As we dive into the first few months of 2020, we would like to take this time to thank you for your classroom work and your advocacy for the social studies generally. It is your work that sustains democracy and grows civic engagement. We hope you find these resources useful. As always, we welcome contributions that explore innovative, student-centered practices you have found useful in your own classrooms. If you would like to contribute, please contact Dr. Ben Wellenreiter at [email protected]
Our Fall, 2019 Conference on October 11 at Harper College in Palatine was a resounding success. A great slate of presenters had the opportunity to interact with filled-rooms of attendees. Presentations on Teaching the Arab-Israeli Conflict, Manifest Destiny, Civics and Service Learning, and Gamification in Social Studies and other topics engaged attendees and refreshed our teaching. The guest speaker, Pastor Wheeler Parker Jr., cousin to Emmett Till and last living witness to his murder presented a compelling narrative of the background of that fateful evening. We thank Pastor Parker for his continued work to keep the legacy of Emmett Till alive. Happy Teaching!
Dr. Fred Isele and Dr. Ben Wellenreiter Co-editors, ICSS Quarterly
Here's what we have for you for the 2019 Winter ICSS Quarterly:
ICSS Spring 2020 Conference We look forward to seeing you at the ICSS Spring 2020 Conference at the University of Illinois on March 6, 2020. Please consider presenting practices or resources that you have found useful. The call for session proposals can be found here: Conference Proposal Form
Illinois Adventure A long-time gem to Illinois history and culture, Illinois Adventure continues to explore the interesting and compelling stories of the Prairie State. Hosted by Jim Wilhelm, this resource can add depth to your students’ learning of Illinois history.
Illinois Social Science list-serv A great resource, the IL Social Science listserv provides tips and connections to professional development throughout the state. Get in the know with all things social studies by joining this listserv. Thank you to Katie Elvidge and Kathi Rhodus, ISBE Social Science Content Specialists, for their work on this project.
Culminating US History Project Dr. Wellenreiter presents a year-end project in which students explore a topic across historical eras. Encouraging student selection of topics of interest, this culminating activity allows students to see long term development of a concept across history.
Researching outstanding History Education Activities Dr. Isele provides a wealth of classroom-ready ideas to invigorate and refresh your classroom activities. Student centered, dynamic, and embracing science, art, and other subject areas, these ideas are sure to benefit students.