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Workshops at Region 4
For more information about these workshops or to request customized professional development, e-mail
Historical Inquiry Labs: Thinking Like an Amateur Historian
June 8, 2022 | 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Virtual Zoom Session)
Historical Inquiry Labs use primary and secondary sources to promote literacy and critical thinking skills, and encourage thoughtful discussion and critical writing through historical investigations. Learn how to create TEKS-based historical inquiry labs that compel students to assume the role of historians, actively investigate the past, and answer historical questions by developing evidence-based answers. This session provides teachers with tools to help students to become practicing historians by teaching them chronological thinking, historical comprehension, historical analysis and interpretation, and historical research. Learn more and register here.
Innovative Assessments: Creating Technology-Enhanced Items for Activities and Evaluation
June 9, 2022 | 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Virtual Zoom Session)
House Bill 3906 requires that STAAR assessments items may not include more than 75% of items in a multiple-choice format. As TEA shifts towards introducing these innovative items, teachers will need to provide opportunities for students to familiarize themselves with them throughout the school year. During this session, we will consider best practices for designing student-centered activities and assessment items, both formative and summative. Join us as we examine a variety of technology-enhanced items, and learn to recreate them using various online platforms. Learn more and register here.
Creating Quality Assessments in Social Studies
June 9, 2022 | 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Virtual Zoom Session)
Examine the differences between formative and summative assessments and acquire the skills necessary to develop better and more meaningful assessments. Review the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) in your Social Studies class and experience a hands-on approach to a variety of research-based strategies that will help the participant create assessments that will allow students the opportunity to increase their understanding and overall performance. Learn more and register here.
Exploring RLA Through the Social Studies Lens
July 7, 2022 | 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Face-to-Face Session at Region 4 McKinney Conference Center)
Learn effective interdisciplinary activities that are aligned to both the RLA and Social Studies TEKS. Come join us as we model TEKS-aligned, elementary lessons that are meaningful, integrative, challenging, and active, using social studies concepts, while promoting literacy and paving the way for life-long learning and active citizenship. Learn more and register here.
Better Together: Inspiring Solidarity, Collaboration, and Community Engagement
15th Annual Social Studies Conference
Join other social studies professionals in this one-day conference exploring general, grade level, and content-specific best practices for the 21st century social studies classroom.
Strands will include:
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Solidarity – How are you helping students to find common ground between their lives and the standards?
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Collaboration – How are you engaging students in the content?
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Community Engagement - How are you supporting diverse learners, including ELs, SPED, G/T, and Non-learners?
All presentations are aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. Learn more and register here.
Classroom Circles: Maximizing Social Studies Instruction
July 13, 2022 | 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Virtual Zoom Session)
This session will highlight how the circle process provides the optimal environment for academic instruction. Learn more and register here.
Rethinking Quality Social Studies Instruction: Supporting STAAR Redesign
July 27, 2022 | 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Virtual Zoom Session)
STAAR redesign will be implemented in the 2022-2023 school year. As teachers adjust to the innovative assessment item types, there also has to be a shift in instructional practice. During this session, we will experience, discuss, and plan for implementation of high quality instructional best practices to help prepare students for mastery of the standards and support the implementation of technology enhanced items in the classroom. Learn more and register here.
Literacy Strategies for Social Studies
July 28, 2022 | 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Virtual Zoom Session)
Explore strategies to assist students in reading and writing in social studies. Experience lessons and activities that incorporate expository text and lead to deeper understanding of the content. Prepare to enhance instruction with research-based, student-centered strategies for content literacy in social studies. Learn more and register here.
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