Social studies Curriculum Review Garden City Public Schools

1. Social studies Curriculum ReviewGarden City Public Schools Board of Education Presentation – June 10, 2014

2. 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, 5th grade Stratford • Robyn Madden, 3rd grade Stratford • Barrie Dratch, 5th grade Stewart • Suzanne Viscovich, Homestead Principal • Linda Norton, Stewart Principal • Christopher Uccellini, AP Stratford • Eileen Vota, Stratford Principal

3. Charge to the Committee • 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 Begin Social Studies Curriculum Review

4. 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

5. K-12 Social Studies Curriculum

6. 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

7. 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

9. Primary School Recommendations

10. 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

11. We the People

12. Elementary Recommendations

13. 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

14. Research Grades 6-12

15. 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

17. Middle School Recommendations

18. 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

19. Regents Mastery Level Comparisons 2013

20. Advanced Placement Results 2013

22. 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.

23. 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).

24. 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

25. High School Recommendations

26. High School Recommendations

27. 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

28. Thank you for your support of the Social Studies program! Questions?