Aug+22+Minutes

Social Studies Department Meeting--August 22, 2008, 9:45 a.m. Room 128 Members Present: Kristy O'Hara, Tracy El-Fiki, Kathy McGlothlin, Chris Diemicke, Sean Kennedy, Steve Chrismer, Jason Gunning, Steve Stubbs, Karen Kennedy (Media Specialist), Tim Myers (Special Ed. teacher) LeAnne Longeway

The Social Studies Department has a website and a wiki [|CCPS Social Studies Website] this is where you can find the most recent version of your curriculum links to useful websites CCPS Social Studies Wiki this is where you can share ideas and lesson plans with colleagues across the county

Also check the Maryland Department of Education's website for the voluntary state curriculum and information on the HSA [|Maryland Department of Education]

Constitution Day is September 17, 2008. All teachers are expected to teach appropriate constitution day lessons in each class.

All teachers are to be teaching about Election 2008 issues. We will be having an electronic mock election. In addition, we are dedicating our bulletin board in the portable to election issues. It is currently a work in progress.

We will have 2 students enrolled in the appropriate assistance online class during 3rd period. Questions were raised as to whether the 2 students will show up and it was believed that CIMS indicated one of those students had already passed although data showed his Government score was 311. We will check with Anne Tolbert or his guidance counselor to see what is going on.

If, after the October test, we have any students who still have not passed, they will move on to the bridge plan. Mr. Cariello wants the lead teacher and one other department member to go to training for this. The two teachers will also be compensated for work before or after the duty day involving students on the Bridge Plan. Sean Kennedy and LeAnne Longeway will be working on this.

Not sure yet about funds for after school intervention program that Sean Kennedy and Steve Chrismer did last year but both are willing to start up ASAP.

Social Studies Strategic Plan and linkage chart were shared.

Mod Unit Assessments are now available for Government, World History, and US History. If a student's IEP states they can take the Mod HSA, then they can also take the Mod Unit Assessment. LeAnne has 5 copies of each test. The Mod Unit Assessment have 3 answer choices, have been reworded, and do not have BCRs or ECRs.

We will be using Performance Matters this year. There were no glitches at BMHS where it was piloted last year. Joe will be providing scantrons for this and the old scantrons will no longer be used.

Complaints were made about the lack of snacks at the department meeting. LeAnne explained that since we had Dunkin Donuts from Pete this morning, it was not necessary to have additonal sweets. Chris Diemicke requested brownies with peanut butter swirls for the next time.