SAISD Social Studies Newsletter
January 10, 2020
Units of Study for Secondary Courses are Now Available!
Second Semester Professional Development
Second Semester Curriculum Documents are Posted!
During the month of January, the Curriculum and Instruction Department will be holding 20 minute Curriculum Forum Zoom sessions in order to orient teachers and administrators to the curriculum documents. You can find the schedule of these sessions here.
Elementary teachers, remember that curriculum documents have not yet been developed for elementary social studies due to the streamlined TEKS not going into effect until the 2020-2021 school year. We will begin the curriculum writing process later in the semester with prioritizing the TEKS and developing year-at-a-glance documents for each grade level.
Please contact Patrick if you have any questions regarding the curriculum documents.
Second Semester PLN's
8th Grade Social Studies PLN- Thursday, January 16
8:00-4:00
Nelson Early Childhood Center
High School U.S. History PLN- Thursday, January 23
8:00-4:00
Burnet Learning Center Room 33
Document-Based Question Training for 4th and 5th Grade Teachers- Wednesday, January 29
8:00-4:00
CAST Med Rooms 145 and 146
7th Grade Texas History PLN- Thursday, January 30
8:00-4:00
Burnet Learning Center Room 33
This is a follow up to the first semester training with the DBQ Project. If you did not attend the first semester session, it is still ok to attend this PLN.
High School World History PLN- Thursday, February 13
8:00-4:00
Burnet Learning Center Room 33
This is a follow up to the first semester training with the DBQ Project. If you did not attend the first semester session, it is still ok to attend this PLN.
6th Grade World Cultures and High School World Geography PLN- Thursday, February 20
8:00-4:00
Burnet Learning Center Room 33
This is a follow up to the first semester training with the DBQ Project. If you did not attend the first semester session, it is still ok to attend this PLN.
High School Government and Economics PLN- Thursday, February 27
8:00-4:00
Burnet Learning Center Room 33
This is a follow up to the first semester training with the DBQ Project. If you did not attend the first semester session, it is still ok to attend this PLN.
8th Grade STAAR and High School U.S. History EOC Preparation PLN
8:00-4:00
Burnet Learning Center
Social Studies in SAISD
Ms. Flores at Beacon Hill
Mr. Woods at Lowell MS
Mr. Woods at Lowell MS
Martin Luther King Jr. Resources
Resources for Martin Luther King Jr. Day from Edutopia
Teaching and Learning About Martin Luther King Jr. from the New York Times
Holocaust Remembrance Week
To assist teachers, the Social Studies Department has compiled instructional resources and suggestions here. This document also has a link to SB 1828, the law that established Holocaust Remembrance Week, and some additional information that Social Studies teachers should review.
In addition, there are some upcoming professional development opportunities for teachers to support preparation for Holocaust Remembrance Week. The San Antonio Holocaust Memorial Museum and Region 20 are offering a session for elementary teachers on January 21 from 1-4 PM and one for secondary teachers on January 23 from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Information on those sessions is available here. In addition, the Institute of Texas Cultures is offering an evening workshop on Wednesday, January 15 that costs $20. Unfortunately the Social Studies Department does not have funds to pay for substitutes or fees for these sessions.
Dream Week 2020
2020 Census
In addition, the U.S Census Bureau has designated March 2-6 as Statistics in Schools Week and April 1 as Census Day. The Census Bureau has a great deal of educational resources posted here. In February, we will share some recommended instructional resources and activities for each grade level band that could be used during Statistics in Schools Week and on Census Day.
Spring Humanities Texas Institutes
Understanding the Federal Government
On February 19 and 20, 2020, Humanities Texas will hold one-day teacher workshops in Austin and Houston focusing on civics and the American government.
More information and the application is here. Remember that Humanities Texas will reimburse campuses for substitute costs and will reimburse for travel.
Information on all of the Humanities Texas Spring Institutes is here.
Newsela added to the SAISD Single Sign On!
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: 210554-2530
Twitter: @Saisd_Social