Middle School Social Studies Committee

Purpose(s)/Goal:

• Participate in a middle school social studies program review and adoption process for grades 6-8 Social Studies and Core (Social Studies) materials.

Basis for Establishment:

• Establish a program of instruction aligned to the Washington State Learning Standards in Social Studies and Literacy in Social Studies.

Decision-Making Process:

• Advisory group to the superintendent
• Recommend Social Studies materials for grades 6, 7 and 8.

Plan of Work:

• Convene committee, establish timeline and tasks to identify instructional resources
• The committee will take into consideration:
  • Students with disabilities, English learners, students who are identified as highly capable,
  • Open educational resources,
  • Alignment to state standards with the inclusion of tribal sovereignty curriculum,
  • Technology use and integration with 1:1 in mind,
  • Assessment,
  • Recent research in best practices in social studies and literacy to support social studies,
  • Feedback from staff, students and parents.

Members:

• One MS ELL teacher – Bethany Barrett
• One MS Principal or Assistant Principal – Shari Walsh
• 6th grade Core or Social Studies teacher – Alisa Sachs, Fairhaven; Glenda Everett, Kulshan; Jennifer Clawson and Stephanie Strow, Shuksan; Shelby (Erica) Ziels, Whatcom
• 7th grade Core or Social Studies teacher – Minh Nguyen and Glenda Everett, Kulshan and Trisia Kulaas, Whatcom
• 8th grade Core or Social Studies teacher – Callie Hart, Fairhaven; Dara Yost, Shuksan; David Ostlund, Whatcom
• Educational Technology Coach – Alex Giebelhaus
• Committee facilitated by Charisse Berner and Keith Schacht, Directors of Teaching and Learning and Minh Nguyen, administrative intern
• Ex-officio: Mike Copland, Deputy Superintendent

Responsibilities:

• Attend meetings
• Actively participate as a representative of your stakeholder group including sharing feedback and collecting information as needed

Timeline:

February 23, 24 – Clarify process/timelines, establish norms, develop/finalize statement of vision and philosophy aligned to The Bellingham Promise, establish screening criteria, screen materials, identify no more than 3 semi-finalists, create staff, student, community feedback form

March 7 –  Publisher presentations in the morning and deliberations in the afternoon

March 23 – Examine semi-finalists using concept trace, make recommendation, complete Instructional Materials Committee paperwork including bias screening, develop preferred PD plan

April 13 – Examine semi-finalists using concept trace, make recommendation, complete Instructional Materials Committee paperwork including bias screening, develop preferred PD plan

April 25 – Additional meeting date if needed to complete above tasks

Minutes:

February 23

February 24

March 7

April 13

April 25

Budget Implications:

• Substitute reimbursement for staff committee members to meet
• Budget to purchase materials