2010-06 Social Studies Newsletter

R O C H E S T E R

C I T Y

S C H O O L

D I S T R I C T

ROCHESTER REVIEW SOCIAL STUDIES NEWSLETTER University of Rochester Scholars Do you have an exciting idea for a new class?

Would you love the opportunity to try out that idea with motivated, bright, and excited students? Would you like to teach at the University of Rochester during your winter, spring, or summer break? Apply to become a Rochester Scholars instructor and put your creativity to use! Rochester Scholars is the University of Rochester's premier pre-college program for students in grades 6-12. An application form is attached and further information can be found at http://enrollment.rochester.edu/precollege or by e-mailing kgoodberlet@admin.rochester.edu.

Echoes & Reflections Curriculum

Echoes and Reflections is an exceptional ten chapter curricula focusing on the Holocaust. A one day seminar will be taking place on Wednesday, August 18th from 8am-2pm at Our Lady of Mercy High School which will provide teachers with training on the program. Please refer to the attached flyer for registration information.

Summer at the Genesee Country Museum A number of professional development opportunities are available this summer at the Genesee Country Museum.

Not only is attendance at these professional developments free to Rochester City School District teachers, but, attendees get to bring up to 30 students back to see the museum in the 2010-2011 school year at no cost! See the attached flyer for more information.

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 10 JUNE 2010

Rochester Area Council for the Social Studies The Rochester Area Council for the Social Studies is a professional association of teachers and supervisors at the elementary, secondary, college and university levels.

Membership is open to all persons who teach, supervise, develop curricula, engage in research or are otherwise concerned with social studies education.

Founded in the 1970's, the Rochester Council for the Social Studies has been for years, one of the largest and most active affiliates of the New York State Council for the Social Studies and the National Council for the Social Studies.

A membership form for the 2010-2011 school year is attached. Consider becoming a member!

Teaching Tolerance Honored One of our favorite resources for lessons and activities on tolerance and civil rights has been honored recently. The Association of Educational Publishers (AEP) has honored Teaching Tolerance magazine as the 2009 Periodical of the Year in its Distinguished Achievement Award adult category.

Created by the Southern Poverty Law Center, the magazine is “dedicated to reducing prejudice, improving intergroup relations and supporting equitable school experiences for our nation's children.” They also offer some wonderful FREE resources for teachers including the Mighty Times films about Rosa Parks and the Birmingham Children’s March. More at www.teachingtolerance.org, and for the free kits, www.tolerance.org/ teaching-kits.

From the Director…

Social Studies infusion into the Rochester Curriculum Framework begins this summer for grades 3-9. Teams of curriculum writers will work in collaboration with ELA and Social Studies department leaders to incorporate social studies themes, concepts, and skills into the Rochester Curriculum. Teams at grades 3, 4, and 5 will be writing social studies curriculum units to be piloted in schools during the 2010-2011 school year. Teams will focus on developing highly engaging, culturally relevant integrated units that will assure all children can meet the Social Studies standards. Social Studies infusion teams for grades 6-9 will collaborate with ELA curriculum writers to develop infusion of SS concepts, themes, and opportunities for integrated Humanities based instruction into the ELA curriculum at these grade levels. The 9th grade infusion work will have a United States history focus. A United States history focus informing ELA at grade 9 will serve to support the gradual shift that many Rochester schools are making as they offer Regents United States History as a 9th grade course. Additional teams will work to design SMART lessons to integrate and align engaging media from Brain Pop, You Tube, and Discovery, into the Rochester Curriculum Framework.

At all levels, integration of content area literacy strategies that are supportive of reading and writing skill development for Rochester’s students is a priority for our work together. Students ability to think critically, analyze multiple perspectives, weigh economic decisions, and participate actively in our democracy, relies on their ability to read and write effectively. We acknowledge that as the Rochester Curriculum work moves forward, all teachers need to be effective teachers of literacy. As social studies specialists, we must understand the particular types of discourse exist within the disciplines of history, political science, economics, and geography. To support Rochester teachers in the work, the Center for Professional Learning, together with the Science and Social Studies departments, welcome to Rochester Anne Goodvis. Anne Goodvis will kick off a workshop series in August that will support teachers in grades 5 through 9 in teaching literacy specific to science and social studies. Anne has worked extensively with schools across the nation to develop these critical literacy skills in students, including a residency at School #9. Content area literacy will be the professional development focus of the Social Studies Department in the 2010-2011 School year.

20102010- 2011 Anniversary Commemoration Opportunities As we pack up for the summer, it can’t hurt to give some thought to planning for the next school year. In particular, we will need to make decisions about which topics in our crowded curriculum to explore in depth.

