Executive Director's Message

Executive Director's Message: "Share Your Story and Learn From History"

September 21, 2021

One of the biggest developments in social studies advocacy this month has been the launch of the Learn From History Coalition, led by the Stand for Children Leadership Center and with National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) as one of its inaugural partners. This is a fast-growing, influential group.

Executive Director's Message: Back to School

August 17, 2021

Welcome back to school! National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) kept its “virtual classroom” open all summer, and I am delighted to report that hundreds of members and new friends in our social studies community shared in our summer institute and webinar programs. Now we turn our attention to the fall (can you believe it?!) and a few key programs that will form the core of our professional learning this season.

A Summer of Learning

July 6, 2021

July 1 marks the official start of our National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) new year, and brings with it new faces, new voices, and new initiatives!

Message from Lawrence Paska: NCSS Executive Director

June 23, 2021

For many, summer marks the end of the school year and the beginning of slower-paced days with sunny temperatures. Yet for NCSS, it marks the beginning of our fiscal year and summer learning!

We’re making plans for a spectacular year and kicking it off with our upcoming NCSS Summer Leadership Institute 2021: Think Global, Act Local.

Summer Break and Fall Planning

June 8, 2021

Teaching is an ever-evolving craft. The word “evolve” suggests gradual growth or change, but the 2020-21 school year was anything but gradual. Our sudden nationwide transformation to remote and virtual learning continued and expanded in different directions over the past year; even in districts that fully reopened at the start of the year, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic were still felt.

Executive Director's Message: "Make a New Resolution"

May 25, 2021

NCSS is pleased to share two vital resources to support your social studies advocacy and leadership: our 2020 House of Delegates (HOD) resolutions approved by the NCSS Board of Directors, and our new open call for 2021 resolutions.

Message from Lawrence Paska: NCSS Executive Director

April 28, 2021

Your social studies leadership can make a difference like never before. As I shared in my TSSP message this week, NCSS has several federal legislative priorities and advocacy issues that impact education – and are conversation-starters – from the community to Congress. These priorities and issues are brought to life through your stories and your networks, by sharing why social studies are urgently needed now.

Our Legislative Priorities

April 27, 2021

Sixty years ago, Congress designated May 1 as the official date for Law Day, an annual celebration of the rule of law and a chance to learn together how our legal process works. Over the past six decades, numerous education and civic organizations have led programs and shared resources for students, educators, and the general public to participate in learning about how our government and legal process functions, and has evolved over the past centuries.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Social Studies

February 23, 2021

This month, NCSS is preparing its annual call for expertise for members to apply to serve on an Operations Committee. NCSS supports seven current Operations Committees and also appoints interested members to its Fund for the Advancement of Social Studies Education (FASSE) governing board. NCSS Operations Committees play a vital role in the growth of our association and the health of our profession.

The Time for Social Studies

January 26, 2021

Does this sound familiar? Someone asks what you do for a living. Your reply includes the words “social studies.” Maybe you say, “I teach middle school social studies” or “I inspire young minds to be civically engaged.” Maybe you say, “I help social studies educators prepare their students for civic life.” (That’s my reply.) In the past month, the response back to you may have been something like, “Wow, if ever there was a time that social studies is so important and needed, this is it!”

Media Literacy, Front and Center

October 27, 2020
Editor’s Note: For this edition of TSSP, NCSS Executive Director Lawrence Paska is joined by National Association of Media Literacy Education (NAMLE) Executive Director Michelle Ciulla Lipkin to celebrate the vital role of media literacy in the social studies during 2020 U.S. Media Literacy Week.

Election Season

September 22, 2020

I want to draw your attention to our lead highlight: It’s National Voter Registration Day!

Welcome Back to School!

August 25, 2020

To suggest that this back-to-school season is like no other is an understatement. Most of us did not imagine that we would set up our classrooms online, and welcome new students directly from our home office or kitchen table. Yet here we are: Back-to-School 2020. A new decade, a new school year, and a whole new way of facilitating education.

Social Studies: On-Demand and All-Access

July 24, 2020

When the pandemic started, NCSS immediately revisited our professional learning programs online to create a more responsive way for members to connect with each other. This month, NCSS launched two major parts to that overall plan – and to prepare for our Centennial Celebration.

