Sept+9+Minutes

Social Studies Department Meeting--September 9, 2008, 2:55 p.m. Room 128 Members Present: Kristy O'Hara, Tracy El-Fiki, Kathy McGlothlin, Sean Kennedy, Steve Chrismer, Jason Gunning, Tim Myers (Special Ed. teacher) LeAnne Longeway


 * Collaboration--**Joe would like to see more collaboration among 10th and 11th grade teachers similar to what is going on in Freshman Academy. Share what works and what doesn't. Look at assessment data. What questions are the students consistently missing? There should also be vertical collaboration that focuses on instructional expectations, skills evaluation of students, and facilitating rigor in all classes.


 * Technology**--Use the CCPS SS Dept. Website and the wiki!!! It has valuable resources and includes Joe's monthly schedule. Try to find opportunities to use technology in your daily lessons.


 * Constitution Day and Mock Election**--9/17 is Constitution Day. Everyone should be teaching an appropriate constitution day lesson in all classes. There will be an electronic mock election in late October. Don't forget to teach election issues in all classes. Check the CCPS SS Dept. website for links to lesson ideas.


 * Performance Matters**--We will be using this for the final exam and one other unit assessment (for example, Unit 3 in all classes)


 * Essay Contests and other opportunities**--Joe e-mailed everyone about MDCSS Conference on October 17. I have the booklet on AP Professional Development in the Middle States Region if anyone is interested. Also, let students know about the Being an American Essay Contest. First place students in each of the 9 regions could win $5,000 (and so could the sponsoring teacher). The question is "What civic value do you believe is the most essential to being an American?" Essays are no longer than 750 words and must be submitted by Dec. 1, 2008


 * School issues--**Clubs will start in October. They will run the same as they did 2nd semester last year. Next week we will be switching 4th and 5th periods to accommodate students playing sports. It was reported that teachers in Freshman Academy do not like the idea. Also, in our department, teachers have been scheduling intervention during 5th period and now that is messed up because lunch will be during 5th period. In addition, coaches usually have 5th period planning which is useless when the schedule is flipped.


 * For the good of the cause**--Jason's presenter is broken. We are waiting to hear from Kevin Forman about having some presenters mounted in Social Studies classrooms. These would be wired to the desktops which would free up more laptops that belong on the laptop cart anyway. LeAnne will look into scantrons. Kristy bought some with her own money which should not be the case. Peanut butter brownies were enjoyed by all (except Kristy because she doesn't like peanut butter on her brownies)