In celebration of the 50th anniversary year of Ralph Nader's book Unsafe at Any Speed, the Center for Study of Responsive Law (CSRL.org) announces four days of civic seminars in Washington, D.C., September 26-29, 2016. Nader's classic book and subsequent career are credited with sparking the creation of numerous advocacy organizations and leading to major consumer, environmental, and worker-safety protections.This event builds on the historic "Breaking Through Power" gathering held this past May at Constitution Hall and it will "highlight strategies that have unleashed fresh civic energies…

Celebrate 10 Years of C3 Inquiry! This special NCSS webinar series is a celebration of the C3 Framework’s first decade! Each C3 Framework Inquiry Showcase webinar highlights different organizations and members active in the development and implementation of the C3 Framework. Share in examples of curriculum inquiries, books, professional development programs, or other instructional resources and support (for teachers, students, researchers, leaders…anyone!) based on the C3 Framework.

My birthday is in July. As a social studies educator who spent most of his life in New York, I always took pride in the fact that my birthday falls on the same day that New York ratified the U.S. Constitution (although not in the same year, of course). Last July, I announced a personal challenge to read one book per week as my “new year” goal. For the first month, I regularly shared the title and short impressions of the previous week’s book. Then my postings trailed off. This was not because I made a lofty but unrealistic resolution. The truth is that I found myself bouncing between multiple…

1. Thank you for joining us today! Tell us about yourself and your involvement with NCSS through the years. I have just retired from 33 years of teaching social studies at the middle school and high school levels. Currently I am the Executive Director for the Tennessee Council for the Social Studies, but I’ve served two terms as president of the council. As for NCSS service, I have missed only one national conference since my first one in Nashville in 1993. I served a term on the NCSS board of directors and a term as the chair of the FASSE board. 2. Tell us about…

This special NCSS webinar series is a celebration of the C3 Framework’s first decade! Each C3 Framework Inquiry Showcase webinar highlights different organizations and members active in the development and implementation of the C3 Framework. Share in examples of curriculum inquiries, books, professional development programs, or other instructional resources and support (for teachers, students, researchers, leaders…anyone!) based on the C3 Framework. Registration is free for NCSS members.  Non-members can register for individual webinars at $59 per webinar, or attend the full…

One way to facilitate productive classroom discussions about racism and unequal power structures is to engage students in developing the discussion guidelines. This demonstrates respect for students’ needs and a willingness to share power.  

John Haefner was NCSS President over 40 years ago, in 1953-farther back in time than any other current NCSS member who has served as President. In this interview, he shares his reflections on social studies education then and now, and on the constant challenges facing NCSS. The interview was conducted for Social Education by Mary Hepburn in November 1994. A former student of Dr. Haefner, Dr. Hepburn is professor of social science education and head of the Citizen Education Division at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia, Athens. Mary Hepburn: John Haefner, I…

The Global Challenge of Equal Access for Girls to an Education: An Investigation Using Inquiry Heather N. Hagan and Carolyn A. WeberWithin These Halls: In situ Primary Sources in Your Own School Benjamin R. Wellenreiter

The authors describe five types of inquiry that keep students engaged, promote student agency, and meet the need of teachers for curriculum flexibility.