COVID-19 and Our Priorities in Action

June 26, 2020

As I write this message, our global society has undergone rapid transformations in how we live, work, and play – all in the span of a few weeks. When I wrap my head around these changes, I begin to wonder which will endure, and how they will impact our civic life, our general human connections, and our roles, responsibilities, and values.

Collaboration for Advocacy

June 26, 2020

Our NCSS mission is very clear: advocacy is at the heart of our work. Advocacy for social studies involves collaboration with many other organizations and individuals in education. Throughout the past year, NCSS has focused its advocacy efforts on turning around the marginalization of social studies.

This is Why We Need Social Studies

June 26, 2020

It’s difficult to know where to begin. First, I hope this message finds you, your family, and those you care for safe and healthy as COVID-19 continues to devastate us and alter our landscape for school, work, recreation, and civic life. Each of our current challenges alone could be a major turning point in a “normal year.” Taken together, however, our challenges can seem downright overwhelming. In just five short months, 2020 has proven to be the year when the social studies – and education – are more urgently needed than ever before.

Virtual Learning

April 21, 2020

I hope you and your communities are keeping safe as many of us continue adjusting to work, recreation, and life mostly at home, and increasingly online. I posted my last message nearly a month ago, which feels like a lifetime ago. At that time, I shared plans to move upcoming NCSS meetings online to keep members and staff safe as most of the country began to shelter in place. Since then, we have also moved forward to move major summer programs online.

Teaching Resources to Celebrate Black History Month

February 18, 2020

In this latest TSSP edition, NCSS is pleased to provide several instructional resources in honor of Black History Month.

Civic Learning: A Matter of Equity

February 4, 2020

Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, John G. Roberts, Jr., closed out the 2010s and welcomed the 2020s with powerful words in his 2019 Year-End Report on the Federal Judiciary:

“Civic education, like all education, is a continuing enterprise and conversation. Each generation has an obligation to pass on to the next, not only a fully functioning government responsive to the needs of the people, but the tools to understand and improve it.” (4)

Executive Director's Message: In Medias Res

December 22, 2019

As NCSS once again supports the National Association of Media Literacy Education (NAMLE) as a Media Literacy Week partner, we are reminded of how media literacy is a fundamental part of inquiry-based social studies learning. We demonstrate media literacy whenever we use a source of information as evidence to ask and answer questions about the world around us.

Social Studies and the Anniversary of Sputnik

October 28, 2019

Sixty years ago today, October 4, 1957 the Soviet Union launched Sputnik. From that point on the emphasis on science and math education consumed the American public. Other curriculums including social studies/science took a back seat. Those emphasis in education still remain today.

Summer Reading

October 28, 2019

My birthday is in July. As a social studies educator who spent most of his life in New York, I always took pride in the fact that my birthday falls on the same day that New York ratified the U.S. Constitution (although not in the same year, of course). Last July, I announced a personal challenge to read one book per week as my “new year” goal. For the first month, I regularly shared the title and short impressions of the previous week’s book. Then my postings trailed off. This was not because I made a lofty but unrealistic resolution.

San Francisco and the State of Social Studies in 2017

October 28, 2019

As I post this blog, the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) is just two weeks away from hosting our annual flagship event, the nation’s largest social studies education conference. If you are planning to attend, I hope you’re as excited as I am for a phenomenal week of professional learning in the City by the Bay, and your bags are packed! If you’re reading this and are not too familiar with NCSS, I invite you to learn more about us and our conference at www.socialstudies.org/conference.

Social Studies in Congress

October 28, 2019

Last week, I announced that a new Senate bill, S. 2024 - USA Civics Act of 2019, was introduced by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and John Cornyn (R-TX). This bill amends a portion of the Higher Education Act. If you have not already done so, I urge you to contact the education aides of your U.S. Senators, and ask them to encourage your Senators to become co-sponsors of this bill.

Giving the Gift of Social Studies

October 28, 2019

I think we all agree that one of the highest priorities of a well-rounded education is to ensure that our students have the tools they need for active civic engagement. Regardless of our political beliefs, we collectively work hard so that our students are prepared for college, career, and civic life. That work is so important to our organization that it headlines the main page of our web site.

