The Social Studies Connection
More than a Newsletter for Secondary Social Studies Teachers
K-12 Social Studies Specialist
Office of Teaching & Learning
Southland Center - 3700 South High Street, Columbus, OH
High School Social Studies Department Chairs meet monthly for professional development and to collaboratively help shape CCS Social Studies. This year's meetings will be held on the second Wednesdays of the month, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. at Southland Center, 3700 S. High St.
September 11, 2024
October 9, 2024
November 13, 2024
December 11, 2024
January 8, 2025
February 12, 2025
March 12, 2025
April 9, 2025
May 14, 2025
Department Chair appointments are made by the building principal, in accordance with Article 905 of the Master Agreement.
New Department Chairs for 2024-2025 should email Matt Doran to make sure they are on the distribution list for this year.
CCS Social Studies is partnering with Gates Ventures/OER Project to launch a Professional Learning Community cohort and curriculum pilot program. We are recruiting 30 CCS teachers of World History (Grades 7, 9, and Global Issues).
World History Project PLC teachers will participate in five professional development sessions focused on historical thinking skills for world history. Four of these sessions will held during District PD Days. The other session will be an evening webinar (November or December).
In the weeks between sessions, PLC teachers will pilot OER World History Project tools, resources, and lessons in the classroom to supplement the District-adopted programs. Sessions will include follow-up discussion and feedback on this implementation.
Read more about this project and apply here.
Applications are due by Thursday, September 12 at 11:59 p.m.
Curriculum for the 2024-2025 school year is available through two locations. On the CCS Social Studies Curriculum page, the curriculum guides are provided in PDF format to allow for quick and convenient access on any device and easy printing options. Additionally, teachers can access the Google Docs preview versions of the curriculum guides on the "District-Approved Curriculum" course on Canvas.
The TCI Implementation Resource Center is your one-stop shop for learning the best practices of TCI and how these practices align with CCS Curriculum.
The Implementation Resource Center provides information about:
- On-Demand PD
- TCI Digital Platform Introduction
- Theory and Research-Based Active Instruction
- TCI Lesson Elements and Cycle
- Activities/Engagement Strategies
- TCI Programs for CCS Middle School Courses
- TCI Programs for CCS High School Courses
- Digging Deeper with TCI Ten PD Videos.
This page is also accessible from the CCS Social Studies Homepage.
Achieve3000 is the literacy intervention program for high schools. High School teachers and students now have access to Achieve3000 via CCS Classlink Launchpad.
LevelSet is the first step Achieve3000 implementation. LevelSet is a Lexile assessment that establishes a baseline Lexile level for the comprehension of nonfiction text. It also drives the differentiation within the Achieve3000 platform. Any ELA, Social Studies, and Science teacher in grades nine through eleven may facilitate the LevelSet. However, we suggest that Social Studies teachers prepare students for the assessment by sharing the following handout and video, and implement the LevelSet in Social Studies class. This handout and video (English and Spanish) will help to prepare students prior to testing. (Note about video: The video explains that students will have login information to enter the platform, however CCS students will access Achieve3000 via ClassLink, so no login information is needed.) Also, this teacher handout guides teachers through the before, during, and after steps of the LevelSet assessment.
LevelSet is now open. The LevelSet competition will conclude on September 17. The LevelSet window, however, will remain open. This will take 1-2 class periods.
Once LevelSet is complete, you will be able to assign content-specific lessons/articles aligned with your curriculum. The goal will be for each content-area teacher to assign 1 article per week, in order to help students reach maximum gains. Alignment guides for Modern World History 9, American History 10, and American Government are available on the Social Studies Curriculum page.
For additional support, see the Achieve3000 webpage here.
National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) is excited to announce registration for the 104th NCSS Annual Conference in Boston, MA is now open!
Reconnect With Your Social Studies Colleagues in Historic Boston—November 22-24, 2024. Meet with thousands of social studies educators, administrators, and professionals from across the country to inspire your usage of best practices and rejuvenate with others in the social studies profession. You will leave the conference with strong strategies for delivering instruction that engages students, the best ways to advocate for the most pressing issues of social studies education, and a network of colleagues to support you throughout the year.
There is $200,000 available to CEA bargaining unit members each year to pursue professional development opportunities outside the school district. Forms to apply for professional leave are available in the “Forms” section of the CEA website or the CCS Intranet, along with the full leave guidelines. September 27, 2024 is the deadline to submit the form for review at the October 3 Review Committee meeting.
Equity Summit 2024
In Pursuit of Equity – Access for All Learners
Saturday, September 28
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST
Discover new and effective teaching strategies that promote equity and inclusion in history education. Learn how to engage students with diverse backgrounds and learning needs.