Dear Teachers,
My name is Chelsea Howells, and I serve as the ESC Region 9 Social Studies content specialist. Every year offers us opportunities to grow and change as educators, and this year will be no different. I am here to help you in any way that you may need, including finding resources, supporting initiatives that you take on, and providing feedback and coaching. I am so excited about this school year and the opportunities we have to impact society through our social studies lessons!
The purpose of this monthly newsletter is to provide resources that are specific to types of social studies content, as well as general instructional tools and resources, and updates and professional development opportunities that are beneficial to all. My goal is to support elementary teachers at every level, whether you are self-contained, teach social studies and another content, or spend all day teaching social studies!
If you ever need assistance or have a question, please do not hesitate to contact me via email (chelsea.howells@esc9.net) or social media (@ChelseaHowells9).
Wishing you a great start to the new school year!
P.S. Please take 1 minute to complete this google form if
You need me to remove your name from this email list (ex. no longer self-contained or teaching social studies)
You still teach social studies but have a new teaching assignment (ex. moved from 5th grade to 3rd grade)
You are able to help me update my records with the names/email addresses of teachers who need to be subscribed (ex. new teachers at your school who teach SS)
Thank you for your assistance!
#DitchThatTextbook
Ice Breakers! Escape Rooms! Social Emotional Learning! And so much more!
Twitter Treasures with Stephanie Howell
Newsletter Template- make it your own!!!
Do you like to send out weekly, monthly, or quarterly newsletters? Stephanie Howell (@mrshowell24) has created a wonderful template you can use all year long!
More great templates from Stephanie:
Ice Breakers with Kevin Cummins
"Starting the school year... can become pretty draining and confronting for both teachers and students.
Luckily, there are things you can do to break the ice and make the kids feel a lot more enthused and comfortable about learning. Simply spend 10 to 15 minutes trying a couple of these activities listed below to help break that awkward tension."
Patriot Day
September 11th is Patriot Day.
HB 1501 – Requires schools to observe a minute of silence on September 11th, if it falls on a regular school day. The minute of silence does not have to be in addition to the regular minute of silence, observed on any other school day, but this day should include a brief statement with reference to the memory of those who died on September 11, 2001.
This year, September 11th falls on a Saturday. However, below are some resources and opportunities for students to learn more about the events of 9/11.
Resources:
9/11 Memorial and Museum Lesson Plans9/11 Anniversary in the Schools Webinar
9/11 Poster Exhibition Free Download
Remembering September 11 Curriculum Guide
NCSS "We are the 9/11 Class:" Lessons for the Next Generation
Celebrate Freedom Week
Each year, during the week that includes September 17, Texas schools honor Celebrate Freedom Week (TEC § 29.907) to highlight the values and ideals on which the United States was founded as well as the sacrifices that were made for freedom in the founding of the country. Students learn about the intent, meaning, and importance of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights. Students also examine the relationship between the ideas in these documents and subsequent American history.
Celebrate Freedom Week coincides with Constitution Week, established by the U.S. Congress to encourage all Americans to learn about the Constitution. Both Celebrate Freedom Week and Constitution Week focus on September 17, the date in 1787 when delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution. Congress has also designated September 17 of each year as Constitution Day.
Resources:
American Indian Heritage Day
American Indian Heritage Day shall be regularly observed by appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs in the public schools and other places to honor American Indians in this state and to celebrate the rich traditional and contemporary American Indian culture.
Resources:
Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Video: Bullock Museum- Native Cultures in Texas
Daughters of the Republic of Texas 4th grade Essay Contest
The Historian General and the Historic Education Committee of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas conduct an annual Texas History Essay Contest for 4th Grade Students.
Texas History Essay Topics for 2022
Fourth Grade –Jose Antonio Navarro
4th grade student essays for DRT will be on leaders important to the founding of Texas as a Republic. Research was conducted through the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to identify which figures would be taught in the curriculum of the classrooms of each of the Texas public schools’ 4th grade.
Prize: The Outstanding Fourth Grade Student will be invited to attend the Daughters of the Republic of Texas Saturday Luncheon at DRT Convention and may be asked to read his/her essay at the luncheon. The winner will receive $500 and a plaque. There will be seats for three (the student and two guests) at the luncheon.
