Spoonful of Sugar!
The Social Studies Department Newsletter
Reminders!
Next Department Meeting Friday Jan. 29, 2016!
Dean Brewer wants to conduct a lesson plan review! Bring your most recent and see you from 7:00-7:20am in V110!
Update 2015-2016 Department Information
Double Check! Recently, teaching assignments were changed, do I have the correct info on everyone? Check out this Google Spreadsheet and update your info!
Do your part! Be on duty! 7:00am-7:20am in the Cafeteria!
Jan 19-22
Feb. 1-5
Mar 21-24
April 4-8
May 9-13
May 30-June 3
District Reminders
- March 1 or 2 : World Geography & World History District Assessments
- March 8 or 9 : US History District Assessments
- Registration for Rice AP Institute has begun! Priority given to World History
- World Geography books are being replaced in 1-3 weeks. Ms. Sabol and I will coordinate.
- Upload your GT certificates to eLearning!
Marshall Reminders
- Major Testing will be conducted on Odd Days. If you need to test on an Even day please coordinate with that department first!
- Use of one of the learning strategies such as Frayer Model , 3-2-1, or ACES should be documented in lesson plans weekly!
Tools You can Use!
Frame of Mind
Check student's understanding with this tool! Students assume one of the four roles. Let them summarize the topic from one of these four perspectives. Print it here!
Historical Conversations
Have students create dialogue between historical figures or groups with this framework! Check it out here!
Learning Logs - Revised by Danica Botts
Frayer Model - Revised by Anthony DeLeon
Mystery Bio Bags -
Here is a learning strategy I saw on Pinterest and I can't wait to try it! Its called Bio Bags but I want to add an element of mystery! Students can be assigned a person, group, form of government, country, etc. Using a regular brown paper bag, they fill it with primary sources related to the topic. For examples, excerpt from the person's speech, political cartoons, pictures of life in that country, examples of the traits of government. The pictures of can be literal or symbolic! It can be printed, hand drawn, or physical. Have students get into groups, exchange bags, and allow others will try and guess the topic. They can then present to each other! Great review!
A.C.E.S. Rubric for SARs - Shared by Melonee Davis
It Says, I Say, And So - Shared by Ashley White
A Gajillion Free Technology Tools!
Use technology to help you hit every level of Bloom's! This website has done a great job of putting them all in one place!
Organizational Tips!
Looking for a Good Lesson Plan Template?
Here is the one I have developed for US History! See the link here!
Keep Students Accountable!
- Get the word out to your parents and students with Skyward. Its so quick to shoot an email and send out progress reports to every student! Make yourself a spreadsheet in Google to keep track! If no email address was available THEN I called home.
- Here is a Student-Teacher Conference documentation form developed by the US History team! Feel free to edit it and use it for your classes!
Instructional Resources
Social Studies Helping Teachers
Deborah Pellikan is an amazing resource! She is on campus every Tuesday and can assist you with any curriculum or best practice ideas! See the Fort Bend Secondary Social Studies website for games and content!
Digital Learning Specialist
Rachelle Wooten is our campus Tech goddess! Have a conversation with her to take your lessons to the next level! rachelle.wooten@fortbendisd.com
District Wide Events!
Fort Bend ISD Film Festival
Who? FBISD Kinder - 12th Grade students
What? Mobile Film School & Festival
When? 2015-2016 School Year
Check out their website and categories here!
See Rachelle Wooten for more information!
National History Day Competition
The Theme is Exploration, Encounter & Exchange in History. Check out their website for more info! Let me know if you are interested in having your student compete!
About Mrs. Botts
- Louisiana Native
- 10 years of teaching experience, 6 years as a Social Studies Department Chair
- Secondary Education Social Studies - University of LA at Lafayette 2006
- M. Ed Curriculum Instruction Instructional Technology with Educational Administration Certification - Houston Baptist University - Completion Dec. 2016
Email: danica.botts@fortbendisd.com
Website: http://bottshbu.weebly.com
Phone: 318-512-5753
Twitter: @teachingnchucks