NC Civic Education Consortium The 150th Anniversary of the Civil War Deadline: March 31, 2011

Keep your spring semester on the right track by applying for this FREE and exciting professional development opportunity with the NC Civic Education Consortium

1.      The 150^th Anniversary of the Civil War

Deadline: March 31, 2011

Teachers and curriculum coordinators, don’t miss the Consortium’s unique two-day Civil War event!  To be held at UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Government on April 8-9, explore this action-packed period of history through presentations from renowned Civil War scholars and interactive exploration of engaging lesson plans for teaching about the Civil War and related themes on Friday and Saturday.  Friday evening, teachers will be treated to dinner and a night at the theatre when we attend Playmakers Repertory Company’s performance of “Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.”  Educators who teach about the Civil War do not want to miss this – only five spaces remain so register today!  Participants will receive 1.5 CEUs, mileage reimbursement, substitute reimbursement, meals, lesson plans, a free ticket to “Big River,” and one nights accommodations in Chapel Hill (if you are traveling 120 miles round-trip.)

For additional information (including a tentative agenda) and the registration form, go to http://www.sog.unc.edu/programs/civiced/programs/upcoming_trainings.php. 

Are you following the Consortium on Facebook?  Receive announcements of additional opportunities for teachers and current news relating to civic education by clicking on the link below!

National Humanities Center...Expansion and Reform: 1801-1850

In the summer of 2011 the National Humanities Center, with suppport from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, will again offer three online professional development seminars exclusively for North Carolina high school teachers of American history and literature. They will directly address the learning objectives in Competency Goal 2 of the Standard Course of Study in United States history, "Expansion and Reform: 1801-1850."

Participants will receive a stipend of $100. (A participant will receive only one stipend even if he/she participates in multiple seminars.)

These seminars seek to deepen teacher content knowledge, introduce teachers to fresh primary resources, and offer advice on how to use those resources with students. They explore documents and images through discussion led by distinguished scholars. Texts come chiefly from the Center's online resources for teachers Toolbox Library and TeacherServe®. Each seminar will require from 35 to 50 pages of reading. Participation requires a computer with an internet connection and the ability to accommodate speakers and a microphone.

Recertification Credit: Three National Humanities Center online seminars will provide ten and a half contact hours or 1 CEU credit. Because the seminars are conducted online, they may qualify for technology credit in districts that award it. The Center will provide documentation of participation.

Registration Deadline: May 31, 2011

Summer 2011 Schedule
Date	Topic	Leader
Tuesday, June 28 10:00-11:30 a.m.	Building a Nation: Westward Expansion and the Coming of the Civil War?	Elliott West Univ. of Arkansas
Wednesday, June 29 10:00-11:30 a.m.	The Cult of Domesticity	Lucinda MacKethan North Carolina State Univ.
Thursday, June 30 10:00-11:30 a.m.	Religion and Reform in Nineteenth-Century America	Robert Abzug Univ. of Texas

Schiele Museum of Natural History Presents the Marine Mammal Geodome

April 7 & 8
(Only available to teachers who reserve a time for their class)

The Geo Dome will be here on April 9 (Earth Day) as well but will be only open to the public. Teachers could offer extra credit if their students attend. Program Description: Learn about climate change and its effects on
marine mammals while inside the GeoDome, a fully immersive theatre. Discover how climate change is impacting the migration, feeding habits, and behaviors of many marine mammals. Also, discuss possible solutions and how you can help make a difference.

Program Fee: Gaston County Schools - FREE
Out of County Schools - $5 per student
FREE for teachers
Class Size: 45 students
Grade Range: 7th through 12th graders
Program Length: 30-45 minutes

Contact: Please call 704.854.6676 to schedule your group.
1500 E. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia, NC
704.866.6908 | www.schielemuseum.org

Discover China Night at Cuthbertson HS March 21, 2011

Discover China night will be Monday, March 21, 2011, from 5:00 pm-8:15 pm, at Cuthbertson High School. A 6:00 performance will be presented by Shaolin Kung Fu Masters from the Confucius Institute at Pfeiffer University in Charlotte. Break-out sessions will follow with presentations by UCPS Chinese and social studies teachers, as well as instructors from the Confucius Institute at Pfeiffer University.

