Professional Development Monthly

October 30, 2024 | November 2024 Edition (#51)

Due October 31, 2024: Comments on Proposed New Connecting Concepts in National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies

Public comment is now welcome for feedback on the addition of a set of connecting concepts for a revision of the National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies, proposed by the NCSS Standards Task Force. Respondents are invited to:

Provide overall feedback on each concept;
Highlight how each concept would be applicable to members’ areas of instruction/expertise;
Provide any questions or other feedback for the Task Force to consider.

Submit Comments

View the proposed concepts, find more background information and submit your comments above.

Attend An Upcoming Event With Your Local Affiliated Council

#NCSS2024 Highlights: Register Now

In recognition of Native American Heritage Month, NCSS would like to highlight a selection of this year's upcoming Annual Conference professional learning opportunities that recognize and integrate meaningful in-depth perspectives and analyses of Indigenous Peoples and Nations, and how Indigenous histories are foundational to the story of America and to social studies. Browse more highlights in the 104th Conference Preview Guide, online now. Register now.

Generously sponsored by Upstander Project

Keynote Presentation

Challenging the Mythology of Indigenous Disappearance: Native Activists in the Early 20th Century World

Ned Blackhawk, professor of history and American studies at Yale and 2023 National Book Award winner, The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of U.S. History

Secondary Session
A Healing Journey: Sand Creek Massacre Resources for the Classroom

Explore primary source based inquiry kits unveiled by the Sand Creek Massacre Foundation in this interactive session. These kits enable educators to delve deeply into the complexities of the Sand Creek Massacre, fostering exploration and critical analysis of this important event in the classroom.

Vital Issue Session

Moving Beyond Indigenous Land (Water and Air) Acknowledgments

Kate Van Haren, David O'Connor

How can we move beyond simply acknowledging the land, water, and air, and into greater action and support?

Pre-Conference Clinic

Listening on the Land: Hearing Many Voices of Patuxet (Plymouth)

Explore Indigenous and colonial worlds at Plimoth Patuxet Museums and its Mayflower II, Patuxet Homesite, and 17th-Century English Village exhibits. Take home resources for teaching with primary sources, including those on the 1621 harvest feast (first Thanksgiving).

Pre-Conference Clinic

Dispelling Myths & Affirming Truths: Teaching Indigenous Peoples’ History

Join us for an interactive exploration of Indigenous history often left out of the classroom led by scholars and curriculum specialists in the field. Lunch and transportation will be provided to book publisher Beacon Press’s offices, where attendees will also learn about the press’s history. Details here.

Boston Tour

Before Boston: How the Freedom Trail Paved Over Indigenous History

Discover hidden stories of the land and its people over the past 12,500 years as the United States prepares to mark its 250th birthday. Come learn and unlearn the history of Boston with Native and non-Native educators and truth-tellers.

Transform Civic Education

Learn how to spark your students’ interest in civics education and build their skills for actively participating in a healthy society.

[Sponsored by Solution Tree]

Engage and Educate the Next Generation of Global Citizens

Developed in collaboration with Civic Life Project, Democracy in Action is a turnkey high school civics and digital storytelling curriculum that empowers students to create short documentaries on issues they care about, showcase their films to their communities, and ignite dialogue and civic action. This semester-long three-unit curriculum is easily integrated into any existing civics or social studies class, delivered in two weekly lessons. Remote professional development and ongoing technical support is provided to help support educators. Download Now.