R9 Social Studies Support

Hello and welcome! If you’re new to this newsletter, I’m excited to have you here. I’m Chelsea Howells, the Social Studies Content Specialist for ESC Region 9, and my role is to support you in any way I can. Whether you’re looking for fresh resources, instructional guidance, or professional development opportunities, this newsletter is here to help.

I am currently finalizing our summer professional development offerings, which will be shared in March. These sessions will cover a range of topics designed to support social studies instruction and professional growth. More details, including registration information, will be provided soon.

Your work in the classroom is shaping students’ understanding of the world around them in meaningful ways. As we navigate the challenges and opportunities of the coming months, I hope the resources and ideas shared here will help you feel supported in that mission.

Sincerely,

Chelsea

Other timely resources to note:

🏫2024-2025 Student Opportunities Special Edition (rev. 2/2025)

📚🔎 2024-2025 Revised Social Studies TEKS Special Edition

What is the Texas Citizen Bee?

The Texas Citizen Bee is a statewide civic education program and competition. Students use an online guide to prepare for a two-part competition.

Is the competition open to all types of schools?
Yes, all public, private, home school, and parochial schools are welcome to take part. Students can only take part in one qualifying competition per year.

What grade levels are eligible to participate?
Grades 9-12

Where can I find out details about the regional competition?
Complete details on the competition can be found in the Rules of the Competition on the Citizen Bee website. (click on the 2025 downloadable rules pdf button)

What are the prizes at the Regional Competition?
1st Place — $250 gift card — Qualifies for the State Citizen Bee Competition in Austin. We have added an extra day to the state competition. Students, parents, and teachers will participate in a “Capitol Experience” where they will enjoy speakers and tours of the Capitol complex on the Friday before the state competition.

2nd Place — $100 gift card

3rd Place — $50 gift card

Click here for more information about the contest and to register your school's intent to participate in this year's contest or email Chelsea Howells, chelsea.howells@esc9.net!

What is the Junior Citizen Bee?

The Texas Junior Citizen Bee is a middle school version of the High School CB. It is open to grades 6-8.

Where can I find out details about the regional competition?

Complete details on the competition can be found in the Rules of the Competition.

What are the prizes at the Regional Competition?
1st Place — $100 gift card — Qualifies for the Virtual State Junior Citizen Bee Competition

2nd Place — $50 gift card

3rd Place — $25 gift card

Click here for more information about the contest. To register sponsors and students, complete this form or email Chelsea Howells, chelsea.howells@esc9.net!

The Texas Education Agency is seeking Texas educators and subject-matter experts to apply as instructional materials reviewers for the new Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) review processes. For those who would like to get involved but do not have content expertise, TEA is also looking for suitability reviewers.

As part of these selective groups, IMRA reviewers make a significant impact on Texas public education while working with a collaborative group of dedicated educators from across the state. IMRA reviewers earn a competitive stipend and, for educators, continuing professional education (CPE) credits for their contributions to this statewide initiative.

Please review the IMRA reviewer job description and complete the initial application today. Applications will be reviewed and advanced on a rolling basis until February 24, 2025. Office hours for the IMRA 2025 will be held on Mondays from 5:00-5:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 7:00 - 7:30 p.m. through February 20 and will provide an overview of the work and answer questions you may have. (Note: The session for February 17 will be held on February 18 due to the Presidents’ Day holiday.)

For questions or concerns regarding the IMRA application or application process, please submit an IMRA Reviewer Help Desk Ticket. Please visit our website for updates.

Topic: K-5 Cross-Curricular Connections for Social Studies and English Language Arts and Reading

Target Audience: Social Studies Stakeholders- Teachers, District Administrators, Campus Administrators, Education Service Center Specialists, Parents, Professional Organizations

Session Description: The TEA social studies and English language arts team will share research regarding the importance of knowledge building and the impact it has on literacy. The team will then provide an overview of a cross-curricular connections tool developed by TEA staff for grades K-5. The team will explain the different parts of this tool and share how this tool supports cross-curricular instructional planning. Stakeholders will have an opportunity to participate in questions and discussion with members of the TEA social studies and English language arts team.

Date and Times:

Wednesday, March 5, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. March 5 Registration Link

Thursday. March 6, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. March 6 Registration Link

Proposed timeline for social studies revisions from the 2024 Fall SBOE meeting. Keep in mind this is not set in stone and could change.

The ad hoc committee is tasked with the following:

• Strength and Weaknesses analysis of the current standards
• Review research on effective practices
• Framework Recommendations
• Implementation Considerations
• Presentation of Findings

A progress update is currently slated for January 2025 and the final report is currently expected in June 2025. You can see the timeline for the Civics Training Program below.

1. Questions are written based on content alignment, not to directly assess social studies skills. New skills TEKS will not be assigned labels for this reason.

2. In eighth grade, standards 5(B) and 7(C) are content TEKS and will be included in the assessed curriculum. Their labels have been assigned. >>>

3. U.S. History did not require any changes to be made to the assessed curriculum.

4. New TEKS will not be assessed until the 2026-2027 school year.

The social studies assessed curriculum documents were updated to incorporate the revisions made by the State Board of Education in 2022. These documents are now available on the Social Studies STAAR Resources page of the TEA website. These documents are now in effect to align with the implementation into the classroom for the 2024-2025 school year. The revisions are as follows:

• Inclusion of 8.5B

• Inclusion of 8.7C

• Adjusted number/letters of SEs under knowledge and skills statements 5 and 7 for grade 8

• Adjusted language in 8.17A and 8.24A

• Adjusted language in USH 8F and 9F

• Removed social studies skills strand (As previously announced, assessment questions will not be written to this strand.)

