The Social Studies Connection
More than a Newsletter for Secondary Social Studies Teachers
Secondary Social Studies Curriculum Coordinator
Office of Teaching & Learning
Curriculum Division
Southland Center - 3700 South High Street, Columbus, OH
The CCS Social Studies Curriculum Quarterly provides a preview of upcoming content. Articles highlight the units, standards, TCI lessons and other resources for each core social studies class, and outline some effective instructional strategies for all courses.
The Quarter 3 edition highlights two frequently-used strategies in third quarter lessons, Problem Solving Groupwork and Writing for Understanding. Strategy correlations to each TCI lesson are included in the summary of each course content.
Achieve3000 has returned to CCS as the Tier 2 literacy intervention for ELA, Science, and Social Studies, grades 9-11. Achieve3000 lessons and articles provide literacy support aligned with topics in the social studies curriculum. Achieve lessons provide readings on multiple Lexile levels. Teachers can browse articles by topic to locate readings aligned with the topics in Modern World History, American History, and American Government.
High School teachers and students now have access to Achieve3000 via Clever.
The first step in implementation is administering the LevelSet. LevelSet is a Lexile assessment that establishes a baseline Lexile level for the comprehension of nonfiction text. It also drives the differentiation within the Achieve3000 platform. The district plan is for LevelSet to be completed in Social Studies classes, grades 9-11. This process can begin on January 3, 2024 and should be completed by January 12. This will take 1-2 class periods. There is nothing you need to do to set this up—the LevelSet will automatically appear on students' Achieve dashboard the first time they log in through Clever. Note that this implementation plan set goals, rather than mandates. Schools can make alternate arrangements as needed to work toward the goal.
Once LevelSet is complete, you will be able to assign content-specific lessons/articles aligned with your curriculum. The goal will be for each content-area teacher to assign 1 article per week, in order to help students reach maximum gains.
Alignment guides for Modern World History 9, American History 10, and American Government are available on the Social Studies Curriculum page.
Here are some helpful resources for getting started with the LevelSet and Achieve3000 implementation.
Professional development on Achieve3000 will provided at the January 16 PD day.
The TCI Implementation Resource Center is your one-stop shop for learning the best practices of TCI and how these practices align with CCS Curriculum.
The Implementation Resource Center provides information about:
- On-Demand PD
- TCI Digital Platform Introduction
- Theory and Research-Based Active Instruction
- TCI Lesson Elements and Cycle
- Activities/Engagement Strategies
- TCI Programs for CCS Middle School Courses
- TCI Programs for CCS High School Courses
- Digging Deeper with TCI Ten PD Videos.
This page is also accessible from the CCS Social Studies Homepage.
Applications for NEW iCivics Educator Network Members Now Open! - Deadline Extended to Jan. 16
Apply to be a member of the iCivics Educator Network until Jan. 16, 2024!
While many professional learning communities exist, the iCivics Educator Network is unique. This group of energetic civics, history, government, and social studies teachers serve as champions and ambassadors for high-quality equitable civic education.
As a member of the Educator Network, you’ll be connected to fellow educators with whom to collaborate and learn from and gain access to the tools and resources you need to effectively engage your students.
Date and time: Wednesday, January 10, 2024 · 7 - 9pm EST
Location: Online
Dr. Eric Foner, DeWitt Clinton Professor Emeritus of History, Columbia University
Renowned historian and Pulitzer Prize winner Dr. Eric Foner, Professor Emeritus at Columbia University and foremost scholar on Reconstruction, will be in conversation with award-winning historian Dr. Terry Anne Scott, Director of the Institute for Common Power. Join them as they discuss Dr. Foner's paradigmatic work and what he believes we need to safeguard the teaching of truth in today's society.
The Council for Economic Education offers free professional development development, live and on-demand. Watch a webinar for a minimum of 45 minutes and you will receive a certificate of completion within 24 hours.
Create a free account and register for sessions of your choice or view the on-demand library.
Echoes & Reflections offers professional development designed to empower educators with the necessary tools and knowledge to teach about the Holocaust effectively.
Echoes & Reflections offers a range of one-hour webinar offerings throughout the year. View the January offerings here.
Teachers can also participate in Echoes & Reflections online courses. Courses are asynchronous, with built-in opportunities for discussion and guidance with an expert facilitator, as well as other educator participants. Explore the course catalog here.