Hello Fellow MDCSS Members and Welcome Back!
I hope everyone had a great first few weeks or days with their students. There is nothing as special as the beginning of the school year. From the smell of new school supplies to meeting your new students to the excitement of just being the school community, there really is nothing else like it.
Social Studies Education is so important, and our students recognize that as well. When I asked them last spring what they liked best about their social studies classes, they had a lot to say. They definitely said the coolest teachers were social studies teachers! Students said they really appreciated when they had the chance to learn about other cultures and connect it to their own. They loved that they had the opportunity to learn about real things and then see them play out in real life. They spoke about responsibility and how social studies classes taught them to be active members of their communities. They said our classes taught them to be thinkers, doers and leaders. Sometime during this year, I challenge you to ask your students what they like best about their social studies classes.
I had the amazing opportunity to attend a professional development by NCSS. During that time, we focused on what was "our story". We reflected on what lead us to be social studies educators and why we continue to do this work, whether in a classroom, as a district leader or in an organization. This year, I hope have the opportunity to bring my students stories to life and how they connect to the past, present and future.
I wish you a fun-filled year or learning and growing!
Kate Volpe
MDCSS President
Social Studies Educator & Instructional Team Leader
Wilde Lake High School
Howard County Public Schools
Our Thoughts are with Our Joppatowne Colleagues, Their Students, and Their Community
MDCSS extends heartfelt condolences to the Joppatowne Community, especially our fellow teachers and the students they serve in this difficult time. We stand with the Maryland State Department of Education's statement that violence has no place in schools and offer our support to the Joppatowne High School community and Howard County Public Schools.
Safe Schools Maryland is a valuable resource for keeping our schools safe. Individuals can submit anonymous reports by phone (1-833-MD-B-SAFE / 1-833-632-7233) , by using an online form, or by downloading the Safe Schools Maryland app.
REPORT A TIP IN THE APP
SUBMIT A TIP ONLINE
JOEY LANDGRAF
President-Elect for MDCSS
This school year, he is embarking on a new adventure as he will be a social sciences teacher at Aberdeen High School in Harford County Public Schools. Previously, Joey taught AP Government and AP Psychology at North County High School in Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Joey is a 2015 James Madison Fellow from Maryland and also won Promising New Social Studies Teacher of the Year from MDCSS in 2019. He has previously served on the board of MDCSS as an At-Large Member. In his free time, he enjoys fantasy football, pub trivia, golf, hiking, and wrangling his toddler daughter.
CONFERENCE COORDINATOR
The Conference Coordinator is responsible for chairing the annual conference committee and ensuring that the following functions take place: securing the venue, coordinating presenters, securing donations and vendors, and assigning other tasks to board members as needed.
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
The Social Media Coordinator is responsible for managing the social media presence of the organization, including maintaining regular communications across social media platforms.
MEMBER-AT-LARGE: PRE-SERVICE TEACHER
Members-at-Large assume full voting privileges as members of the Board of Directors. Members-at-Large are integral parts of the organization and are considered likely candidates for future leadership positions. Members-at-Large assist with the conference and participate in the planning and decision making of the Board of Directors. One Member-at-Large position shall be reserved for a Pre-Service Teacher to ensure voice for those entering the profession.
MEMBER-AT-LARGE: STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD
Members-at-Large assume full voting privileges as members of the Board of Directors. Members-at-Large are integral parts of the organization and are considered likely candidates for future leadership positions. Members-at-Large assist with the conference and participate in the planning and decision making of the Board of Directors. One Member-at-Large position shall be reserved for a Student Member of the Board who is currently enrolled in a Maryland school to ensure student voice and perspective.
INTERESTED IN AN OPEN POSITION?
Email ourmdcss@gmail.com for more information on applying.
SEPT 17TH - 4 PM - WEBINAR
Addressing Antisemitism through Testimony-Based Education
Hosted by Echoes & Reflections
Antisemitic incidents, including violent acts, reported in the United States continue to rise, with a staggering increase since October 2023. These incidents often begin and are roused in subtle ways – from biased remarks and stereotypes to silence and complacency. Through testimonies available in USC Shoah Foundation’s Visual History Archive, students can engage with poignant accounts of antisemitic incidents from survivors of the Holocaust, as well as from those who have experienced contemporary forms of antisemitism.
This webinar connects to Unit 11 on the Echoes & Reflections website.
Our webinars are designed to increase participants’ knowledge of Holocaust history, explore and access classroom-ready content, and support instructional practice to promote student learning and understanding of this complex history and its lasting effect on the world.
SEPT 17TH - 6:30-7:30 PM - LIVESTREAM --------COST: 💲30
On Freedom: A Philosophy of Good Government
Hosted by NY Historical Society & Museum
Freedom, the great American commitment and value, has historically induced contested interpretations. In the past decade, civil discord and political turbulence have brought into sharp relief the varying and conflicting understandings of freedom by Americans today, including a common conception of freedom as the absence of state power and protection from government regulation. However, in a conversation with celebrated historian David W. Blight, Timothy Snyder argues that true freedom isn't so much freedom from as freedom to—the freedom to thrive and to take risks for futures we choose by working together—and that this freedom is the value that makes all other values possible.
