Michigan Council for the Social Studies News

Spring Webinar Series

Mon, 04 May 2020 04:57:30 GMT

Free for all MCSS members and non-members alike, MCSS will be offering a series of webinars to help enhance your teaching including topics to help with effectively teaching during remote learning to how to effectively teach the Armenian Genocide.

Click here to register (will be available soon)

Difficult Decisions in Difficult Times: Hope and Agency During the Armenian Genocide
Sara Cohen, Genocide Education Group
Today's uncertainty and instability provide an opportunity to teach about the profound transformative power of hope and agency - taking individual and cooperative action to effect positive change. Learn to teach about the Armenian Genocide, while providing students examples of personal choices of common citizens they can relate to their own lives. We will also explore the concept of remembrance and its influential role in our personal and public lives.
Tuesday, May 11th, 5:00-6:30 p.m.

Teaching Social Studies to Young Children at Home: Support for Teachers and Parents
Dr. Annie McMahon Whitlock, University of Michigan Flint
What are ways we can engage children ages 4-7 in social studies learning at home? Learn ways parents and teachers can utilize materials that they may already have at home to be intentional about teaching inquiry and citizenship in a play-based way.
Monday, May 11th, 7:00 -8:00 p.m.

Geography and Geography Integration in Distance Learning
Gabrielle Likavec, Michigan Geographic Alliance
Join us as we take a look at how geography can be a lens for teaching Social Studies in distance learning with suggested adaptations of MGA and other resources.
Monday, May 18th 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Adapting Inquiry for Remote Learning
Dave Johnson, Northern Michigan Learning Consortium
You're spent the school year mired in your content and suddenly you're forced to figure out how to finish it remotely. This session will provide practical strategies both for adapting social studies inquiry for on line and offline remote learning, and finishing your school year with a bang.
Date to be announced

The Second Dimension: Going Where Few Men (And Women) Have Gone Before
Beckie Bush, Ottawa Area Intermediate School District
What does strong skills based instruction look like alongside the content in a social studies classroom? Explore with us, the skill sets incorporated within the History and Geography indicators from the C3 Framework. We'll spend time thinking, reading, and writing like historians and geographers, and analyzing what that really looks like in the middle grades.
Date to be announced

Rock It, Don't Knock It: Become a Third Grade MVP
Dr. Matthew Daley, Grand Valley State University; Dr. Phil Gersmehl, Michigan Geographic Alliance; Joy Kooyer, Holland Public Schools. Moderated by Dr. Scott Roberts, Central Michigan University
Join us for a panel discussion on knocking your third grade instruction out of the park. Our guests include a practicing third grade classroom teacher, a historian specializing in Michigan history, and a geographer specializing in spatial and temporal thinking.
Monday June 8, 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Click here to register (will be available soon)

Spring Conference 2020 Rescheduled for Fall 2020 - Registration is still open

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 16:59:09 GMT

We have rescheduled the conference at Grand Traverse Resort for October 2 - 3, 2020. Registration for the 2020 Fall Conference - The Stories We Tell is now live! Click here to go to the registration page!

Budget Challenge - Michigan Council for Economic Education

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 22:34:04 GMT

Budget Challenge®, the Michigan Council for Economic Education (MCEE) and the state of Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing (CSCL) are pleased to announce a grant that will provide the Budget Challenge® financial education program along with teacher training to all Michigan high school schools at no financial cost. Funding for the program comes from the Securities Education and Training Fund under the guidelines set by the Uniform Securities Act (2002), Section 605(5)(e), MCL 451.2601(5) with grant administration by the Michigan Council for Economic Education. “This is an incredible opportunity for the students of Michigan”, notes Tim Lambrecht, Director of Education for Budget Challenge®. “Having used the program for four years as a classroom teacher, I can attest that the program can be truly life changing for students, setting them on a course to be financially capable young adults”.

Budget Challenge® is an immersive, ten-week, real-time, real-world financial simulation that has been used by over 750,000 students nationwide. Last year approximately 10,000 Michigan students participated. During the ten-week simulation, students manage their budget like that of a working young adult, making important financial decisions and trying to accomplish key financial goals like setting up an emergency fund, maximizing an employer 401k match for retirement, and paying down debt.