This opportunity to learn about the Chinese culture, people, and history is unique and fits nicely into the county's globalization initiative. 


For more details contact the school or... 

Joyce Dunlap, Ed. D., Publicity

Assistant Principal

Weddington High School

4901 Monroe Weddington Road

Matthews, NC 28104

704-708-5530 (Phone)

704-708-6218 (Fax) 

Play hooky! CATCH (Caring for Aquatics Through Conservation Habits) is an environmental education program developed by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

Play hooky! CATCH (Caring for Aquatics Through Conservation Habits) is an
environmental education program developed by the N.C. Wildlife
Resources Commission. The CATCH program is free and includes an
educator workshop, activity guide and other instructional materials. Adults
working with youth ages 8–15 learn how to present activities on topics such
as identification of North Carolina fish species, fish adaptations and biology,
habitat requirements, fishing skills, water safety and conservation ethics.
Teachers may earn CEUs, and the workshop counts towards the
NC Environmental Education Certification.
$5 covers extra program materials special to The Schiele Museum workshop!
Please call 704-854-6676 to reserve your place by Wednesday March 16.
1500 E. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia, NC
704.866.6908 | www.schielemuseum.org

Teach Like a Rock Star

Teach Like A Rock Star is the #1 most requested professional development event in the nation.  Want to know why?
Here’s what educators are saying:
"This is the most revolutionary conference I have ever attended. I learned in 6 hours what I’ve been searching for over the last 26 years."
"I’m not the same teacher that walked in that door this morning. This is life-changing. Thank you!"
"I knew I would learn something today.  I had no idea I would have so much fun that I laughed coffee out of my nose. (Apologies to my neighbor.)"
Revolutionary?  Life-changing?  Laughed coffee out of her nose?  Hmmm . . . guess that’s why educators love Teach Like A Rock Star.
See for yourself: [ www.TeachLikeARockStar.com ]


March Tour Dates:
Baltimore, MD - March 21st
Sandston, VA - March 22nd
Charlotte, NC - March 23rd
San Antonio, TX - March 29th

National Humanities Center offers PD for US History and Literature Teachers

Summer 2011 Schedule Date Topic Leader Tuesday, June 28 10:00-11:30 a.m. Building a Nation: Westward Expansion and the Coming of the Civil War? Elliott West Univ. of Arkansas Wednesday, June 29 10:00-11:30 a.m. The Cult of Domesticity Lucinda MacKethan North Carolina State Univ. Thursday, June 30 10:00-11:30 a.m. Religion and Reform in Nineteenth-Century America Robert Abzug Univ. of Texas In the summer of 2011 the National Humanities Center, with suppport from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, will again offer three online professional development seminars exclusively for North Carolina high school teachers of American history and literature. They will directly address the learning objectives in Competency Goal 2 of the Standard Course of Study in United States history, "Expansion and Reform: 1801-1850." Participants will receive a stipend of $100. (A participant will receive only one stipend even if he/she participates in multiple seminars.) These seminars seek to deepen teacher content knowledge, introduce teachers to fresh primary resources, and offer advice on how to use those resources with students. They explore documents and images through discussion led by distinguished scholars. Texts come chiefly from the Center's online resources for teachers Toolbox Library and TeacherServe®. Each seminar will require from 35 to 50 pages of reading. Participation requires a computer with an internet connection and the ability to accommodate speakers and a microphone. Recertification Credit: Three National Humanities Center online seminars will provide ten and a half contact hours or 1 CEU credit. Because the seminars are conducted online, they may qualify for technology credit in districts that award it. The Center will provide documentation of participation. Registration Deadline: May 31, 2011 This program is made possible by a grant from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.