Timothy Snyder is the Richard C. Levin Professor of History and Global Affairs at Yale University and the author of the bestselling book, On Tyranny, and most recently, On Freedom. David W. Blight (moderator) is director of the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition, Sterling Professor at Yale University, scholar trustee of the New-York Historical Society, and author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom.
Livestreaming:
Unable to attend in person? Join us via livestream! Livestream Access: $30 (Members $20)
We will contact all registered attendees with instructions for viewing the livestream the day before and the day of the program. If you do not receive a message, please check your spam folder. Subject to availability, livestreaming tickets will be available via online purchase up until the program start time. If you need further assistance, please email public.programs@nyhistory.org.
SEPT 18TH - 6:30-7:30 PM - LIVESTREAM ----------- COST: 💲30
EDITORIAL CHECKUP - ASSESSING THE MEDIA IN AN UNPRECEDENTED ELECTION YEAR
Hosted by NY Historical Society & Museum
Facing a breakneck news cycle including catastrophic gaffes, assassination attempts, and last-minute changes in candidates—how has the press performed in covering the 2024 presidential election? From MSNBC to Fox News to social media, where have voters been able to find truth-seeking, context-driven, accessible coverage, and has the press kept pace with voters' evolving media diets and demands? A panel of expert journalists give their report card on the performance of the press as a vital pillar of our democracy during the 2024 presidential election.
Jill Abramson, the former executive editor of the New York Times, is a distinguished professor of practice and senior fellow at Northeastern University and the author of multiple books, including Strange Justice and Merchants of Truth. Martin Baron has served as executive editor for several Pulitzer Prize-winning newsrooms, including the Washington Post, and is the author of Collision of Power: Trump, Bezos, and The Washington Post. Jelani Cobb is the dean of the Columbia Journalism School and a staff writer at the New Yorker; his most recent book is The Substance of Hope: Barack Obama and the Paradox of Progress. Joanne Lipman (moderator) is an author and journalist who has served as editor-in-chief of numerous high-profile organizations including USA Today and The Wall Street Journal's Weekend Journal. She is the author of Next! The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work.
Livestreaming:
Unable to attend in person? Join us via livestream! Livestream Access: $30 (Members $20)
We will contact all registered attendees with instructions for viewing the livestream the day before and the day of the program. If you do not receive a message, please check your spam folder. Subject to availability, livestreaming tickets will be available via online purchase up until the program start time. If you need further assistance, please email public.programs@nyhistory.org.
SEPT 20TH - DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR 1-DAY PROGRAM ON OCT 5TH
IS CAPITALISM GOOD FOR THE POOR? - SATURDAY OCT 5TH FROM 8:30 - 3:00 PM
HOSTED BY MCEE and MDCSS and FEI
LOCATION: AACC - Arundel Mills
Who: Middle and High School Teachers. No prior economics knowledge is required.
Specifics: Saturday, October 5th from 8:30am to 3:00pm.
Location: AACC- Arundel Mills
(Continental breakfast and lunch provided.)
Required: Advanced registration is required as the course is limited to 30 participants. Registration deadline – September 20th
Click here to register or go to www.econed.org/events. A $25 deposit is required at the time of registration to reserve your seat. The deposit will be refunded to those who attend on October 5th and complete the course.
Stipend: A $100 stipend will be provided to all participants who complete the program. (plus the $25 deposit will be refunded to those that attend)
Notes: A maximum 30 teachers will be accepted on a first-come and qualified basis.
(Participants must be full-time educators during the 2024-2025 school year.)
One Day Seminars qualify for one graduate hour credit in economics from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs for an additional fee.
About: This program analyzes empirical evidence to address the question of how capitalist institutions influence the well-being of the poor, whether in the context of communist China, in Brazil’s rain forest frontier, in democratic but tradition-bound India, or in the civil strife in certain African nations. Drawing from the insights of economic historian and Nobel Laureate, Douglass North, participants will have the opportunity to consider how mixed economies allow consumers and producers to be more informed in making their economic decisions.
This workshop would be valuable to any teacher of comparative economies. It would be especially helpful to teachers of the new Grades 6-7 Social Studies Frameworks. Teachers of AP Human Geography and AP Economics would also find value in the materials and resources that will be provided.
SEPT 22ND - 3-4 PM - IN-PERSON LECTURE
Through Their Eyes: Contemporary Artwork in the Underground Railroad Exhibit Lecture
Hosted by Harve de Grace Maritime Museum
Location: 100 Lafayette StreetHavre de Grace, MD
Join the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum for a lecture series detailing our permanent exhibit on the Underground Railroad in the greater Upper Chesapeake Bay region, as well as new research on the history and experience of Black watermen for a future update on our current "Working on the Bay" exhibit. Admission to the lecture series is free to the public.
Learn about the artists who created the powerful original artwork in The Underground Railroad: Other Voices of Freedom exhibit at the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum. Leslie Kaufman, art curator and President of Philadelphia Sculptors, will illuminate the process of selecting artists, their personal connections to the subject matter, and the special creative techniques they used. Art is a critical part of this important exhibit.
