#sschat Archive
#sschat is a network of educators, resources, and ideas that started on Twitter, but has expanded to Facebook, an annual NCSS unconference, and more. Join us to chat asynchronously on Twitter or Facebook, or chat with us live on Mondays from 7-8pm EST.
Monday April 4, 2016
Welcome all to ! Shannon White here from Indianapolis, IN, happy to moderate this chat tonight! https://t.co/BjuPODtZ72
Chris from Bloomington, IN. I teach world history for an online HS affiliated w/ Indiana University. Also a co-leader. :)
Joanne from Missouri. 7th grade world history and 11th grade modern global issues.
Hi Chris! Excited to be sharing this opportunity with you!
Matt Doran, Social Studies Coordinator, Columbus, OH
Hi! I'm Michael, an co-leader. I teach World & US History. And I'm debating traveling around the US to learn & solve mysteries.
Matt from Missouri. 7th grade American History.
Good evening . Emily from NY. HS US history, gov and econ.
Just peachy. Enjoying grandchild #4, Henry.
Hi Joanne! I'm curious already about "Modern Global Issues" ...sounds very cool!
Hello
Jackie from CT; Social Studies, Library Media and peer coach
Kate from Swansboro. NC. I teach 9th grade World Hist, very interested in participatory SS
Dave from CT - world history, Sociology, Sports in American Society
Q1 coming up in a few minutes!
Awesome, Kate! I look forward to collaborating with you tonight!
HI! Good to see you! Thanks again for a great day at
Wow! Sports in American Society?! I think we need to co-teach! Welcome to , Dave.
Would it be gauche for me 2give a link?The great published an article on PBS about my class https://t.co/ySuArDEpzA
Xian FB, 7/8th teacher from Chi.
Just finished up our "Current Controversies in the Sports World" project - thanks for hosting
Welcome, welcome! So glad you can join us for !
is doing a project to learn Arabic. Any resources you can recommend?
I think I have my own personal proj w/ controversial mascots & navigating those loyalties! I wish I was in your class!
James Fester. I teach 8th grade US History but pursue California and Landmark history as hobby
I just added a controversial mascots activity to my Native American unit this year. Lots of discussion
A1) It's not enough for Ss to learn ideas - they have to learn to take action and be participants in govt & society.
Being a participatory citizen is more than just voting every four years, it is learning and engaging with the community.
A1 to think/read with a critical eye and form own opinions - always to question
A1: a participatory citizen is compelled to serve, to engage in discourse, to learn about issues; no room for passivity!
Someone who struggles on the daily to create a better community and society. Does NOT need to be a citizen. https://t.co/zmK2ZfsFyT
Ken from Western Oregon Univ. Teach social studies pedagogy
A1. Being informed, taking action - taking informed action from wide range of actions available - vote, write, petition, petition...
And how to make an effective and legal petition. ;)
you are speaking to my core! I grew up in Champaign, IL, home of the Fighting Illini. talk about citizenship?!
I think it means teaching empathy. It is more than teaching voting etc. It means getting students involved w/ people
A1: Being a participatory citizen means that schools' mission statements are actually lived, rather than just written.
A1: It is what I teach my students the early American republic hinged on--serving your community & nation virtuously
oh...that was supposed to be one petition and one protest
Love the emphasis on people. We are all in this together.
Yes! This is a BIG part of conversations in my class...is there formal and informal citizenship?
A1 A working democracy requires that its citizens participate - learning about issues, advocating for those they support & voting.
A1 Ss begin to understand the various power structures within society and rules to navigate them
Absolutely! It's ACTIVE, not passive. This is so important
How are the attacks in Brussels similar to the attacks in Paris? Discuss this current event w/Ss: https://t.co/ECJTsFumqw
Welcome Ken! Glad you're with us as you offer a unique perspective as a teacher of teachers!
Designed own criteria 4 voting/citizenship rights. 1 student's: be human in society, mothers vote for underage kids.
