Monthly Highlights – August 2022

August is Back to School Month for teachers and families throughout the state. Our regional sites have created or collaborated on incredible resources that support an equitable and inquiry-based classroom. 

Blog Posts

These blog posts are 3-5 minute reads and provide background information on a topic, classroom applications, and a list of resources for further inquiry.

"Back to School: Centering Equity, Inquiry, and Literacy in the Classroom," by Vanessa Madrigal-Lauchland

"Universal Design for Learning: Increasing Accessibility with Classroom Choice," by Vanessa Madrigal-Lauchland

Ready-to-Use Resources 

• The CHSSP Writing Guide provides students with a framework for crafting an argument (thesis statement) and ensuring that their argument is well-defended with historical evidence
• Getting Started with Primary Sources helps students to discuss the difference between primary and secondary sources and for tips on how to teach with primary sources. 
• Environmental Literacy Resources for History-Social Science reflect our understanding of the importance of using an environmental lens to investigate the past and to build an environmentally sustainable and just future with a number of materials to support the integration of California’s Environmental Principles and Concepts into your classroom. 
• Lost LA Curriculum Project  uses Lost LA episodes to present culturally relevant teaching materials centered on local history with primary sources, documentaries, and more.
• The CHSSP served as the primary writers of the History-Social Science Framework.  Please visit the link for some of the most popular resources we've developed about Implementing the California History-Social Science Framework.
• UC Berkeley HSSP helped develop Global History Resources. This set of resources is designed for 6th, 7th, and 10th-grade classrooms. 
• Join the UC Irvine History Project this August for Summer 2022 History Inquiry Lesson Webinars. Here you can get free lessons for 7th grade World History, 8th grade US History, and 11th grade US History. The webinars will be held via Zoom. Teachers will explore inquiry-based lessons with a variety of sources, have an opportunity to collaborate with colleagues, and provide feedback on practical applications.
• Visit the Media Literacy Collaborative to help students better interpret information and stop the spread of misinformation. Visit their website for information on upcoming workshops and to connect with them. UC Irvine History Project and UC Santa Cruz History and Civics Project are leaders in the Media Literacy Collaborative. Also, see this list of Media Literacy Favorites! 
• CHSSP helped develop new micro-learning videos to support substitute teachers, paraeducators, and non-certificated instructional staff in the classroom. 
• The 6 C’s of Primary Source Analysis offers a strategy for analyzing primary sources in multiple modalities, developed by UC Irvine History Project.

Picture Books

• The 1619 Project:  Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson.  I included this title as a reminder to all teachers when planning beginning of the year activities.  As seen in the book, a young student received a family tree assignment but is unable to trace her family back more than three generations.  A gentle nudge that everyone's family unit is unique, with a unique history.
• 30,000 Stitches:  The Inspiring Story of the National 9/11 Flag by Amanda Davis.  The anniversary of September 11 occurs rather early in the school year.  Today's youngsters were not alive when the attacks occurred yet might see remembrances on the news or in their communities.  This is a lovely book that could be paired with The Survivor Tree to provide an age-appropriate account of the events.
• All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold.  A must-read for all primary classrooms.  Every student can see themselves in at least one of the images in the book.  Happy In Our Skin would be another terrific title to share in the same vein.
• Alma and How She Got her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal.  Many teachers start the year by asking students about the history of their name.  Alma has six names, each with a story, and realizes that each one is a perfect fit for her.  Stunning artwork.  Also available in Spanish.
• Cool Cuts by Mechal Renee Roe.  Cool hair is celebrated in this book that is just plain fun.  Many students will be sporting fresh cuts for the first day of school, so get out your GLAD techniques and chant, "I am born to be awesome" together.  Could be paired with Crown:  An Ode to the Fresh Cut.
• I Walk with Vanessa:  A Picture Book Story About a Simple Act of Kindness by Kerascoet.  Wordless picture book about how the actions of a single person can affect and inspire an entire community or school.  Could be paired with I Forgive Alex:  A Simple Story About Understanding by the same author.  Perfect books for the primary classroom.
• Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall.  Jabari learns that it's okay to be afraid to try new things and that sometimes it takes a while to gather one's courage to do something new.  
• Not My Girl by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Poliak-Fenton.  Sequel to When I Was Eight by the same authors, the book explores Margaret's experience when she returns home from a residential boarding school.  Note:  Quite sad.
• The Oldest Student:  How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Lorraine Hubbard.  Amazing true story that all students should know.
• This Is A School by John Schu.  A celebration of all of the parts and people that make up a school.