December 19, 2013
Happy Holidays Social Studies Colleagues:
Yesterday at the Social Studies forum, Greg Alhquist spoke with the group regarding the process and priority of the revised Social Studies Framework. He is a member of the revision team regarding the framework and NYSED Social Studies Consultant (also an AP history teacher at Webster Central Schools). Greg shared some great insight regarding its development and thoughts on unpacking the document. He believes it is imperative that we share feedback with the NYSED and give our support for Social Studies K-12.
The Social Studies framework continues to support our NYS SS Learning Standards and brings it up to date with the National Council for Social Studies 3Cs – College, Career, Civic framework along with the Common Core Learning Standards.
In reviewing the document, he recommended the following pathway:
SS revised Framework: Inquiry Arc
The Inquiry Arc asks probing and other questions; applies the CCLS = reading/writing/S&L standards and SS Practices within themes and content
(See page in introduction of SS framework document regarding Inquiry Arc)
o the inquiry arc serves as a shift in teaching social studies
o re-imagine what instruction will look like
o 3Cs framework - good Social Studies practice
KEY IDEAS - sits at the top of the page (limited number per grade level) KEY IDEAS drive the course; conceptual understandings have been reframed with MORE DETAILS; content specifications are ARROWED statements written as Students will… (FOSTER and ENCOURAGE INQUIRE)
CRITICAL EYE when Reviewing Document:
In survey, share thoughts if SS framework strikes a balance of specificity and inquiry à call it out where it does it or where it does not
Give any resource suggestions when asked or pieces of evidence that you think would be helpful; these suggestions may make it into the Social Studies tool kit
Greg asked for our social studies colleagues to be agents of change for Social Studies in your district; please advocate for Social Studies as this framework has the potential to put Social Studies back on the map as a leader in academics.
Pieces from survey will be pulled in 2 rounds January 3 and then January 20 after the public comment closes; survey link
Other important notes from Greg Alhquist presentation- NYSED Social Studies Consultant and teacher at Webster Central Schools
The following notes were taken at the Social Studies forum and ideas presented are thoughts shared by Greg Alhquist, guest speaker:
Assessments - everything hinges on if the BOR accepts the framework in March 2014 and then the clock will be begin for new assessment writing;
Estimated timeframe = Regents creation takes 3 years...so June 2017)
Could it be FAST TRACKED -- it could and maybe June 2016
What will they look like? “We don’t know” first need “yes” from BOR
What about requirements of Global 9 and 10?
- Making Global 9 required and Global 10 Regents → All is dependent on BOR March meeting
- Indication for new assessments will be designed and developed in-house; it will continue to involve teachers in the field for NYS
-- 1750-Present: Grade 10 as a stand-alone Regents
If you would like to be a part of assessment writing, please see link on Test Development Process
Assessing Historical Understanding by Van Sledright -- re-imaging assessments in our new approach of teaching Social Studies
-- VanSledright writes about the C3 Framework (National Standards for Social Studies) and considers a new approach to assessments
- College, Career, and Civics
- it is NOT based on CONTENT; it is based on skill
- BUILT on Inquiry
Beyond the Bubble created by Stanford is a great tool for social studies teachers
Shift In thinking: According to Greg, it is a “critical moment in SS -- marginalization of SS” has taken place in the last five years; “We need to take this moment and praise the NYSED for SS Framework”
WHY--? If the BOR approves it, then attention to Social Studies for PD and funding of our content.
If BOR rejects it, less of a chance and potentially further marginalization;
YET -- we need to be critical readers of document and support discipline to insert SS back into the conversation with education for elementary and secondary levels
As representatives of your district -- SS people need to mobilize and discourse
for discipline; Social Studies re-imagined in light of Common Core
Growth Mindset:
CHANGE in Approach to Conversation from SS Framework, new assessments, to MINDSET
Carol Dweck - Growth mindset vs. Fixed mindset
--what does this have to do with students?
