1. History/Social Studies Curriculum Update Cambrian School District

2. Goal of History / Social Studies Update Review student performance Review student performance Provide program information Provide program information Consider next steps Consider next steps

3. K-8 Houghton-Mifflin History / Social Studies Program K – My World K – My World Learning & Working Now & Long Ago 1 – School & Family 1 – School & Family A Child’s Place in Time & Space 2 – Neighborhoods 2 – Neighborhoods People Who Make a Difference 3 – Communities 3 – Communities Continuity & Change 4 – California Studies 4 – California Studies California: A Changing State 5 – United States History: Early Years 5 – United States History: Early Years US History & Geography: Making a New Nation 6 – World History: Ancient Civilizations 6 – World History: Ancient Civilizations World History & Geography: Ancient Civilizations 7 – Across the Centuries 7 – Across the Centuries World History & Geography: Medieval & Early Modern Times 8 – The More Perfect Union 8 – The More Perfect Union United States History & Geography: Growth & Conflict

4. An informal survey of elementary teachers reveals: Program is more engaging with improved readability Program is more engaging with improved readability Chapters are concise and Practice Books are well organized Chapters are concise and Practice Books are well organized Practice books are not always used Practice books are not always used Teacher Edition is well-designed and supports differentiation Teacher Edition is well-designed and supports differentiation Videos are engaging and graphics are of high-quality and well-organized Videos are engaging and graphics are of high-quality and well-organized Reviews re-engage students on important ideas Reviews re-engage students on important ideas Critical thinking aspects are not always addressed and have to be supplemented Critical thinking aspects are not always addressed and have to be supplemented

5. The survey also suggests: Cross-curricular and extension strategies are supported by: Cross-curricular and extension strategies are supported by: Leveled readers Leveled readers Practice books which provide explicit reading strategies and skill development Practice books which provide explicit reading strategies and skill development ebooks provide graphics and audio to help students hear how to pronounce new vocabulary. ebooks also are used to make power points to support whole class activities ebooks provide graphics and audio to help students hear how to pronounce new vocabulary. ebooks also are used to make power points to support whole class activities The pacing is very ambitious The pacing is very ambitious Chapter tests are very difficult Chapter tests are very difficult

6. How are students doing? No CST or benchmark tests are administered to students in the elementary school. No CST or benchmark tests are administered to students in the elementary school. There is no collection of school- or district- level data related to student performance. There is no collection of school- or district- level data related to student performance. Using informal assessments, there appears to be improved student understanding using the new program. Using informal assessments, there appears to be improved student understanding using the new program.

7. Initiatives taken…. Some District upper elementary teachers are teaching social studies and science in a grade level rotation. This keeps us on track for our pacing and allows us to collaborate more readily. Some District upper elementary teachers are teaching social studies and science in a grade level rotation. This keeps us on track for our pacing and allows us to collaborate more readily.

8. Professional Development No district-wide professional development has occurred to specifically support History / Social Studies during the current school year No district-wide professional development has occurred to specifically support History / Social Studies during the current school year Step-Up-To-Writing training was provided for new teachers in August 2007 Step-Up-To-Writing training was provided for new teachers in August 2007

9. Middle School Update Successes: what works well Successes: what works well

10. How are our Grade 8 History / Social Studies students doing?

11. How are students performing in different content clusters of History?

12. Future Areas of focus To develop Grade-level assessments Effective assessment resources are found in new textbook adoption

13. Future goals for the Social Studies program Exploration of year-long 7 th grade course

14. What did our district survey reveal about history / social studies? Parents believe their child is making satisfactory progress in social studies Parents believe their child is making satisfactory progress in social studies 78% of elementary parents 78% of elementary parents 91% of middle school parents 91% of middle school parents Strong support for Strong support for Good citizenship behaviors Good citizenship behaviors Teaching critical thinking skills, beyond the standards Teaching critical thinking skills, beyond the standards Parents who commented on social studies emphasized the importance of implementing a social studies program in the early grades Parents who commented on social studies emphasized the importance of implementing a social studies program in the early grades

15. What’s next for History / Social Studies? Implement year-round history at the middle school Implement year-round history at the middle school Develop assessment systems useful to teachers in planning instruction Develop assessment systems useful to teachers in planning instruction Further explore the rotation of upper elementary teachers to assist with program pacing and goals Further explore the rotation of upper elementary teachers to assist with program pacing and goals Build upon Step-up-to-Writing strategies in connection with the social studies program Build upon Step-up-to-Writing strategies in connection with the social studies program