SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM REVIEW GARDEN CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Board of Education Presentation June 10, 2014
Committee members Jeannette Balantic, Social Studies Curriculum Coordinator Teresa Prendergast, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum Margaux Calemmo, HS Librarian Lois Kuster, HS Librarian Kevin O Hagan, HS Social Studies Katherine Squires, HS Special Education Cynthia Tanzosh, HS Special Ed Alison Wallace, HS Social Studies Nan McLaughlin, HS Principal Dave Bradshaw, MS Social Studies Erica Fregosi, MS Social Studies Sue Shea, MS Social Studies Susanna Sheehan, MS Social Studies Lori Palladino, Kindergarten Homestead Donna Welch, Kindergarten Homestead Leigh Dowden, 5 th grade Stratford Robyn Madden, 3 rd grade Stratford Barrie Dratch, 5 th grade Stewart Suzanne Viscovich, Homestead Principal Linda Norton, Stewart Principal Christopher Uccellini, AP Stratford Eileen Vota, Stratford Principal
Charge to the Committee Begin Social Studies Curriculum Review Conduct spotlight year activities Review student achievement data Examine Research Identify Best Practices Survey Exemplary Schools Obtain student/parent feedback Present findings, conclusions and recommendations (including budgetary impact) to administration and the Board of Education Integrate with ongoing CCLS implementation initiatives Prepare multiyear plan for implementation beginning 2014-2015
The Curriculum Review Process K-12 committee Identify positive elements of social studies at each level. Generate questions to promote meaningful reflection about curriculum, instruction, assessment and resources Prioritize the questions for building each level (Primary, Elementary, Middle School, High School and K-12) Gather data at each level Meet in subcommittees at each level to assess the data and set building level goals Develop an action plan
K-12 Social Studies Curriculum
A Framework that Supports Teaching, Learning and Assessment Key Ideas and Conceptual Understandings Conceptual content articulated at each grade level; represents the what of teaching and learning Common Core Literacy Skills Cross-disciplinary skills in reading, writing, research, speaking and listening that should be infused in all aspects of Social Studies instruction Social Studies Practices The essential skills or habits of mind utilized by social scientists and historians that students should develop throughout their Social Studies education Causation Comparison Contextualization Gather, use & interpret evidence Develop chronological reasoning Source documents
Social Studies in the Primary Schools Lay the foundation for citizenship skills Interdisciplinary connections art, social studies, ELA, character education Generate student enthusiasm for social studies
Primary School Recommendations Goal Action plan Dedicate more time for social studies staff development Create a clear scope and sequence for each grade level Reallocate staff development hours to focus on social studies every other month Use staff development time to identify essential questions, agreed upon documents, writing prompts and assessments Align CCLS, ELA and social studies skills and content in lessons and assessments Pilot Putnam BOCES social studies curriculum Review reading/writing materials from SchoolWide, Inc. Integrate ELA skills and social studies content Link literature with social studies content and skills Integrate character education with study of heroes/heroines
Social Studies in the Elementary Schools Opportunities for interdisciplinary studies Skill development Use of non-fiction and fiction texts enable students to make connections and enhance their understanding of historical events Academic vocabulary Grade-wide projects We the People project Cultural studies
We the People
Elementary Recommendations Goal Dedicate more time for social studies staff development Create a clear scope and sequence for each grade level Standardize the 5 th grade research paper Improve articulation between grades 5 and 6 Update resources Action plan Reallocate staff development hours to focus on social studies every other month Use staff development time to identify essential questions, agreed upon documents, academic vocabulary, writing prompts and assessments for each grade level Align CCLS, ELA and social studies skills and content in lessons and assessments Explore having a lead social studies teacher for each grade Use staff development time to identify research topics, questions and rubrics Use staff development time to communicate and align expectations with regard to reading, writing, questioning and vocabulary Purchase maps, trade books, journals Pilot Putnam BOCES curriculum; attend workshops Review reading/writing curriculum materials from SchoolWide, Inc.