Contact us at info@hdgmaritimemuseum.org or 410-939-4800
SEPT 23 - 4 PM - WEBINAR
A GROWING THREAT: RESPONDING TO ANTISEMITISM IN THE CLASSROOM
Hosted by Echoes & Reflections
Join Megan Nevels, Sr. Associate Director of Jewish Community Engagement, ADL West and Jesse Tannetta, Director of Holocaust Content & Pedagogy for Echoes & Reflections to discuss the impact that rising antisemitism is having on students and explore dynamic classroom resources to help students recognize and combat this dangerous hatred.
SEPT 24TH - 6:30-7:30 PM - LIVESTREAM DISCUSSION - COST: 💲30
The World Goes to the Polls: The Economist on Elections in 2024
Hosted by NY Historical Society & Museum
Presented in partnership with The Economist
Join Zanny Minton Beddoes, The Economist's editor-in-chief, and senior correspondents for a live, in-person event exploring the year's major elections—from America to India, France, Venezuela and beyond. More than 70 countries are holding elections this year, representing half the world's population. What do the results reveal about the state of democracy in 2024? Can far-right parties be countered, as in France? And as America prepares to vote, what could the outcome mean for the world? Ms. Minton Beddoes will be joined by The Economist's Washington bureau chief, Idrees Kahloon, Paris bureau chief, Sophie Pedder, and geopolitics editor, David Rennie.
Idrees Kahloon leads The Economist's coverage of the White House, Congress, and national politics. Prior to that, he was the Washington correspondent and focused on policy matters. He began at The Economist as a data journalist in London. He graduated from Harvard University with a degree in applied mathematics and economics.
Sophie Pedder covers French politics and economics. She joined The Economist in 1990 and has reported on Britain, European politics, the media industry, and the end of apartheid in South Africa as the Johannesburg correspondent in the 1990s. Earlier, she was a research assistant for William Julius Wilson at the University of Chicago's Urban Poverty and Family Life project. She is the author of Revolution Française: Emmanuel Macron and the Quest to Reinvent a Nation (Bloomsbury, 2018) and Le déni français (JC Lattès, 2012). A graduate of Oxford University and the University of Chicago, she won the David Watt journalism prize in 2006.
David Rennie writes about geopolitics and co-hosts the Drum Tower podcast on China. Since he joined The Economist in 2007, he has worked as a columnist in Brussels, London, Washington, and Beijing, where he was bureau chief from 2018 to 2024. Previously, he was a foreign correspondent for the Daily Telegraph, a contributing editor of the Spectator magazine, and a reporter for the Evening Standard. He has won several awards, most recently the 2023 Osborn Elliott Prize for Excellence in Journalism on Asia, shared with his Drum Tower co-host, Sue-Lin Wong.
Zanny Minton Beddoes (moderator) is the editor-in-chief of The Economist. Prior to this role, she was the economics editor, overseeing The Economist’s global economics coverage. Ms. Minton Beddoes has written extensively about international financial issues, including the enlargement of the European Union, the future of the International Monetary Fund and economic reform in emerging economies.
Livestreaming:
Unable to attend in person? Join us via livestream! Livestream Access: $30 (Members $20)
We will contact all registered attendees with instructions for viewing the livestream the day before and the day of the program. If you do not receive a message, please check your spam folder. Subject to availability, livestreaming tickets will be available via online purchase up until the program start time. If you need further assistance, please email public.programs@nyhistory.org.
SEPT 25TH - 4 PM - WEBINAR
Night: A Deeper Dive into the Jewish Elements & Symbolism
Hosted by Echoes & Reflections
How well do you understand the mystical symbolism and the Jewish elements in Night? Scattered throughout the book are powerful Jewish elements that are less understood. Rabbi and educator, Fred Guttman, will present greater depth and insight into these allegories and elements, providing teachers with new angles to explore with their students.
SEPT 26TH - 5:30 -8 PM - IN-PERSON LECTURE
Hosted by Maryland Center for History and Culture
War hero and U.S. Senator Daniel B. Brewster lived a life full of inspiring highs, debilitating lows, and historic political feats. Join John W. Frece, former Maryland State House Bureau Chief for the Baltimore Sun and author of Self-Destruction: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of U.S. Senator Daniel B. Brewster, for a talk exploring Brewster’s life and career through touchpoints, such as his compelling run in the 1964 presidential primary election and his fight for civil rights in Maryland.
Frece will chronicle Brewster’s rise, fall, and redemption in conversation with Gerry Brewster, Esq., former member of the Maryland House of Delegates and son of the late senator, along with published historian, editor, and MCHC Trustee Charles W. Mitchell. Written with access to interviews, Brewster’s papers from the University of Maryland’s Hornbake Library, personal diaries, and more, Self-Destruction offers insight into the challenges and triumphs faced by Senator Brewster.
A book signing and light reception will follow. Copies of Self-Destruction will be available for purchase in the MCHC Museum Store. Registration is required.
