SAISD Social Studies Newsletter
September 13, 2019
The First EPIC Saturday of 2019-2020 is Saturday, September 14
Pre-AP Social Studies in Action
8:45 AM
Learn about the implementation of the Pre-AP Shared Principles of 1) Close Observation and Analysis, 2) Higher Order Questioning, 3) Academic Conversations, and 4) Evidence Based Writing in your classroom from the team of AP Implementation Specialists.
Implementing and Aligning Exit Tickets in Social Studies
8:45 AM
Teachers will learn how to write effective and impactful exit tickets that are aligned to the TEKS in order to formatively assess student understanding of a lesson.
P.E.G.S. (Political,Economic, Geographic, and Social) in the Elementary Classroom
8:45 AM
Teachers will learn how to use P.E.G.S. across all contents in order to develop students' social studies analysis skills and build social studies content vocabulary. This session is intended for elementary social studies teachers.
Processing Pieces for Interactive Notebooks in Social Studies
8:45 AM
In this session, participants will explore different ways to help students process content and ideas in their Interactive notebook. Participants will experience multiple strategies to use when you want students to process using vocabulary, images, reading and writing.
New to Active Classroom? Let's Get Started
8:45 AM
Now that you have Active Classroom, how do you use it? What can it do? Get the basics and more in this 2-hour session. A fully charged device is required for this session. Audience: 6-12 Social Studies Teachers.
Active Classroom: Literacy Strategies and Support for Social Studies
10:45
Begin literacy learning with historical images to build context before students dive deeper into the content with primary sources and complex text. Active Classroom’s text to speech tools, highlighting tools, and translator can help students who struggle make sense of complex text. A charged laptop is required for this session. Audience: 6-12 Social Studies teachers.
Social Studies Secondary Enrichment Programs
10:45 AM
Participants will learn about three social studies enrichment programs for secondary students, National History Day, Speak Up! Speak Out!, and Model United Nations. This session is intended for teachers who may be unfamiliar with these programs, but may be interested in starting one of them on their campus.
We had a great first PLN day with 8th grade teachers last week!
Social Studies Department Website
Many of the website pages are still under construction, but the Professional Learning Page currently is up and running. It has a link to a Google Calendar that includes all Social Studies Department professional development. In addition, we will link all resources for each PLN or meeting. You will just need to click on the date of each event to access the resources.
In addition, resources for History Fair, Speak Up! Speak Out!, and Model United Nations have been posted on the Enrichment Programs page.
Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15-October 15
September 15 is the anniversary of the independence of several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexican Independence Day is September 16 and September 18 is Chilean Independence Day. The links below may provide useful resources for recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month.
National Hispanic Heritage Month Website
Hispanic Heritage Month from the National Archives
Hispanic Heritage Month from PBS
Hispanic Heritage Month from the National Endowment for the Arts
Classroom Trunks Available from the Institute of Texan Cultures, the Alamo, and the San Antonio Holocaust Museum
The trunks from the Institute of Texan Cultures offers are on a variety of topics from Texas History and Culture including Texas Pioneers, Cowboys and Cattle Drives, and the Plains Indians. Learn more and reserve trunks here.
The trunks from the Alamo Education Department contain a variety of artifacts from Texas that would have been used in the 1830's and 1840's. Learn more and schedule a trunk from the Alamo here.
The San Antonio Holocaust Museum has trunks available for elementary, middle, and high school classrooms. These trunks include video, posters, maps, books, and student activities. Additional details are available here. Trunks can also be reserved online.
History Fair Update
Registration will for the San Antonio Regional History Fair will open on January 21, 2020 and close on February 14, 2020. All papers, websites, and documentaries will need to be uploaded by February 14, 2020.
The annual theme webinar was held this week and it has been posted online here.
First Semester Grade Level and Content Professional Learning Network Pull Out Days
The Social Studies Department will pay for substitutes for the dates below. Teachers must have the permission of their principal to attend.
7th Grade Texas History PLN
Thursday, September 19, 8:00 AM-4:00 PM, Burnet Learning Center Room 33
This session will focus on the implementation of Document Based Questions in Texas History. It is highly recommended that all Texas History teachers receive this training.
World History PLN
Thursday, September 26, 8:00 AM-4:00 PM, Burnet Learning Center Room 33
This session will focus on the implimentation of Document Based Questions in World History. It is highly recommended that all World History teachers receive this training.
Economics and Government PLN
Thursday, October 10, 8:00 AM- 4:00 PM, Burnet Learning Center Room 33
This session will focus on the implementation of Document Based Questions in Economics and Government. Instructional resources for DBQ's for Economics and Government are being purchased and provided for all campuses this year.
DBQ Project Training for 4th and 5th Grade Teachers
Wednesday, October 16, 8:00 AM-4:00 PM, Burnet Learning Center Cafeteria
These sessions will focus on the integration of Document Based Questions (DBQ) in 4th and 5th Grade Social Studies in order promote the development of reading and writing skills in social studies. Participants will become familiar with the DBQ Process and learn various strategies in order to promote successful classroom implementation. Participants will receive instructional resources for implimentaton.
6th Grade World Cultures and World Geography PLN
Thursday, October 17, 8:00 AM-4:00 PM, Burnet Learning Center Room 33
This session will focus on the implementation of Document Based Questions in World Cultures and World Geography. Instructional resources for DBQ's for World Cultures and World Geography are being purchased and provided for all campuses this year.
High School US History PLN
Thursday, November 7, 8:00 AM-4:00 PM, Burnet Leanring Center Room 33
8th Grade US History PLN
Thursday, November 14, 8:00 AM-4:00 PM, Burnet Learning Center Room 33
After School Professional Development and Department Chair Meetings
Social Studies Elementary ACT Meeting
Tuesday, September 17, 4:00-5:30 PM, Burnet Cafeteria
Social Studies New Teacher Academy
Thursday, September 19, 4:45-6:00 PM, Burnet Learning Center Room 33
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/169421336
These are optional monthly meetings for new teachers and new to social studies teachers. Meeting agendas and activities will be planned based on the needs of the participants.
High School Department Chair Meeting
Tuesday, September 24, 4:45-6:00 PM, Burnet Learning Center Room 33
Social Studies Virtual PD Session
Thursday, September 26, 4:30-5:30 PM
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/494697754
Middle School Department Chair Meeting
Tuesday, October 1, Location TBD
After School Book Study
Thursday, October 3, 4;45-6:00 PM Burnet Learning Center Room 33
Humanities Texas Fall Workshops
On October 3, there will be a workshop on the American Revolution in San Antonio. In addition, on October 9, there will be a workshop on the history and literature of the Harlem Renaissance in Austin.
Additional information on all fall Humanities Texas Institutes, including application information, is available here.
Please let Patrick know if you apply for one of these workshops.
SAISD Social Studies Department
Director of Social Studies
Email: ppyle1@saisd.net
Website: https://saisdofficeofacademics.weebly.com/social-studies.html
Location: 406 Barrera Street, San Antonio, TX, USA
Phone: 2105542530
Twitter: @SAISD_Social