Junior is Here!

October 28, 2019

Recently, I remembered the anticipation, excitement, and jitters of setting up my middle school classroom. I was very fortunate to be in the same classroom every year. In that pre-dawn era without wi-fi and laptop carts, a big challenge was figuring out how to decorate the space and manage the desks and tables with new artifacts, pictures, posters, and other things collected from summer travels and study experiences.

Getting Social - The New Blog from Larry Paska

October 28, 2019

From New Year’s Resolutions to New Year’s Priorities

Many of us write a set of resolutions to help us plan for our start to the new year. This year I had a little help in writing my resolutions: our new NCSS Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan identifies five Priorities – Collaboration, Communication, Innovation, Inclusiveness, and Influence & Leadership – which speak strongly to me as more than just a pledge for our organization’s future. They frame my professional and personal commitment to social studies education in 2017.

Building the Future

October 28, 2019

Happy New Year!

Many of us took an extended holiday week off to spend time with friends and family, perhaps travel, and most certainly unwind and refresh. As 2018 begins, we look ahead to all that is possible in our new year, and reflect on the past year’s achievements. (Do any of us take out our 2017 New Year’s resolutions for comparison?)

Partnerships to Move Social Education

October 28, 2019

I am currently finishing an enlightening book called Door to Door: The Magnificent, Maddening, Mysterious World of Transportation by Edward Humes (2016). True to its title, this book explores how everything from a morning cup of coffee to delivery pizza gets to my doorstep.

A Time to Lead

October 28, 2019

One of the biggest learning needs we hear from our members is the need to cultivate a personal leadership style as a social studies educator. Whether you are teaching students about leadership traits and habits, taking a personal leadership role within a team or department, or preparing for a professional move into an administrative role, leadership development is a critical area for social studies educators. It is also an area that is arguably overlooked.

Toward Student Engagement in Community

October 28, 2019

Each year, NCSS partners with MyCollegeOptions®, the nation’s largest college planning program, to survey high school students on their perceptions about their social studies experience. Teachers receive a survey about their school’s course requirements and instructional program; they also comment on membership in associations like ours, benefits they derive from membership, and their continuing professional learning needs.

A New Professional

October 28, 2019

Welcome to the inaugural issue of a new TSSP! We are pleased to update one of our valued member resources. TSSP—The Social Studies Professional—enjoys a long tradition of serving you with timely and important information to keep you current on social studies news and help your professional practice stay on top. Our team wants to keep making TSSP your “go-to” resource for the most up-to-date information from our social studies community.

The Second Century of Social Studies

October 28, 2019

It started to dawn on me this week that we are entering the second full century of social studies education as we know it. Of course, there was not a specific date in which a formal resolution declared, “….there shall be a new subject called social studies taught in every classroom and in every grade level throughout the United States.” History is seldom that neat and tidy.

Changing the World

October 28, 2019

To all our members and readers who are part of our profoundly vital profession: THANK YOU! Thank you for opening our minds to explore new places, distant times, and bold futures. Thank you for helping us to stake a claim on ideas and carry them forward. Thank you for teaching us the rights and responsibilities we are afforded as citizens and participants in our communities. You change the world for us!

Social Studies: The Original STEM

October 28, 2019

This post is not a plea to add social studies to list of STEM disciplines. “SSSTEM” does not roll off the tongue politely in conversation. “STEMSS” is not a memorable acronym, either. I also worry that if we add too many more disciplines to STEM, we’re just going to end up with a clunky acronym for the traditional 8-10 course school day.

Instead, this post is a thought that social studies education is the original STEM initiative.

Consider this definition of STEM:

The Civic Life of Social Studies

October 28, 2019

Each year, National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) participates in a nationwide survey for high school seniors and social studies teachers through My College Options. Included in this survey are several questions for students about their social studies school experience, and other questions for teachers about their social studies programs and general professional learning needs. I am starting to share our 2017-18 survey results, following up on my “State of Social Studies in 2017” presentations to Affiliated Councils and other groups last year.

