| Social Studies – Preparing Students for College, Career and Civic Life |  |
| Teaching & Learning
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- Mass. students use family histories for school project
An art and writing workshop at Green Meadow School in Maynard, Mass., has grown into a way for the elementary-school students and their families to learn more about themselves. In putting together books called "Family Stories Through Art," Sharon Santillo asked her students to research their families and, in some cases, parents discovered information they never knew before from other relatives. Students illustrated the stories about their family members, who were labor leaders, immigrants and entertainers. Wicked Local/Stow, Mass.
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- Award-winning teacher challenges students during history lessons
A high-school history teacher at Waukegan High School in Illinois has abandoned the traditional focus on names and dates when teaching the subject. Instead, Joshua Bill, winner of the National History Teacher of the Year Award from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, asks students to think critically, analyze documents and evaluate opinions. Educators say they expect such techniques to gain even more traction as the Common Core State Standards are implemented in many states. Chicago Tribune (tiered subscription model)
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| Professional Development
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- Mass., Ohio partner to develop online tool for teachers
An online "instructional improvement system" is being developed for teachers by the education departments in Ohio and Massachusetts. The tool will allow teachers to individualize instruction for students, using resources, such as lesson plans and tests, available online. The new system should be available to teachers in both states in the 2013-14 school year, and Race to the Top grants are being used to fund the project. The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)
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- Education resolutions teachers are making for 2013
Teachers and administrators from across the country share their New Year's resolutions for 2013 in this article, saying they are focused on professional development and improving student achievement. Mark Westlake, a physics teacher in Minnesota, said that to help his students succeed, he plans to give them more room to fail and wait longer before answering questions. "My main resolution is to continue to show my students a positive learning environment while fostering the nurturing relationships I have with them," said Jenny Michael, a language arts and ACT prep teacher from Missouri. U.S. News & World Report/High School Notes
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| Technology in the Classroom
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- Blended learning seen as offering the best of both worlds
A high school in Arizona that has adopted blended learning, in which students learn part of the time in traditional classrooms and the remainder of instruction is online, is highlighted in this article as an example of the instructional model. Supporters say blended-learning programs allow students to move at their own pace, taking on more advanced work if they are able. However, some educators say the key to successful blended learning occurs offline, through peer tutoring, small-group work and projects. The Deseret News (Salt Lake City)
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- IPad is soaring in popularity in U.S. schools
Apple's iPad has become a popular fixture in classrooms nationwide, and a large part of that has been by design as the company has sought to make itself the mainstay in classroom tablets. "The adoption rate of iPad in education is something I'd never seen from any technology product in history," Apple CEO Tim Cook recently said. TMCNet.com
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| Social Studies & Civic Life
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- Day of Service event enlists alumni to mentor in Detroit schools
Officials in Detroit are reaching out to the school district's alumni network and community volunteers to improve schools physically and act as mentors to inspire students. The Day of Service is set for Jan. 21, and officials say they hope the day allows them to develop long-term relationships between the volunteers and schools. The Detroit News
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- Historian examines Notre Dame's role in U.S. Irish-Catholic history
The University of Notre Dame's importance in the lives of Catholics and Irish-Americans is an unshakeable part of 20th-century American history, says Edward T. O'Donnell, a historian and associate professor of history at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. The increased success of the university's football team from the 1920s to the 1970s paralleled "the emergence of an Irish middle class or an upper class," said O'Donnell, a fan of the Fighting Irish. Catholic News Service
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| NCSS Updates
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New book on teaching reading links social studies standards with the Common Core State Standards
NCSS Publications announces "Teaching Reading with the Social Studies Standards: Elementary Units that Integrate Great Books, Social Studies, and the Common Core Standards." 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 State Standards for Reading Literature. Learn more and order online.
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Upcoming state and regional social studies conferences
Regional, state and local social studies conferences organized by NCSS-affiliated councils provide great opportunities for teachers in their home areas. Find a complete listing that includes meeting themes, proposal deadlines, council Web pages and conference contacts on our website.
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