SEPT 30TH - 6:30-7:30 PM - LIVESTREAM DISCUSSION - COST:💲30
The Movement: How Women's Liberation Transformed America
Hosted by NY Historical Society & Museum
If the idea that a woman's place is at home seems utterly absurd in America today, it's in great part thanks to the women's liberation movement of the early 1960s and '70s, when trailblazers like Betty Friedan, Shirley Chisholm, and Billie Jean King insisted that women be treated as equals to men and allowed to actively participate in American society. In this conversation with 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl, author Clara Bingham takes a deep dive into this vital period in the battle for women's rights to show how the women fighting on the front lines brought us to where we are today.
Clara Bingham is an award-winning journalist, former Newsweek correspondent, and author of several books, including Witness to the Revolution and The Movement: How Women's Liberation Transformed America, 1963-1973. Lesley Stahl (moderator) is a correspondent for 60 Minutes and a former CBS News White House correspondent.
Livestreaming:
Unable to attend in person? Join us via livestream! Livestream Access: $30 (Members $20)
We will contact all registered attendees with instructions for viewing the livestream the day before and the day of the program. If you do not receive a message, please check your spam folder. Subject to availability, livestreaming tickets will be available via online purchase up until the program start time. If you need further assistance, please email public.programs@nyhistory.org.
SEPT 2 - VICTORY OVER JAPAN (V-J) DAY WWII
SEPT 11th - PATRIOT DAY - 9/11 REMEMBRANCE
SEPT 15 - OCT 15 - HISPANIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
SEPT 17 - CONSTITUTION DAY & CITIZENSHIP DAY
SEPT 21 - INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE (UNITED NATIONS)
OCT 1ST - 6-7 PM - WEBINAR
Monetary Policy and the Dual Mandate: Tools to Teach Full Employment and Price Stability
Hosted by Federal Reserve Education
Please join us in celebrating Economic Education Month with the Federal Reserve Education webinar “Monetary Policy and the Dual Mandate: Tools to teach price stability and full employment.” This free webinar will explore current economic conditions and the Fed’s dual mandate of maximum employment and price stability. The webinar will begin with a presentation and Q&A on current economic conditions by Anoop Mishra, vice president and regional executive at the Birmingham Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. It will conclude with economic educators from across the Federal Reserve System sharing classroom resources and additional content related to full employment and price stability.
Educators are welcome to attend as we discuss how employment and inflation are measured, what constitutes full employment, and why price stability matters. Teachers will learn more about these topics and receive free interactive lessons and resources designed to improve their students’ understanding of economics and the Federal Reserve.
There is no cost to attend, but registration is required by 9 a.m. ET, October 1. A certificate for one hour of professional development credit, presentation slides, and classroom resource guides will be provided following the event.
OCT 1ST - 12-1:15 PM - WEBCAST - COST: 💲25 Members / $30 Non-Members
The Etruscans: A Style All Their Own
Hosted by Smithsonian Associates
Explore the heart of Italy during the first millennium B.C.E. through a journey into the enigmatic world of the Etruscans. With Etruscan writings completely untranslated, modern scholarship draws most of its knowledge of the civilization from archaeological deposits in central Italy. Contemporaries of the ancient Greeks and Romans, the Etruscans maintained a distinctive language and visual culture with an emphasis on the afterlife.
Using three masterworks of Etruscan painting, sculpture, and metalwork excavated from tombs in central Italy, art historian Laura Morelli offers a glimpse into how members of this lesser-known culture adorned the places where they planned to spend eternity and the incredible luxury objects they took with them.
General Information
OCT 2ND - 8-9 PM - VIRTUAL WORKSHOP
Your New Feedback Method in Action
Hosted by OER Project
Giving students feedback on their writing is the most effective way to provide immediate, actionable, and individualized support. But the process shouldn’t be so time-consuming that it only happens once or twice a year. Led by Annette O'Boyce, Senior National Facilitator at the National Center on Education and the Economy, this three-part series discusses efficient strategies for delivering focused writing feedback that any history teacher can use.
You do not need to have attended either of the previous sessions to participate in session three, as a brief recap will be provided!
In this third session, a session participant will be invited to share an early draft of one of their ninth- or tenth-grade history students' written work for review with the facilitator. Annette will demonstrate the "Post-it Method" for identifying strengths, weaknesses, and instructional opportunities. Participants will then pair off to apply the method to their own samples, followed by a summative discussion with the whole group!
About Annette O'Boyce: As a life-long educator, Annette has been a teacher, curriculum developer, and professional learning facilitator. She has worked with districts across the country on developing systems to better support teacher and student learning. Through all her work, she recognizes the connection between writing and learning and sees a focus on writing as a key lever for creating more equitable education opportunities. She currently serves as Senior National Facilitator at the National Center on Education and the Economy.
Questions? Email us at events@oerproject.com.
OCT 5TH - 1-DAY IN-PERSON PROGRAM - DEADLINE TO REGISTER - SEPT 20TH
IS CAPITALISM GOOD FOR THE POOR? - SATURDAY OCT 5TH FROM 8:30 - 3:00 PM
HOSTED BY MCEE and MDCSS and FEI
LOCATION: AACC - Arundel Mills
Who: Middle and High School Teachers. No prior economics knowledge is required.