Questions written to the new content are scheduled to be field-tested in Spring 2026 and be operational in Spring 2027.

If you have any questions regarding the announcement from assessment, please submit them to the Assessment Help Desk.

Each year, during February, we celebrate the history and cultural contributions of Black Americans in the United States. Students learn about the achievements, perspectives, struggles, and experiences of Black Americans throughout more than 400 years of American history. The TEA web page for Black History Month provides a variety of resources that can be used to honor Black History Month.

PBS Learning Media Resources

EconEdLink from the Council for Economic Education

Check out these free resources and webinars for teaching economics and personal financial literacy this spring semester! EconEdLink has resources for all grade levels. And yes, we all have an economic strand in our social studies course!

https://econedlink.org/

*rev 2/2025- Save Texas History Contest (April deadline), America 250 Contest (April deadline)

*rev. 1/2025 - Constituting America We the Future Contest, Every Child Has A Name Legacy Project, Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Programs

*Upcoming Deadlines:

Citizen Bee & Jr. Citizen Bee Student Registration Deadline 2/26/25 (6th-12th grade)

In 2025, Humanities Texas will hold in-person and online programs for classroom teachers covering topics in U.S. history, government, Texas history, and English language arts.

AI in the Humanities Classroom (Spring 2025 Webinar)

On February 20, 2025, Humanities Texas will hold a webinar on using AI technologies in the humanities classroom and considering the role of AI in teaching research and writing at the secondary level.

Sphere opened applications up last month and in just a matter of hours the applications came rolling in. The Sphere team has already begun reviewing and accepting applicants. We'll be accepting applications until all spots are filled, so check your calendars, polish up that resume, and apply today. Share this information with your colleagues and encourage them to apply as well.

Sphere Summit is a full scholarship professional development program for grades 5–12 educators and administrators. Summits are a fully in-person experience in Washington, DC, and will run June 29– July 3 and July 14–18. Benefits include room and board, 20+ hours of professional development, classroom resources, and a $500 travel stipend upon completion of the program.

New this year, each Summit has a unique theme. The Summit I theme is “Freedom, Rights, and America’s 250th” while Summit II centers on “Cultivating Curiosity, Openness, and Civil Discourse in Every Classroom.”

Each Summit will offer distinct programming to meet the needs of both middle and high school educators and administrators, as well as educators teaching either on grade level or advanced courses like AP or IB.

Note to Summit alumni: Please note that while alumni of a previous Sphere Summit may reapply, only those bringing colleagues who have not previously admitted will be considered eligible. Alumni not bringing colleagues are strongly encouraged to consider the Sphere Fellowship program, once the application window opens. Application link

We the People: Civics that Empowers All Students is a federally funded project of the Center for Civic Education that supports effective educator development through our flagship curricular program: We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution.

Research demonstrates that effective instruction in the We the People curriculum increases students’ problem-solving, critical-thinking, decision-making, and communication skills. All are essential to academic success across disciplines and 21st-century work and civic life.

Students gain a greater sense of belonging, understanding of their community and government, and English Language Arts skills as they engage in collaboration, dialogue, reading, writing, presentation, and reflection.

What are the Educator Benefits?

• Paid in-person summer institute
• Classroom set of textbooks
• Yearlong professional learning
• Ready-to-use lessons and resources
• A stipend for completing research requirements
• Engaging pedagogy and academic content
• Gain a supportive network
• Access to inspiring scholar guest speakers

What are the Student Benefits?

• Gain an in-depth, interactive study of the foundations and fundamental principles of the U.S. Constitution
• Develop effective problem-solving, critical-thinking, decision-making, and communication skills, which are essential for 21st-century work and civic life
• Become engaged and informed citizens who are prepared to take an active role in democracy

Who is Eligible for the Project?

Passionate educators who teach social studies in grades 4-8 and are making a difference in the lives of high-need students, we are looking for you! This opportunity is for teachers new to the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution curricular program and professional learning. Open to teachers in all states.

Contact Your State Coordinator or Submit Your Professional Interest Form

This opportunity is also available to pre-service teachers who will be doing student teaching in 2025-2026.

2024-2025

Volume 4, Issue 1 ✏️ 24-25 Student Opportunities Special Edition 🏫

2023-2024

Volume 3, Issue 2 ✒️ Volume 3, Issue 1 📰 Celebrate Freedom Week Special Edition 🎆

2022-2023

Volume 2, Issue 5 📰 Review Resources Special Edition ✏️Volume 2, Issue 4 🖍️Volume 2, Issue 3✒️Volume 2, Issue 2 📓 Volume 2, Issue 1 📋TEKS Revision Special Edition

2021-2022

Secondary Edition

Apr/May 2022 ✏️ Feb/Mar 2022 🖊️ January 2022 🖍️December 2021✒️ November 2021📓 October 2021 📋 Aug/Sept 2021

Elementary Edition

Apr/May 2022 ✏️ Feb/Mar 2022 🖊️ January 2022 🖍️ December 2021✒️ November 2021📓 October 2021 📋 Aug/Sept 2021

Social Studies Specialist

Region 9 ESC

#GCT #iCivicsEducator #MIE #GridGuide #EdPuzzleCoach

Email: chelsea.howells@esc9.net
Website: https://www.esc9.net/564748_3
Location: 301 Texas 11 Loop, Wichita Falls, TX, USA
Phone: 940-397-8106
Twitter: @ChelseaHowells9