| Social Studies – Preparing Students for College, Career and Civic Life |  |
| Teaching & Learning
|  |  |
|
- Veteran shares history with students who raised money for charity
Students at Suncoast Community High School in Riviera Beach, Fla., raised more than $9,000 for Southeast Florida Honor Flight, a nonprofit group that provides World War II veterans with all-expenses-paid trips to visit Washington, D.C., war memorials. Wilbur Lee Wagner, a veteran who took the trip earlier in the year, visited the school this week to share stories of his time during the war. "It's really simple to hand somebody a book but it doesn't inspire people to appreciate history," said David Traill, the school's social studies department chairman. Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
(12/13)
 
- National Geographic K-5 program aligns with common core
Schools participating in the Reach for Reading program now will have access to a reading program for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Sponsored by National Geographic Learning, the program's features include matching articles from the magazine to appropriate works of fiction and other content such as videos. T.H.E. Journal
(12/12)
- Mo. schools hope common core will close literacy gaps
Columbia, Mo., public schools officials have revised curriculum in accordance with Common Core State Standards, which they hope will address literacy deficits through its emphasis on critical thinking, reading and writing skills. The standards require the reading of more nonfiction and higher levels of literacy, reflecting content and skill levels needed for college, military or civilian workplaces. "You've seen literacy explode and the demands for literacy explode. And that hasn't been matched in your typical setting, K through 12," said Nick Kremer, Columbia schools' curriculum coordinator for language arts and social studies. Columbia Missourian
(12/11)
| Policy Watch
| | |
|
- Do school microchips violate student's religious views?
A high-school student in Texas is expected to argue in court next week that her school's microchip tracking system violates her religious views. At the hearing, set for Dec. 17, a judge is expected to decide whether the school district should be prevented from transferring the student to another school -- at least until a full trial on the issue has concluded. Officials say the technology is intended to track attendance and secure more funding for schools. The Wall Street Journal
(12/9)
| Technology in the Classroom
| | |
|
- All Internet access is not created equal
 In this blog post, technology teacher Mary Beth Hertz writes that a recent push for universal Internet access is not sufficient for bridging the digital divide. She writes about the limitations of accessing the Internet using mobile devices and suggests that the focus should be on ensuring that students not only have access to the Internet but sufficient tools. One solution, she writes, is for schools to beef up technology courses and integrate technology education throughout the curriculum. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Education
(12/12)
| Social Studies & Civic Life
| | |
|
- Ohio students spend a day serving as city officials
About 20 seniors from Belpre High School in Ohio took on the roles of their city's mayor, city council members and other leaders as part of the school's annual Student Government Day. The event provided a lot of insight that can be acquired in the classroom. "I have found the day very beneficial because I learned the importance of the different courts and how the city works," said student Leah Roberts, who sat in as city prosecutor. Mayor Mike Lorentz complimented the students on their efforts, saying, "If these are our future leaders, than I think we are OK." The Parkersburg News and Sentinel (W.Va.)
(12/11)
| NCSS Updates
| | |
|
-
NCSS Journals on Metapress
NCSS is excited to announce that online institutional subscriptions to NCSS Journals are now available through Metapress. With the Metapress platform, we can offer our subscribers IP-based access; powerful discovery, linking, and other tools to aid scholarship; COUNTER compliant usage reports; and powerful yet easy-to-use admin tool. Learn more.
-
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 Standards for Reading Literature. Learn more and order online.
| SmartQuote
| | |
|
 | The best preparation for tomorrow is to do today's work superbly well."
--William Osler,
Canadian physician
|
| |
| |
|
Read more at
SmartBrief.com |
|
|
|
| |
| |
| | Recent
NCSS SmartBrief Issues:
- Wednesday, December 12, 2012
- Monday, December 10, 2012
- Friday, December 07, 2012
- Wednesday, December 05, 2012
- Monday, December 03, 2012
| | | Lead Editor:
Trigie Ealey
Contributing Editor:
James Roland
Mailing Address:
SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004 | |
| |
|
| © 1999-2012 SmartBrief, Inc.®
Legal Information |
|
In a paper published in the journal Nature, Melanie Salque, a chemist at Bristol University in England, says cheesemaking techniques are at least 7,000 years old and have changed little over time. The ability to turn milk into cheese probably gave humans a survival edge, other experts say. 
