| Social Studies – Preparing Students for College, Career and Civic Life |  |
| Teaching & Learning
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- N.C. social studies teacher's creativity wins honors
 A peek inside social studies teacher Justin Ashley's classroom at McAlpine Elementary School in Charlotte, N.C., might reveal a dance-party atmosphere with students rapping or dancing or playing games. But it's all part of Ashley's approach to engage students in history -- using music and dance to help them retain information. "Kids have to have that structure they actually need and desire that structure, but you also have to make learning fun," said Ashley, who in January was named the state's Social Studies Teacher of the Year. WBTV-TV (Charlotte, N.C.)
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- Classroom resources for addressing LGBT history, achievements
Teachers looking to highlight the achievements of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people throughout history can turn to online sources that tell the stories of people such as Alan Turing, a British code breaker during World War II. Marking February as LGBT History Month in the United Kingdom, this article also includes resources for lessons on homophobia, bullying, tolerance and diversity. This year's theme focuses on the achievements of LGBT scientists, mathematicians and engineers. The Guardian (London)
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- Helping students to think critically about popular culture
Students are surrounded by popular culture that is often inappropriate with violence, sex and vulgarity, writes Marc D. Hauser, an educational consultant. In this commentary, he writes that when students want to include such video games, music or other items in class projects, teachers should use those opportunities to help students develop their critical-thinking skills so they can recognize inappropriate materials. "Needless to say, this is not a topic of discussion and education that ever ends. But it is a topic that should be part of teachers' responsibilities," he writes. Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org)
(2/6)
| Policy Watch
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- Federal legislation would speed adoption of classroom technology
 On Tuesday, the day before Digital Learning Day, Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., introduced the Transforming Education Through Technology Act. The bill is intended to "help speed adoption of innovative digital tools to improve student outcomes, close achievement gaps, boost educator skills and improve efficiency and productivity." If the legislation passes, states and school districts would be required to draft plans and policies that make the best use of technology in the classroom. The Huffington Post/The Blog
(2/5)
| Technology in the Classroom
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- Technology raises questions over ownership of teachers' work
Teachers' lesson plans and students' class work would belong to the school district -- not the teacher or the student -- under a proposed copyright policy under consideration in Prince George's County, Md. The policy was developed to address the use of district technology by teachers to create curricula but also applies to lessons and materials developed using teachers' own materials on their own time. Critics say the unusual policy stifles creative endeavors and infringes on students' and teachers' rights. The Washington Post
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| Social Studies & Civic Life
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- N.J. students lobby leaders for stop signs near school
Students from Montclair Cooperative School in New Jersey learned firsthand how to make a difference in their community when the township council voted unanimously Tuesday to add a four-way stop to an intersection near their school. A group of students, who began their efforts in the fall, was in attendance as the council agreed that an emergency existed and waived the customary 20-day wait period for ordinances to become active. "We just want to thank you [the council] ... so much because we really appreciate that you spent so much time coming to meetings, letting us speak to you about this stop sign," said eighth-grader Maggie Lukenda. Patch.com/Montclair, N.J.
(2/5)
- Geographer measures deer population on Martha's Vineyard
Mount Holyoke College geography professor Thomas Millette recently flew around the island of Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts to take pictures with a thermal imaging camera. He plans to use those images, in combination with instruments that tracked the location of the airplane, to estimate how many deer live on the island and identify densely populated areas. The effort is part of a health initiative focused on tick-borne diseases. Vineyard Gazette (Edgartown, Mass.)
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| NCSS Updates
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Link social studies standards with the Common Core State Standards
"Teaching Reading with the Social Studies Standards: Elementary Units that Integrate Great Books, Social Studies, and the Common Core Standards," the latest bulletin from NCSS Publications, is now available. This new publication includes class activities that help teachers to achieve learning expectations of the National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies as well as specific objectives outlined in the Common Core Standards for Reading Literature. Learn more and order online.
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Be an NCSS leader: Serve on an NCSS Operations Committee
NCSS is seeking applicants to serve on NCSS Operations Committees. Operations committees carry out board-mandated operations, duties, and policies, as well as many of the necessary business and organizational functions of NCSS. You must be a member of NCSS to serve on a committee, and may serve on only one at any time. Beginning teachers, elementary teachers, and minorities are especially encouraged to apply. Terms of office begin July 1. Learn more and apply online.
| SmartQuote
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 | After you've done a thing the same way for two years, look it over carefully. After five years, look at it with suspicion. And after ten years, throw it away and start all over."
--Alfred E. Perlman,
American businessman
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