Recently in Events Category

All events take place at the Memphis Hilton, 939 Ridge Lake Boulevard, Memphis, TN 38120. Directions can be found here.

Last weekend, the TCSS held a workshop on Dr. Seuss in the Social Studies Curriculum. Click the thumbnails below for larger versions of photos from the event.

Below are some photos from the 2009 TCSS Conference. Click the thumbnails for larger versions.

Join us for an evening social and a day-long workshop addressing: innovative, hands-on strategies for using Dr. Seuss in the social studies; activities suitable for use with elementary, middle, and high school students; authentic assessment practices; and standards-based lesson ideas.

Participants will leave with handouts, a hands-on kit with a corresponding Dr. Seuss book, and multiple lesson ideas for application included on a CD + door prizes!!! Option for earning graduate credit available.

When:
July 9, 2009 - 7:00p.m.-9:00p.m. (Social)
July 10, 2009 - 9:00a.m.-4:00p.m.

Where:
Hotel Preston: Nashville, TN

Cost: $100.00. This includes the Thursday night social, breakfast/lunch/snacks on Friday, and all supplies.

Download the registration form here: Seuss Flyer (PDF).

Apply for Funds to attend the TCSS Spring Conference! Tennessee Council sponsors best teaching practices across America. They have generously offered up to ten $100.00 scholarship awards to assist attendee(s) with their expenses in order that they may attend the Tennessee Council for the Social Studies annual conference.

To apply, download the form below and e-mail it, along with an up-to-date curriculum vitae to gfm10655@yahoo.com before February 15, 2009. The winner(s) will be contacted by March 1, 2009 and will be awarded his or her scholarship at an awards presentation during the conference luncheon.

Conference Scholarship Application (PDF)

The Tennessee World Affairs Council announces the state championship match of the nationally acclaimed global awareness education program "Academic WorldQuest" (AWQ) will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2009 at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville. This inaugural WorldQuest competition in Tennessee among four-student high school teams will produce the state champions who will represent the Tennessee World Affairs Council and Tennessee in the national championship competition at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on April 4, 2009. Teams from over 40 councils from around the national network of World Affairs Councils will compete to finish in the top five spots. The 2008 AWQ national championship team and their coach each took home a $1000 prize.

The WorldQuest topics for 2009 include: Population Issues in Developing Countries, Water, Alternative Fuels, Biotechnology and Genetics, Connectivity, Globalization, Transnational Crime, Great Decisions 2008, Current Events and Germany. [The Great Decisions 2008 program is described at www.fpa.org. The Current Events category will cover the period Jan-Mar 2009.] A study guide for teams is available here and the Tennessee World Affairs Council is ready to assist teams in their preparations for the state competition.

The Tennessee WorldQuest Championship team will be sponsored in Washington by the TN Council which will cover transportation, meals and lodging in Washington for the team of four and one coach, and will arrange visits to international affairs organizations including embassies and think tanks, and DC tourism sites. The tentative plan is for the team to fly to Washington on the evening of Wednesday, April 1 and return on Sunday, April 5, 2009 Participating teams are asked to pledge their team to the Tennessee World Affairs Council by February 25, 2009 but should contact the Council as early as possible to receive updated information and preparation resources.

The Tennessee World Affairs Council is a non profit, non partisan, educational organization founded in 2007 with the mission of bringing global awareness programs and resources to our communities and schools. It is an independent organization but is an affiliate of the 90 member World Affairs Councils of America network which affords Tennessee educators access to a wealth of global awareness education resources.

Contact Patrick Ryan for more information. Tennessee World Affairs Council, 31 West First Street, Cookeville, TN 38501 Tel: (615)523-9600 or Email: PatRyan@TNWAC.org

"A Refreshing Look at the Geography and History of Tennessee"
Sponsored by: The Tennessee Geographic Alliance and The Tennessee Council for the Social Studies

Knoxville, TN - Monday, June 2, 2008
Murfreesboro, TN - Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Memphis, TN - Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Submit $25 Refundable Deposit
checks made to "Tennessee Geographic Alliance"

Refunds made to attendees who complete the workshop.

Tennessee Council for the Social Studies
Fall Retreat

Theme: Governance & Civics

Date: Friday, October 26, 7 p.m.
**opening reception at Hotel Preston
Saturday, October 27, 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
**sessions & boxed lunch at Wyatt Center

Location: Wyatt Center on the Campus of Vanderbilt University

Hotel: Hotel Preston (615) 361-5900
733 Briley Parkway State rate-$99
Nashville, TN 37217

Registration Form is attached!

**Deadline for hotel registration: September 27
James E. Akenson.
Box 5042.
Tennessee Technological University.
Cookeville, TN 38505
Please mail registration by Friday, October 19, 2007

Registration: $50 for members; $75 for non-members
(includes reception, boxed lunch, & teaching resources)

Contact: Katherine Forshay
Email: kforshay@ncuscr.org

Now in its eleventh year, the program sends American K-12 teachers to China to teach English in Chinese secondary schools, and places Chinese secondary school teachers of English in American schools to teach Chinese language and culture, and where appropriate, English as a Second Language.

We seek experienced American K-12 teachers of any level and any subject who will return to the U.S. committed to improving teaching about China in American schools. While in China, they teach English in Chinese secondary schools. The teachers leave the U.S. in late August for the school year that begins on September 1, and are generally finished with their teaching duties in late June. The Chinese school year runs through early July, but the students are reviewing for and then taking exams in which the American teachers have no role.