This gets at another important part of participatory citizenship - learning to discuss ideas & positions in civil manner.
Tom Quentin. Teach 10th grade history in Maine.
Hi all, sorry late. Dave. 8th grade social studies. PA.
Learn to read and write power in your community ala Eric Liu https://t.co/tFQpXsQUum power literacy is key to participation
Sean Burgett teacher candidate WOU
A1 to actively engage in local &/or global issues in a manner that promotes social justice
Wow! Kind of especially relevant today w/ the Supreme Court ruling on representation.
A1:Staying informed about issues facing our local, national and international communities and taking action to improve the situation
Yes! Let's talk about empathy again in Q2 because you're so right that it is an important part of participatory cit. ...
I agree. We work all year on how to have civil discourse. Underdeveloped skill in modern society.
Being able to listen is key!
schools, communities, neighborhoods, HOAs, etc, etc, etc....
best of luck to you! I absolutely LOVE teaching - this group is a great resource!
A1 - To not just know how government works, but to become active in the process through voting and other engagement
Good point on the end. Sometimes only "safe" forms of citizenship are emphasized in schools to avoid rocking the boat.
Yes! Looking beyond what's good for ME to what's good for the WHOLE
Absolutely! Our democracy hinges on it.
I love this contribution! Power structures come in all shapes and sizes and we must understand where we fit into them
For a project last year, students investigated the state budget & the film tax credit.
Neat way to help students become engaged.
Thx you too! It's been too long since last for me.
Yes, those are awesome for bringing in the study of ethics.
Should Ss be prepared for college? For career? Absolutely.
But most important: they should be prepared to do good in this world.
A1: said it well. Participatory citizenship is a big job - serving, engaging, and asking questions are all so important.
You're so right! I think supporting only "safe"not only is an injustice, but fails to encourage critical thinking skills
...even when they are contrary to your own. Listening and being able to consider all sides
No worries Dave! Welcome!
if my students leave my class with this thought in their heads..than I consider that a success. Love this!
Love that you said asking questions! Think this is such an important skill as well.
RT : A1 to actively engage in local &/or global issues in a manner that promotes social justice
A2: Civil discourse, respect for others as well as for self, willingness to serve your communities at all levels
Government is all about who has the power.
Social justice is often the foundation of participatory citizenship curriculum! (or should be in my opinion...)
RT : I agree. We work all year on how to have civil discourse. Underdeveloped skill in modern society.
Q2: Understanding multiple perspectives, empathy, informed decision-making.
Participatory citizens desires to understand how community works. "Who are the people in the neighborhood" & what do they need/want?
RT : A1 - To not just know how government works, but to become active in the process through voting and other engagement
A2: EMPATHY; I have no right to make a decision unless I consider the impact on & perspectives of others involved & invested
RT : A2: Civil discourse, respect for others as well as for self, willingness to serve your communities at all levels
A2 empathy, civilty, ability to look at mult perspectives, analytical skills, reflective, collaborator
A2. humility, empathy, service, working for the common good, civil discourse
RT : Q2: Understanding multiple perspectives, empathy, informed decision-making.
Participatory citizens desire to understand how community works. "Who are the people in the neighborhood" & what do they need/want?
Informed and vocal on policy and political issues, strong organizing skills, anti-racist, intersectional. https://t.co/8B1Uch4RC3
Q2: These day students really need to think globally. It's a small world and only getting smaller. How can we learn to get along
Isabelle Selak, Morgan Hill, CA. SAHM these days, taught 11th gr. US Hist and 12th gr. US Gov't previously. PD here until I go back.
A2 Empathy & the ability to use higher level thinking skills to solve complex problems
A2) Think several others have stated what I'd include: empathy, ability to consider other POVs, questioning, BS detection skills.
RT : Part. cit. desire to understand how comm. works. "Who are the people in the neighborhood" & what do they need/want?
Dismissiveness is easy; understanding is hard. Even harder is being dismissive once I understand build community
Q3 coming your way in a few short minutes...
