Professional Learning Resources for Social Studies

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Social Studies Research

General

Learning Social Studies: An Evidence Based Approach - Provides an overview of best practices in the teaching and learning of social studies.

Learning in the Humanities

Speaking Up for Science and Social Studies - Dr. Nell Dukes describes why science and social studies is so important for literacy instructions.

Elementary

Elementary Social Studies: Strategies for Strengthening Teaching and Learning - A white paper describing the problems facing elementary social studies education and works to address these problems.

Content-Specific

How Students Learn: History in the Classroom

Six Proven Practices for Effective Civic Learning

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Equity in Social Studies

Culturally Relevant Pedagogy in the Early Elementary Classroom

Teaching materials from the Minnesota Historical Society give examples of equity-focused curriculum and classroom instruction.

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AEA Social Studies Contacts

AEANameEmailSocial Studies Webpage
Central RiversKeith Halversonkhalverson@centralriversaea.orghttps://www.centralriversaea.org/educators/curriculum-instruction-assessment/social-studies/
Grant WoodAndrea Comptonacompton@gwaea.orghttps://www.gwaea.org/educators/content-area-resources/social-studies
Great PrairieSeth Denneyseth.denney@gpaea.orgNone
Green HillsAndrea Dankeradanker@ghaea.orghttps://sites.google.com/ghaea.org/socialstudies/home
HeartlandAlex Gladeaglade@heartlandaea.orgNone
KeystonePatricia Lehmannplehmann@aea1.k12.ia.ushttps://www.keystoneaea.org/classroom-support/social-studies
Mississippi BendAaron Maueramaurer@aea9.k12.ia.usNone
NorthwestJudy Sweetmanjsweetman@nwaea.orghttps://www.nwaea.org/educators/curriculum-instruction/social-studies/
Prairie LakesRachel Brownrbrown@plaea.orgNone
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Blogs/Social Media

Twitter

  • #sschat
  • #iasocialstudies

Blogs

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Professional Organizations

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Self-Paced Professional Learning

Area Education Agencies of Iowa (AEA) Learning System Training

Year 1 Social Studies Professional Development

Elementary Year 1: Introduction to the Standards Course

The objectives for this course:

  • Identify and apply the structure of the new standards in my classroom.
  • Understand and apply the instructional shifts of the new standards in my classroom.
  • Apply the inquiry process of social studies (for both teachers and students).
  • Create and use compelling and supporting questions as part of the inquiry process with my students.

Secondary Year 1: Introduction to the Standards Course

The objectives for this course:

  • Identify and apply the structure of the new standards in my classroom.
  • Understand and apply the instructional shifts of the new standards in my classroom.
  • Apply the inquiry process of social studies (for both teachers and students).
  • Create and use compelling and supporting questions as part of the inquiry process with my students.

Year 2 Social Studies Professional Development

Elementary Year 2: Putting the Standards Together Course

Objectives for this course include:

  • Review year one professional development.
  • Identify the basics of creating coherent unit plans.
  • Begin to process how to use new standards within unit design.
  • Create a coherent unit based on a bundle of standards with aligned questions, sources, and tasks.

Secondary Year 2: Putting the Standards Together Course

Objectives for this course include:

  • Review year one professional development.
  • Identify the basics of creating coherent unit plans.
  • Begin to process how to use new standards within unit design.
  • Create a coherent unit based on a bundle of standards with aligned questions, sources, and tasks.

Year 3 Social Studies Professional Development

Elementary Year 3: Getting Ready for Full Implementation

Objectives for this course include:

  • Examine best practices in social studies assessment.
  • Analyze the connection between formative and summative assessment in an inquiry-based classroom.
  • Critique and revise examples of assessments to match Social Studies Standards and student needs.
  • Create your own standards-based classroom assessments.

Videos and Webinars

Library of Congress Professional Development Videos

Minnesota Historical Society Video Series - A video series from the Minnesota Historical Society includes several videos on teaching with primary sources, literacy in social studies, concept-based social studies instruction, and more.

Thinkport Education Research Learning Modules - Online modules outlining how to teach with primary and secondary sources and the historical research process.

Teaching Channel Videos - Select "Social Studies" from the subject dropdown menu to view more than 140 videos specifically for the social studies classroom.

Five College Center for East Asian Studies Archived Webinars - More than sixty archived webinars about teaching East Asian studies.

United States Institute of Peace Webinars - Webinars for educators introduce key issues in international conflict management and peace building and explore classroom resources and strategies for teaching these issues in the classroom.

Building Literacy in Social Studies Webinar Recordings

Social Studies Webinar Learning Series - Designed to help support implementation of Iowa’s social studies standards, the following webinars were created to address questions the field has expressed about the standards or best practices that should be used in order to best implement the standards.

Online Courses and Modules

Writing in U.S. History - A course from PBS Learning Media includes six self-paced lessons for high school students or teachers to look at key topics in U.S. history integrated with writing tools.

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Professional Learning Events

Social Studies Webinar Learning Series

Designed to help support implementation of Iowa’s social studies standards, the following webinars were created to address questions the field has expressed about the standards or best practices that should be used in order to best implement the standards.

2019-2020 Webinar Recordings

2018-2019 Webinar Recordings

2017-2018 - TLC Virtual Coaching Network Webinar Recordings

Building Literacy in Social Studies Webinar Recordings

Module 1: Introduction to the Standards

Materials:

Module 2: Overview of the Instructional Shifts

Materials:

Module 3: Disciplinary Literacy

Materials:

Module 4: Informational Text

Materials

Calendar

Social Studies Events - A calendar listing several social studies professional development opportunities within the state and around the world.

AEA Professional Learning

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