The exchange program also brings Chinese secondary school teachers of English to the U.S. They spend the school year teaching Chinese language, Chinese culture (history, literature, arts), and/or, where appropriate, English as a Second Language. It is not required that every school or district both send and receive. We are flexible, hoping to satisfy the needs and interests of individual teachers, their schools, and their districts.

Attached to this email is an introductory blurb about the Teachers Exchange Program. We would appreciate it if you would disseminate information about the program, perhaps through newsletters and online listservs, advising prospective applicants to write to the Teachers Exchange Program, National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, 71 West 23rd Street, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10010-4102 or email tep@ncuscr.org for additional information and an application. Interested teachers may also learn more about the program from our website: www.ncuscr.org/TeachersExchange/. The application deadline for the 2007-2008 academic year is March 15, 2007.

Thank you for your attention to the U.S.-China Teachers Exchange Program. Please do not hesitate to contact me at kforshay@ncuscr.org if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Katherine Forshay
Program Assistant National Committee on U.S.-China Relations
71 West 23 St.
New York, NY 10010
212-645-9677 Ext. 12
kforshay@ncuscr.org

Call for Presentations

Presenters may choose to present on any geographical topic. Please complete and return the following form postmarked no later than October 6, 2006. Send to the Tennessee Geographic Alliance, 304 Burchfiel Geography Guilding, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-0925 ATTN: Kurt Butefish.

Geofest 2006
Saturday, November 11, 2006
MTSU Campus, Murfreesboro, TN.

Complete the Following Personal Information:

Name:

Home Address

Phone Number and Work Number

E-Mail Address

School

Presentation Title or Subject Area:

Presentation Grade Level (K-4 / 5-89 / 9-12)

Equipment Needs:

Brief Abstract (attach another sheet if necessary):

Making History in Social Studies Education
Knoxville, Tennessee

Call for Proposals

Sessions will be 45 minutes in length TCSS members who make presentations register free. Non-TCSS members who make presentations pay $15 registration which includes 2008-2009 TCSS dues. Luncheon will be optional, but paid by the presenter. Audio-visual needs besides overhead projector and screen are responsibility of presenter and may be brought or rented from the Hilton Hotel.

Send a title, 100-word description, intended grade level(s), names of presenter(s), school affiliation(s), mailing address(es), and e-mail address(es) by Friday, 21 October 2007 via mail or e-mail to:

James E. Akenson
Box 5042
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, TN 38505
jakenson@tntech.edu

The TN History Festival at Nashville Bicentennial Mall State Park (Friday Oct. 13 and Sat. Oct. 14).

If you live in Middle Tennessee, don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity to see re-enactors from DeSoto to Andrew Jackson. Email Ranger Harry Hampton at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park for more information or call 615-741-5280.

Civil War Preservation Trust Summer Teacher Institute
July 20-22, 2007
Chattanooga, TN

Call for Proposals

Deadline for proposals: December 15, 2006

Goals of the CWPT Teacher Institute

• To provide a quality continuing education program for elementary through high school teachers


• To demonstrate methods teachers can use in their own classrooms


• To boost teachers' Civil War content knowledge


• To energize teachers in preparation for the next school year

History of the CWPT Teacher Institute
The Civil War Preservation Trust is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Our mission is the preservation of America's significant Civil War battlefields by protecting the land and educating the public about the vital roles those battlefields played in directing the course of our nation's history. The first CWPT Summer Teacher Institute was held July 2002, at Pamplin Historical Park in Petersburg, VA. Thirty teachers were in attendance. Since then, the program has grown to 200 teachers. Our field trips and event sites have been the following: Richmond (Petersburg and Pamplin Park - 2006), Perryville (Lexington - 2005), Appomattox (Roanoke - 2004), and Cloyd's Mountain, VA (Blacksburg - 2003).

Format of the CWPT Teacher Institute
The institute is a 3-day weekend event. Before the program, teachers pre-register for their classes. They may also need to register for their field trip if we have two choices for that particular year. On Friday, teachers attend their choice of classes. Saturdays involve a full-day field trip to a Civil War site. On Sunday, teachers attend their second group of classes. On Friday and Saturday night there is either a featured evening speaker or period entertainment. The 2007 Institute schedule has not been finalized, but a draft schedule should be available by February.

Teachers are responsible for their own room and travel, but meals are included in the program. There is a $50 refundable registration deposit, but there is no other registration cost.

Presentation Guidelines

1. Half of our attendees come to the institute to gain Civil War content knowledge. Half attend to sharpen their teaching methods. As such, we need to provide both method presentations and content presentations. Keep in mind that even content presentations need to demonstrate how to use your presentation in the classroom.


2. Attendees will vary from elementary through high school levels. There are new teachers and long-time teachers, Civil War buffs and Civil War novices, locals and travelers. Presenters should prepare for a variety of different people with different backgrounds.


3. Past attendees have sought a variety of supplementary materials which can be used in their classes and shared with colleagues back home. Some examples are good course outlines, copies of photos and other images, copies of actual primary resources, suggestions for further reading, etc. Each presenter will submit supplementary materials in electronic format to be included in the teacher resource book. The deadline is May 1, 2007. Materials will not be used for other purposes without your consent. Presenters are discouraged from bringing loose handouts to the program.


4. Past attendees have indicated that they do not want to attend lectures. Presentations should be interesting and interactive. You are encouraged to bring props, photos, audio-visual aides, etc. "Workshop" is a better word for what we are looking for.

If you are interested in being a presenter for the 2007 Summer Teacher Institute, please submit the following application. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. I can be contacted at jrosenberry@civilwar.org or 301.665.1400 X 204. Civil War Preservation Trust

Civil War Preservation Trust Proposal Form and Guidelines (PDF)