RT :
"most important: they should be prepared to do good in this world."
Yes yes yes yes yes!
A2 We have already mentioned empathy. Thinking of what's best for the group, not self. A bit of conflict here.
A2)These day students really need to think /quetion globally. A small world is only getting smaller. How can we learn to get along
Jill here from Cheney checking in a little late...
RT : A2 Empathy & the ability to use higher level thinking skills to solve complex problems
In library school I took a course about how to scan a community through little neighborhood newspapers, ads, etc.
BS detection skills...they should put that in the state standards.
This is an AWESOME list of values associated with participatory citizenship! The hard questions come next...the action part
This is an AWESOME list of values associated with participatory citizenship! The hard questions come next...the action part
"I can analyze primary and secondary sources and determine the level of BS present."
In a city, every neighborhood newspaper shows a different demographic, diff interests & concerns.
A2: Introducing students to global perspectives through studies and engaging int'nl schools. Skype mystery chats would be great!
Agreed. I think participatory engagement lends itself to problem solving tasks.
So local newspapers would be excellent source. What is close to home?
House sitting sought or free health services - two different neighborhoods. Many more examples.
For example - Flint MI in news for lead in water - but same issue was making local headlines
All politics is local? Starting with the local news sources makes so much sense!
Yes - lead water pipes was big issue in Washington, DC in 2004.
The best place to teach participatory citizenship is in the classroom and school itself. Who holds power? https://t.co/M91nLDZW4u
Dignify frustration and respond with: what can we do about it? Turn complaints into problem solving
A3 - Thematic approach - I use power and human rights to address issues of poverty and empathy. It has to be an ongoing topic.
A3 why it matters now - IR child labor and present child labor, Slavery then and now. Open their eyes to beyond textbook
Student voice/choice/power needs to develop the culture/values/structures of the school around them.
A3) I believe that all schools need a service learning SS class. Beyond SAT hours...something students are truely vested in
A3. Has to be room for student voice and choice, feedback and discourse on what is working well, what norms guide class discussion
Part of it is teaching that history is not simply "what was" but as choices people made. Then work to show some of their reasoning.
A3: be a model, respect all voices, and most importantly: be authentic
A3: Part of class culture is rephrasing what 1 student says before inserting one's own opinion.Check for listening & understanding
A3 Through promoting and teaching Ss the skills that underlie being a participatory citizen & giving Ss opps to have a "voice"
My S's dismiss certain candidates; I respond with why do other people like that candidate? how can we meet people's needs?
Had great teach moment recently - Water in led to Flint led to Allentown
A3 student voice let them decide what problem (s) to fix then facilitate and teach
A3 Involve students in the decision making process. Model, model, model.
A3: has helped. If students create for community, they feel a part of the comm.
A3) Encourage Ss to look for decision points in history - what could have been done differently w/ what outcome?
A3: Makes participatory politics in my gov't. unit relatable
With huge budgets cuts next year, my S's are starting to realize!
Absolutely! This gives students AGENCY in solving problems.
Agree! And connected in meaningful ways to existing social studies content.
A3) Consistently discussing global issues. This shows that participatory citizenship is an ongoing thing, not a one class lesson.
Yes! Revisiting themes in a multitude of settings, topics, units, etc. The conversation doesn't stop
Agreed. I was going over primary election results with Ss...
This will serve them well as citizens as well as in their personal lives.
A student last week said, "We need to learn about racism TODAY, not just 100 years ago"
..but had to back up and address what are Democrats and Republicans
In between Boy Scouts and errands... Bruce 8th grade NC
Yes! Give them opportunities to bring change beyond the classroom walls...we'll discuss more in Q5 :)
Lesson on satire: housing crisis from NPR, Mr. Roger's neighborhood, Mr. Robinson's neighborhood
A3: Integrate problems without clear solutions into lessons. Allow for time to discuss what is going on in the world
Ha! Yes...it gave me great perspective.
