Social Studies, The SITE of Citizenship(Working title for the SS standards)

As shared with MSSSA membership on March 16, 2012By

Jim Cameron, MDE Social Studies Consultant

Standards Update

• Twenty one state education agencies are collaborating with fifteen professional organizations to develop a set of social studies standards. The groups have a shared framework focused on both disciplinary and interdisciplinary ways of thinking about civics, economics, geography and history. The ultimate goal is to produce a set of fewer, higher, clearer standards that prepare all students for college, career, and citizenship. As states continue their conversations, we will share any additional information and updates.

Standards Update

1. We have begun the states’ work of developing a set of common social studies standards.2. We have hired a team of 13 writers. The writers have both disciplinary expertise and an understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of the social studies.3. These writers are working in conjunction with 40 teachers from 21 states as well as members of SSACI (21 State Education Agencies) and the Task Force (15 social studies professional organizations).4. We expect that a draft of the standards would be available for public comment in the fall of 2012. Joint Education Conference will probably be the Michigan rollout for public feedback.

The Standards Process

Disciplinary content needed for civic, economic, geographic, and historic literacy

Social studies practices needed to be ready for college, career, and civic life

Cross-cutting social studies content needed to be ready for college, career, and civic life

Examples

Possible uses of examples• To explain what is meant by the

standard• To provide sample applications for

the classroom (without getting too specific)

• To suggest specific curricular content

Overall structureWhat purpose should integrative concepts serve?

• To add important content that doesn’t show up in the other areas of the standards?

• To reduce the amount of content in the subject areas by finding areas of commonality?

• To provide themes or topics that organize the content of the other areas of the standards (ie; literacy standards are deeply embedded)?

Connection to Common CoreWhat does this mean?

• Borrow language from Common Core when appropriate?

• Repeat literacy skills from Common Core and include them in social studies?

• Develop a concordance showing where social studies standards mesh with Common Core?

• Something else?