ORIAS World History Study Group

From: ORIAS [mailto:orias@berkeley.edu]
Subject: ORIAS UPDATE

(Print view at http://orias.berkeley.edu/oriasupdates.htm)

WORLD HISTORY STUDY GROUP 2009-2010

“Transnational Transgressions"

The World History study group meets monthly to discuss trends and scholarship in the teaching of World History. The group chooses seven books per school year dealing with an annual theme; the book discussions are facilitated by Alan Karras, author and professor in the International and Area Studies department at University of California, Berkeley. The group is open to all Bay Area Social Studies classroom teachers, grades K – 12. Space is limited to 20 teachers.

This year’s topic is “Transnational Transgressions.” Our first book will be Marcus Rediker’s Villains of All Nations. Future books for this year will potentially include works on money laundering, human trafficking, drug trafficking, border disputes and international organized crime.

TIME

5:00-7:00 pm on the 3rd Wednesday of each month from October to April during the 2009-10 school year.

AGENDA

October 21: Marcus Rediker’s Villains of All Nations: Atlantic Pirates in the Golden Age
November 18, December 16, January 20, February 17, March 17, April 21: Books TBA

LOCATION

Mercy High School, 3250 19th Avenue, San Francisco (near Stonestown Galleria).

If you are interested in joining the group please contact Kelly Korenak at World Savvy, by calling 415-292-7421 or emailing kelly worldsavvy.org.

This study group is a program of World Savvy and the Bay Area Global Education Project (BAGEP), co-sponsored by ORIAS.

Michele Delattre, Program Representative

University of California Berkeley

ORIAS (Office of Resources for International and Area Studies)

2223 Fulton Street Room 338 #2324

Berkeley CA 94720-2324

orias@berkeley.edu

510-643-0868

http://orias.berkeley.edu

Teachers for Social Justice Annual Conference

From: Teachers 4 Social Justice [mailto:teachers4socialjustice@yahoo.com]
Subject: Teaching for Social Justice Annual Conference

Join us for the upcoming 9th annual Teaching for Social Justice Educators Conference!

Teaching for Social Justice: Foundations for Change
Saturday, October 10th, 2009 * 9am-5pm
Mission High School * San Francisco, CA

Register now at http://www.t4sj.org

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Pedro Noguera

Workshops * Resource Faire * Networking * Community

These are just SOME of the workshop titles:

* Literacy and Justice for All: Tapping Into Your ELLs' Strengths as Developing Readers
* HipHop Scholastics: A Critical HipHop Pedagogy
* Lessons from the critical mathematics classroom: A conversation about developing and teaching social justice curriculum
* Creating Habits of Mind: Social Justice Historians at the Elementary School Level
* 'Hood Habitus': How SF Neighborhoods Influence Our Habits
* Crushes, Erections, Periods, Oh MY! How to navigate sexuality in the classroom

This conference is for teachers, by teachers - with a focus on curriculum, pedagogy and networking. If you've never been to a T4SJ Conference, join us now! If you have been or have been coming for years, we look forward to seeing you again!

For more info and to register, visit http://www.t4sj.org

National Humanities Center Fall Workshops: FREE!!

From: National Humanities Center [ckiplik@nationalhumanitiescenter.org]

Subject: Online Professional Development - National Humanities Center

Live, Online Professional Development
U.S. History and American Literature
Fall 2009 Workshops

FREE for California Teachers!!!

Thurs., Oct. 8
The Consumer Revolution in Colonial America
Maurie McInnis, University of VA

Tues., Oct. 13
Why Some New World Colonies Succeeded and Others Failed
Kathleen DuVal, UNC-Chapel Hill and NHC Fellow

Tues., Oct. 20
Lincoln's Gettysburg Address
Andrew Delbanco, Columbia University and NHC Fellow

Tues., Oct. 27
Civil War Art
Kirk Savage, University of Pittsburgh

Wed., Oct. 28
The Cult of Domesticity
Lucinda MacKethan, North Carolina State University and NHC Fellow

Tues., Nov. 10
Emancipation
Reginald Hildebrand, UNC-Chapel Hill

Thurs., Nov. 12
The Ashcan School
Angela Miller, Washington University - St. Louis

Thurs., Nov. 19
In Search of the Civil Rights Movement
Kenneth Janken, UNC-Chapel Hill and NHC Fellow


Who Should Enroll: K-12 U.S. History and American Literature teachers.