Social Studies in Grades 6-12 Instructional Philosophy that Reflects Best Practices Staff development Joint meetings Books and articles Focus by Mike Schmoker Never Work Harder Than Your Students by Robyn Jackson Understanding by Design by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe Historical Thinking chapters and articles by Sam Wineburg Time to collaborate and revamp lessons and assessments
Research Grades 6-12 Grade Content Areas Research Assignments 6 Science/ELA Analyze alternative energy sources 7 Social Studies/ELA 8 Social Studies/ELA Analyze the impact of early leaders in the Republic. Analyze the significance of the Battle of Golden Hill on the American Revolution. To what extent did the Great Migration influence the literary voice in the poetry of the Harlem Renaissance 9 Living Environment English Should colleges continue to recommend vaccinations for students? Poet Study Assignment (9R) Short Stories (9H) 10 AP/Global History Analysis of human rights violations around the world Analysis of global issues around the world 11 English and AP Language Literary Research Paper Two Literacy Criticisms and Primary Documents 12 SS Government English/AP Lit Research a contemporary issue/policy Research Project & Oral Presentation/Literary Research Paper
Social Studies in the Middle School Curriculum Work and Revision Essential questions Integrating skills and content 6-8 Writing Initiative Writing benchmarks at each grade level Cohesive approach with graduated expectations 6-8 Reading Initiative Reading benchmarks at each grade level Targets certain skills at each grade level
Middle School Recommendations Goal Revise Units of Study in 6 th, 7 th, 8 th grade Strengthen Academic Vocabulary 8-9 alignment with regard to reading and writing expectations Action plan Use summer curriculum and staff development time to revamp curriculum to develop deeper content knowledge and stronger skills. ($1,920) 6 th -8 th grade, interdisciplinary (ELA, science, social studies) PLC formed to identify Tier 2 vocabulary terms Designate words for certain grades Share instructional strategies to teach academic vocabulary Use staff development time for articulation between 8R and 9R/9H teachers to facilitate a smoother transition for students Investigate new 7 th /8 th grade textbooks Attend conferences and contact publishers to review texts (that also have an ebook) for future adoption ($72,000)
Social Studies in the High School Diversity of Course Offerings Curriculum Work Essential Questions Cognitive Engagement Best Practices Writing Benchmarks Reading Benchmarks Global History & Geography 9R/H Global History & Geography 10R AP World History United States History & Government AP U.S. History Participation in Government Economics AP Macroeconomics AP United States Gov t & Politics AP European History AP Psychology AP Human Geography Criminal Justice Introduction to Psychology Long Island History Greece and Rome Rediscovered Social Science Research H
Garden City Cold Spring Harbor East Williston Great Neck Herricks Jericho Locust Valley Manhasset North Shore Port Washington Rockville Centre Roslyn Syosset Regents Mastery Level Comparisons 2013 Global History 71% 57% 69% 70% 58% 75% 58% 77% 66% 71% 57% 68% 70% US History 87% 77% 64% 84% 76% 84% 78% 86% 73% 86% 74% 81% 84%
Advanced Placement Results 2013 Exam # of GC students GC Avg Score Nassau County Avg Enrollment Nassau County Avg Score World History 86 4.13 61 3.03 US History 112 3.64 78 3.33 European History 14 2.64 40 3.16 Macroeconomics 81 3.43 51 3.10 Government & Politics Human Geography 85 2.64 57 2.87 16 3.25 <15 N/A Psychology 158 4.07 62 3.47
High School Student Engagement Survey When asked about classroom activities that interest or engage them 73% of kids ranked discussion and debate highly 60-70% of kids were less enthralled with reading, writing and research projects When asked how much their experience in social studies contributed to their development in certain areas 66% of kids felt they were becoming better writers 69% of kids felt they were developing the ability to think more critically 73% of kids felt they were becoming better readers 52% of kids felt that their ability to speak effectively was not greatly improved by social studies.
HS Extracurricular Activities We currently offer: HOPE Quiz Bowl Participation in two competitions Euro Challenge Fed Challenge Responses to the Student Engagement Survey indicated a strong interest on the part of students for more social studies oriented clubs (History Club, Debate, Mock Trial, Model UN).
Social Studies Support at the High School Integrated Class Support Offered during a variety of periods Offered to special education and general education students Fulfills AIS requirement Multi-grade assignment (9/10; 11/12) Reinforce study skills Support in English, social studies and science Revamp the scheduling of integrated support
High School Recommendations Goal Create common planning time in specific courses each year Interdisciplinary Connections Revise AP Courses Revise Senior Year Research paper Reexamine elective course offerings Action plan Work with high school administration to identify priority areas to allocate common prep time and build it into the master schedule Identify a course and collaborate with English colleagues to create interdisciplinary units of study Work with high school administration to schedule students in Global History 9CT and English 9CT back to back AP curricula to align with College Board changes ($2,400/year) (US, European, World) Use staff development time and collaborate with librarians to further revise the senior research paper to reflect increased level of expectations and rigor Use data from the student engagement survey to revise/rotate elective course offerings Explore creative ways to give students opportunities to enroll in a variety of courses
High School Recommendations Goal Institute a Social Science Research Program Provide subject specific support for students Action plan Research and visit schools that have competitive social science research programs Work with Steve Gordon to start a program at GCHS Work with high school administration to maximize integrated class support Offer social studies oriented clubs Use data from the student engagement survey to propose club offerings (i.e. History Club, Model UN, Debate Club) Prioritize textbook needs and ebook subscriptions Attend conferences and contact publishers to review texts (that also have an ebook) for future adoption Psychology ($20,000); Government ($10,000)
In Summary Opportunity for Reflection What works Where we want to improve Commonality in Goals Carve out time for articulation (1-2, 5-6, 8-9); staff development and common planning. Develop a clear scope and sequence for each grade at the primary and elementary level Refine the scope and sequence for each course at the middle school and high school level Refine social studies lessons, instruction and assessments to advance CCLS in reading, writing, thinking, listening and speaking
Thank you for your support of the Social Studies program! Questions?