Forthcoming NCSS Bulletin (2017)
Edited by Brad Maguth & Gloria Wu
  
Submit a Lesson Plan for Review!
 
This book, edited by experienced scholars in the field, will bring together a diverse array of educators to showcase lessons, activities, and instructional strategies that advance inquiry oriented global learning. All published lesson must directly align to the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework. This work will showcase ways in which an inquiry oriented approach to global learning can seamlessly be interwoven into the disciplines of History, Economics, Geography, Civics, Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology. Drawing from scholarship in social studies and global education, this bulletin will provide research-based instructional materials, resources, and strategies, all aligned to the C3 Framework, for use by teachers, teacher educators, pre-service teachers, curricular specialists, and professional development supervisors looking for global learning instructional tools. 
 
To learn more about this project, or, to submit a lesson plan idea for review see http://tinyurl.com/zps5665

2016 NCSS Conference Registration Scholarships for First-Time Attendees
NCSS is pleased this year to offer a limited number of conference registration scholarships to teachers who have never been able to attend its annual meetings in the past for lack of financial support. All teachers from the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia who meet the qualifications are eligible to apply.

The FAQs below lay out the details of what is covered, eligibility, and how to apply.

Q: What does a Conference Registration Scholarship cover?

A: The scholarship covers the conference registration fee for the 2016 Annual Meeting in Washington, DC and a one-year regular membership in NCSS. It does NOT cover additional expenses including:
 travel, lodging and meals
 ticketed events such as tours or clinics
 substitute teacher to cover your class while you are attending the conference

​Attendees will need to cover these costs with district or personal funds.

Q. Who may apply for a 2016 scholarship?

A: The intent of the scholarship is to enable teachers from diverse ethnic groups and/or who teach in high-poverty schools who have never attended an NCSS conference before to take advantage of this premier professional development opportunity.

Applicants must meet the following requirements:
 first time attendee at an NCSS conference
 full-time preK-12 school teacher from the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, or Virginia supported by the school administrator in the desire to attend the conference

Priority will be given to applicants who:
 have a diverse background and/or experience
 are in their first five years of teaching
 are working in a high-poverty school

If your district has committed to fund your registration, please do NOT apply for a First Timer Scholarship.

Q: How do I know if I work in a high-poverty school?

A: The U.S. Department of Education defines a high-poverty school in three ways:
1. The school is in district that serves at least 10,000 students from families living below the poverty line. OR
2. The school is in district in which at least 20% of its students are from families living below the poverty line. OR
3. The school receives Title 1 funding.

If you are not sure whether your school meets any one of these criteria, consult your principal or district office for clarification.

Q: Why do I need to get support from my principal or other administrator to apply?

A: In order to take full advantage of the conference, you will need permission to be absent from your classroom on Friday, December 2, 2016. You will also need financial support to cover the cost of a substitute. Your principal or administrator may be able to access professional development funds that will defray some of these expenses.

Q: Now that I know I qualify, how do I apply?

A: Applying is easy. Once you have received permission from your principal or administrator to attend the 2016 conference, simply fill out the online 2016 NCSS First Timer Conference Scholarship Form (link: www.socialstudies.org/conference/scholarships). Be sure to attach a current resume as a Word Document or PDF to the online form where indicated. Hit the submit button and you are done.

Q: What is the deadline for application?

A: We encourage you to apply early as soon as the application is online (May 1 or earlier) while administrators are still budgeting professional development funds for the 2016-2017 school year. 
There will be two rounds for scholarship admissions:
The first round of scholarship applications will be open from May 1-September 15. The deadline for the First Round is September 15. Based on funds available, a second round of scholarships will be open from September 16-October 16. Deadline for the Second Round is October 16. However, if your district is planning to fund your registration, please do NOT apply for a First Timer Scholarship. NCSS will not refund registrations that have been pre-paid.

Q: When will I find out if I received a scholarship?

A: You should receive an email indicating the status of your application by September 25 (first round) or October 28 (second round). If you are awarded a scholarship, you will receive a special conference registration form for scholarship awardees. NCSS will not refund registration already paid by you or by your district if you receive a scholarship. The scholarship is intended for those teachers who do NOT have financial support for the registration.

Q: Who should I contact if I have questions?

A: Contact the First Timer Scholarship co-coordinators: 
Gayle Thieman (thiemag@pdx.edu) or Melissa Collum (mcollum@viterbo.edu)

Washington DC conference co-chair: India Meissel (indiameissel@ncss.org)
Maryland First Timer Coordinator: Karen Muir (kkmuir@comcast.net)
Washington DC local arrangements co-chair: Scott Abbott (scott.abbott@dc.gov)
Virginia local arrangements co-chair: Wesley Hedgepeth (wesleyhedgepth@trinityes.org)

Are you a teacher, or do you know one? The Virginia Historical Society announces its Weinstein Properties Story of Virginia Teachers Institutes for 2016. This week-long institute will be held June 27–July 1 and repeated July 25–29 and is open to all Virginia public and private school teachers. The institutes will provide teachers with an overview of the rich history of Virginia from the earliest habitation to the present. In addition, participating teachers will explore the vast collections of the VHS and learn how to teach their students to analyze primary sources and use historical thinking skills. The classes are aligned with the revised curriculum framework for Virginia Studies.

Click here for more info.