Scholarship Opportunities: Student Scholarship

The Financial Services Roundtable, headquartered in Washington D.C., has established a college scholarship for students who have successfully completed a financial literacy course.  Students who have completed the NEFE High School Financial Planning Program qualify for the scholarship.  Ten $5000 scholarships will be awarded.  The deadline is March 31, 2011.  The criteria information flyer and application can be downloaded from the Instructor section of the hsfpp.nefe.org website.   Please note that that this is not a NEFE scholarship.  NEFE did not establish the application criteria and will not be involved in the selection process.

Travel Abroad Opportunities. Global Updates From World View

View this online newsletter to find summer institute or courses, international service learning, volunteer and exchange opportunities, and international study tour opportunities for educators.  You may access this online newsletter at:  http://www.unc.edu/world/Global_Updates_2011/Jan_Feb/Feb_11.htm

2011 George Washington Teachers’ Institute

Explore the character and accomplishments of George Washington while living on his 18th-century estate. Engage in an active exploration of 18th-century history with top historians.  Participate in interactive workshops, tours, field trips, and group projects.  Discuss how to integrate the teaching of history into English, Science, Math, and Geography curricula.  Return to your classroom and share new knowledge, teaching materials, and enthusiasm with your students.  The Institute has five slots for North Carolina educators to participate in this annual, week-long residential program.  Read the attached brochure for more information.

NC Museum of History

Want to find out what’s going on at the museum?  Visit them on the web at: http://ncmuseumofhistory.org/wgo/Programs.html#march .  You will find free  programs and resources that are great for children and adults.

Verizon Foundation Training and Educational Resources

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) has received a $40,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation to provide teachers with training on how to use free online educational resources available on Verizon Thinkfinity ( www.thinkfinity.org ).  Verizon Thinkfinity features thousands of free K-12 lesson plans, in-class activities and videos that can be searched by grade level, keyword or subject.  These resources are already aligned to the Common State Standards in English/Language Arts and Mathematics and will soon be aligned to North Carolina’s new Essential Standards in science, social studies and other subject areas. In addition to providing standards-based resources, Thinkfinity.org also offers a comprehensive professional development program that allows teachers to sign up for free online or face-to-face training. The site also features the Thinkfinity Community (community.thinkfinity.org) where educators and other users can interact with each other, other state partners, content partners, national Thinkfinity team members and others, on any education-related issue.  For more information about Verizon Thinkfinity in North Carolina, call NCDPI Communications and Information at 919.807.3450 or visithttp://it.ncwiseowl.org/resources/thinkfinity_nc/.

The Supreme Court, Past and Present April 16th (10 AM - 6:30 PM)

Educators teaching Civics & Economics and US History are invited to join the NC Civic Education Consortium and the UNC Program in the Humanities and Human Values for a unique training opportunity with two of North Carolina’s finest scholars – presidential historian William Leuchtenburg and law professor Gene Nichol.  In the morning, teachers will participate in a pedagogical training on engaging, interactive, and student centered curriculum for teaching about the Supreme Court.  In the afternoon, teachers will have the opportunity to hear Dr. William Leuchtenburg and Professor Gene Nichol - two great and distinct minds - discuss controversies surrounding the high court from the past to the present. For more information, go to http://www.civics.org/programs/upcoming_trainings.php

The 150th Anniversary of the Civil War: A Retrospective April 8th (10 AM - 10 PM) and April 9th (9 AM - 1 PM)

One hundred and fifty years ago, the United States was torn apart in our nation’s most violent and destructive conflict, the American Civil War. To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the start of the war, we invite 8th grade social studies teachers to join us in an examination of a region and a nation in catastrophe during this exciting two-day event.  Teachers will have the opportunity to explore pedagogical skills for conveying this complex history to middle school students, receiving and participating in interactive lesson plans designed for easy implementation in the middle school classroom. Teachers will also return to the role of students themselves, broadening their content knowledge in seminar presentations from renowned Civil War scholars.  In addition, participating teachers will be treated to an evening at the theatre on the evening of April 8th, receiving special admittance into a preview of Playmakers Repertory Company’sproduction of “Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,“ featuring the Red Clay Ramblers!  Don’t miss out on this unique combination of events hosted by the Program on the Humanities and Human Valuesand the NC Civic Education Consortium!

