The Digital Broadside
News You Can Use
Round 4
The VDOE is already revising the next set of SOL Standards, the 2015 History and Social Science Standards of Learning. They are revised every 7 years, and then take 2 years to implement. So, the 2008 Standards came in officially in 2010. So, 2017 is just around the corner.
When the SOLs are up for review, every one with a historical bone to pick comments and wants their story told. That's why it's important to know that Robert E. Lee was the President of Washington College.
I would like to stress to everyone to please comment. Here is the link. If you don't comment, dozens of interest groups and museums will dictate WHAT YOU TEACH. Some of that may be fine. But... as Whodini says, "The freaks come out at night...."
HCPS Teachers of the Year
Teacher of the Year
Holman Middle School is Heather Racer
New Teacher of the Year
Short Pump Middle School is Rob Przybylski
Congratulations to our teachers!
We The People, part 2
Freeman came in second place and GAHS came in 5th. We were the only school district to have 2 schools in the competition.
As I said last week, this is a great way for students to go in-depth with the Constitution. If you have an honors Government class, or AP Government class, I'd recommend you use this curriculum in the classroom.
Or I'll ask, if you have an honors Government class, or AP Government class, and aren't doing We The People, why not?
They also have a middle school version for this, which can be tough since students interested in this are probably in World History in 8th grade, but it could be an after-school club.
If you're interested, you can apply to attend a summer session on being a coach.
Presidents' Day
With Presidents' Day approaching, C-SPAN Classroom has aggregated short videos, bell-ringers, and a lesson to help your students learn about the lives of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln and the role of the Executive Branch. Students may also use C-SPAN's "American Presidents" website to research former presidents and learn about their lives, families and administrations.
- *Presidential Vignette* - George Washington (1732-1799)
- *Presidential Vignette* - Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
- *Bell Ringer* - The Constitution and the Presidency
- *Bell Ringer* - Emergency Presidential Powers
- *Bell Ringer* - Pop-Culture and the Presidency
- *Lesson Idea* - The President in Times of Crisis
- *Website* - C-SPAN's "American Presidents" website
General Assembly Update
There is also still talk about giving public grades to schools (A - F) for student growth measures.
Needless to say, no 6th or 7th grade SOL would be huge.
Teacher Opportunities
Virginia Historical Society In cooperation with the University of Richmond, the Virginia Historical Society presents “The Story of Virginia: An American Experience,” a program for Virginia teachers that will broaden and deepen their knowledge of Virginia history—through classroom work, discussion, writing, and hands-on experience in its outstanding exhibition galleries.
It's $150 and a week long, with two sessions to choose from. Click here for more details.
Student and Teacher awards are given by the Virginia Historical Society. The Bobby Chandler High School Student Award is sponsored by the Kip Kephart Foundation. This award is given to the high school student who enters a paper or classroom project that uses original primary sources and who demonstrates a knowledge and understanding of American history.
Similar to the Bobby Chandler High School Student Award, the Anne R. Worrell Middle School Student Award is given to the middle school student who enters a paper or classroom project that uses original primary sources and demonstrates an understanding of American history.
Last, there is a teacher award as well, but just for US History teachers.
NEH Summer Programs in the Humanities for School and College Educators
Each year, NEH offers tuition-free opportunities for school, college, and university educators to study a variety of humanities topics. Stipends of $1,200-$3,900 help cover expenses for these one- to five-week programs. Click here if interested.
NCSS is accepting proposals to present at the 2014 NCSS Annual Conference Join social studies educators from around the world in Boston, November 21-23, 2014, to explore the civic mission of schools in the 21st Century. The 94th NCSS Conference will showcase powerful practices and initiatives aimed at preparing all students for college, career, and civic life. The DEADLINE for submitting proposals is February 18, 2014.
Check out these opportunities for teachers:
VCU Economics Institutes January 15 - April 30
Gilder Lehrman Summer 2014 Sessions
The Holocaust and Human Behavior on February 10
SOL Resources per content area
American Heritage
Catch up on good US History.
