JCPS Social Studies
Issue #39 8.16.22
JCPS SOCIAL STUDIES Newsletter Issue #39
Social Studies Colleagues,
Welcome Back! We are ready to rock and roll with the new school year.
Curriculum: We've updated the curriculum over the summer and continue to add new sources for questions. Remember that not all questions or sources can be taught.
Please sign up now to join the Curriculum Leadership Team! (More information below under professional learning.) Additionally, under each unit drop down is a form to capture feedback.
Suggestions and concerns can now be collected to help improve our curriculum via this Google Form.
Instruction: We will be working on instructional pages this year to better support students engaging the question, engaging sources through discussion, and communicating conclusions.
Professional Development: We have a host of professional development that will support inquiry based learning, literacy, discussion, DBQ, MIKVA, and more. Take a peek at the PD At-A-Glance and look below for more information!
Building Democratic Classrooms: We have already seen teachers lean into conversations about developing Democratic Classrooms. Students are working on building community, discussion, and taking informed action.
If you have questions, comments, suggestions, or concerns, please reach out to us. We are excited to continue working one-on-one, with PLCs, and with departments!
Ryan New, Rebecca Ingram, Vincent Tinker
Share this link with your colleagues to join the Newsletter notifications! Don't miss out on the great information and opportunities!
What's New on the Website
The largest changes to the website over the summer is the volume of lessons that have been completed and hyperlinked. All of these newly linked lessons, as always, can be found under each Compelling Question dropdown for each grade level.
Under each unit drop down is a form to capture feedback. Suggestions and concerns can now be collected to help improve our curriculum via this Google Form.
As middle school onboards to ALM (for content literacy), the Social Studies website can help meet your Content Literacy needs! We can support content and disciplinary literacy needs for K-12.
This one-pager is quick look at the different professional development options are available for Social Studies this year. Please also see Upcoming PD for additional information.
Curriculum Tracker: August Data
The following shows our progress on the curriculum. We have prioritized 5th-8th grades, but are working on all contents. On the top, Lessons Complete and Lessons to Go show us where we are in the total. The green is the good news. 860 completed lessons from us, DBQ, and SHEG are complete and linked with sources. The red is the challenge with 334 lessons to go. Each lesson, with sources, takes around 4-6 hours to complete. If you have anything to help, let us know.
Curriculum Tracker August 2023.pdfWEbsite Data: JUNE & JULY
Website Usage by City
Website Usage by Page
Professional Learning
Fall 2022 PD Opportunities
Social Studies Professional Learning Series
Diving into inquiry? Developing reading and writing in Social Studies? Broadening student discussion techniques? We have lots of great opportunities to hone your craft coming in 2022-23! Stay tuned for more registration information!
Inquiry Series
9/1, 10/6, 11/3, 1/5, 2/2, 3/2, 4/13
Literacy Series
9/8, 10/13, 11/10, 1/12, 2/9, 3/9, 4/20
Discussion Series
9/15, 10/20, 11/17, 1/19, 2/16, 3/16, 4/27
Join the Curriculum Leadership Team
If you are interested in being a part of reviewing and designing Social Studies Curriculum, sign up now to join the team!
We are looking for Social Studies leaders in the district to help refine, expand, and inform the JCPS Social Studies Curriculum. Join the leadership team today!
We are looking for three to four Social Studies teacher leaders for the following grades: K-4, 5, 6, 7, 8, U.S., World, Civics
Leadership Responsibilities will include:
* Reviewing inquiry lessons for source and standard alignment
* Adding sources
* Creation of new compelling and supporting questions
* Support in addressing questions or calls for review of inquiry lessons or sources
Dates of importance: 8.22, 11.21, 1.26, 5.11
How can I use the DBQ Project to support inquiry?
Experience the Document Based Question (DBQ) method for source analysis and argumentation development while using the DBQ Online platform, accessed via Clever in JCPS. In the introductory session, participants will learn the 6-Step method and experience it in action from the Student and Teacher view. Through other various sessions, teachers can use the DBQ resources and lesson designs for learning to intentionally scaffold organizational tasks, formative performance tasks, and summative performance tasks to improve claims and arguments.
See our 2022-23 line up dates & information below!
Fall:
9.7- DBQ 101 Self-Paced Course Kick Off 4:30-5:30 pm
In this session, participants will learn how to access DBQ resources and their learning space in Thinkific for the cohort. Over the course of the cohort work (8/25-9/21) (2/1-2/25), participants will learn the DBQ process for designing and implementing inquiry learning through source analysis and argumentation. Participants will use the modules to prepare for implementing a DBQ lesson appropriate for their grade level and standards. Credit & District Stipend Available
Click here to register by Aug 31st!