Cost: $35.00 -- but read attachment below for special FREE offer to California teachers, through partnership of CDE with NHC!!

Reading Assignments: Workshop texts are provided free online at the National Humanities Center's Toolbox Library and TeacherServe® websites. Prior to each workshop, reading assignments will be emailed to participants.

Recertification Credit: The National Humanities Center programs are eligible for recertification credit. Each workshop will include ninety minutes of instruction plus ninety minutes of preparation. Because the workshops are conducted online, they may qualify for technology credit in districts that award it. The Center will supply documentation of participation.

Technical Requirements: The workshops are conducted online using conferencing software. To participate, you need a computer, an internet connection, speakers, and a microphone. If you need a headset with a built in microphone, one will be provided.

Sponsor: The National Humanities Center, located in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park, is the country's only independent institute for advanced study in all branches of the humanities. Since 1984, it has been offering rigorous, content-based professional development programs for high school teachers.

Be sure to visit the Center's online resources for teachers:
*The Toolbox Library provides primary sources-- historical documents, literary texts, visual images, and audio material--illuminated by notes and discussion questions.
*TeacherServe®, collections of essays by leading scholars that explore important topics in American culture and offer advice on how to teach them.

Caryn Koplik
National Humanities Center
919-406-0111
7 Alexander Drive
P.O. Box 12256
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

Facing History's "Choosing to Participate" Online Workshop

From: Facing History and Ourselves [mailto:Facing_History_and_Ourselves@mail.vresp.com]
Subject: Join Us! Online Workshop: Choosing to Participate

Register Now for Facing History and Ourselves'

Choosing to Participate

FREE Online Workshop

You are invited to join Facing History and Ourselves' free Choosing to Participate online workshop (October 7 - 15) designed to introduce the resources and interactive features of Facing History's Choosing to Participate website. If you register for the online workshop today, we will send you a link to the redesigned website as soon as it launches—with many exciting new features!

Choosing to Participate: Facing History and Ourselves is a civic and educational initiative that seeks to be a catalyst for conversation about the importance of civic participation. The initiative encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to consider the choices they face in their lives, to think critically about issues of race and prejudice, and to understand that their decisions and actions matter to themselves, their communities, and future generations.

The website will present the stories of four individuals and communities from contemporary history whose stories illustrate the courage, initiative, and compassion that are needed to protect democracy and human rights. The website will also offer a variety of interactive tools and experiences that allow students to explore the themes of civic responsibility and democracy. Using state-of-the-art interactive graphics, audio, and video clips, the site allows young people to share their own responses about participation. The site can be used on its own, in your classroom, and/or to prepare or debrief a visit to the multimedia, interactive exhibition that is the centerpiece of the Choosing to Participate initiative. The exhibition will be on display in Cleveland, Ohio between October 2009 and February 2010.

Through facilitated online activities, educators participating in the online workshop will learn a variety of ways they can use this website with their students. The workshop will allow you to receive feedback, share lesson ideas and resources, and connect with other educators from around the globe.

This online workshop will be facilitated by Facing History staff who are experienced middle and high school educators. The format will consist of several ongoing online conversations and a guided investigation of the website. All educators are invited regardless of their computer use skill level.

By registering for this workshop, you are committing to logging on to the site and participating in the online discussion at least three times, for a time commitment of two-to-four hours during the duration of the online workshop.

APPLY TODAY TO OUR ONLINE WORKSHOP!!

Please contact Tanya at Tanya_Lubicz-Nawrocka@facing.org with any questions and forward this email to your friends and colleagues who may be interested in Facing History's "Choosing to Participate" online workshop.

Questions? Read our FAQ

Contact Us

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CA World History Association Annual Conference

The teaching of world history is on the cusp of dramatic change. We want you to be a part of it!

The World History Association is THE professional organization of teacher-scholars advancing a “global” perspective on research and teaching in world history. The “new world history,” as it is often termed, focuses on identifying and studying long-term, transnational patterns of continuity and change that set a framework for understanding human history as a whole rather than in a fragmented, disassociated manner. You may be familiar with this approach to world history, but may not know about the WHA itself. Here’s a cogent description of world history and the WHA:

http://www.thewha.org/world_history.php

California is blessed with a plethora of cutting-edge scholars of world history such as Ross Dunn (San Diego State U.), Ken Pomerantz (UC Irvine), Jared Diamond (UCLA), David Christian (now in Australia, but closely tied to San Diego State) and many others. It is also home to many expert teachers experienced with and dedicated to the new world history, whether through association with the AP World History program, the World History for Us All project, or other venues in which these approaches are central.

