More Resources and Strategies for Trying Times

I have a lot to be grateful for, not least of which are a pay check, health, a healthy, loving family, and easy access to trails outside my back door. And I am grateful. Really. But the truth is, some days I'm better at remembering that than others.

Some days, I've got the vim and verve to thrive in this time of social distancing, anxiety, and bad news. On those good days, I'm excited to learn new things and cheerfully work to further professional and personal goals (becoming more tech savvy, touching my toes, memorizing the location of the world's countries and capitals). Other days I count it as a win if I change out of my pjs.

On my good days, I'm charmed by the photos of people recreating works of art with objects in their homes. On bad days, those same photos just make me feel incredibly inadequate.

Is this how you feel? If so, and it is a bad day, put this email aside to read later. Or just delete it. No one will know! Curl up with a fun book, binge-watch a dumb tv show, put on some head-banging music, or hide out under the covers for awhile. Whatever makes you feel better. But if it is a good day, I've got some links for you.

Resources/Strategies

Given that visitors are no longer allowed at senior living centers and nursing homes, I was delighted to learn that some teachers are connecting residents and students as pen pals.

Unladylike is a series of short animated films, accompanied by learning resources, created to recognize the hundredth anniversary of women's suffrage. Most of the women featured are NOT specifically political or suffrage activists--though our very own Jeannette Rankin will be among them. Do you know any of the other names on their list?

The Smithsonian has been making educational resources available to teachers nationwide as schools close. Explore its weekly playlists of object-based resources inspired by stories in the museum’s collection and the Smithsonian’s entire library of distance learning resources, including the new Smithsonian Social Studies Online live webcast each Thursday.

My favorite social studies blogger Glenn Wiebe's recent post "Doing more than Just Treading Water: Three Success Stories" details strategies/assignments from Kansas rock star teachers. Two are online but one could be easily adapted to packets.

This New York Times article, "Film Treasures, Streaming Courtesy of the Library of Congress," features just that. These free short films might be just what you need to round out an assignment.

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is offering parents free subscriptions so younger students can access lesson plans and resources. They have also made their AP U.S. history study guide available for free as well. (American history teachers may want to assign some of this material for regular U.S. history as well as AP review.)

Indian Education Featured Resources

The amazing Mike Jetty at OPI's Indian Education Division suggested these resources for distance learning:

Blackfeet and Crow Star Stories - This lesson is appropriate for grades 5-8.

Essential Understanding One Lesson - This online ready lesson helps students learn more about Essential Understanding One: Tribal Diversity. This lesson is appropriate for grades 5-12.

Learning about the Seals of Montana Tribal Nations - This online ready lesson helps students learn about the meaning of the seals for each of the Montana tribal nations. It is appropriate for grades 4-12.

Learning about Tribal Sovereignty - This online lesson will provide students with important information regarding tribal sovereignty. This is for grades 9-12.

Resilience in Indian Country: Yesterday and Today - This online lesson tells the story of a Crow woman named Pretty Shield and an American Indian youth of today. It is appropriate for grades 6-12.

Resources for Learning about Contemporary American Indian Issues - Bison Restoration - This online ready lesson helps students learn about restoration of the bison to several Montana reservations and the importance of the bison to American Indians. It is appropriate for grades 6-12.

Professional Development

The MFPE (formerly MEA-MFT) Educator Conference has not been in Great Falls for over 20 years!  Assuming good health, that's going to change this year: the 2020 MFPE Educator Conference will be at CMR High School, October 15 -16. It would be great to have a really strong social studies track. Do you have a great lesson/strategy to share? Please submit an application to present. The deadline to submit applications is April 30, 2020.

Looking for opportunities to learn (and share) before next October?

The Western Montana Professional Learning Collaborative has many online courses for OPI renewal units/university credits.

Teaching with Primary Sources Denver is offering webinars, from 4:00-5:00 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at https://zoom.us/j/340464136. Here are two that piqued my interest:

Wednesday, April 15 (Today! Yikes!): The Power of Primary Sources and Pear Deck

• 4:00 - 4:30: Overview
• 4:30 - 5:00: Pear Deck, Interactive Slides, and Primary Sources

Thursday, April 16: Primary Sources and Google Classroom

• 4:00-4:20 Setting up your Google Classroom
• 4:20-4:40 Using Google Meet
• 4:40-5:00 Goobric! (I have know idea what this last is, which makes it especially intriguing.)