During the simulation, students create an online account, select vendors for an apartment, banking, cell phone service, auto and renter’s insurance, housing, utilities, and more. They receive a simulated paycheck, set aside some of their income into a 401K account as savings for retirement, and write e-checks to pay household bills. Budget Challenge® helps instill financial behaviors needed in real life, like routine checking of bills and account status, managing cash flow, and balancing near-term and longer-term financial goals. Simulation scoring positively reinforces savings for retirement and punishes mistakes such as missing due dates, bouncing checks and exceeding certain percentages of the credit limit on their credit card. Trophies are awarded for completing key financial tasks such as paying all bills on time, reducing debt, maxing out an employer 401k match and setting up an emergency fund.

“The Michigan Council on Economic Education listened to what teachers wanted for their students and is pleased to help provide them the resources they need to set students on a path for financial success”, notes MCEE president Derek D’Angelo. “The ‘learning by doing’ engagement provided by the Budget Challenge simulation will give all Michigan students an opportunity not available in any other state in the country.”

Teachers who have previously used Budget Challenge® will be able to register for simulations beginning Wednesday, September 25. Teachers who are new to Budget Challenge® will complete a free training to become familiar with the program, prior to using it. Teachers desiring to sign-up their classes or sign up for training can do so by emailing Budget Challenge® at: support@budgetchallenge.freshdesk.com.

DBQ Project Follow Up

Mon, 16 Sep 2019 18:18:30 GMT

Now that your school year is underway.....

We’ve got your back as you embrace DBQ implementation in your classroom.

Be sure to connect with us Saturday, Dec. 14th when we meet at the Soaring Eagle Conference Center and Water Park. The cost is only $25 for a full day of new learning, reflection, and networking. Breakfast and lunch will be provided and SCECHs will be available at no charge. Registration deadline is December 6 so sign up today by clicking here!

Nominate an Extraordinary Social Studies Educator!

Sun, 15 Sep 2019 18:21:21 GMT

MCSS Awards will be given out at our fall regional conference. Nominate a deserving educator today!

Olympiad 2020

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 02:38:46 GMT

The Olympiad offers students the unique opportunity to creatively apply what they have been learning in their social studies classes. Michigan is the only state to offer this type of state-wide event. For more information and to register, click on the Olympiad button in the menu bar!

2019 Fall Symposium

Mon, 24 Jun 2019 19:23:44 GMT

The 2019 Fall Symposium on empowering students in social studies is not to be missed!

Come learn with us about designing engaging learning spaces with and for students, creating a culture that stimulates creativity, and inspiring students to take action in meaningful ways in their schools and communities. The day will feature presentations by education experts and sessions dedicated to strategies and resources around student voice, choice, and taking action.

All educators with passion for teaching and learning in social studies are encouraged to join us.

2019 Fall Symposium Registration

DBQ Project

Fri, 26 Apr 2019 17:59:45 GMT

MCSS Elections 2019

Wed, 10 Apr 2019 22:05:58 GMT

Do you want to be an advocate for Social Studies?

District representatives from ODD NUMBERED districts are currently up for election, as is the position of President Elect…

The District Representatives in ODD numbered districts shall serve a two (2) year term beginning July 1, 2019.

District representatives shall:

attend monthly Executive Board meetings. These are conducted over the phone.
work toward the achievement of MCSS objectives and strategies;
serve on one of the Strategic Plan Action Teams;
become familiar with the MCSS By Laws and Policies;
assist in identifying community resources in their districts;
serve to communicate issues and opportunities to their constituents in their districts;
submit pertinent District news article to the council’s official publications;
represent their districts in advocacy efforts;
attend the MCSS Annual meeting and assist at state conferences;
Serve on various State level committees and testify at various hearings on pertinent social studies issues should the need arise.

The President Elect shall serve 1 term as President Elect, 1 term as President, 1 as Past President:

submit goals and objectives at the beginning of his/her term which may be carried over into their term as president;
assist the president as directed by the Executive Board;
perform duties of the President in the President’s absence;
fill an unexpired term of President in the event that a vacancy should occur;
serve on the State Conference Program Committee;
perform such duties and have such powers as are provided in these By-Laws or a directed by the President and/or the Executive Board.

If interested in running for any of these positions, please fill out the brief application at: MCSS Elections 2019 by April 30, 2019

Take the MCSS Member Survey

Wed, 20 Mar 2019 18:17:28 GMT

We want to hear from you! Take the MCSS member survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HFNNG59

Online Schedule for Igniting Inquisitive Individuals Now Live! (App coming soon!)

Thu, 28 Feb 2019 00:54:31 GMT

Check it out here! https://event.crowdcompass.com/mcss2019

Online Registration now available for the 2019 Olympiad

Sun, 16 Sep 2018 12:56:00 GMT

Are you interested in challenging your students 3-12 in a multitude of social studies topics? Click here to visit the MCSS Social Studies Olympiad page for more information and to register!

