Middle Schoolers Must Pass Social Studies!

An email from Stephanie Hartman:

"Greetings Everyone!!


Well, it looks like SB 184 snuck in under the radar after all and has been signed by the Governor. So, what does this mean for everyone?

The State Board of Education must approve the legislation and make determinations for the provisions of the bill – ie: the State Board will determine the number of social studies credits, or courses that a student must pass for promotion to high school. In all probability, this legislation will take effect the fall of the 2008-2009 school year. So, beginning that year, all incoming 6th or 7th graders will be required to pass social studies and science in order to be promoted to high school.

Stephanie Hartman
K-12 Social Studies Consultant
Nevada Department of Education"

National Expectations Seminar, June 14-16, 2007

The CCSD Office of Equity and Diversity Education and the Center for Multicultural Education - UNLV's College of Education is sponsoring a National Expectations Seminar June 14-16, 2007 at the UNLV Student Union Building. Please plan to attend. Attendees will receive one free credit for attending all sessions. Email your intent to attend to Dr. Porter Troutman by Tuesday, June 12, 2007.

This seminar will feature eight national speakers including:

• Dr. Robert Green, former Dean of Education, Michigan State University and author of "Expectations: How Teacher Expectations Can Increase Student Achievement."
• Dr. James Banks is Professor in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Washington. His books include "Teaching Strategies for Ethnic Studies, Multicultural Education: Issues and Perspectives," "Curriculum and Teaching," and editor of "The Handbook of Research on Multicultural Education" to name a few of his publications.
• Dr. Gary Orfield is Professor of Education and Social Policy at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He is the co-founder and director of the Civil Rights Project at Harvard, an initiative that is developing and publishing a new generation of research on multiracial civil rights issues. Recent publications include: "School Segregation on the Rise Despite Growing Diversity," and "High School Dropouts Concentrated in 35 Cities."
• Dr. Asa Hilliard, Professor of Urban Education at Georgia State University. He has written more that 200 research reports, articles and books on testing, ancient African History, and teaching strategies. His most recent books are "The Maroon Within Us" and "The Reawakening of the African Mind."

Saudi Arabia Study Tour, Fully-Funded

Note: Geographic Alliance in Nevada Teacher Consultant Liz Bash attended this study tour in 2006. It was from that experience that the Southern Nevada Council for the Social Studies and Geographic Alliance in Nevada organized the Islam Conference on March 17, 2007.

Educators to Saudi Arabia Program
Professional Development Opportunity for Educators

This is an announcement of the sixth competition for the Educators to Saudi Arabia Program, sponsored by Aramco Services Company. The program, which travels to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is open to full-time Social Studies Teachers and Library Media Specialists in grades 1-12 in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. Selected participants will travel to Saudi Arabia for a fully-funded, ten-day study tour of Saudi Arabia.

The Educators to Saudi Arabia Program aims to cultivate a greater awareness and understanding of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in U.S. primary and secondary schools and communities. The Educators to Saudi Arabia Program will examine Saudi education, culture, history and global relations through site visits, panel discussions and cultural activities in the cities of Dhahran, Riyadh and Jeddah from November 19 – December 3, 2007.

Social Studies Teachers and Library Media Specialists in grades 1-12 are encouraged to submit applications for the Educators to Saudi Arabia Program. Interested individuals can download an application at: http://www.iie.org/aramco.

For more information, visit our website or contact us at atsap@iie.org

The application deadline is June 25, 2007.

Geographic Alliance in Nevada Events

The GAIN Professional Development Calendar is also set for the 2007-2008 school year. Please remember to check “Events” at www.ngsednet.org/gain!

September 18, 20, 22, 2007
Teaching Elementary Geography Class – Las Vegas

October 11-13, 2007
Field Geography Class – Las Vegas

October 18-21, 2007
NCGE Annual Meeting – Oklahoma City

November 9-10, 2007
Rural GEOFEST – Winnemucca

November 30 - December 2, 2007
NCSS Conference – San Diego

January 31 - February 2, 2008
Southern Nevada GEOFEST – Henderson

February 23, 2008
GAIN Winter Meeting

April 9, 11, 13, 2008
Teaching Elementary Geography Class – Las Vegas

April 25-26, 2008
Field Geography Class - Reno

June 9-20, 2008
ASGI 2008 – Las Vegas & Reno

July 23-30, 2008
AASGI 2008 – National Parks of the Pacific Northwest

Early Las Vegas Culture Training, September 29-30, 2007

Kaleidoscope of Early Culture in Las Vegas
September 29-30 at the new Springs Preserve
and Lost City Museum

Explore the history of the Las Vegas Valley from early American cultures to Anglo-European settlers. Immerse yourself in this 2 day cultural history walk back in time.


September 29

8:00-8:15 am Check in at the Springs Preserve
8:15-8:30 am Overview: Dr. Linda Miller, Nevada State Coordinator for History Education
8:30-9:30 am Journaling by Jennifer Jacobi: Hands on activity
9:30-9:45 am Break
9:45am -12:30 pm The Cultural and Historical Resources of the Las Vegas Springs: Marcel Parent and staff(Includes tour of site and archeological presentation
12:30-1:00 pm Lunch with education specialists, walk through the gardens
1:00-2:00 pm Using Stories from the Past to Get Students Reading, Thinking and Learning: Joy Hakim, Author and historian of The History of US and The Story of Science
2:00-3:00 Artful Reflection of the Past: Roy Purcell, author of Long Journey to Wikame and Southwestern artist
3:00-4:00 Cultural and Historical Resources of Las Vegas Springs (continued)
4:00-4:45 Introduction to Nevada Humanities Online Encyclopedia
4:45-5:00 Wrap up

September 30

8:00 am Depart Springs Preserve for Lost City: Journaling practice during the trip
9:30 am Arrive at Lost City
9:30 am-12:30 pm Tour and History of the Lost City: Native American Cultures, Archeology, Structure, Eva Jensen, archeologist and curator at the Lost City Museum
12:30-1:15 pm lunch with archeologists
1:15-2::00pm How the New Deal Efforts and Hoover Dam effected the Ruins and the Local Community
2:00-2:45 Environmentalism in Nevada: Jeff Hinton, Sierra Vista High School
2:45-3:30 Curriculum and the Lost City: Dr. Linda Miller
3:30-3:45 wrap up and evaluation/Depart Lost City: complete evaluations and journals on bus
5:00 Arrive Las Vegas: Turn in journals and evaluations for credit

Participants will receive a book by Joy Hakim, Long Journey to Wikame by Roy Purcel, lunch both days, admission to historic sites and bus transportation, curricular materials for The Springs Preserve and Lost City, 1 year membership in the National Council for History Education, 1 year membership in the Nevada Council for History Education, and 1 recertification credit from the Nevada Department of Education

Featuring renowned Historian/Author Joy Hakim and Artist/Author Roy Purcell, sponsored by Nevada Council for History Education, and co-Sponsored by the Nevada Council for the Humanities, National Council for History Education, Stephens Press, Clark County Education Foundation, Springs Preserve and Lost City Museum

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Registration Deadline: September 7 or until there are 30 participants)
Cost: $40
Contact Dr. Linda Miller, Nevada State Coordinator for History Education, to apply.