courseware and content. Use the whole program, or just some content that works for you. The Big History Project – JOIN US

David Christian

FALL 2013 FYI Vol. 110 No. 1 22

Euro Challenge Competition History is currently being made in the Euro area. Would your students enjoy learning about it? If so, the Euro Challenge is the program for you! This FREE program for schools provides 9th and 10th grade students with an exciting opportunity to explore the economic and other issues facing the euro area, propose solutions, and compete against other teams from across the United States . Student teams select and research one from a range of challenge issues such as the debt crisis in Greece , the challenges to growth in Italy , or the aging population in countries like Germany and present their findings during regional competitions in March. The top teams then compete in the national finals at the Federal Reserve Bank of NY in April. Winning teams earn monetary awards and a trip to Washington DC !  Now in its eighth year, this great program will help your

students build analytical, critical thinking, problem solving, communications and team building skills, all relevant to the Common Core.  To register, visit www.euro-challenge.org/registration.html or contact

Chelsea Ziobro at 212-421-2700 or cziobro@wise-ny.org for more information.

SAT Will Be Free For DC Students This Year. The Washington Post (8/20, Brown) reports that in an attempt to “encourage more students to take the exam,” on Tuesday, Washington, DC Mayor Vincent C. Gray announced that “All juniors and seniors in the District’s public high schools, including those attending traditional and charter schools, will be able to take the SAT for free this year.” The article says that the exam will also “be offered at each of the city’s 34 high schools during school hours, another effort to ensure that more students sit for the test.” The Post adds that the Office of the State Superintendent of Education will pay the $224,084 in order to implement the move.

The Misconceptions of Entrepreneurship linkedin.com · In the past few decades entrepreneurship has been transformed

from a dirty word into one of the most aspirational careers people...or . . .Daniel Isenberg’s interpretation; he believes “entrepreneurs are contrarian value creators. They see economic value where others see heaps of nothing. And they see business opportunities where others see only dead ends.” . . .I completely disagree with his view that “the main motivator for entrepreneurs is the chance of making big money”. If you get into entrepreneurship driven by profit, you are a lot more likely to fail. The entrepreneurs who succeed usually want to make a difference to people’s lives, not just their own bank balances. .

Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.” -- Auguste Rodin, French sculptor