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=Welcome to the JCPS Social Studies Professional Development Wikispace!=


 * __JCPS Social Studies Wikis__**

__**Fall/Spring Professional Development 2010-2011**__
 * New Teacher Induction
 * Social Studies for the New Teacher: This session was designed for new teachers looking for ways to get their social studies instruction off to a great start. Teachers recieved tips to begin the social studies overview with students and also discussed best practices for implementing the social studies curriculum.
 * Using Primary Sources Effectively in the Social Studies Classroom: This session explored ways to access primary sources from internet resources. Additionally, participants spent time "tampering with history" - adapting primary source materials to meet the diverse needs of students (struggling readers, ECE, ESL, etc.).
 * Adventures in Economics and US History: This session explored ways to help students make economic connections with historical content. Participants explored hands-on lessons, and resources to help strengthen student understanding of economic concepts while helping to develop historical perspective.
 * Using JCPS Online and Web Tools in the Social Studies Classroom: In this session, participants learned how to use JCPS Online to enhance daily instruction in the social studies classroom. Participants explored weblinks and resource libraries designed to assist their students with social studies content in and engaging manner.
 * ======Differentiation in Social Studies: This session explores ways to make meaning connections with students through the use of varied social studies materials. Participants interacted with leveled texts for social studies and differentiated instructional strategies.======
 * Connecting Geography to Historical Concepts: In this session, participants learned strategies to help students gain a better understanding of the five themes of geography. Participants discussed ways each theme build on the others, creating a unique geographic perspective.
 * Increasing Understanding in Social Studies: This session explored ways to better engage stuents in the learning process by focusing on the six facets of understanding (explanation, interpretation, application, perspective, empathy, self-knowledge).

__**Summer Professional Development 2011**__ Elementary Conference __**Fall/Spring Professional Development 2011-2012**__
 * Integrating Literacy into Social Studies: In this session, teachers looked at ways to integrate Kentucky Core Academic Standards (KCAS) in literacy into social studies instruction. Several resources and teaching strategies were explored.
 * Using Primary Sources in the Social Studies Classroom
 * Using Geographic Tools to Generate Inquiry
 * Using Technology as a Collaborative Tool in Social Studies
 * Enhancing Social Studies with Technology
 * Building a Social Studies Classroom Community: This session explored ways to build a classroom community conducive to cooperative learning, respect, and care. Participants learned practical techniques to facilitate learning and engagement in elementary classrooms to integrate social studies concepts into community building.
 * Celebrating Constitution and Veterans Day: This session explored instructional strategies to help students make meaningful connections to the Constitution. Teachers explored ways to utilze resources from online sources such as the National Archives, Constitution Center, etc. to help students better understand key components of our country's government. Participants also explored ways to help students honor America's veterans (past and present) for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. Lastly, the session explored ways to make meaningul connections with holidays and observances.
 * Grades 4 and 5 Overview, Strategies, and Resources - Grades K and 1 Overview, Strategies and Resources - Grade 2 and 3 Overview, Strategies and Resources: **These sessions will assist teachers in understanding components of the new social studies curriculum maps. Teachers will interact with instructional strategies and resources that will help students achieve identified learning targets**.


 * Elementary and Middle School Instructional Resources**
 * [|Mission U.S.] - //Mission US// is a multimedia project featuring free interactive adventure games set in different eras of U.S. history. The first game, Mission 1: "For Crown or Colony?," puts the player in the shoes of Nat Wheeler, a 14-year-old printer's apprentice in 1770 Boston. As Nat navigates the city and completes tasks, he encounters a spectrum of people living and working there when tensions mount before the Boston Massacre. Ultimately, the player determines Nat's fate by deciding where his loyalties lie. Mission 2, “Flight to Freedom” (working title), which focuses on resistance to slavery, will launch in January 2012. Other missions are planned for release in 2013 and 2014.