Conference 2019

Mon, 13 Aug 2018 17:35:06 GMT

Save the Dates! MCSS Annual Conference is being held March 22 and 23 on the Hope College Campus in Holland, MI.

Life of Lincoln Tour

Mon, 21 May 2018 00:07:43 GMT

Experience an in-depth look at the life of one of America’s greatest presidents with our “Life of Lincoln” motor coach tour. The 4-day, 3-night tour includes a special visit to the new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois. We’ll also tour Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, the Lincoln Home in Springfield, the Lincoln Tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery, and much more!

For more information Click here

Conference space still available for Saturday!

Wed, 21 Mar 2018 01:02:44 GMT

Unfortunately, we have had to close both 2 day registrations and registration for Friday, but that doesn't mean you have to miss out! Conference space is still available for Saturday. Please register soon as space is limited and you won't want to miss out on our great speaker line-up.

2018 Conference Guide is now available!

Thu, 15 Mar 2018 01:29:39 GMT

The 2018 MCSS Conference Guide is now available. Please click here to download the guide.

Nominate Great Social Studies Educators! Updated (2/2/18)

Mon, 18 Dec 2017 00:53:46 GMT

If you are working with someone whom you consider an excellent social studies educator or student we ask that you please nominate them for one of the nine MCSS awards to be given at the State Conference.

If you know someone who personifies all that is good in social studies then please NOMINATE HIM/HER for one of the following categories:

Elementary Educator of the Year
Middle School Educator of the Year
High School Educator of the Year
College-level Educator of the Year
Student Teacher of the Year
Middle School Student of the Year
High School Student of the Year
Mel Miller Award for Stewardship
Terry Kuseske Award for Promotion of Tolerance

Click here for the Awards form

Online Registration now available for the Annual Conference

Mon, 02 Oct 2017 16:56:45 GMT

Online registration is now available for the Annual Conference at Macomb ISD in Southwest, Michigan. Click here for more information and to register!

2018 Conference Call for Proposals

Tue, 22 Aug 2017 01:35:07 GMT

Are you interested in presenting?

The call for proposals for the MCSS 2018 Annual Conference is now open. The conference will be March 23-24 at the Macomb ISD in Clinton Township, MI. Please complete the form online here: Click Here, and email smcbrady@mcssmi.org with any questions. We are looking for all educational levels and all social studies disciplines.

Proposals are due by January 3, 2018 and notifications will go out to all primary presenters in early February 2018.

Join our Facebook Group

Tue, 11 Apr 2017 15:25:17 GMT

Want lesson ideas or want to communicate with fellow social studies teachers?

Visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/MICSS/

2017 MCSS State Conference

Thu, 19 Jan 2017 00:56:44 GMT

I’s for the Prize - Inquiry, Integration and Ingenuity"

The 2017 Annual MCSS conference will be held in west Michigan this year at the Kent County ISD near Grand Rapids, Michigan. We are excited to bring the conference back to the spring and also to return to the western side of the state since it has been nearly a decade since the event was help there.

What we can promise is the conference will be filled with information, ideas, collaborations with peers, and the opportunity to share with fellow social studies colleagues.

Click Conference 2017 for more information.

Social Studies Olympiad Informational Meeting

Sat, 05 Nov 2016 03:09:35 GMT

The Michigan Social Studies Olympiad is hosting an informational meeting for coaches of the MICHIGAN SOCIAL STUDIES OLYMPIAD on Thursday, December 1st at 4:30pm at the Macomb ISD (44001 Garfield Rd., Clinton Twp.) in room 202. New coaches are encouraged to attend to find out more about Olympiad events, logistics, organizing your team or starting an Olympiad Club.

Veteran coaches are encouraged to come too, to discuss recent changes, provide important feedback to the planning committee, and network with other coaches for tips and advice on running a successful Olympiad program in schools. Judges and event coordinators will be on hand to answer questions an get you ready for the event.

For more information, email Olympiad@mcssmi.org.

Hope to see you there!

2017 Conference Presentation Proposal Information

Sat, 22 Oct 2016 00:59:51 GMT

If you are interested in presenting at the 2017 Social Studies conference click here.

Our annual conference theme this year is "I’s for the Prize - Inquiry, Integration and Ingenuity" - Session presentations should link to this theme.

