Teaching Awards


The NCSS Teacher of the Year Awards recognize exceptional classroom social studies teachers for grades K-6, 5-8, and 7-12 who teach social studies regularly and systematically in elementary school settings, and at least half-time in middle or junior high and high school settings. Award winners receive $2,500, complimentary one-year membership in NCSS, and present a session on their work at the NCSS Annual Conference.

2008 Deadline: June 19, 2008

Elementary Social Studies Teacher of the Year

sponsored by: National Council for the Social Studies

Middle Level

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sponsored by: Scholastic, Inc.

Secondary

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sponsored by: McDougal Littell

Criteria

  • Anyone may nominate. Self nominations will be accepted.
  • NCSS Membership is required.
  • Social studies teachers for grades K-6, 5-8, and 7-12 who teach social studies regularly and systematically in elementary school settings, and at least half time in middle/junior high and high school settings.
  • Nominees cannot be nominated for the award in more than one category (i.e., junior high/middle school teachers are ineligible for the secondary award).

  • Demonstrated exceptional abilities in at least six of the seven categories listed below:

    1. Develop or use instructional materials creatively and effectively.
    2. Incorporate innovative and verified effective instructional strategies and techniques.
    3. Utilize new scholarship from history, the social sciences, or other appropriate fields.
    4. Utilize the ten interrelated themes identified in NCSS curriculum standards: culture; time, continuity, and change; people, places, and environment; individual development and identity; individuals, groups, and institutions; power, authority, and governance; production, distribution, and consumption; science, technology, and society; global connections; and civic ideals and practices.
    5. Demonstrated ability to foster a spirit of inquiry and the development of skills related to acquiring, organizing, processing, and using information and making decisions related to both domestic and international matters.
    6. Demonstrated ability to foster the development of democratic beliefs and values, and the skills needed for citizen participation appropriate to students’ grade level in classroom, school, and community settings.
    7. Evidence of professional involvement in activities such as workshops, curriculum development, committees, and other association activities, etc.

Nomination Requirements

  • Cover Page — [Click here to download][1].
  • Letter of nomination (needed only if someone is nominating you for the award).
  • Letter(s) of Support. Letter(s) supporting your application from your state or local social studies council, and/or from your immediate supervisor with performance responsibility.
  • Vita or Professional Resume prepared by the nominee (listing degrees conferred by U.S. accredited institutions only).
  • *Current Teaching Assignment. *Description of nominee’s current teaching assignment (to verify eligibility).
  • Applicant Narrative describing how he/she meets all criteria areas listed above (not to exceed five (5) one-sided double-spaced 8-1/2 x 11 pages).
  • _Supporting Documentation. _Up to ten one-sided pages of documentation that supports the Applicant Narrative. Evidence might include clear reproductions of newspaper articles, teaching evaluations, and letters of support.
  • Portfolio and/or Videotape, CD or DVD of a lesson or unit plan that was conceived, planned, implemented and measured through learner outcomes that highlight how the applicant has met all seven of the award’s teaching criteria and possesses outstanding classroom practices (not to exceed fifteen (15) 8- 1/2” one-sided pages). Please indicate on any discs submitted whether a CD or DVD and make sure that your disc is formatted to be readable in a PC.

Submission Requirements:

  • Seven sets of all the nomination materials listed above (including video/portfolio).
  • Each set of nomination materials should be in a three-ring or similar of binder with that contains subject dividers that identify materials according to the nomination requirements listed above.

_Review the contents of your submission carefully! Nomination materials that are incomplete or that do not meet the established criteria will not be considered. The selection subcommittee reserves the right to remove from consideration any application that fails to meet all submission requirements. The subcommittee will consider composition, spelling, grammar, etc. in the evaluation process.
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All Subcommittee Award Selection Decisions Are Final!

For more information on NCSS Awards and Grants contact Recognition Programs at [excellence@ncss.org][2].

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Send to:
Outstanding Social Studies Teacher of the Year Award Subcommittee
(indicate Elementary, Middle Level, or Secondary)
National Council for the Social Studies
8555 Sixteenth Street, Suite 500
Silver Spring, MD 20910 **

[1]: http://downloads.ncss.org/documents/2008TeacherofYear.pdf [2]: mailto:excellence@ncss.org

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