A3: does anyone else struggle to get everything that is important in. Content, current events, writing, PBL, tech, citizenship, etc
Modeling action AND THINKING...we must think aloud for our students to hear thought processes as well
Looking for a repository of for High School Social Science
Yes. I try to figure out what I have to reduce (or cut) to hit some of the things I want to teach. https://t.co/TRlwpe11fR
A3: does anyone else struggle to get everything that is important in. Content, current events, writing, PBL, tech, citizenship, etc
I think that's the importance of it becoming the culture of the room.
AND ask students to consider "What would you do?" "What would you propose?" "How do we meet everyone's needs?"
Yes but lots of overlap with all those things. Not all mutually exclusive.
Ha OMG! Thx. I shudder to think what "safe" products we are using today that killing us...
I used to -but w/ age comes wisdom on what really needs to be the focus and what can be sidelined https://t.co/3s1yqa7SKg
Yes, of course. Let's talk about resources and strategies in Q4 for doing our best to teach all of these...
And all of this goes triple for SoC, marginalized youth. Society will try to marginalize their power, we must prepare them to fight.
Oh yes. I try to find ways to double up. Use content to teach skills.
Yes! We must equip them with knowledge, tools, actionable strategies, etc, etc. AND give them a chance to practice that
A4) Honestly, I struggle w/ this for world history. Need to be more creative about tying to present problems.
A5 - I recently did a fishbowl discussion. Completely Ss centered and everyone gets a voice. It was a GREAT experience.
A4 - I use Twitter and social media - what is going on? We tracked live and discussed - scary but so much learning
Discussions, debates, and investigations seem like they work to help develop the skills for participatory citizens.
A4 : My favorite framework for this is the framework. So much student choice, so much real world experience
A4 : My favorite framework for this is the framework. So much student choice, so much real world experience
Very touch and go to live tweet in MS classroom. I haven't tapped into that yet...
A4: In 2014, while covering Great Depression w/, students chose to create mobile housing to solve local homeless prob.
A4) Simulations led to great discussion & opportunities for Ss to develop skills but need to do better tying to civic participation.
Paulo Freire pedagogy of the oppressed https://t.co/xZq9MD2x5Q
And all of this goes triple for SoC, marginalized youth. Society will try to marginalize their power, we must prepare them to fight.
For historical perspectives, I really like the Choices curriculum resources from Brown University.
A4) We use and students love it!! Also just giving them time to dicuss whatever they want going on in the world
Fishbowl is great. We do a lot of Structured Academic Controversies as well.
I am very leery of these....too much chrome? Has to be done just right to make impact.
Great stuff! and the Teaching with the News lessons are timely and free.
A4 Have Ss look at mult sources, eval sources thru media lit lens, find Ss space where they can have "voice" to plan action agenda
Last year we had students investigate the state budget & the film tax credit.
They investigated, learned, & presented findings.
A4 We compare/contrast a lot during ancient Greece/Rome units. Also s Week in Rap makes for some great examples.
Agreed, as long as the teacher focuses on listening as well as speaking. & Ss need reflection when the process is done
Awesome! Is that like a debate?
Have found they really engage non-trad Ss who have skills outside traditionally valued ones - & kept engagement up.
Nice! Connecting history to current world!
Students develop own policy issues-to-action campaigns, meet w/legislators, then choose campaigns to work. https://t.co/tG2acfqKaC
A4: AmGov S's are doing demographic research to create candidates for 2016: who will you please? ignore? WHY?
Q5 , our most significant question of the night, is coming up next.
Wish I could stay longer, but time for me to take daughter to ballet. Thanks !
How can you add a reflection piece followed with an ACTION piece to a simulation experience?
Yeah...engagement is always a balancing act. What simul have you used? I am going to Scramble for Africa this year.
4th graders! Interested in contacting your county representative? Find District 18's contacts here https://t.co/OwFw5vUzOD
A4: will start my 8th Ss next Aug. w/ Ss creating laws of class by research what other Ts do, forming committees, and passing laws
That's a good idea. What skills did you use in this sim? How can you apply to a current problem/situation?