With some milestone anniversaries of historical events coming up, there will be additional media attention and teaching resources available that could help engage students on these topics. Here are a few topics that might be worth special attention next year: 10-year Anniversaries Election of 2000, Bush v. Gore Slobodan Milosevic resigns, arrested Wikipedia launches on internet 50-year Anniversaries Sit-in Movement and SNCC (earlier this year) Election of 1960: Kennedy, Nixon, TV debates, King and the influence of black votes Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Farewell Address warns of “military-industrial complex” Peace Corps Freedom Rides, Boynton v. Virginia First men in space Eichmann Trial Publication of To Kill a Mockingbird Bay of Pigs invasion Independence of many African nations Congo and Lumumba assassination OPEC formed Khrushchev’s UN speech (where he bangs his shoe)

100-year Anniversaries Mexican Revolution Frederick Winslow Taylor, The Principles of Scientific Management Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, March 25, 1911 150-year Anniversaries Election of 1860, Secession Lincoln’s First Inaugural Ft. Sumter and first battles of the American Civil War Harriet Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is published.

Dorothea Dix becomes Superintendent of Nurses for Union Army Longfellow publishes “Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” Apache Wars led by Mangas Coloradas, Cochise in American Southwest Garibaldi and unification of Italy, Victor Emmanuel II becomes king Maori Revolt in New Zealand Mutsuhito (the future Emperor Meiji) becomes Crown Prince of Japan

Rochester’s Teaching American History Grants The RCSD currently has two federal Teaching American History grants: Teachers as Historians for secondary teachers and Elementary Historians for K-6 teachers. The TAH Lead Teachers are always available to help and support you and your students whenever needed. Please do not hesitate to contact one of us if you need anything.

Teachers as Historians Summer Institute 2010 The TAH Summer Institute will be taking place the week of July 19th!

This year’s institute will center around Native American History and culture, with a specific focus on their role in the Revolutionary War. We will hear from local historians, visit the Rochester Museum and Science Center, and end on a Saturday trip to Ganondagan for the annual Native American Dance and Music Festival which will feature two Navajo code talkers. Information and registration forms have already been sent to you via e-mail.

While the deadline to apply has passed, we still have a few open spots. Contact Steve LaMorte for information.

Elementary Leads

Mark Ferraro mark.feraro@rcsdk12.org 262-8107

Kitty Palumbo kitty.palumbo@rcsdk12.org 262-8269

Elementary Historians Thank you to all of those that participated in the Elementary Teaching American History Grant this year. It was great working with you. Attached are the dates and topics for next year. The focus for 2010-11 is early American history. Registration is now open. Reserve your spot today by submitting your signed registration form to Mark Ferraro, Lead Teacher, Central Office, or via email.

20102010-2011 Lecture Series While the Summer Institute will tide some of you over for a few months, we know that many of you can’t wait to participate in our 2010-2011 Teachers as Historians program. We will focus on two main topics next year: Social movements of early 19th century America (Fall 2010) and Industrialization (Spring 2011). Secondary teachers will have the opportunity to attend scholarly lectures, explore new sources and interpretations of history, and work with colleagues to create lessons and materials for classroom use. There will be another year-long lecture series as well as four new book circles to choose from. An informational brochure about the lecture series is attached; book circle information will be available soon.

Secondary Leads

Stefan Cohen stefan.cohen@rcsdk12.org 262-8162

Steve LaMorte stephen.lamorte@rcsdk12.org 262-8169

Joe Cicero School: Franklin Bioscience & Health Careers Years in the RCSD: RCSD 2

Why is Social Studies the best? Social Studies is the best because it is real. There are not hypothetical scenarios or numbers that mean nothing. History effects you and I and to quote the famous philosopher Cicero “To be ignorant of one’s history is to remain a child.” It is with this understanding that Social Studies educators are able to link content to student interests. Is there a Math Channel or English Channel? No, but there is a History Channel.

Favorite Social Studies topics: All Social Studies topics are interesting if one knows the details.

Civil Rights Movement, Imperialism, and the history of the American landscape (ex: lawn care) are intriguing.

About Joe: Joe is currently teaching US History, Global History, and AP World. He is a member of the School Based Planning Team. He presented a Professional Development to his colleagues on acquiring donations for the classroom. He is a fellow of the Bill of Rights Institute in Washington D.C. where he will be for part of the summer. He was awarded the CIT New Teacher Award last year.

He will be teaching seventh grade Social Studies at the newly created Integrated Arts and Technology School starting Fall 2010. Joe enjoys teaching, learning, and working in his yard.

Joe was nominated by Trevor Purdy

Nominate Someone to be the Next Featured Teacher!

Every month, a district teacher is recognized in the Social Studies newsletter. This “featured teacher” is selected by nomination. If you know or work with someone who you think should be our featured teacher because of their love of Social Studies, amazing instructional skills, great classroom activities, or exceptional good looks, please nominate him or her. E-mail Steve LaMorte today to submit your Featured Teacher nomination and make your friends and coworkers famous!

facebook.com/rcsdsocialstudies

twitter.com/rcsd_ss