April 2010 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

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 8

APRIL 2010 ROCHESTER REVIEW

SOCIAL STUDIES NEWSLETTER

Geography, Literacy, and Art in Geography, Literacy, and Art in Geography, Literacy, and Art in Geography, Literacy, and Art in

the Elementary Gradesthe Elementary Gradesthe Elementary Gradesthe Elementary Grades

The Social Studies Department is collaborating with

the New York Geographic Alliance to present this

workshop to share lessons and resources on the

integration of Literacy, Geography and Art into the

literacy block. Teachers will leave with practical

lessons to use in their classrooms. There will be

breakouts for primary and intermediate grades. This

session will take place at the Memorial Art Gallery

from 4:15-6:15 PM on April 29, 2010. Teachers can

register on Avatar now!

The Society for Historians of the Early American

Republic will be holding its annual conference in

Rochester this summer July 22 – 25. This event is

the largest national gathering of scholars dedicated

to exploring the events and the meaning of United

States history between 1776 and 1861. RCSD

teachers are invited to attend sessions. More

information is at http://faculty.chass.ncsu.edu/

ctfriend/SHEAR1.htm.

Think Like Archaeologists Think Like Archaeologists Think Like Archaeologists Think Like Archaeologists

The Rochester Museum and Science Center along

with St. John Fisher College is offering a free

continuing education workshop on teaching kids to

think like archaeologists. The experience will take

place on June 29th and 30th at the RMSC (8AM -

5PM). Teachers of grades 7 through 9 in the

Rochester City School District are being given first

priority. For more information on workshop

content, email or call [email protected],

585.281.3821 (Kristi Krumrine, Adjunct

Professor,Department of Anthropology,St. John

Fisher College). To apply, call: 585.697.1942

(RMSCMember and Visitor Services Division)

Student Trip to GhanaStudent Trip to GhanaStudent Trip to GhanaStudent Trip to Ghana

Students will be

selected to participate

in “A Journey to the

Motherland” Program.

Current 9th - 11th

graders will be eligible

to apply for this 10-day

experience in Ghana, West Africa, April 15-25,

2011. Students will have the opportunity to visit the

continent of Africa and be introduced to various

aspects of life and learn about Ghana’s history,

economy, the arts, culture, social changes and

political developments. This experience will offer a

non-traditional educational experience as the best

means of dispelling some, if not all, the stereotypes

developed in Western societies about the life and

culture of Africans. More information and an

application are attached to this newsletter. Please

promote this opportunity with your students.

As we begin the second decade of the twenty-first

century, the law is changing dramatically as it seeks

to shape and adapt to new conditions. Economic

markets are becoming global, transactions require

cultural adaptation and understanding, populations

are more mobile, and communication technologies

such as the Internet bridge distances and time zones

to form new communities around the world. Law

Day 2010 provides us with an opportunity to

understand and appreciate the emerging challenges

and enduring traditions of law in the 21st century.

Visit the New York State Bar Association website

for Law Day 2010 resources: http://www.nysba.org/

Content/NavigationMenu/PublicResources/

LawYouthCitizenshipProgram/LawDay2010/

Law_Day_2010.htm

From the Director… Dear Rochester Community, This week we hosted documentarian and sculptor Jonathan Fein, creator and producer of the documentary Objects and Memory. Students at Marshall and Freddie Thomas High Schools participated in an interactive workshop in which they discussed the questions, “How do we know when history is happening? What makes history? How do objects take on significance following an historic event?” The documentary is available for loan by contacting me via email. It would be an appropriate addition to any U.S. or World History classroom, particularly as you study the 20th century events of the Vietnam War and events of 9/11/2001. Oral history projects are a wonderful way to engage our students in making connections with the past. Students can interview a relative or significant adult about their first historical memory, or, about a memory that changed their life or perspective. These interviews can be transcribed by the students and digitally recorded and incorporated into a media project in which students present their own “documentaries” about these significant events and their impact on everyday Americans. Consider ending the school year with such a project.

SAVE THE DATES!! May 12, 2010– Citywide Mock Trial– Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd., 5:30 p.m.

May 19, 2010– Quilts Project Gala Celebration and Reveal~RMSC~6 p.m.

June 3, 2010– Rochester Area Council for the Social Studies– Annual dinner and awards meeting

Join your colleagues from across the region for a lively discussion of the question, “What if there were no Regents Exams in Global History and Geography or United States History?” The pros and cons of

standardized testing, the impact on teaching and learning in the social studies classroom, and the positive and negative potential consequences of removing the Regents exams in Social Studies will be debated by the panelists. Confirmed presenters include: Dr. William Cala, Former Rochester City and Fairport Schools Superintendent & current Professor at Nazareth College; Dr. Kevin Meuwissen, Assistant Professor of

Education, University of Rochester; Dr. S.G. Grant, Dean of School of Education, SUNY Binghamton, and possible appearance from Regent Wade Norwood.

Writing ConferencingWriting ConferencingWriting ConferencingWriting Conferencing

Writing is one of the most

meaningful tasks students take

on in Social Studies classes.