The deadline for submissions is January 6, 2017

Social Studies Olympiad 2017

Thu, 06 Oct 2016 00:33:12 GMT

Information for the 2017 Social Studies Olympiad had been posted. Please visit Olympiad 2017 for more information.

Please welcome our new board members!

Wed, 17 Aug 2016 13:00:00 GMT

Your new districts representatives and NCSS Delegate at Large are:

First name	Last name	District
Rebecca	Bush	3
Brian	Stephens	4
Roy	Sovis	4
Marsha A	Lewis	7
Heather	Wolf	9
Evan	Rokicki	10

MCSS Board Retreat

Tue, 02 Aug 2016 02:41:11 GMT

The 2016-2017 MCSS Executive Board will be meeting at the University of Michigan Flint to hold the first meeting of school year. The new board members will be inaugurated at that time.

Contact Board President Annie Whitlock for further information at awhitlock@mcssmi.org

Election Ballots have been sent out!

Tue, 07 Jun 2016 04:30:00 GMT

Ballots should be send out in the next week. We are still looking for representatives from Districts 1, 5, 10.

Elections

Are you interested in making a difference in how social studies is perceived, taught, and talked about? Considering joining the Michigan Council for the Social Studies Board. Represent your district! Represent you state at the NCSS annual meeting!

For more information click here.

Meet our President- Elect

Tue, 19 Apr 2016 19:14:50 GMT

We are very happy to announce that Dr. Annie Whitlock from University of Michigan-Flint has been elected President-Elect of MCSS. Annie will become President of MCSS in May 2016. We want to thank all of you who participated in the electronic election.

If you want to get involved with MCSS, contact our Elections Committee at apontege@mcssmi.org.

I am Annie Whitlock, Assistant Professor of Elementary Education at the University of Michigan-Flint. I am very excited to serve as President of MCSS because I have enjoyed being a part of this organization for over a decade and am ready to give back to the organization that helped me so much in my early career. As social studies educators, we can all agree that we have seen social studies become increasingly marginalized in K-12 classrooms. I want to work on ways MCSS can have a greater presence for K-12 social studies teachers. I would love to see expanded attendance for the MCSS Conference and expanded readership for the MCSS Journal. I would like to see our state chapter become a presence at NCSS, and find more ways for K-12 teachers to attend.

Because I know the importance of curriculum directors and teacher educators advocating for social studies as well, I want to support those that are helping to prepare the future generation of social studies teachers.

My passion has always been to teach social studies to elementary and middle school students. I began my career teaching 6th, 7th, and 8th grade social studies at a charter school in Holland. MCSS was very helpful to me as a first-year teacher to get to know other social studies professionals and gather resources I needed to be successful. I have frequently presented at the MCSS Conference, and have served on the conference planning committee and the editorial board for the MCSS Journal. After serving as a social studies curriculum specialist in Grand Rapids for three years, I moved to Farmington Hills and commute to Flint. I teach the elementary social studies methods course at UM-Flint and do research on the integration of social studies with other subjects and project-based learning in elementary classrooms. I also love collecting children's literature that can be used to teach social studies at all levels, and I am the Chair of the NCSS Notable Trade Books Committee. I attend CUFA and NCSS every year, and often present.

There are so many opportunities for all of us to be involved with MCSS, leaders in our field, and advocates for social studies across the state. I am looking forward to working with all of you and excited for the future!

Join our Facebook Group

Tue, 08 Mar 2016 02:36:12 GMT

Please join our Facebook group! Here you will be able to post lessons and information for other members!

Visit http://www.facebook.com/groups/MICSS

It is a closed group, so you will have to apply to gain access. Usually within 24 hours you will be provided access.

MCSS Elections

Tue, 02 Feb 2016 23:05:01 GMT

Dear MCSS members,

We are seeking candidates for the position of President-Elect. The person holding this position will assume the presidency of MCSS in June of this year.If you are interested in running for this position please send an email to Carol Egbo, current MCSS President at bacakegb@oakland.edu. Please respond by 3/3/16.

