Social Studies Level Up
Preparing for Ohio's State Tests Weekly Bulletin
Miss Week 1 of Social Studies Level Up? Click here to access.
Miss Week 2 of Social Studies Level Up? Click here to access.
Preparing for Ohio's State Tests: Week 3
This is the third of seven weekly newsletters dedicated to helping teachers prepare students for Ohio's State Tests in American History and American Government. Each newsletter will feature one of seven identified best practices in teaching for mastery, and highlight some of the available resources.
Note: The practices outlined in this newsletter series are designed to increase standards mastery. They are useful in all courses, not just state-tested courses. While some direct test practice is necessary, the primary emphasis should be unpacking standards in meaningful and rigorous ways. Check out the article, "Beware the Test Prep Trap" by Jay McTighe for more information.
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Social Studies Level Up Goals
- Increase passage rates on Ohio's State Test in American History from 50% to 65%.
- increase passage rates on Ohio's State Test in American Government from 59% to 70%.
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Best Practice 3: Student Engagement
Key Points of Student Engagement
- Engagement involves active learning and processing of content.
- Activities that are both hands-on and minds-on increase student engagement.
- Engaging activities can include gallery walks, role-play, simulation, games, technology interactives, digital creation tools, musical/artistic representations, and student to student interaction.
- Incorporate a variety of activities and/or provide choice in a given class period.
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Social Studies Teaching & Learning Strategies Page
- Entrance and Exit Tickets
- Evidence-Based Argumentation
- Historical Concepts and Events
- Social Studies Skills and Primary Sources
- Discussion and Deliberation
Each entry includes a short description with a link to a full description and/or resource materials.
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10 Professional Development Workshop Resources on Student Engagement
Check out these presentations from CCS Social Studies on engaging strategies from recent PD workshops:
- Active Student Engagement in Social Studies (Reimagine Me Conference Summer 2018)
- Digital Interactive Student Notebook (Google Galaxy Summer 2018)
- Creating Interactive Lessons with HyperDocs (Google 101 Class)
- Introduction to Blended Learning (PD Days 2018-2019)
- Developing a Differentiated Mini-Lesson (Spring 2017 Workshop)
- Digital Escape Room (Google Galaxy Summer 2018)
- Bring Learning Alive (Reimagine Conference Summer 2017)
- C3 Framework for Social Studies (Fall 2017 PD Days)
- Timeline JS and Story JS with Google (Google Galaxy Summer 2017)
- Developing Disciplinary Thinking with G Suite (Summer 2016 Workshop)
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Game-Based Learning and Gamification
Vocabulary Games
Video Strategy Games
- iCivics
- Mission US
- America on the Sidelines
- The Fiscal Ship
- Constitution Center Games
- Chair the Fed: Monetary Policy Game
Review Games
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Student Engagement Strategies from the High School Department Chairs
- Build authentic relationships with students - build trust;
- "Take Care of Me" - Students create a list of things teachers can do to take care of them as learners;
- Incorporate primary source activities as bell ringers and exit tickets;
- Use station rotation in a Blended Learning model;
- Use Smart Boards for interactive exercises; and
- Incorporate games and competition.
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Matthew I. Doran
Office of Teaching & Learning
Curriculum Division
Southland Center
3700 S. High Street
Suite 125
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