Specifics: Saturday, October 5th from 8:30am to 3:00pm.
Location: AACC- Arundel Mills
(Continental breakfast and lunch provided.)
Required: Advanced registration is required as the course is limited to 30 participants. Registration deadline – September 20th
Click here to register or go to www.econed.org/events. A $25 deposit is required at the time of registration to reserve your seat. The deposit will be refunded to those who attend on October 5th and complete the course.
Stipend: A $100 stipend will be provided to all participants who complete the program. (plus the $25 deposit will be refunded to those that attend)
Notes: A maximum 30 teachers will be accepted on a first-come and qualified basis.
(Participants must be full-time educators during the 2024-2025 school year.)
One Day Seminars qualify for one graduate hour credit in economics from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs for an additional fee.
About: This program analyzes empirical evidence to address the question of how capitalist institutions influence the well-being of the poor, whether in the context of communist China, in Brazil’s rain forest frontier, in democratic but tradition-bound India, or in the civil strife in certain African nations. Drawing from the insights of economic historian and Nobel Laureate, Douglass North, participants will have the opportunity to consider how mixed economies allow consumers and producers to be more informed in making their economic decisions.
This workshop would be valuable to any teacher of comparative economies. It would be especially helpful to teachers of the new Grades 6-7 Social Studies Frameworks. Teachers of AP Human Geography and AP Economics would also find value in the materials and resources that will be provided.
OCT 9TH - 6:30-7:30 PM - LIVESTREAM DISCUSSION - COST: 💲30
The Term Ahead: A Contentious Supreme Court Is Back in Session
Hosted by NY Historical Society & Museum
With public faith in the Supreme Court at an all-time low, has the nation's highest court truly changed for the worse—becoming less impartial and more politicized—or have Americans simply lost faith in public institutions across the board? Legal experts Joan Biskupic, Linda Greenhouse, and Stephen Vladeck discuss the evolution of the Supreme Court to its current iteration, the most serious accusations of ethical breaches, its recent controversial decisions, and changing expectations from the public in terms of transparency and conduct.
Joan Biskupic has covered the Supreme Court for more than 25 years, including in her current role as CNN's chief Supreme Court analyst, and is the author of several books, including Nine Black Robes: Inside the Supreme Court's Drive to the Right and its Historic Consequences and The Chief: The Life and Turbulent Times of Chief Justice John Roberts. Linda Greenhouse, Senior Research Scholar in Law at Yale Law School, is an award-winning journalist who covered the Supreme Court for the New York Times between 1978 and 2008 and continues to write regularly for the newspaper's Opinion pages. Stephen Vladeck is a professor of law at the Georgetown University Law Center and the author of the bestselling book The Shadow Docket: How the Supreme Court Uses Stealth Rulings to Amass Power and Undermine the Republic.
Livestreaming:
Unable to attend in person? Join us via livestream! Livestream Access: $30 (Members $20)
We will contact all registered attendees with instructions for viewing the livestream the day before and the day of the program. If you do not receive a message, please check your spam folder. Subject to availability, livestreaming tickets will be available via online purchase up until the program start time. If you need further assistance, please email public.programs@nyhistory.org.
OCT 10TH - 5:30 PM - IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL LECTURE - COST: 💲8 suggested donation
Hosted by Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
The deadrise and cross-planked bottom style of boatbuilding started on Chesapeake Bay in the 1880s, when builders of wooden boats began to shift away from constructing vessels out of logs and into using planks to create hulls with a V-shaped bottom. Maritime journalist and historian Larry Chowning will share a look at the history and culture of the Chesapeake deadrise, which grew to be so popular that both Maryland and Virginia have named deadrise vessels as their state boats.
This event is generously sponsored by the Upper Shore Regional Folklife Center.
The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s Speaker Series brings discussion about Chesapeake-related topics to the Van Lennep Auditorium. Events vary, but often include talks by industry experts, discussions with community members, performances by local artists, and screenings of relevant films. Regardless of the topic, each program will leave you with a greater appreciation for the people and environment of the Chesapeake Bay.
CBMM’s speaker events are offered in a hybrid format with options for both in-person and virtual tickets. The link to view the program virtually will be provided to all registrants before the program.
Location: Van Lennep Auditorium & available virtually
Cost: Suggested ticket price of $8 per participant
OCT 10TH - 7-8:30 PM - VIRTUAL PANEL
Rattling the Cages: Post-Prison Activism & Archiving Resistance
Hosted by Firestorm Books & Freedom Archives
In this Rattling the Cages panel talk, former political prisoners Eric King, Jake Conroy, and Claude Marks discuss staying active and engaged in liberation struggles after being released from prison, and also the importance of collecting, analyzing, and understanding our histories of resistance. This event is a fundraiser for the Freedom Archives and attendees are asked to make a donation in lieu of ticket cost.