It is really the highest level of

thinking; students must create meaning out of the

knowledge they possess. While it is a critical skill

and telling form of assessment, it is often the hardest

task for our students. While it takes a lot of time,

conferencing with students individually about their

writing is one of the most effective ways to provide

feedback and increase student skill. Here are some

tips for conducting effective writing conferences

with students…

• Sit side-by-side or at adjacent corners so you

can look at the paper together.

• Start by asking the writer if he/she has any

specific questions that he/she needs help

with.

• Try reading the paper out loud. Sometimes

a student will hear something that " doesn't

sound right" and you can talk about it.

• You may wish to make some notes on the

paper during the conference, but make sure

that students retain responsibility and

control over their own writing.

• Focus on a few key areas for feedback;

don't feel you must discuss every "problem".

• When faced with a paper that has numerous

grammar or mechanics problems, try to find a

pattern of significant error.

• Whenever possible, use "I"

language in your comments;

e.g., "I wasn't sure what you

meant by this sentence" instead of

"This is confusing"

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 Teachers as Historians Summer Teachers as Historians Summer Teachers as Historians Summer

InstituteInstituteInstituteInstitute

We are currently planning our TAH Summer

institute for secondary Social Studies teachers. The

institute will take place during the week of July 19th

with a final session on August 11. The focus of this

summer’s work will be on Native American history,

culture, and identity. Teacher participants will hear

from expert historians and visit historical sites and

exhibits such as Ganondagan, Fort Stanwix (Rome,

NY), and the Rochester Museum and Science

Center. More information about the week’s

activities and registration will be available soon.

A Successful Year for Elementary A Successful Year for Elementary A Successful Year for Elementary A Successful Year for Elementary

HistoriansHistoriansHistoriansHistorians

Thank you to each of you that participated in the

Elementary Historians Program this year. It has

been a pleasure working with you. We were able to

work with over 100 elementary teachers. We have

enjoyed getting to know each of you.

Next years’ program will focus on the foundations

of American Government. Please consider joining

us for the Washington, D.C. Trip August 2-5, 2010

for workshops at the Smithsonian, National

Archives, and National Portrait Gallery.

Steve

LaMorte

[email protected]

Mark Ferraro

[email protected]

262-8107

Kitty Palumbo

[email protected]

262-8269

Elementary LeadsElementary LeadsElementary LeadsElementary Leads

Stefan Cohen

[email protected]

262-8162

Secondary LeadsSecondary LeadsSecondary LeadsSecondary Leads

TAH Book CircleTAH Book CircleTAH Book CircleTAH Book Circle

The final TAH Book Circle of the year begins on

May 4. We will discuss The Promised Land: the

Great Black Migration and How it Changed

America by Nicholas Lemann. The book is an

excellent history of the migration of African-

Americans from the rural South to the urban North,

told through the compelling stories of people who

made the journey. The author looks at the personal

experiences and legacies of the post-1940 migration

and at the federal government's attempts to address

it. You can read a review at http://

www.nytimes.com/1991/02/24/books/one-more-

river-to-cross.html .

The first meeting is Tuesday

May 4 at 4:00, and the location

will depend on how many

people have registered for the

circle. If you are interested in

participating, sign up on Avatar

and please contact Stefan

([email protected]) to

get a copy of the book.

Participants will receive 8 hours per book circle.

You must attend at least three of the four scheduled

sessions and submit a lesson plan to be published on

SharePoint in order to receive PD credit.

Nominate Someone to be the Next Featured Teacher!Nominate Someone to be the Next Featured Teacher!Nominate Someone to be the Next Featured Teacher!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!

Bringing History HomeBringing History HomeBringing History HomeBringing History Home

Instead of featuring just one teacher this month, the April Social

Studies newsletter is featuring an entire program; the Bringing

History Home Project at Marshall High School.

The project is rooted in the concept of

Family Oral History and that everyone's

history connects to past historical events.

The project has brought many teachers

and staff together to support student learning! The main project

was designed by Kara Stadt with tons of collaboration, knowledge,

and support from, Jennifer Gkourlias, Melinda Caparco (SS

Teacher), Raymond Yeaton (Science Teacher), Sally Altobello and

Susan Barnhart (School Counselors), Chris Bianchi (AVID Teacher),

Laurel Avery-DeToy (Academy Director), Ms. Caparco's former

high school English teacher, Hillside Work Scholarship

Representatives - to mention a few! Teachers and community

members created the program with this mission:

To engage parents and students in a rich literary experience which cultivates conversations To engage parents and students in a rich literary experience which cultivates conversations To engage parents and students in a rich literary experience which cultivates conversations To engage parents and students in a rich literary experience which cultivates conversations

with parents, students and Marshall staff that deepen the understanding of Global History. In with parents, students and Marshall staff that deepen the understanding of Global History. In with parents, students and Marshall staff that deepen the understanding of Global History. In with parents, students and Marshall staff that deepen the understanding of Global History. In

addition, our goal is that this program will also bring meaningful history conversations from addition, our goal is that this program will also bring meaningful history conversations from addition, our goal is that this program will also bring meaningful history conversations from addition, our goal is that this program will also bring meaningful history conversations from

school to the dinner table.school to the dinner table.school to the dinner table.school to the dinner table.

So far, the program has had 100%100%100%100% parent involvement!! Kudos to all involved in this

valuable and meaningful project.