The email should include a short bio and the reasons you would like to be President of MCSS. Note that responsibilities of the President include the following:

a. Call all meetings of the council, Executive Board and Executive Team and preside over the same;

b. Exercise general executive responsibilities relative to carrying out the stated mission and objectives of MCSS;

c. Appoint the Treasurer, Secretary, Team Leaders, Publications Editors and Committee Chairs with the approval of the Executive Board;

d. Submit a nomination for appointments to fill the term of any officer vacancy, except that of President or President-Elect with the approval of the Executive Board;

e. Act as the official representative of the Council at all Council organization functions, or designate a member to represent the Council in his/her stead;

f. Insure that the Bylaws of the Council and such rules and regulations that the Executive Board may adopt are enforced;

g. Perform such duties and have such powers as are provided in the By-Laws or as directed by the Executive Board.

h. Act as the contact between the Council and other organizations for the purpose of advancing the interests of the Council

i. Facilitate and work as a liaison with the National Council for the Social Studies;

j. Conduct official correspondence

k. Contribute to the publications of MCSS;

l. Facilitate consensus building and conflict resolution skills when appropriate;

m. Assist appropriate board members in the development of and on-going coordination of specific projects, Team and committee work;

n. Review and be the signer of all contracts concerning the business of MCSS;

o. In conjunction with the Treasurer and the Business Manager, advise on budgetary matters;

I look forward to hearing from you!

Thanks,

Carol Egbo

2016 Social Studies Olympiad

Wed, 11 Nov 2015 18:18:09 GMT

Here are quick links to the 2016 Social Studies Olympiad documents and event registration.

For more information about Social Studies Olympiad click here.

Olympiad Documents

2016 Olympiad Handbook

2016 Olympiad Registration Form

2016 Olympiad Event Selection Form

2016 Online Olympiad Registration

Opportunities for Teachers

Thu, 15 Oct 2015 05:47:19 GMT

Updated October

Wild Music from the Heart of Poland Janusz Prusinowski Kompania
The University of Michigan
November 9 – 12, 2015

Lecture. Mazurek: Musical Language from Another World
Museum of Art, Stern Auditorium, 525 South State Street, Ann Arbor
Monday, November 9, 2015, 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Workshop. Dance and Vocal Mazurka Workshop
Michigan League Ballroom, 911 N. University, Ann Arbor
Tuesday, November 10, 2015, 5:00 – 7:00 pm
No experience necessary, open to all
Piano Concert. Secret Key to Chopin - Lost and Found featuring U-M Piano Professor Arthur Greene
Museum of Art, Stern Auditorium, 525 South State Street, Ann Arbor
Wednesday, November 11, 2015, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Final Concert. Wild Music from the Heart of Poland
Rackham Auditorium, 915 E. Washington, Ann Arbor
Thursday, November 12, 2015, 7:00 – 9:00 pm

No tickets necessary. All events are free and open to the public.
____

Movements of people, money and cultures: Migration and its effects on the post-Soviet transition processes in the South Caucasus
University of Michigan, Social Work Building, 1636 International Institute, 1080 S. University Avenue
November 18, 2015, 4:00 – 5:30 pm

The presentation will explore how Soviet migrant networks perpetuate migratory processes from the former “colonies” to Russia and instigate new flows of migration. With migratory ties, social networks, migrants’ transnational activity, Russia maintains its influence on many former “colonies” and on Armenia particularly. Georgia, has more migratory ties with EU countries. The case of Georgia’s post-soviet development processes will be deployed as a counterpoint to that of Armenia.
http://www.ii.umich.edu/asp/events/ci.basplecturebmovementsofpeoplemoneyandculturesmigrationanditseffectsonthepostsoviettransitionprocessesi

Click for more Opportunities

_____________________________

Opportunities for Teachers is compiled from the following sources among others: Detroit History and Cultural Heritage Events (David & Kathleen Marcaccio), Michigan Council for History Education (James McConnell), Michigan Humanities Council, Newspapers in Education, Seeking Michigan, National Humanities Center, the Library of Congress, American Library Association, National Council for the Social Studies.

DIA Information for 2015 Conference

Tue, 13 Oct 2015 12:33:54 GMT

Michigan Council for the Social Studies Night at the DIA

November 6, 2015

Agenda:

5:00pm-5:15pm: Introductory remarks by Teri John, Director of Education Programs at the DIA, featuring examples of programs for K-12 students developed in collaboration with local teachers.

5:15pm-6:15pm: Tours of the museum led by DIA Gallery Teachers, encompassing a hybrid of the two tours offered to schools visiting on field trips:

6:15pm-10:00pm: Explore the DIA’s galleries on your own or enjoy Friday Night Live programming.

6:00pm-9:00pm Drop-In Workshop: Art Pins (Learning Center Studio)

6:00pm-9:00pm Drawing in the Galleries (Great Hall & African Galleries)

7:00pm & 8:30pm Concert: Lisa Moore (Rivera Court)

7:00pm Detroit Film Theater: Court (DFT Auditorium)

For more information about the above list, please download this PDF file.