The California World History Association – the WHA’s California affiliate – is holding its annual conference in Riverside NEXT WEEKEND, October 16-17!!

http://www.thecwha.org/cnfrnc.htm#program

This is a marvelous opportunity to meet and study with this superb group of scholar-teachers. The conference will be of interest and value both to those with little or no familiarity with new world history – for whom there are sessions designed as introductions to the scholarship and teaching of the subject – as well as those looking for in-depth study of particular topics. You can view the program here:

http://www.thecwha.org/CWHAProgram2009.pdf

We hope that you will come to learn about what’s up in the field. We particularly invite you to the session introducing the 2010 edition of the Social Studies Review (the journal of the CA Council for the Social Studies) highlighting developments in teaching new world history – authors of articles for that edition will provide an overview of the field that will be of great value to your teaching. When that edition is published in January, you’ll be prepared to share these approaches with your students – and, ideally, to attend the annual CCSS conference in Pasadena in March at which there will be a full day of coordinated sessions and workshops dedicated to new world history teaching.

Registration for the conference is a very reasonable $40, and includes a full year’s membership in CWHA. For preservice teachers, there is a special registration fee of $20, so please encourage your student teachers to come as well!

The WHA is the friendliest environment I have ever found for K-12 teachers looking to associate with university scholars in the subject they teach. I speak as a former Grade 6 teacher who was invited to run and was elected to the Executive Council of the WHA, a position in which I was an equal in conversation and decision-making with eminent scholars from around the world. I hope you’ll join us in this welcoming environment, and in the endeavor of changing the way world history is taught in our schools.

-Avi

LegiSchool Project Programs and Contests

From: Herczog_Michelle Herczog_Michelle@lacoe.edu
Subject: LegiSchool Project Programs and Contests

The LegiSchool Project
Programs and Annual Contests

PSA Video Contest
What Would $1,000 Do For Your School?
The LegiSchool Project is currently seeking entries for their annual Public Service Announcement (PSA) Video Contest: What Would $1,000 Do For Your School? In the age of budget cuts, deficits, and spending caps, every little bit counts and $1,000 could go a long way toward improving your school. They invite high school students throughout California to break out their video cameras and create a 60-second PSA video showcasing what $1,000 would do for their school. One video from the individual category and one video from the class/club category will be selected as official prize-winning entries and the $1,000 prize money will be awarded directly to your school for the project highlighted in the video.
Entries must be postmarked by Friday, October 16, 2009.
Please see the attached announcement for details and share it with your students.
Additional flyers and/or entry forms are available at:
http://www.csus.edu/legischool

14th Annual Essay Contest
The Future of Education in California
All California students have been impacted in some way by the state's budget crisis and the direct effect it's had on education. Whether it is larger class sizes, reduced extracurricular activities or ill-maintained facilities,every school has its own story. So the question remains: where do California schools go from here? Students are asked to share their thoughts and views of the state's educational system, and explore what's working in California's schools and what they think the future holds for future students. Ten winning essayists will be invited to spend a day in Sacramento at LegiSchool's 14th Annual Student Legislative Summit, April 8, 2010, where the highlight of the day is the Student-Run Press Conference. Look for essay contest details and deadlines on our website in November, at:

www.csus.edu/legischool

Postmark deadline is Friday, January 22, 2010.


Photo Contest
California Through My Eyes
How do you envision California? What represents California to you? Poverty? Wealth? Technology? Farms? Water? Mountains? Towns? People? Cities? Cars? Hiking Trails? Family? Community? Landscapes? These are just some of the images that students are invited to photograph for LegiSchool’s annual photo contest. The photo can be of a person, place or anything–big or small. The FIRST PLACE winner will receive $100 and four runners-up will receive $50 each. Look for complete details in January.
Postmark deadline is Friday, May 7, 2010.

