University of Washington's Media Literacy Institute August 1st - 4th

Civic Education Grants Sponsored by the Washington Civic Learning Council

Civic Education Grants

Sponsored by the Washington Civic Learning Council

Funding for Civic Education Grants is provided by the American Board of Trial Advocates, a national association of experienced trial lawyers and judges, and its Washington State Chapter. ABOTA is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the civil jury trial right provided by the Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and is engaged in a variety of programs aimed at furthering civics education throughout the states.

Purpose. The Civic Education Grant provides financial support to educators and students participating in high-quality civic education programs at the national, state, tribal and/or local government level. This includes how the governments were formed, how they make decisions, what effects they have on citizens, and how citizens can participate with decision makers. Grants will generally be awarded between the range of $250.00 to $1000.00. Grants will be considered in excess of $1000.00 contingent on availability of funds and strength of application.

How to apply. The Civic Learning Council (CLC) understands the time pressures facing educators and students, so the application is designed to be brief and straight forward. Applications will be available beginning March 17, 2022, and close when all funds have been depleted. Applications will be reviewed quarterly to ensure a distribution of funds across the school and/or program year. Link to APPLICATION. If you have questions about the grant, contact Karen Verrill (civiclearningcouncil@gmail.com), Civic Learning Council.

Evaluation. The CLC will consider and score applications based on the overall breadth and variety of applicants and projects that would best fulfill the program’s goals, with priority given to underserved communities.

The Civic Learning Council Grant priorities include the following:

• Implementation of high-quality civic learning in K-12 schools and in after school programs with emphasis on underserved youth and communities;

• Expansion of K-8 civic education;

• Support for civic action programs in which students have opportunities to interact with courts and other branches of government at state/tribal and local level; and

• Ensure that anti-racist strategies are addressed in high-quality civic education.

Criteria for selection of grants:

• A clear description how the funds will be used to foster active civic learning that addresses at least one of the CLC priorities above.

• The proposal will lead to further development of civic education. • The proposal is realistic and doable.

• There is clear evidence that the grant will allow an activity to occur that would not happen without the financial support of the grant.

• The proposal addresses an underserved group or region of the state of Washington.

Eligibility

• Residents of Washington State

• Educators

• Leaders of after school and summer programs

• Parent teacher associations

• Home school organizations

• Individual students

• Nonprofit and community organizations

Possible Grant Projects

• Purchase of civic resources for classroom use or projects

• Field trips

• Guest speakers

• Sponsorship of student participation in civic travel, organizations, and/or contests

• Teacher professional development and/or travel to civic events

• Outreach for participation in civic activities within the community and beyond

• Nonprofit civic organization events

The following information will be requested in the application:

A description of where and how the grant will be used: In school classrooms, home school programs, after school programs, community colleges (limit 500 words)

• A brief description of how this program/experience will be beneficial

o Educator: What learning outcomes do you expect to achieve?

o Student: What benefits do you hope to achieve as a result of this experience?

• A list of expected costs for the project.

• If you expect to receive additional funds from another source, provide information about who, how much, and how those funds will be used.

If you are awarded a grant, there will be subsequent reporting requirements that include the following:

• A brief description of outcomes achieved and any plans for future activities (500- word limit).

• To promote the grant, permit CLC to share the success of the activity including quotes student work, and photos from people involved.

• Complete a brief follow-up survey immediately following the activity and one year later to assess grant impact.

Fabric of the Past: Weaving the Twentieth Century at Beaumont Mill and Village in South Carolina

The National Endowment for the Humanities Landmark in American Culture and History presents Fabric of the Past: Weaving the Twentieth Century at Beaumont Mill and Village in South Carolina. The workshop scheduled for July 2022 will engage teachers in an examination of textile history, community history, and inquiry. Teachers will work with historians, educators, archivists, and more as we discuss ways to harness students' curiosity about their own communities to explore historical themes. Please visit our website (http://publications.uscupstate.edu/neh/) or contact us via email (NEHWorkshop@uscupstate.edu) for more information. Applications are accepted through March 1, 2022. 

Attention: History/Social Studies Teachers – Apply Now for Colonial Dames Scholarship Funding

Apply today for a National Society of Colonial Dames of America Washington Scholarship for Continuing Education in American History/Social Studies. Applications and funding guidelines are available at www.nscdawa.org. Repeating from last year is scholarship funding for subscriptions for editing video platforms, purchase of technological equipment, League of Women Voters Civics textbooks, oral history projects, virtual and otherwise workshops, conferences, and seminars, and virtual Advanced Placement courses and teacher certification. Submit your application by March 6, 2022.  You may apply for three $1,500 scholarships.

Scholarship recipients should expect to be notified by March 31, 2022. 