9.19 - Elementary DBQ 101 Part 1 4:30-6:30 pm
9.21- Middle/High DBQ 101 Part 1 3:30-5:30 pm
9.26- Using Dialogue and Debate to Improve Student Writing: A Closer Look at Thrash-Out 4:30-6:00 pm
10.5 Using Quick Writes with DBQ 4:30-6:30 pm
10.12- DBQ 101 Self-Paced Course Celebration 4:30-5:30 pm
10.26- Middle/High DBQ 101 Part 2 3:30-5:30 pm
11.2- Elementary DBQ 101 Part 2 4:30-6:30 pm
11.14- Collaborative Writing Alternatives for DBQ Essay 4:30-6:00 pm
Spring:
1.18- Norming and Calibration with Rubrics 4:30-6:30 pm
2.8- Extending the Argument 4:30-6:30 pm
2.27- Transferring the 6-Step Method to Everyday Lessons 4:30-6:30 pm
3.13- Using Dialogue and Debate to Improve Student Writing: A Closer Look at Thrash-Out 4:30-6:00 pm
4.10- Collaborative Writing Alternative for DBQ Essay 4:30-6:00 pm
Mikva Learning Opportunities
How can you support the development of civically engaged citizens? Join our Mikva learning sessions throughout the year to learn more about implementing the JCPS Civic Dispositions and civic engagement into your classroom. Opportunities to implement the Communicating Conclusions inquiry standards for civic engagement abound and Mikva can help you find a way to do so! Work with our Mikva Coordinating partner, Ken Porter, to implement the Mikva curriculum and scaffolding to participate in the Soapbox Challenge. Learn more about Mikva and to see some awesome student Soapbox submissions on our Mikva Page.
Dates of importance: 8/24, 10/19, 1/25, 3/22, 4/19, 5/18 (all times 4:30-6:00 pm), 9/22 & 2/22 (both times 4:30-6:30 pm)
Soapbox Mainstage Event - 11/16 (time & location TBD)
Attend A Conference
KCSS Annual Conference Fall 2022
October 14-15, 2022 @ Morehead State University
JCPS is providing funding for 40 educators' registration on a first come, first served basis to attend the in person conference for the Kentucky Council for the Social Studies Annual Conference. The conference will be held on Saturday, October 15th 8:00am -3:30 pm at Morehead State University. The keynote speaker is Dr. Jeffery Nokes!
The theme of this year’s conference is "Elevating Inquiry: Going Beyond the Question." We will be focusing supporting teachers' opportunities to learn and practice designing and implementing inquiry based learning. Sessions will align to related curriculum and instructional strategies for helping teachers design and implement inquiry learning that is reflective of the KAS for Social Studies.
A social mixer will be in Morehead on Friday evening, October 14th at Sawstone Brewery from 6-8pm. An RSVP will be requested from KCSS for attending the mixer.
Click here to RSVP for JCPS Registration Scholarship by Monday, August 31, 2022 at 8:00 am.
Community Learning Opportunities
The Journey: Exploring Local Connections to the Underground Railroad Through Inquiry
How should we remember the Underground Railroad?
Educators will explore this question and receive training on a focused-inquiry highlighting local connections to slavery and the Underground Railroad.
A key source includes The Journey - an audio experience created by the Frazier Museum education team that highlights significant local landmarks connected to slavery and the Underground Railroad and shares the story of Thornton and Lucie Blackburn who fled Louisville to avoid sale and separation in 1831.
Educators will then join the public for a Bridging the Divide program commemorating Underground Railroad Month through stories, music, art, and the special reading of names unearthed through the (Un)Known Project.
Participating teachers do not need to sign up for the public program separately.
Please contact education@fraziermuseum.org with any questions.
Student Participation Opportunities
Grant Funding: Free Programming to Title I Schools
LG&E AND KU Foundation in support of Frazier Museum
The Frazier Museum education team is excited to announce a 2022 grant award from the LG&E and KU Foundation that will support free programming for Title I schools in Kentucky! Funding will cover on-site field trips, outreach performances at schools, virtual field trips, and teacher professional development.
To learn more about program options or make reservation click here.
Please direct any question to education@fraziermuseum.org.
Up coming Conferences
102ND NCSS Annual Conference
December 2-4, 2022 Philadelphia, PA
Click here for more information on this year's conference.