State History

NYSCSS Annual Convention Call for Proposals!

We are currently seeking one-hour workshop proposals in the following areas:

1. Providing Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education

How do we create classrooms, schools, and communities that embrace students’ identities? Culturally responsive-sustaining education uses educational strategies that leverage the various aspects of students’ identities, including the rich cultural, racial, historical, linguistic characteristics of students to provide mirrors that reflect the greatness of who their people are and windows into the world that allow students to connect across cultures. Session topics could include: CR-SE Framework, LGBTQ+ history, civil rights, religion, ENL/ELL, SPED, etc.

2. Encouraging Inquiry

How do we guide students to see history through connections that demonstrate continuity and change over time? Inquiry requires students knowing enough about a topic to begin to ask questions and curiosity about topics in social studies. Session topics could include: IDM, crafting compelling questions, argumentative writing, Regents Exams, taking informed action, critical thinking, action research, increasing student voice and choice, etc.

3. Strengthening Virtual Learning

How do we empower students through technology to think creatively and share ideas in virtual environments? Teachers must provide students with tools to amplify their work, stay connected, and exchange knowledge, resources, and opportunities via virtual platforms. Session topics could include: flipped classroom, social media strategies, digital portfolios, increasing student engagement with technology, games, tools, online/blended learning best practices, etc.

4. Practicing Social Emotional Learning

How do we encourage self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills that are vital for school, work, and life success in our students? People with strong social-emotional skills are better able to cope with everyday challenges and benefit academically, professionally, and socially. From effective problem-solving to self-discipline, from impulse control to emotion management and more, SEL provides a foundation for positive, long-term effects on kids, adults, and communities. Session topics could include: SEL, problem-solving, self-regulation, impulse control, building empathy, reducing bias, creating positive classroom environments, etc.

Click Here to Submit a Proposal 

Please be sure to submit by 11:59 PM on October 2, 2020. Notifications will go out on November 1, 2020 and acceptance must be conformed no later than November 23, 2020 by 11:59 PM. Contact Bryan Whitley-Grassi, 2021 Convention Chair, at bryan.whitley-grassi@nyscss.org with questions. 

Congrats to Ed Finney, Finalist for the 2020 National History Teacher of the Year Award!

The National History Teacher of the Year winners from all fifty states, Department of Defense schools, Washington DC, and US territories have been narrowed down to these finalists for the national award and Ed Finney, Schodack Central School District teacher, chairman of the NYSCSS Technology Committee, 2020 NYS Outstanding Social Studies Middle School Teacher Award winner and  the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History 2020 New York History Teacher of the Year made the cut!

Matthew Barnett, Lewis Cass Jr-Sr High School, Indiana

Stacie Christensen, Horizon Elementary School, Idaho

Sergio de Alba, R. M. Milano Elementary School, California

Ed Finney, Maple Hill High School, New York

Mary Anne Henderson, The Northwest School, Washington

Marcee Hinds, Baker High School, Alabama

Michael Martirone, Egg Harbor Township High School, New Jersey

Rhett Oldham, Ste. Genevieve High School and Middle School, Missouri

Katherine Reddy, Westwood High School, Arizona

Jeff Ryan, Prescott High School, Wisconsin

Christian Saalea, Tafuna High School, American Samoa

Mark J. Westphal, Capitol Hill Gifted and Talented Magnet School, Minnesota

Congratulations to the finalists! The winner of the National History Teacher of the Year Award will be announced in September.

Visit this page to see the full list of 2020 state winners.

The Summer-Fall 2020 Issue of Teaching Social Studies Journal is Out

Teaching Social Studies is a biannual journal distributed digitally to members of NYSCSS and NJCSS. It provides opportunities for the presentation of divergent opinions by social studies educators and includes research and commentary, lessons and resources, book reviews, and conference announcements.  

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE JOURNAL

Opportunities in Social Studies

Each month we compile a list of workshops, webinars, conferences, and conventions related to social studies. If you have an opportunity you would like to share in an upcoming newsletter, please submit it by filling out this form. 

Gilder Lehrman Institute/New York State Council for the Social Studies Webinar: Bringing in Diverse Perspectives when Taking a Look at History (K-12)

Tuesday, October 6th, 2020

7 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Click here to register

Join the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and the New York State Council for the Social Studies for a special program on Bringing in Diverse Perspectives when Taking a Look at History. This session will particularly align with the civic literacy DBQ component of the US History Regents exam, though the strategies discussed will connect with social studies and English Language Arts curricula at all grade levels.

Participants will receive 1.5 hours of CTLE credit (certificates and letters of completion to come after the session from the Gilder Lehrman Institute) along with a digital packet of Teaching Literacy through History™ lesson plans, along with an electronic copy of Teaching With Documents: The Twentieth Century (geared toward grades 6-12) and/or Teaching With Documents: Colonial America to Reconstruction (geared toward grades 4-8).

This program, and the Gilder Lehrman Institute’s support of schools in Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island is made possible thanks to a generous grant from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation. Long Island teachers can sign up for our free Affiliate School Program at https://www.gilderlehrman.org/longisland and receive an exclusive tote bag featuring a 17th Century map of Long Island held in the Gilder Lehrman Collection, along with all of the benefits of being an Affiliate School teacher. 

Click here for more information about the webinar and the presenters. 

Tech Tools to Kick Off the School Year Webinar

September 30, 2020

4:00-5:00pm

Presented by Ed Finney, this webinar will introduce participants to tech tools that you can use to make teaching compelling, collaborative, and efficient. 

Click here to register.

Mikva Challenge Virtual Election Learning Journeys Student Events

Wednesday, September 9 at 7:00 pm et

Tuesday, September 15 at 5:00 pm et

Mikva Challenge is an organization that develops youth to be empowered, informed, and active citizens who will promote a just and equitable society. Through Mikva’s youth-centered approach, participants are capable of identifying multidisciplinary solutions to strengthen their democracy, are able to translate theory into practice, and have proven that they are resilient and can learn from failures. Currently, 100,000 students from over 18 states now implement Mikva Challenge Action Civics programs. They have developed a series of elections and campaign experiences for students. 

Participants in this Professional Development session will learn strategies to engage students in elections by having them explore their own ideologies, learn about the candidates, explore media messages, develop their ability to be critical consumers of information and find creative ways to get involved in the election process. Free lessons provided.

Click here to register. The PD session and accompanying virtual learning journeys are free using the discount code VOTE2020.

Ticonderoga Tuesdays Webinar Series

As part of a National Endowment for the Humanities CARES grant, Fort Ticonderoga and NYSCSS are partnering to present three free webinars in the coming months. 

Click here to learn more about each webinar and register

Ticonderoga at the Center of a Global War: July 8, 1758

Tuesday, October 6, 2020

6:30-8:00 pm ET

"America's First Victory": The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga May 10, 1775

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

6:30-8:00 pm ET

Benedict Arnold Reconsidered

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

6:30-8 pm ET