Any teacher who teaches or will teach American History/Social Studies to Washington State students in grades 4 through high school is eligible to apply for one or more scholarships.  Examples of funded projects are:

• American History or Social Studies curriculum development and implementation with books, website design, costumes or media

• Subscriptions for editing video platforms

• Oral history project funding

• View trips to museums relating to History

• Purchase of technological equipment including camcorders, video recorders, and lighting enhancement

• League of Women Voters civics textbooks (The State We’re In:  Washington) for grades 3-5 and high school edition

• Virtual or otherwise professional development workshops and teacher conferences such as the Williamsburg Institute, The Freedoms Foundation

• Seminars, the Gilder Lehrman conference, and other History/Social Studies classes

• Virtual Advanced Placement courses, including Advanced Teacher Certification

• Supplies and materials relating to History/Social Studies

• Teacher Enrichment projects/programs relating to History

• ELMO presenter for the deaf 

Since 1998, the Colonial Dames have granted over $475,000 in scholarships to Washington History/Social Studies teachers across the state, many of whom have used their awards to support Washington History Day which has received over $500,000 from the Colonial Dames. Consider how a scholarship would help you to continue your education and to improve your teaching of American History/Social Studies.

NCSS Conference First-Timer Scholarship

National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) is pleased to offer a limited number of registration scholarships to educators who have never been able to attend the NCSS Annual Conference in the past for lack of financial support. Teachers from across the United States and its territories are welcome to apply.

For more info check out the National Council for the Social Studies site here; https://www.socialstudies.org/conference/conference-scholarship

Registration for the Spring Conference and Retreat in Skamania is open!

We’re sorry registration is opening much later than in past years. We had some issues with the conference website that took some time to resolve. Please check out the WSCSS Spring Conference page to find out more, register for the conference, and book your hotel room at the discounted Skamania Lodge/WSCSS room rate. The call for session proposals is closing Saturday the 14th, so expect to see the 2020 conference program online when you return after the winter break.

Injustice of the WWII Japanese American Incarceration: Workshops for Washington State Teachers

 Morning Session: Respond, Resist, and Resiliency

Hear from noted scholars to learn about and discuss how Americans of Japanese Ancestry responded and resisted U.S. military orders that forcibly removed and imprisoned them with out due process or evidence of wrongdoing. The workshop will include an investigation of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Korematsu v. U.S. and the relevance to legal resistance and urgent issues of today. Educators will receive KI Curriculum Toolkits that include primary sources. Afternoon Session: KSPS - Injustice at Home Participants will explore teaching resources that emphasize the implications of Japanese American living outside the exclusion zone during WWII. Five short films created by KSPS - along with lesson plans - will examine choices and challenges that people faced, as well as those who stood against prejudice and oppression.

Dates:

May 4, 2019

ESD 105 Yakima, WA

June 1, 2019

Spokane Valley Tech High School Spokane, WA

8:30am – 4:00pm

Presenters:

Karen Korematsu, Founder & Executive Director, Fred T. Korematsu Institute

Leslie Heffernan, Social Studies Coordinator

Morgen Larsen, Teacher Librarian

Starla Fey, Teacher

To sign up, go to bit.ly/WAeducatorworkshops to register for either workshop. The first 30 teachers per workshop will secure spots. Each educator will receive a $100 stipend and clock hours upon completion of the workshop. The Workshops for Washington State Teachers are facilitated by the Fred T. Korematsu Institute (www.korematsuinstitute.org) and KSPS Public Television, and are made possible with generous support from the Kip Tokuda Memorial Washington Civil Liberties Public Education Program.

AN INVITATION FROM THE WASHINGTON STATE COUNCIL FOR THE SOCIAL STUDIES

Most of us have listened to TED Talks. Now you are invited to create one of your own. WSCSS is collaborating with TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) to provide a Masterclass to social studies teachers in Washington State. During the 2018-19 and 2019-2020 school year WSCSS is offering free of charge the 11-lesson TED Masterclass that prepares teachers to present and publish their best ideas in TED-style talks. Together we can identify, develop, and share our ideas with colleagues in Washington state and around the world. 

What is the TED Masterclass?
TED Masterclass is a course that guides you and your colleagues through the process of developing, presenting, and recording your ideas in the form of your very own TED-style talk.

How does it work?
The TED Masterclass course consists of 4 sections and 11 lessons. Each lesson takes about an hour to complete. You can progress through the course at your own pace. However, taking it with a partner is recommended because it provides the added opportunity for collaboration and feedback.

What happens to my talk at the end of the course?
You will be able to share your talk on WSCSS Lesson Plan webpage and/or OSPI Social Studies Commons webpage. Some of our TED-style talks may be featured on TED.com.

Have more questions?

If you are interested in participating or would like to discuss this opportunity in more detail, please contact Carol Coe at carolcoek12@gmail.com.

Are you a U.W. student or Faculty member? Nominate a SS teacher for the Pressly Prize!

