Johanna Nicholson: I am currently teaching 7th and 8th grade English language Arts and Character Education at a local Charter School. The past few years have been difficult switching from the mindset of a public school teacher to that of a liaison for at risk students and their guardians. Social Studies and History has, and will, always be my first love. By using digital resources to incorporate this natural desire to understand the past to help students understand their futures is what this toolkit is all about!
Erin Trawinski: I currently teach 6th grade social studies in Iredell County. Schools in my district are 1:1, so I am always eager to find new ways to engage my students.
Kaitlin Falleni: I am currently teaching 11th and 12th grade IB DP Psychology and History of the Americas in Iredell County. I love finding new resources for my students to use and explore. As stated above, Iredell County is a 1:1 district so students have easy access to the digital platform on a daily basis so it is important to find many different ways to keep them engaged.
Lisa Valentine: I currently teach 10th grade American history in the Mooresville Graded School District. The district has been on a 1:1 initiative for ten years. I love to create and find resources that help engage my students in historic inquiry.
Joe Pentzak: I have taught 6th grade Social Studies (MYP Level One Individuals & Societies) at an IB middle school in for the last six years. I believe using technology can enhance the learning experience and make social studies more relevant to my students.
Yvonna Hines: I currently teach American History I (9th grade) and Advanced Placement Psychology (10th, 11th, and 12th grade) in Greensboro, North Carolina (Guilford County Schools). Today's students, unlike those of the past, are heavily dependent on technology. It's imperative that we, as educators, utilize technology effectively, so our students can truly reap the benefits of the digital age.
“The self-monitored habits that sustain and improve the digital communities you enjoy or depend on. As more and more students interact digitally–with content, one another, and various communities–the concept of digital citizenship becomes increasingly important." -Terry Heick
"If a seed of a lettuce will not grow, we do not blame the lettuce. Instead, the fault lies with us for not having nourished the seed properly." -Buddhist Proverb
Strategies and resources for annotating texts, finding leveled reading passages tied to social studies content, and tips on how to meet students where they are.
"The business of schools is to design, create, and invent high-quality, intellectually demanding schoolwork that students find engaging." -Phillip C. Schlechty
Strategies and lessons that will engage students in any history class in a variety of ways.