Recently published by AK Press, Rattling the Cages: Oral Histories of North American Political Prisoners is a project of abolitionist Josh Davidson and Eric King. The book is filled with the experience and wisdom of over thirty current and former North American political prisoners. It provides first-hand details of prison life and the political commitments that continue to lead prisoners into direct confrontation with state authorities and institutions.
OCT 12TH - 10 AM-5 PM - IN-PERSON EVENT
Patuxent River Appreciation Day
Hosted by Calvert Marine Museum
Patuxent River Appreciation Day (PRAD) is an annual festival, held at the Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons, Maryland. This celebration creates awareness, recognition, and promotion of the economic, social, recreational, cultural, and historic significance of the Patuxent River.
Organizations Participating: Calvert County Waterman's Association, Solomons Island Heritage Tours, Patuxent River Seafood, Rotary Club of Calvert County, Maryland Park Service-Scales and Tails, Shore Thing Shellfish, Chesapeake Biological Lab, Quilts of Valor, Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum, Calvert Marine Museum Fossil Club, Calvert Marine Museum Small Craft Guild, Solomons Island Model Boat Club, Friends of the Linda Kelley Animal Shelter, Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, University of Maryland Extension, Ecobay Landscape, US Coast Guard Auxiliary, Calvert County Master Gardeners, USFWS-Maryland Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, Calvert County Environmental Commission, CHESPAX, American Red Cross, Friends of Hunting Creek, Friends of Mill Creek
Arts and Crafts Vendors: Anne Made, Jallys Soapicary, Sand Art, Crumbl, Ronnie Townsend, CiCi's Sugar Shack, Chesapeake Stained Glass and Jewelry, Bohemian Studios, Bead Scene, Freeze Daddy, Becks Mercantile, Tobacco Barn Distillery, Bubbles and Butterflies, Mary Lou Troutman-Cozy Cupboard, I love Munchies, 2 Friends with Chocolate, Treats by Janet and Cheryl, Cissy Langley, HL Langley, Tiffany Kildale-Water colors, I Love Munchies, Spin it Again, Sunshine Bakery, Shells by KA, Unforgettable Goods, Drift Wood Sailboats
Food Vendors: Calvert Crabs, Dan D's Catering, Maggie Moos, Cousins Maine Lobster
OCT 15 - 6:30-7:30 PM - LIVESTREAM DISCUSSION - COST: 💲30
Play Ball: Women, Sports, and Journalism
Hosted by NY Historical Society & Museum
Throughout the 20th century, the boys' club culture of journalism was held up by a system of formal and informal rules that kept women out of the newsroom and out of the field. Journalists Melissa Ludtke and Lynn Povich look back to the groundbreaking fights they lead in the 1970s to fight for women's place in the media, from Ludtke's battle to allow female sports journalists into locker rooms alongside their male counterparts, to Povich’s part in the first female journalist-led class action lawsuit against Newsweek, detailed in her best-selling book, "The Good Girls Revolt" and in the Amazon series of the same name.
Melissa Ludtke is an award-winning journalist and the author of several books, including her latest, Locker Room Talk: A Woman's Struggle to Get Inside. Lynn Povich (moderator) is a journalist, former senior editor for Newsweek, and author of The Good Girls Revolt: How the Women of Newsweek Sued their Bosses and Changed the Workplace.
Livestreaming:
Unable to attend in person? Join us via livestream! Livestream Access: $30 (Members $20)
We will contact all registered attendees with instructions for viewing the livestream the day before and the day of the program. If you do not receive a message, please check your spam folder. Subject to availability, livestreaming tickets will be available via online purchase up until the program start time. If you need further assistance, please email public.programs@nyhistory.org.
OCT 16TH - 8-9 PM - VIRTUAL WORKSHOP
The Time is Now: Civil Discourse for 2024
Hosted by OER Project
Civil discourse is essential to building the strong communities we need to meet contemporary challenges. As teachers, we need to instill the fundamentals of civil discourse into students at every opportunity. In this session, veteran social studies teacher Nichelle Pinkney will help you discover new techniques for building the sense of group belonging and empathy in your classroom that is fundamental to good conversation. The session will also explore how public discourse has changed over time, and how this has affected teaching methods.
Register here, if you haven't yet done so >
About Nichelle Pinkney: Nichelle is a social studies educator with almost 20 years of experience ranging from a classroom teacher to a K-12 curriculum director. She has presented and trained teachers nationally and internationally. Nichelle holds a Masters of Arts in Educational Administration from Lamar University and a Bachelor's degree from Salem College in Sociology, Women’s Studies (minor). Nichelle works to help teachers and curriculum writers create opportunities in their instruction to ensure it is diverse, equitable and inclusive for all students that educate. Nichelle currently serves as a K-12 Social Studies and World Language Curriculum director ad co-authored the book Civil Discourse: Classroom Conversations for Stronger Communities.
Questions? Email us at events@oerproject.com.
