Workshops at Region 4

Learning that Sticks: Using Retrieval Practice in Social Studies

November 4, 2020

Retrieval practice is a learning strategy that focuses on getting the information out of students' heads. During this session, we will experience a variety of retrieval practices and research-based strategies that help make student learning visible. Participants will leave this session with new ways to transform learning through the implementation of these powerful teaching strategies. Learn more and register here.

Emerging Social Studies Teacher Series: Building an Effective Toolbox for Teacher Development

Questioning and Formative Assessment

November 10, 2020

Asking the right questions allows teachers to invigorate and sustain productive classroom discussions. Standards-aligned formative assessment empowers social studies teachers to make sound instructional decisions in their classrooms. Taken together, these practices provide teachers with information needed to adjust instruction while the learning is still happening. Join us as we experience a variety of questioning and formative assessment techniques that will activate prior knowledge, build on concepts and skills, transfer knowledge, and help students to reflect and self-assess. Teachers will leave this session with a toolbox of formative assessment and questioning tools that will take their instruction to the next level. Learn more and register here.

Accountable Talk: Using Cooperative Discussions in Social Studies (Online)

November 12, 2020

Twenty-first century jobs demand workers that are skilled collaborators and communicators. In order to prepare students for college and career readiness, Social Studies teachers must begin creating a classroom culture that supports shared inquiry, encourages deep thinking and reflection, invites respectful dialogue, and increases student autonomy. This requires social studies teachers to make a paradigm shift from being the gate-keepers of knowledge to facilitators of learning. During this session teachers will simulate various accountable talk protocols, as well as discuss scaffolds necessary for implementation. Join us as we discuss ways to use cooperative discussions to help our students move pass surface learning and take a deeper dive into the social studies content.  Learn more about this session and register here.

Social Studies Interventions to Go: Make and Take

November 17, 2020
Do you have students in your social studies classes struggling with specific skills? Are you looking for interventions for students with diverse learning needs? During this session teachers will experience, discuss, and design simple, content-specific intervention tools. Teachers will leave this session with research- and evidence-based skill-building strategies to help target and scaffold instruction in order to create a more level playing field in the social studies classroom. Learn more and register here.

5Es over World Cultures

5Es over World Cultures is a 2-volume series of conceptually designed instructional lessons that are seamlessly aligned to the TEKS. This volume includes lessons on physical landscapes, cultural interactions, and the impact of technology on society.  Come learn how to incorporate the 5E Model into your World Cultures classroom, as well as experience these authentic research-based, student-centered, ready to use model lessons that are scaffolded to maximize your students' learning experiences.

• Part 1 - November 21, 2020
• Part 2 - December 4, 2020

Visualizing Concepts: Making Content More Comprehensible

December 8, 2020

Are you looking for a way to make social studies content more comprehensible? Are you struggling to move students beyond passive memorization? During this session, we will experience tools and techniques using images, diagrams and videos, to help increase cognitive and conversational proficiency surrounding key ideas. Join us as we explore visualization strategies to maximize instructional time and deepen student understanding of key concepts in social studies.  Learn more and register here.

Reaching ALL Learners: Using Culturally Responsive Pedagogy in Social Studies

December 10, 2020
The influx of diverse student populations makes improving our cultural competence a necessity, in both face to face and online environments. During this session, we will discuss topics and critical issues affecting the achievement our black and brown students, and explore and apply culturally responsive practices to help mitigate. Teachers will leave this session as reflective practitioners who question their own practices, and are able to help students make meaningful connections between what they learn in school, their culture, and their life experiences. Learn more and register here.

5 Es Over Texas: Social Studies STAAR Preparation Grade 7

December 11, 2020

Texas, O Texas! Examine an instructional resource to address the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for Texas History. This resource uses a student-centered instructional model for the Texas History classroom, as well as research-based strategies that facilitate the development of analytical thinking skills. This session will also explore how to support student success by identifying the vertical connections between grade 7 Texas History, grade 8 American History, and high school U.S. History. Participants will receive the Region 4 publication 5 Es Over Texas: Social Studies STAAR Preparation Grade 7. Learn more and register here.

For more information about these workshops or to request customized professional development, e-mail

socialstudies@esc4.net.

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