History Today
A more global view.
The Economist
Readings for Government.
Instructional Ideas
Double Exposure
1. Select a topic for exploration (e.g. Civil Rights movement).
2. Gather two photographs that are likely to lead students to competing descriptions of a(n) person, event, institution, society etc. For example,
Photograph A (photo of Dr. King) = suggests that the story of the Civil Rights movement is the story of charismatic leaders such Martin Luther King or Rosa Parks.
Photograph B (photo of Selma freedom walkers) = the story of the Civil Rights movement is the story of thousands of courageous, everyday people.
3. Jigsaw: Split the class into halves. Divide students in both halves into small groups and distribute photograph A to some groups and Photograph B to other groups.
4. Have students analyze the photograph and discuss the following in their small groups: What does this photograph suggest about the topic (e.g. Civil Rights movement)?
5. Take students who analyzed photograph A and pair them off with students who analyzed photograph B. Ask each student in the paired group to describe the conclusions they drew from their photograph. If the photographs are well selected, students should arrive at competing conclusions
6. Ask students “why might historians arrive at different conclusions about the past?”
7. Debrief: explain that history is filled with different interpretations about the past. One reason for the different interpretations is that historians often rely on different pieces of evidence (e.g. photographs) to construct their accounts. Your experiences with the photographs suggest that there may be more than one story about the past.
Black History Month Resources
Every February, America and Virginia observe Black History Month, celebrating and honoring the many achievements and contributions made by African Americans to the economic, cultural, and political development of America. African Americans are prominent in Virginia and American history. The famous historian, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a native Virginian and the son of former slaves, brought this fact to the world’s attention by founding the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, publishing several scholarly works and establishing Negro History Week, the precursor to Black History Month. The Virginia Department of Education is pleased to provide teachers and school divisions with Black History Month resources. These resources support the 2008 History and Social Science Standards of Learning.
The U.S. Department of Education, Federal Resources for Educational Excellence, provides an in-depth collection of African American resources at http://free1.ed.gov/subjects.cfm?subject_id=116&toplvl=171.
African American Mosaic is a Library of Congress Resource Guide for the Study of Black History and Culture. Topics include colonization, abolition, and migration http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/african/intro.html.
African American History Month resources are available from the Library of Congress at http://www.loc.gov/topics/africanamericans.
African American history sites from the Library of Virginia focus on topics in Virginia history and are available at http://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/guides/vhr/afam.htm.
One final site: http://www.africanamericanhistorymonth.gov/
Tour Builders
By using this tool, students collaborated, researched, and presented information they learned in class. For RIGOR, his students: read for a purpose, grouping, organized information, and 'rote for a purpose. There could have been inquiry, but I'm not sure if that was part of it. The best part: it's easy to learn and free.
Political Quiz
Trivia and Other Balderdash
Trivia: Teachers- 9 and Mike- 7
Last week's question was: Which nation has been the most successful in winning medals at the Winter Games. It's NOT: Norway, the US, or USSR/Russia. Think.... what are ways to define "successful?"
Todd Rigler got it right with Lichtenstein, which has the most total medals per population.
This week: Just for fun, Which Type of Teacher Are You? I tried others, but this seemed to be the best. When you're done, fill out this form.
White House Petition
So, I created one in hopes that the Department of Education might actually do something useful for teachers for once.
My idea: Create online, digital text, readings, and curriculum for K - 12 education.
You can read more about it here, and sign up to sign my petition. Deporting Justin Bieber has over 200,000 signatures! Surely, a serious one can break though.
Things You Never Say To a Teacher
Contact Information
Email: mjhasley@henrico.k12.va.us
Website: blogs.henrico.k12.va.us/mjhasley
Location: 3820 Nine Mile Road, Richmond, VA, United States
Phone: 804 652-3752
Twitter: @MikeHasley