OCT 22ND - 6:30-7:30 PM - LIVESTREAM DISCUSSION - COST: 💲 30
Plentiful Country: The Great Potato Famine and the Making of Irish New York
Hosted by NY Historical Society & Museum
In 1845, a fungus began to destroy Ireland’s potato crop, triggering a famine that would kill a million Irish men, women, and children—and drive over a million more to immigrate to America. In the ten years that followed, the United States was radically transformed by this monumental migration, and nowhere more so than New York, where by 1855, roughly a third of all adults living in Manhattan were immigrants who had escaped the hunger in Ireland. Historian and author Tyler Anbinder joins Director of the Glucksman Ireland House at New York University, Kevin Kenny, to paint a picture of these so-called “Famine Irish,” whose perseverance through low-paying jobs, discrimination, and ridicule by their new countrymen paved the way for four US presidents.
Livestreaming:
Unable to attend in person? Join us via livestream! Livestream Access: $30 (Members $20)
We will contact all registered attendees with instructions for viewing the livestream the day before and the day of the program. If you do not receive a message, please check your spam folder. Subject to availability, livestreaming tickets will be available via online purchase up until the program start time. If you need further assistance, please email public.programs@nyhistory.org.
Tyler Anbinder is a professor emeritus of history at George Washington University and the author of several award-winning books, including Five Points and Plentiful Country: The Great Potato Famine and the Making of Irish New York. Kevin Kenny (moderator) is Glucksman Professor of History at New York University and the author of multiple books, including Making Sense of the Molly Maguires.
OCT 30TH - 5:30 PM - IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL LECTURE - COST: 💲8 Suggested Donation
The Archaeology of Harriet Tubman’s Birthplace
Hosted by the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
In late 2020, a team of archaeologists began searching a remote part of Dorchester County for evidence of Harriet Tubman’s early life, including her birthplace and the 10-acre home site of her father, Ben Ross. In this talk, Dr. Julie Schablitsky, Chief Archaeologist for the Maryland Department of Transportation, will provide a look at the historical research and archaeological work that has gone into locating and interpreting these early Tubman sites.
The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s Speaker Series brings discussion about Chesapeake-related topics to the Van Lennep Auditorium. Events vary, but often include talks by industry experts, discussions with community members, performances by local artists, and screenings of relevant films. Regardless of the topic, each program will leave you with a greater appreciation for the people and environment of the Chesapeake Bay.
CBMM’s speaker events are offered in a hybrid format with options for both in-person and virtual tickets. The link to view the program virtually will be provided to all registrants before the program.
OCT 30TH - 8-9 PM - VIRTUAL WORKSHOP
Why Neuroeducation Matters: The Brain-Targeted Teaching Model
Hosted by OER Project
During the past decade the neurological and cognitive sciences have opened a new frontier of knowledge on how the brain processes, stores, and retrieves information. As teachers, how can we use this new knowledge to create better educational environments for our students? In this talk by Dr. Mariale H. Hardiman, Professor Emeritus at the Johns Hopkins School of Education, you will be introduced to the tenets of neuroeducation. The session will focus on how new science can influence six key aspects of teaching:
(1) Establishing the emotional climate for learning
(2) Creating the physical learning environment
(3) Designing the learning experience using “big picture” visual representations
(4) teaching for the mastery of content, skills, and concepts
(5) teaching for the extension and creative application of knowledge, and
(6) evaluating learning.
Register here, if you haven't yet done so >
About Mariale Hardiman: Mariale is Professor Emeritus at Johns Hopkins University. Her work has contributed to advancing the field of neuroeducation through various roles including professor, researcher, school principal, consultant, and author of books, book chapters, journal articles, and multi-media presentations. She founded the Neuro-Education Initiative and the Mind, Brain, and Teaching programs at Johns Hopkins University School of Education. Hardiman’s research includes randomized control trials investigating the effects of arts integration on long-term retention of academic content. She also studied how knowledge of the learning sciences influences teachers’ practices and efficacy beliefs. In a National Science Foundation study, Hardiman investigated the efficacy of a new scientific creativity assessment. Hardiman presents her work nationally and internationally on topics related to the intersection of research in the learning sciences with effective teaching, leading, and learning. Her instructional framework, the Brain-Targeted Teaching® Model, has been studied and implemented nationally and internationally.
Questions? Email us at events@oerproject.com.
SEPT 15 - OCT 15 - HISPANIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
NOV 8TH - 12-1:15 PM - WEBCAST - COST: 💲20 Members/ $ 25 Non-Members
The Bletchley Park Codebreakers
Hosted by Smithsonian Associates
Fifty miles northwest from London, Bletchley Park was the nexus of top-secret work during World War II. Here, under a complete cloak of secrecy, agents worked furiously around the clock to decode the enemy’s secret messages, notably those encrypted with the German Enigma machine.
Spread across the grounds were dozens of huts, each populated by agents focused on a particular strategic problem. Some worked to build equipment designed to break codes while others focused on finding patterns to decode messages the enemy was sending.
Agents were recruited based on the needs of the operation: mathematicians, scientists, intellectuals, and linguists were among those who were hired, with women making up about three-fourths of the workers. Alan Turing, Joan Clarke, and Dilly Knox were among those recruits.