FREE State Government Curriculum Materials
Offered by The LegiSchool Project and The California Channel
Each DVD is accompanied by a Video Viewing Guide, which includes two pages of critical-thinking exercises and pertinent vocabulary for teachers to use as an assignment for students.

Understanding California’s Budget Process
With a budget of over $110 billion dollars, California ranks among the top 10 economies in the world! Imagine the work that goes into preparing a budget of this magnitude…The entire process takes roughly one year. This 8-minute video examines California’s budget process throughthe eyes of a family trying to balance their own budget. Emphasis is placed on the many players involved in the process, the constitutional constraints that dictate how the money is spent and the compromise needed to pass the budget with a 2/3 majority in the Legislature.

The Voting Process: YOU Have the Power!
This energetic 8-minute video gives students a step-by-step look at procedures for voting in California. The goal of the video is to give young, first-time voters the knowledge and confidence to become involved in our most cherished constitutional right, the democratic process. Registration, absentee ballots, resources (websites, phone numbers, etc.) and demonstrations of the three prevalent forms of voting systems in our state are given a thorough treatment.

The Initiative Process
This 8-minute video takes a step-by-step look at the initiative process and provides a strong message of civic involvement and personal empowerment. Daylight savings time and the banning of nuclear power plants are just two of the examples provided that illustrate the power of this important political tool of the people. Thomas Jefferson stated that “there is no safer depository of the ultimate power of society but the people themselves”—a frank recognition of the important role the initiative process plays in making law and placing the public in power to set this state's political agenda.

Checks & Balances: The Three Branches of State Government
This 10-minute video is geared toward helping students learn more about how our state legislative process works. The main premise for the lesson is that, as in the federal government, the framers of our state’s constitution wanted to be sure that no one branch of government would have too much power, so they divided the powers of the government into three equal branches.

How a Bill Becomes Law
Produced by the California Channel, this 10-minute video uses AB 2268, the Bicycle Helmet Law, to describe how a bill becomes law in California. Ideal for high school students, the video introduces concepts such as how a bill is authored, the process of first, second, and third readings, and how legislation is assigned to various committees within the Legislature.

State Government for Beginners Handout Binder
Looking for good, basic handouts about state government and the legislative process? Then this binder is for you!
Easy-to-duplicate handouts include:
• Legislative terminology
• A diagram and step-by-step description of the legislative process
• A sample bill with instructions on how to read legislation
• Voter registration and elections information
• Useful state government and political websites and much more!

To request any of these materials, please complete the enclosed order form.

The LegiSchool Project is a civic education collaboration between California State University, Sacramento and the State Legislature, administered by the Center for California Studies. LegiSchool’s mission is to engage young people in matters of public policy and state government by creating opportunities for students and state leaders to meet and share ideas on issues affecting Californians and by developing free high-quality government-oriented curriculum materials for California educators to enhance and help improve the quality of state government-related curriculum in our schools. For more information, or if you have any questions, please contact: Megan Thorall thorall@csus.edu (916) 278-7563.

Civics Publishing Opportunity: NCSS Gallery of Writing

From: Herczog_Michelle Herczog_Michelle@lacoe.edu
Subject: NCSS Gallery of Writing: Citizenship in the 21st Century!

Opportunity to Publish in the

National Council for the Social Studies Gallery of Writing!

NCSS Gallery Theme: Citizenship in the 21st Century

The National Council for the Social Studies is a partner in the National Gallery of Writing, an online exhibition of writing hosted by the National Council of Teachers of English.

Gallery URL: http://galleryofwriting.org/galleries/national_council_for_the_social_studies_gallery

What does an effective citizen do? Why are effective citizens necessary in a participatory democracy? What should students learn about history, civics, economics and/or geography in order to be prepared for their roles as citizens? What are the roles of parents, teachers and others in preparing effective citizens? What important person in your life—parent, friend, sibling, teacher or other role model—has contributed substantively to your understanding of citizenship, and how? What cases, examples, or instances of effective citizenship have you observed, participated in and/or supported? Send us your ideas, stories, pictures, or other responses.

Submit your writing today!

Each person can submit one piece of writing that is important to them (be it a letter, digital composition, video, or other format.) It just takes a few minutes to upload your submission.

The pieces will be unveiled on October 20, 2009 as part of The National Day on Writing, a nationwide celebration highlighting the variety and importance of writing in daily life.