October 2016

We are off to a good start in social studies this year with lots of opportunities for teachers and leaders!

CNYCSS Fall Conference

Register now to attend the CNYCSS Fall PD Day, “Today's Social Studies: Developing Critical Perspectives and Confronting Enduring Issues” on Tuesday October 25, 2016 at the Carnegie Conference Center at Driver’s Village. The keynote speaker is Elizabeth Hakanson, the NYS Regent from our region, who will discuss the relationship the Board of Regents seeks with educators on behalf of students in our state. In addition there will be a Lunch Keynote by Donna Merlau from the NYSED Office of State Assessment discussing "An SED Update on Assessment - Where Are We in the Process?” There is a full program of breakouts and museum exhibits and the cost includes lunch! Find all the details and register online here. This is a great opportunity to spend the day immersed in social studies content and process. There is something for everyone, so don’t miss it!!

NYSCSS Statewide Convention Call for Proposals

The NYSCSS/NYS4A 79th Annual Convention, “Ages and Pages: With Literacy and Justice for All”, will be taking place in Albany from March 23 through March 25, 2017 and has officially opened a call for proposals. You can submit your proposal online by clicking here. Proposals are due by October 28, 2016. Please consider sharing your expertise with your colleagues from across the state.

NCSS National Conference

In addition to what is going on in our region and in our state, the National Council for the Social Studies is holding its National Conference in Washington, D.C. on December 2-4 this year. Find more information here.

Social Studies Professional Development at OCM BOCES

All of these events are posted on My Learning Plan.

Special Events

• Good Practices in Geography: October 20
  Geographic Reasoning is one of six Social Studies Practices that are emphasized in the NYS Social Studies Framework, but Geographic Reasoning involves more than reading a map. In this interactive workshop, Tim McDonnell of the New York Geographic Alliance will show participants how to be more successful in connecting geography to their curriculum in middle school social studies, Global History and Geography, and American History. Teachers will have time to work with colleagues to come up with their own lesson ideas and explore materials and resources such as Clickable PDF maps, GeoHistoGrams, and other tools.
  Register here
• Social Studies Content Support for Ninth Grade Global Teachers: November 2 and January 18
  What do teachers of 9th Grade Global History need to know about the content and the Social Studies Practices to help their students succeed? What has changed in the NYS Social Studies Framework for 9th Grade Global History and what has stayed the same? What kinds of thinking do students need to do? Dr. John Langdon, professor of history at Le Moyne College and member of the NYSED Content Advisory Panel, will help participants prioritize the Key Ideas in the 9th Grade Framework, and explore sources that are essential for students' understanding of the concepts and connections of Global History. Participants will have the opportunity to share information, resources and instructional practices. Participants may sign up for a single session or for both sessions, as desired. Different Key Ideas will be explored in each session.
  November 2 register here
  January 18 register here

Ongoing Events

• Social Studies Leadership Network: November 17, February 2, and June 1
  This network will meet to serve as a conduit for information, learning and discussion about the New York State K-12 Social Studies Framework, assessments, and best practices in Social Studies classrooms. Social Studies teacher leaders and administrators will work collaboratively to expand their own knowledge and expertise, and, in turn, provide leadership to their own schools and districts. Participants will receive resources for in-district turnkey purposes and share their expertise and ideas.
  November 17 register here
  February 2 register here
  June 1 register here
• Social Studies Collaboratives (formerly know as Curriculum Follow-Up Sessions): November 30, February 15, April 26, and May 31
  Our first session was held on September 28 and participants had a full day of gathering materials and building units, inquiries and lessons. If you participated in the Summer 2015 or Summer 2016 Social Studies Curriculum Work (5th-8th grade from last summer, K-4th and 9th-12th this summer), think about joining us for an upcoming session. Participants may sign up for a single session or for multiple sessions, as desired.
  November 30 register here
  February 15 register here
  April 26 register here
  May 31 register here

Other Local Opportunities for October

• The Onondaga Historical Association has author talks, a Lacrosse Festival and a Halloween themed presentation happening in October. Find all of the information here.
• If you love the OHA Ghostwalks, check out the Haunted History Tours of Auburn presented by the Seward House Museum for “macabre tales of Victorian funeral practices, spectral encounters from Seward family lore, and other spooky accounts drawn from folklore and history”. Find the October schedule and details here.

Online Resources of the Month: New Visions Curriculum

We highlighted this during the summer, but the buzz this fall has been very positive, so here it is again in case you missed it! In the summer, high school teachers from several districts worked on curriculum mapping, unit design and lesson development and found these resources helpful in designing or revamping their curricular materials. I continue to hear from teachers that they are discovering more resources that are helpful to their planning and instruction. The consensus is that the resources are very engaging and helpful, but that they need to be reviewed and adapted to make sure they work with teacher, school and district expectations. Find the Global History Curriculum materials here. The US History Curriculum materials are here.

Guaranteed (and Absolutely) Gritty Shameless Plug of the Month: The Social Studies Blog

If you haven’t yet read the monthly blog that offers thoughts on teaching and learning of all things social studies, you need to ameliorate that state of affairs!! It is only one of the excellent blogs that are posted by the staff of OCM BOCES Instructional Support. Check out all of the blogs here. The Social Studies blog is posted here.