The U.W. History department has extended the deadline for nominations from UW students for the Pressly Prize for outstanding history or social studies teachers! The new deadline is: Monday, April 22nd at 5pm.

The Pressly Prize, named for University of Washington Professor Emeritus of History Thomas Pressly and his wife, Cameron, recognizes outstanding history or social studies teaching at the secondary level in the state of Washington. The Department of History relies entirely on nominations from UW students to bring worthy candidates to our attention. Nominations are accepted from any current University of Washington undergraduate or graduate student from any major or department. 

Please nominate a teacher who shows a significant devotion to their field. Nominations are due by 5pm on Monday, April 22. The Google Form is available at the following link: https://goo.gl/forms/R5oxCYDBuR5YDJHZ2 (under the Resources > Student Resources > Scholarships and Awards on our Department of History website). 

The Lessons of Minidoka: Keeping the Internment of Japanese Americans Relevant for Twenty-First Century Teens

From August 1942 until October 1945, thousands of Japanese Americans were interned in the Minidoka Relocation Camp, located in a remote area of southern Idaho. Help us ensure that teens understand why this seventy-year-old episode from American history remains starkly relevant today. 

Friends of Minedoka is working on a series of short documentaries (ranging from 4 minutes to 30 minutes) about the experiences of those interned at Minidoka – and about how their former neighbors and friends responded to the forced relocation. To ensure these documentaries reach the widest audience possible, we are creating high school lesson plans, as well as activities to engage teens in youth programs or at museums or other programs outside of school. All the materials will be available for free to teachers and the public once they are completed.

We are currently inviting high school teachers and staff/volunteers who work with teens through youth programs or at museums or other settings to participate in online focus groups to identify what the documentaries, lesson plans, and activities should cover. Participants will be paid $100 for their time. 

We are seeking teachers who are:

• Teaching (or have taught within the past three years) at least one of the following at the high school level: 

  • US History (must include 20th century or World War II)

  • Civics

  • US Government

  • Oregon, Washington, Idaho, or Alaska state history (must include 20th century or World War II)

• Comfortable teaching content that include historical documents, historical images, documentary video, and/or interview transcripts.

• Excited about collaboration with other teachers from across the US to create engaging learning experiences for high school students

• Available to participate in 2 sessions for a total of 2.5 hours of virtual focus groups at the following times:

o   Saturday, April 27th from 10-11am Pacific (1-2 pm Eastern)

o   Saturday, May 11th from 9:30-11am Pacific (12:30-2 pm Eastern)

Anyone interested in participating and able to commit to the dates/times above is invited to register here: https://goo.gl/forms/lB4kgxEtrdLVV6UN2

Summer 2019 Institute in Montréal and Québec City

June 23-28, 2019

The 2019 Quebec Dimensions Summer Institute will offer professional development for six days divided between Montréal, one of the largest French speaking cities in the world and Québec City (pictured above), the provincial capital. The Institute begins and ends in Montréal.  (Institute content will be delivered in English)

Eligibility: Open invitation for U.S. educators from all disciplines, Pre-K to Grade 12  in-service teachers, IB teachers, Community College faculty, and pre-service teachers.
 

Description: “Québec Dimensions” is a unique professional development opportunity providing participants with foundations in history and geography plus contemporary cultural insights through first-hand experience.  The content is taught by academic specialists and is designed to support educators of all levels of Elementary curriculum, French language curriculum, Canadian Studies, World History, World Geography, Comparative Cultures, AP History, IB History of the Americas & North American Geography.

June 23-28, 2019
Rolling registrations until full through April 30th

Register Online by April 30

Judicial Institute for Secondary School Teachers

The Court, in collaboration with Seattle University, has developed a 3 day workshop for middle and high school teachers. The program includes presentations by federal judges, attorneys, and law enforcement officers on topics such as First Amendment rights, civil rights, search and seizure law, and the role of the grand jury. Teachers will also observe actual court proceedings followed by a question and answer session with the presiding judge. An introduction to Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's iCivics program is included as part of this curriculum.

This 3 day program is offered to middle and high school teachers who teach in western Washington, within the court’s geographic boundaries. There is no cost for the program, and clock hours are offered. Overnight accommodations are also included.

Applications for the 2019 program (PDF) are now available. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity!  Space is limited to 40 teachers, so submit your application early.  Here’s what a few past attendees had to say:

"The Judicial Institute was like an amazing TED Talk menagerie. The speakers were thoughtful, intelligent story-tellers who restored my faith in the legal system. It was one of the most well organized, thoughtful, and beneficial conferences that I have attended." - Trey Messner

"This workshop was packed full of relevant and timely discussions about issues and concerns facing society as expressed in the courts and law. I feel more prepared than ever to teach government/civics." - Heidi Engle

"Energizing, insightful.  From gripping tales by FBI agents and viewing emotional sentencing hearings to clear teaching on grand juries, the court system and the Constitution, this seminar engaged us from start to finish." - Suze Marie Marcinko 

Check out the advocacy work the WSCSS is taking on in Olympia!

