K-6 Social Studies Resources
June
You Made It!
Thank You, Teacher
Thank you, skillful teacher,
For teaching me to be
A stronger, smarter person,
Academically.
Thank you, favorite teacher
For acting like a friend,
And taking time to show me,
Lessons hard to comprehend.
Thank you for your caring
And lots of other stuff;
For all the things you gave me,
I can't thank you enough.
By Joanna Fuchs
A Few Teacher Resources
Comprehension and Collaboration by Stephanie Harvey and Harvey "Smokey" Daniels
Celebrate kids’ curiosity and questions.
Cover the curriculum.
Reach and include everyone.
Grow resourceful, engaged citizens.
Seriously?
With inquiry circles, you seriously can—and Stephanie Harvey and Smokey Daniels can’t wait to show you how.
“Educators around the country,” Steph and Smokey write, “are discovering that inquiry is the secret opportunity offered by new national and state standards.” Their Comprehension & Collaboration, Revised Edition, is your end-to-end guide to small-group inquiry projects that work.
Successful inquiry isn’t simply sticking five kids together and telling them to research a topic. So Steph and Smokey share four kinds of inquiry units of increasing richness with all the teaching and planning resources you need. From preparing students for active learning and effective collaboration through assessment and evaluation, Comprehension & Collaboration, Revised Edition, gives you more of what teachers nationwide loved about the first edition:
- 37 strategy lessons, including 11 completely new ones, for thinking and collaboration
- 7 new step-by-step classroom stories that model inquiry-based units
- Groundbreaking research in comprehension, collaboration, and inquiry
- Connections to inquiry structures such as makers, design thinking, genius hour, and capstone projects
- Tips on common questions about management and accountability
- A completely rewritten chapter on the wise use of technology
- Specific correlations from inquiry circles to common state and national standards.
Talk-and-test may seem easier or less messy, but it can’t meet the demands on today’s teachers. That’s why the time for inquiry is now and why now is the time for Comprehension & Collaboration, Revised Edition. Because as Steph and Smokey write, “It is only through highly engaging, experiential, and deeply supportive pedagogy that we can meet lofty standards and prepare kids for high-stakes tests—but also grow curious, lifelong learners.”
Nonfiction for Kids from Reading Rockets
http://www.readingrockets.org/books/nonfiction-for-kids
Children are naturally fascinated by the lives of real people and the world around them. And building background knowledge is key to children's academic success. Our resources can help you find great nonfiction picture books and offer tips on how to get the most out of reading nonfiction. Nonfiction can sometimes turn a reluctant reader into an enthusiastic one!
Library of Congress
http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/lessons/
This site offers many different lesson plans, primary resources, and secondary resources to enhance your social studies instruction for grades 3-12.
Summer Flex Hours & District Day of Learning
Also, don't forget to register for the District Day of Learning. I know August 19th sounds so far from today, but believe me it is easier to get all signed up now than waiting until August. Make sure while you are picking your sessions to take note of the required session for your grade and subject. There are many great sessions offered throughout the day to enhance your teaching and your students' engagement.
Special treat for this year's DDL: FOOD TRUCKS! There will be a few different Food Trucks at CMS and CHS during lunch on August 19th. You will be able to pay for some yummy food and not worry about parking or getting back on time. It will be lots of fun!
Meredith Davis
K-6 ELA/SS
Curriculum Coordinator
Email: meredith.davis@southlakecarroll.edu
Website: www.southlakecarroll.edu
Location: 2400 North Carroll Avenue, Southlake, TX, United States
Phone: 817.949.8247
Twitter: @carrollcurric