Exciting news, folks – topics for summer Boot Camps have been decided! I’m still working on dates and venues, but you can count on Boot Camp Dells 2016 to be about Elementary Social Studies, and Boot Camp Green Bay 2016 to be about Disciplinary Literacy in Social Studies! As soon as we have contracts in hand, I’ll send out save-the-date information. Boot Camp is a two-day workshop, focused on what YOU want to learn. Day One is usually content-heavy, and Day Two is usually group-focused instruction (in other words – what do you need/want to learn?).
Lots of Updates:
· The WCSS Outstanding Social Studies Teacher of the Year nominations are open – and so are nominations for the Global Citizen Award. Do you know amazing teachers or community partners that deserve to be recognized for their hard work and dedication? Nominate them!
· CESA 8 will be hosting a Echoes and Reflections Holocaust Education Workshop on Feb 17, 2016. E&R is a national award winning curriculum from Yad Vashem, the USC Shoah Foundation, and the Anti-Defamation League. Each participant will receive a free copy of the E&R Teacher Resource Guide. Note – I do have the opportunity to bring another E&R workshop to another part of the state this spring or summer. If this interests you, please take the short survey here, so I can get an idea of what appeals to people the most!
· Wisconsin Media Lab has released a new biography in their award-winning Wisconsin Biographies programming. This one is called “Stephen Babcock: Agriculture’s MVP”.
· The Holocaust Education Resource Center in Milwaukee is offering a Holocaust Study Institute this spring. This includes a 14-week course (starting soon!) and a 2-week study trip to Israel in June. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn the historical and theological underpinnings of anti-Semitism and the Holocaust, as well as the chance to study at Yad Vashem.
· The Wisconsin Geographic Alliance is once again offering their Badger Basketball Geography Program!
· Have you ever wondered how to incorporate more, quality economics instruction into your history lessons? After all, we are a social studies state… Teaching Economics in American History Teacher Training will be offered on Tues March 10in the Dells or Mon March 14 in Green Bay. Stipends are available for Wisconsin teachers, and you will leave with curriculum and resources for your entire class.
· Don’t forget that Money Smart Week is coming up soon!
· Thanks to my counterpart in NJ, I have a great spreadsheet of all the offerings that the National Endowment for the Humanities is offering for summer 2016. Deadline to apply is March 1! We’re also working on a comprehensive list of national summer PD for teachers – I’ll pass it on as soon as we have it up to date!
· National Consortium for Teaching about Asia has released information for five different online courses and book groups for teachers.
· The National Humanities Center is offering free webinars again this spring in their “American in Class” series. Topics this year include religious freedom, “Who Started the Cold War?”, and a new series, “Teaching War Fiction”.
· Nominations for the Law Related Teacher of the Year are now open.
· HSTRY offers free professional development for teachers, both online and on-site.
· I was in New Orleans for the NCSS conference, and our group was able to tour the Historic New Orleans Collection. What a great and interesting venue! They have multiple free lesson plans and resources, especially on WWI, WWII, the New Deal, the Battle of New Orleans, and the Louisiana Purchase.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me with questions, issues, or if you just want to chat sometime.
Have a GREAT week!
Kris
Kris McDaniel
Social Studies Consultant
WI Department of Public Instruction
kristen.mcdaniel@dpi.wi.gov