Your WSCSS has greatly increased it’s advocacy effort over the last three years. This last session it began to pay off with many legislative successes. We guided legislation that saved and improved History Day in Washington. We also helped design, write and pass the new K-12 Civics education requirements in Washington!

This year, there are many Social Studies related bills that are being considered by the legislature. Check out https://www.wscss.org/bills-before-the-legislature to see what bills are being considered that might change how or what you teach, and what we are doing to improve those bills, help them pass, or argue for removing bad SS policy from 2019 bills.

Please check out the advocacy guide to learn how to effectively lobby for the Social Studies (or to teach your students how they can lobby for what they find important) If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to our wonderful Advocacy Chair (and former OSPI Social Studies Coordinator) Carol Coe.

Fall Social Studies Conference Call for Proposals

The Fall In-Service for Social Studies is approaching. The deadline for proposing a workshop looms! Do you have a lesson you've taught this past year that you would like to share with others? A cool idea for a project you want to gather like-minded teachers to discuss? A resources you've found to be super helpful and would like to present to your peers? Then we have a great venue for you! Please submit a proposal to present at the Washington State Council for the Social Studies fall conference, scheduled for Oct. 7. Strike while all those great lessons/projects/resources are fresh in your mind! Click here to visit the conference page and submit a proposal. Deadline: September 13th

Registration for the Spring Conference in Chelan is now open!

Get ready for three great days of high quality Social Studies sessions, keynotes, and dinner conversation with teachers from across Washington State!  Connect with others at Campbells resort the weekend of March 3rd, 4th, and 5th as you explore this year's theme of Advocacy and Allyship. 

Keynote speakers will discuss historical and current issues that highlight courageous actions by those who stand with and for others, like Carl Wilkins (the only American to remain in Rwanda during the genocide in 1994). 

Breakout sessions will deepen your content knowledge in civil and human rights issues (past and present) and meaningful ways to encourage allyship and advocacy in your students. Extended Saturday workshops will get participants up and moving to explore local case studies. 

Remember, if you can find three more teachers from your district to come with you, we'll let you register AT COST!  Plus, you can find out what really makes them tick on the drive to Chelan.  Fire up those grant applications, because it's time for the Spring Conference!

The WSCSS Social Calendar!

We've added a new resource for you at wscss.org.  Check out our new Social Calendar to see what Social Studies events are coming up in Washington State.  From Rick Steves at the WSCSS Fall Conference on October 8th, to Justice Sonya Sotamayor at Civic Summit II in the Fall of 2017, there are workshops, conferences, sessions, and summits galore for the social studies teachers of Washington!  Check it out and we'll see you there.

The Fall Conference is coming up soon!

We help students understand the world and prepare them for active citizenship in it. With the presidential election looming along with many important local and regional ballots, our duty to foster civic participation and engagement is of paramount importance this year. With that in mind, come share the way that you prepare your students as citizens. This year's Fall Conference will focus on The Future of Civics led by our keynote speaker, Rick Steves, a champion of travel as a political act.

The adoption of the Common Core Standards presents educators with both challenges and opportunities. The national standards movement and consequent emphasis on high stakes Math and Literacy tests demands that we advocate for the civic purpose of schools.  They also give us the opportunity to highlight the importance of the social studies. Schools with strong social studies programs will prepare students for success on the Smarter Balanced Assessments. Are you ready for the Common Core?

Themes for Workshops: Preference will be given to sessions that incorporate the following:

• Civics - Reformers and new national standards focus on preparing students for college and a career of global competition. What can we do to prepare students for their equally important lives as citizens in a democracy? How are we engaging students with civic involvement – even for students who can’t yet vote? What best practices should high school teachers consider as they plan how to meet Washington’s new Civics graduation requirement?

• Common Core—Districts expect teachers to understand and incorporate the new standards in their classroom practice. How can social studies teachers effectively teach the Common Core?

• Best Practices—What does “proficient” or “distinguished” look like in a social studies classroom, and how can teachers document it? How have you prepared for the TPEP? 

Proposal Form: Proposal forms are available here and should be submitted to Mary Anne Christy, Conference Chair, on our website at http://www.wscss.org/fall-conference

Questions? Contact Mary Anne Christy, Conference Chair, at maryanne.christy@lakesideschool.org

The Chelan Conference - Part Two

Thanks for spending a great weekend in Chelan with your fellow Washington State Social Studies educators!

Carol Coe presents resources available from OSPI

Starting the Open Space Symposium

Sharing content and pedagogy ideas over breakfast

Building a statewide Social Studies Dept.