A4: I sometimes use historical/social simulations, but since Chi is in the middle of a revolution, we use real life more these days.
Estates-General, Congress of Vienna, Middle East peace negotiation, etc.
You are right on with getting students to meet with people OUTSIDE of the school setting. Help them get their voice out
I agree that we need to address responsible digital citizenship...including dealing with trolls.
A4: shedding light on current issues - e.g. human trafficking - is a powerful way to promote inquiry and participatory citizenship
I have a great Scramble for Africa simulation if you're very brave. You'll need to give admins a heads up first :)
Yes! Do you care enough to start a petition? write to the newspaper, attend a BofED meeting, etc?
Working on a new election vid including masonic murder & a real life episode of Housewives of Washington DC. Any guesses what year?
Google forms - its a game change for data collection. I do Ss reflections for every unit.
And kids really engage with current issues...I think they can hardly believe it's real sometimes
I agree. Ss are surrounded by so many issues that many rarely see.
add me to this! Always looking for a way to make Africa better for my Ss!
And they do. We also do civil disobedience training since our board tends to brutalize student speakers.
That def sound though provoking! I'd love to take a look if you have a link.
A4: Pres. election sim. (an entire elect'n in an 80 min period) and letters to local representatives about a real issue. Not enough!
I use Google Forms for this as well. Allows me to respond in real time. Get and give instant feedback.
Agreed. Love them. I am trying to sell my colleagues on it.
When my students wear school board candidate pins/t-shirts, I ask them why - don't just wear a friend's parents shirt.
A5 Hook up with your local League of Women Voters. They will be more than thrilled to show students how to participate locally.
That's the trick, right? In 8th grade I am basically just learning about parent beliefs when talk to Ss.
A5. Help Ss connect with the local network of community leaders through alumni, parents, board members, etc.
A5: our 8th Ss design, plan, and participate in their own community service day in May.
Interest group and public meetings
A5 for my Ss we do a Walk for Water to raise awareness & money for schools in developing nations w water needs.
A5: Connect, encourage, repeat! Connect past and current events, encourage involvement & Ss as change agents, & preach it all year.
A5: re: the C3 - sometimes taking informed action is most powerful when it's Taking Informed Action in the community and beyond
Thx. I am comfortable HOW to use forms, just have hard time selling teachers on using them for feedback
A5 : I require my students to seek authentic experts in fields related to their work. Lessons in professionalism embedded
A5 : I require my students to seek authentic experts in fields related to their work. Lessons in professionalism embedded
A5 I need help with this, I must admit.
A5 : I constantly invite the outside world in to my school, classroom, students' conversations, etc.
A5 : I constantly invite the outside world in to my school, classroom, students' conversations, etc.
A5) You have to make them want it for themselves. Travel is still the best way to take it outside of the classroom
Ts see the use of Forms for administrative stuff (organizing trips, etc.) but not for instructional
A5: has helped bring in those outside-local-experts. Breaks down the walls between school & community.
A5) When I taught government, Ss had to attend at least one school board & one town/county council meeting.
And some meaningful career connections beyond shadow day and career inventory searches.
Exactly. How can I help you sell it?
A5 Some interesting phone apps can be useful. See and
What do you find most challenging about connecting your classroom to the greater community? How can I help?
Hmmm...am open to suggestions :)
A5 County Registrars are always happy to hire HS students to be poll workers. The Ss learn a lot and get paid to boot.
A5) Ss were encouraged to serve as poll workers during elections - good action but need to get creative about enc meaningful action.
How could I say no to that?! How can I reciprocate? What do you need from me?
Linking up with community orgs, politicians, or just soapboxing and fliering in front of the school https://t.co/djOb1HOxf5
Let's continue this conversation even once ends. I literally can't imagine not having this resource now...
Wow! What an hour. Thank you for hosting this discussion! And thank you all for joining us! Keep the convo going!
