The Social Studies Connection

Preparing students for success in college, career, and civic life

If you missed last month's edition of the Social Studies Connection, click here.

Secondary Social Studies Specialist

Office of Teaching & Learning

Curriculum Division

Southland Center

Email: mdoran2067@columbus.k12.oh.us
Website: http://www.ccsoh.us/socialstudies
Location: 3700 South High Street, Columbus, OH, USA
Phone: 380-997-0470
Twitter: @mdoran2067

In this edition:

• Curriculum and Instruction: New Financial Literacy Requirement
• Curriculum and Instruction: TCI Implementation Home Base
• Professional Development: Interactive TCI Methods Guidebook
• Curriculum and Instruction: TCI Strategy of the Month
• Curriculum and Instruction: TCI Survey
• Professional Development: January 18 PD Day
• Professional Development: iCivics Educator Network
• Professional Development: National Council for History Education Conference
• Student Programs: Kids Voting Scholarships

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On October 28, 2021, Governor Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 1. This law adds a graduation requirement for all students to earn ½ unit (1 semester) in Financial Literacy. This requirement begins with the Class of 2026.

Some key points of this new legislation:

• ..students who enter ninth grade for the first time on or after July 1, 2022, financial literacy, one-half unit. Each student shall elect to complete the one-half unit of instruction in financial literacy either in lieu of one-half unit of instruction in mathematics under division (C)(3) of this section or an elective under division (C)(8) of this section.
• The study and instruction of financial literacy required under division (C)(9) of this section shall align with the academic content standards for financial literacy and entrepreneurship adopted under division (A)(2) of section 3301.079 of the Revised Code.
• (F) A classroom teacher who holds a valid educator license or endorsement that is required to provide instruction in social studies, family and consumer sciences, or business education shall not be required to have a validation prescribed under this section to provide financial literacy instruction under division (C)(9) of section 3313.603 of the Revised Code.

We have begun initial discussions about how this requirement will be met in CCS. There are a number of options being explored. No decisions have been at this point. Please feel free give your feedback to Matt Doran on this matter.

Note that financial literacy instruction in American Government should continue for the classes of 2022-2025.

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We have created a custom CCS TCI Home Base page to help teachers implement the TCI resources and pedagogy. The Home Base provides tools for Getting Started with TCI, TCI by Grade Level for Middle School, TCI by Course for High School, and TCI Six Active Learning Strategies.

Access the CCS TCI Home Base page here.

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Check out the new interactive version of TCI's Bring Learning Alive guidebook. The guidebook provides step-by-step tutorials and examples for implementing TCI's lesson cycle, including the active learning strategies and notetaking strategies.

The interactive guidebook divides each chapter into a separate PDF file for easier viewing/scrolling. You will need to log in to your CCS Google account to access the chapters.

Click on the image below to access the interactive guidebook.

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Each month we will focus on one of the six TCI active learning strategies. The December strategy is Response Group.

Response Group activities are a way to sidestep challenges in class discussion. Students first work in small groups with thought-provoking resources—viewing compelling images, reading primary sources, or listening to music—and then discuss related critical thinking questions among themselves. After the small-group discussion, a single presenter shares the group’s findings with the entire class. Because students have the time to examine the resources closely and the comfort of trying out their ideas in a small group, everyone is prepared to articulate answers, and their responses are longer and more detailed than during conventional class discussions.

The five steps for implementing Response Group:

1. Challenge students to discuss controversial and complex issues in small groups
2. Create heterogeneous groups and a suitable classroom arrangement.
3. Prepare students to answer provocative critical thinking questions.
4. Allow groups time to prepare their responses.
   
5. Facilitate a lively class discussion.
   

For more detailed, step-by-step guidance on Response Group implementation, see the Interactive TCI Guidebook link above.

To find the Response Group lessons in your TCI program, click on the Content tab on the left menu. Under the Modify View button, be sure the Teaching Strategy box is checked.

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Please complete the anonymous survey below on TCI. The results of the survey will help us plan for this year and beyond.

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January 18, 2022 is a districtwide Professional Development Day. The Secondary Curriculum Division will be hosting sessions on this day. Sessions will focus on literacy (including disciplinary literacy) and implementation of our core adopted resources.

The PD day will feature a keynote presentation along with content-specific breakout sessions. If you have ideas for social studies sessions, or would like to share/present at a session, please let Matt Doran know.

Stay tuned to email for additional details on sessions and registration links.

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If you are interested in applying for the iCivics Educator Network, complete the application here.

Application deadline: December 17th, 2021.

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The National Council for History Education Online Conference will be held March 17-20, 2022. The conference features keynote speakers, breakout sessions on history content and pedagogy, and virtual field trips to museums.

Keynote speakers include Alexis Coe, Peniel Joseph, Peter Kastor, LaGarrett King, and Merry Wiesner-Hanks.

Conference sessions are recorded and can be viewed after the conclusion of the conference.

To apply for the CCS/CEA Professional Leave fund for this conference, see the guidelines and deadlines here. Use the form here to apply to the Professional Leave fund.

To register for the conference, go to: https://ncheteach.org/Registration. Take advantage of Early Bird rates, which will increase on January 1.

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Kids Voting Ohio is pleased to announce the Kids Voting Ohio’s Exemplar Citizen Scholarship. As a Kids Voting Ohio school in Central Ohio, your students are eligible for this opportunity. Sponsored by the Educational Service Center of Central Ohio, the Exemplar Citizen Award offers $500 scholarships to ten civically engaged graduating seniors involved in Kids Voting Ohio Programs.

Two different Exemplar Citizen Scholarship opportunities are offered at this time. One is focused on Merit and the other is focused on writing skill, students can apply for both but are only eligible to receive one. To learn about more about the scholarship rubrics and to see if your students are eligible, please visit www.kidsvotingohio.org/scholarships or reach out by email to scholarships@kidsvotingohio.org.

The application deadline is February 1, 2022.