Deadline: Each sponsoring chapter sets their own deadline for receiving the submitted essays. This is usually the month before they are due to their District Representatives. This gives them time to judge the winning essays for their chapter. So, be sure to contact the chapter for their actual deadline. Then the chapters submit their winning essays to the District Representative to be judged. The District Representative must receive the winning chapter’s essays no later than March 1st.
Click here for more information!
Wichita Falls Chapter contact: Suzanne Lindt suzanne.lindt@yahoo.com
Other available opportunities offered by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas:
- A "history trunk" presentation for students to learn about some items and people important in the Republic of Texas from 1836-1846
- Signed Declaration of independence to hang and books for libraries
FREE HUMANITIES TEXAS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEBINARS
Beginning in September, Humanities Texas will hold FREE professional development webinar series for social studies teachers in Texas schools.
Teachers can apply to attend on the Humanities Texas website. Participants will receive CPE credit and a wealth of curricular materials. CPE hours will be based on Zoom attendance and adjusted if a participant misses any portion of the program. Teachers who apply will receive information about and access to each weekly session in the series.
Teaching about American Indians in Texas
Mondays • September 13 through October 4, 2021 • 5:00–6:30 pm CT
This webinar series will offer teachers new windows into the history of American Indians in Texas and a collection of curriculum materials geared toward bringing innovative perspectives into the classroom. Team taught by a historian and two master teachers, the institute will focus on the long arc of American Indian presence in Texas from the pre-contact era through the “Indian Wars” of the 1870s.
Teaching America’s Founding Documents
Wednesdays • September 15–October 13, 2021 • 5:00–6:15 pm CT
Each weekly webinar will cover one of the America’s founding documents: the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and Washington’s Farewell Address. Each session will focus on both the context of the featured document (how it came to be and its impact/significance) and its actual contents (the most important things for teachers to know and share with their students).
Please contact Humanities Texas with any questions: institutes@humanitiestexas.org.
Lead4Ward
Lead4Ward makes a difference in the lives of students by helping educators focus their work, creating structures that give teachers and students a sense of hope and confidence, and supporting leaders with systems they can trust.
- snapshot
- scaffold
- academic vocab
- Teacher Learning Reports
- Student Learning Reports
- Social Studies side-by-sides
Lead4Ward provides FREE frequency distribution charts to help teachers when planning and prioritizing instruction for the year. Elementary teachers can use this information to help guide their scope and sequence when teaching social studies. Here are this year's charts along with a document that focuses on how to use the information.
Frequency Distribution by TEKS Cluster
Now What? Document (credit Jessica Torres, Region 12)
**NEW 9/10** Social Studies TEKS Review Work Group Application
The State Board of Education (SBOE) will soon begin the review and revision of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for K-12 social studies. The SBOE’s TEKS review and revision process calls for multiple, separate work groups to make recommendations to the SBOE for revisions to the current standards. SBOE members nominate individuals, including educators, parents, business and industry representatives, and employers, to serve on TEKS review work groups.
The SBOE is now accepting applications to serve on social studies TEKS review work groups. Applications received will be submitted to SBOE members for review throughout the process.
Individuals selected will be asked to serve on one or more work groups. TEKS review work groups typically convene for two-day meetings and may include Saturdays. Additional days or meetings may be scheduled if needed. The Texas Education Agency is currently conducting TEKS review meetings virtually but is expected to return to face-to-face meetings later this year. The invitation to serve on a work group will include the format/location of the meeting.
To access the application and for more information regarding the K-12 social studies TEKS review, please visit the Social Studies TEKS Review webpage at https://tea.texas.gov/academics/curriculum-standards/teks-review/2021-2022-social-studies-teks-review or click here: https://tea.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_39LY0ZqSaPRQO6a.
Questions regarding the application or TEKS review process may be sent via email to teks@tea.texas.gov.
Chelsea Howells
Region 9 ESC
#GCT #iCivicsEducator #MIE #GridGuide #EdPuzzleCoach
Email: chelsea.howells@esc9.net
Website: https://www.esc9.net/564752_3
Location: 301 Texas 11 Loop, Wichita Falls, TX, USA
Phone: 940-397-8106
Twitter: @ChelseaHowells9