Thrown together for years, the agents of Bletchley Park tried to live a normal life with their colleagues while enduring the ever-present burden of secrecy that extended another 30 years after the war. Sir Dermot Turing, Alan Turing's nephew, a trustee of Bletchley Park, and author of the The Codebreakers of Bletchley Park, shares the story of this unusual group of people whose mission was to save the world from destruction.
General Information
THANKSGIVING NOVEMBER 28TH
PODCASTS - THE ANNENBERG LEARNER
Join us for conversations that inspire, recognize, and encourage innovation and best practices in the education profession.
AVAILABLE ON APPLE PODCASTS, SPOTIFY, GOOGLE PODCASTS, AND MORE. LISTEN NOW
ON-DEMAND WORKSHOPS
Social Studies in Action: A Methodology Workshop, K-5
A video workshop for K-5 teachers; 8 one-hour video programs, workshop guide, and website.
ETHICS IN AMERICA II, VIDEO SERIES, 6-12
A video series for middle school, high school, and adult learners; 6 one-hour video programs, downloadable discussion guide and Ethics reader, and website.
VIDEO LIBRARY K-12
The Social Studies in Action teaching practices library, professional development guide, and companion website bring to life the National Council for the Social Studies standards. Blending content and methodology, the video library documents 24 teachers and their students in K-12 classrooms across the country actively exploring the social studies.
THE COLOR OF LAW
Join Learning for Justice and Director Maureen Costello as we explore the role of U.S. segregation in everything from housing to employment to wealth accumulation—and the policies that made it all happen. Tune in to learn why the “bootstraps theory” doesn’t hold up and gain some useful tools for your classroom practice.
CLICK ON IMAGE TO LEARN MORE
Indigenous Peoples' History
Co-hosted by experts from the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, this webinar will delve into the ways American history instruction often fails to acknowledge—and contributes to—the erasure of Indigenous stories and perspectives.
CLICK ON IMAGE TO LEARN MORE
TEACHING HARD HISTORY K-5
Join Learning for Justice for a deep dive into our brand-new Teaching Hard History framework for grades K–5! Participants will learn how our elementary framework centers the stories of enslaved people to teach the history of American slavery in a way that is both age-appropriate and accessible.
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TEACHING AAPI HERITAGE
In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, join LFJ in unpacking the origins, meaning and contemporary impact of the term "Asian American Pacific Islander." We will also break down the model minority myth and provide educators with resources to effectively teach AAPI history.
CLICK ON IMAGE TO LEARN MORE
LATINX HISTORY IS BLACK HISTORY
This webinar will clarify the confusion between race and ethnicity, provide a historical primer on Afro-Latinx identities and review resources for teaching Elizabeth Acevedo’s poem “Afro-Latina.”
CLICK ON IMAGE TO LEARN MORE
TEACHING HARD HISTORY 6-12
Building Better Lessons About Slavery
Join Learning for Justice for a deep dive into our one-of-a-kind classroom resource A Framework for Teaching American Slavery.
With Teaching Hard History, we’re calling on American educators, curriculum writers and policy makers to confront the fact that slavery and racial injustice are not only a foundational part of the nation’s past, but a continuing influence on the present.
CLICK ON WEBINAR TITLES TO LEARN MORE
RECORDED WEBINARS
The Library of Congress offers educator webinars and workshops facilitated by education resource specialists. As sessions are added, we will post them here. Educators may also access materials and recordings from previously held webinars.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT VIDEOS
Professional development videos from the Library of Congress. Topics range from LOC Librarian demonstrations to Teaching with Primary Sources to Overviews of Special Collections.
Click the Link or Download the File Below:
Social Studies Educational Resource Bank
This curated list of K-12 Social Studies educator resources contains descriptions and clickable links to a wealth of tools and content for lesson planning, activities, specific content, and pedagogy. The bank is a living document, so check back frequently for updates. Is your go-to Social Studies resource missing form the bank? Please share your find with your colleagues by emailing the link to the resource to Ashley Curtin, curtina@calvertnet.k12.md.us.
ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER
Please refer to this MDCSS Newsletter to stay up-to-date on MDCSS news and positions. Additionally, the PD Bulletin section contains opportunities to continue your professional and personal learning throughout the school year. This newsletter will circulate quarterly via an emailed Smore link to support your development as a Maryland Social Studies Educator, Curriculum Partner, and Life-Long Learner.
- Emailed seasonally, EVERY QUARTER.
- Use the Table of Contents on the Left Margin and click on Section Titles to avoid scrolling and navigate quickly to other sections of the newsletter.
- All PD opportunities listed are FREE unless denoted by💲and the listed cost.
- Any PD opportunities that offer MSDE CREDIT will also be highlighted for easy reference.
- All PD opportunities can also be found on the embedded calendar located on our MDCSS website's homepage.
We are Proud to be an Affiliated Council of the National Council for the Social Studies!
The Maryland Council for Social Studies (MDCSS) is dedicated to the promotion and support of social studies education in Maryland and the United States. MDCSS works to build a community of social studies educators in the state of Maryland, and through this network advance cultural understanding, respect for human differences, and an appreciation of diversity. MDCSS provides high quality professional development and instructional resources for Maryland social studies teachers and works to recognize excellence in social studies instruction at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.