Why a Second World War? April 1 (10AM - 4:30PM) & April 2 (9:15AM - 4:15PM)

The NC Civic Education Consortium and the UNC Program in the Humanities and Human Values are pleased to announce a fantastic two-day training with one of the world’s most respected World War II scholars, Dr. Gerhard Weinberg.  On day one, the Consortium will provide training on engaging, student centered post-World War I curriculum dealing with the rise of fascism, interwar diplomacy, and other exciting topics.  On day two, teachers will be treated to a fascinating presentation of the interwar period with Dr. Gerhardt Weinberg.  Through a series of four lectures, teachers will gain greater insight into why “the war to end all wars” was followed twenty one short years later by an even deadlier conflict.  This is a rare opportunity forWorld and US History teachers!

Civic Education Consortium Workshops:

Listed below are a series of upcoming workshops sponsored by the Civic Education Consortium.  For more information on each of the sessions, go to   http://www.civics.org/programs/upcoming_trainings.php

Literacy in Accelerated Courses and Programs:

Are you interested in serving on the North Carolina State Literacy Plan committee or do you teach courses in which a standardized exam requires the completion of time restricted essays?  If so, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction invites you to participate in a unique professional development opportunity focused on literacy instruction.  The presenters will address nonfiction, informational texts, which is a Common Core State Standards (CCSS) focus. Middle school and high school teachers who are involved in vertical teaming in an effort to prepare more under-represented students to participate in rigorous courses in preparation for College Career Readiness (CCR) are also invited to participate.

 

 In order to participate on either the committee or just the professional development, you should complete the following application via the Zoomerang survey by Monday, March 14, 2011, by 4:00 p.m.):    http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22BYRCNC869/  .  Please see the attached email for more information.

Common Core and Essential Standards Regional Summer Institutes:

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is pleased to announce the kickoff of the Common Core and Essential Standards Regional Summer Institutes.  These two- day summer institutes are blended professional development (PD) opportunities for district-level and charter school teams to gain an understanding of the transition from the current Standard Course of Study to the new Common Core and Essential Standards for all content areas, which will be implemented during the 2012-13 school year.  

For more information, please visit http://www.ncpublicschools.org/acre/profdev/  or

http://www.ncpublicschools.org/profdev/conferences/summerinstitutes/

For questions about your local team structure or to request participation on the district-level team, please contact your local Race to the Top Coordinator.  For questions about the team structure or to request participation on the Charter School team, please contact your school lead administrator.

Teaching Financial Literacy (TFL)

Prepare your teachers for the social studies standards revision! These interactive online modules direct K-12 teachers to useful online financial literacy resources to help them bolster their own knowledge of personal finance concepts, and lay out the discipline of personal finance in an easy-to-understand format. Also, a free booklet entitled “What Personal Finance Is About” will be given to all participants! See the attached flyer for more information.

Personal Financial Literacy Training for Civics and Economics Teachers

The 2010 Essential Standards has included a personal financial literacy strand (PFL).  The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) will host four regional meetings to prepare teachers for this change.  See the attached flyer the details and registration information for this training.

Teacher and Curriculum Support Essential Standards Needs Assessment Survey

Please complete the Social Studies K-12 Essential Standards Needs Assessment Survey posted athttp://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22BX9XYFA54/.   The survey will take no more than 3 to 5 minutes to complete.  The information collected will help the K-12 Social Studies section understand the professional development needs of teachers in social studies classrooms and the needs of those who support classroom teachers in order to plan future professional development and training.

NCDPI K-12 Social Studies Professional Development Wiki Site

Remember, if you are looking for upcoming Professional Development opportunities the K-12 Social Studies team has just what the doctor ordered!  Visit our Professional Development site for the latest up-to-date PD opportunities for social studies educators.

http://ssresources-nc.wikispaces.com/Professional+Develop+Opportunities+For+NC+K-12+Social+Studies+Educators