--what about applying Dweck’s Growth Mindset to teachers-- what is the reality of it
based on which students, your life, your work…
Spectrum of Growth or Fixed Mindset
So what does this mean for us walking into the process with the Growth Mindset -- how do we encourage ourselves and our co-workers with change to Social Studies
Yesterday at the Social Studies forum, Greg Alhquist spoke with the group regarding the process and priority of the revised Social Studies Framework. He is a member of the revision team regarding the framework and NYSED Social Studies Consultant (also an AP history teacher at Webster Central Schools). Greg shared some great insight regarding its development and thoughts on unpacking the document. He believes it is imperative that we share feedback with the NYSED and give our support for Social Studies K-12.
The Social Studies framework continues to support our NYS SS Learning Standards and brings it up to date with the National Council for Social Studies 3Cs – College, Career, Civic framework along with the Common Core Learning Standards.
In reviewing the document, he recommended the following pathway:
SS revised Framework: Inquiry Arc
The Inquiry Arc asks probing and other questions; applies the CCLS = reading/writing/S&L standards and SS Practices within themes and content
(See page in introduction of SS framework document regarding Inquiry Arc)
o the inquiry arc serves as a shift in teaching social studies
o re-imagine what instruction will look like
o 3Cs framework - good Social Studies practice
KEY IDEAS - sits at the top of the page (limited number per grade level) KEY IDEAS drive the course; conceptual understandings have been reframed with MORE DETAILS; content specifications are ARROWED statements written as Students will… (FOSTER and ENCOURAGE INQUIRE)
CRITICAL EYE when Reviewing Document:
In survey, share thoughts if SS framework strikes a balance of specificity and inquiry à call it out where it does it or where it does not
Give any resource suggestions when asked or pieces of evidence that you think would be helpful; these suggestions may make it into the Social Studies tool kit
Greg asked for our social studies colleagues to be agents of change for Social Studies in your district; please advocate for Social Studies as this framework has the potential to put Social Studies back on the map as a leader in academics.
Pieces from survey will be pulled in 2 rounds January 3 and then January 20 after the public comment closes; survey link
Other important notes from Greg Alhquist presentation- NYSED Social Studies Consultant and teacher at Webster Central Schools
The following notes were taken at the Social Studies forum and ideas presented are thoughts shared by Greg Alhquist, guest speaker:
Assessments - everything hinges on if the BOR accepts the framework in March 2014 and then the clock will be begin for new assessment writing;
Estimated timeframe = Regents creation takes 3 years...so June 2017)
Could it be FAST TRACKED -- it could and maybe June 2016
What will they look like? “We don’t know” first need “yes” from BOR
What about requirements of Global 9 and 10?
- Making Global 9 required and Global 10 Regents → All is dependent on BOR March meeting
- Indication for new assessments will be designed and developed in-house; it will continue to involve teachers in the field for NYS
-- 1750-Present: Grade 10 as a stand-alone Regents
If you would like to be a part of assessment writing, please see link on Test Development Process
Assessing Historical Understanding by Van Sledright -- re-imaging assessments in our new approach of teaching Social Studies
-- VanSledright writes about the C3 Framework (National Standards for Social Studies) and considers a new approach to assessments
- College, Career, and Civics
- it is NOT based on CONTENT; it is based on skill
- BUILT on Inquiry
Beyond the Bubble created by Stanford is a great tool for social studies teachers
Shift In thinking: According to Greg, it is a “critical moment in SS -- marginalization of SS” has taken place in the last five years; “We need to take this moment and praise the NYSED for SS Framework”
WHY--? If the BOR approves it, then attention to Social Studies for PD and funding of our content.
If BOR rejects it, less of a chance and potentially further marginalization;
YET -- we need to be critical readers of document and support discipline to insert SS back into the conversation with education for elementary and secondary levels
As representatives of your district -- SS people need to mobilize and discourse
for discipline; Social Studies re-imagined in light of Common Core
Growth Mindset:
CHANGE in Approach to Conversation from SS Framework, new assessments, to MINDSET
Carol Dweck - Growth mindset vs. Fixed mindset
--what does this have to do with students?
--what about applying Dweck’s Growth Mindset to teachers-- what is the reality of it
based on which students, your life, your work…
Spectrum of Growth or Fixed Mindset
So what does this mean for us walking into the process with the Growth Mindset -- how do we encourage ourselves and our co-workers with change to Social Studies