Dispatch from the Big Apple

October 28, 2019

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the Greater Metropolitan New York Social Studies Conference. This is the annual conference of the Association of Teachers of Social Studies/United Federation of Teachers (ATSS/UFT), our affiliated council which serves educators in the New York City Department of Education. I have attended this conference for many years as a social studies curriculum specialist for the New York State Education Department and later as the President of the New York State Council for the Social Studies. It was a treat to return to my home state in my new capacity to learn from New York City educators –and to share our NCSS 2016 annual research findings in a session titled “What Our Students Have to Say About Social Studies: The State of the Social Studies in 2017.”

Headed for the Future

October 28, 2019

Throughout my career, professional associations have been my lifeline to a world of colleagues, connections, and learning beyond my classroom and office. As we begin “a new year” at NCSS, our Annual Conference theme—Building the Future of Social Studies—is both our mission and our promise to each member in our social studies community. I owe my success to our social studies professional associations at every level.

Learning from the Best

October 28, 2019

Every year, professional associations recognize outstanding achievement in the classroom through Teacher of the Year awards. Being recognized by your peers is one of the highest honors and humbling moments for any educator. The process of forming an awards committee, selecting a recipient from many outstanding educators, and organizing the awards event is an important part of any conference. There was an outstanding take-away I wanted to highlight from the Minnesota Council for the Social Studies’ annual conference in February: a session called “Learning from the Best: Award-Winning Social Studies Teachers Share Their Insights.”

Collective Leadership

October 28, 2019

Student Voice in the Social Studies

October 28, 2019

A few years ago, NCSS established the Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society, the only national program for high school junior and seniors that recognizes their excellence and achievement in social studies learning. In a short time, over 500 Rho Kappa chapters have been established in 38 U.S. states and 4 countries. If you’d like to learn more about Rho Kappa, check out www.socialstudies.org/rhokappa. We invite you to start a chapter in your own school and recognizing student success in our discipline!

The Difference Between Teaching and Learning

October 28, 2019

Is there truly a difference between teaching and learning? NCSS Executive Director Larry Paska discusses the interdependence of these terms and welcomes you back to the school with NCSS resources and tools.

In Appreciation of Teachers

October 28, 2019

What inspired you to become a social studies teacher? Share a moment with us @NCSSNetwork or on Facebook. Use the hashtag #WhyITeachSocialStudies

The Season for Campaigns and Conferences

October 28, 2019

Just as our country is gearing up to vote in mid-term elections later this fall, our association is also preparing to elect its future leaders. We are pleased to announce our slate of candidates for the 2019–2020 Board of Directors. This year, 21 members answered the call to lead our association—and to build our future for social studies education. Now is the time to learn all about our candidates.

#WhyITeachSocialStudies

October 28, 2019

In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week this past May, we asked for stories of what inspired you to become a social studies teacher. As summer vacation is in full swing and many of us are deep in our own summer professional learning, now is a great time to ask that question again. Summer is both a time for rejuvenation and preparation for the next school year – a time when many educators become full-time learners and immerse in study tours, teaching institutes, curriculum writing projects, or own coursework toward a graduate degree or new certification.

Social Studies in Action

October 28, 2019

In November 2018, the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) released an infographic on The Marginalization of Social Studies, calling the limited instructional time devoted to social studies “an issue of equity for all students.” I could not agree more! I highly encourage you to download this free resource. Share it with everyone you know. Start a conversation and share a personal story about how social studies matters to every student, every day.

Happy New Year!

October 28, 2019

In many ways, July 1 always feels like a new year to me. It’s often the start of a new fiscal year, and I’ve had a few paid and volunteer positions in my career with a July 1 start date. There’s always a temptation in me to “get everything ready” for a big release or roll-out on July 1 – to start the new year off with a major pronouncement or initiative.

Equity and Civic Learning

October 28, 2019

National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) is a proud member of CivXNow, a coalition of non-partisan organizations dedicated to strengthening civic learning and education. The coalition is led by iCivics, and many members met in California earlier this year for a Civic Learning Impact and Measurement Convening.

A Call for Expertise

October 28, 2019

In July, I published a guest blog in Education Week, “A Summer of Global Learning.” In it, I reflected on the study tours and institutes I saw many of our NCSS members and my friends take this summer to immerse themselves in learning and new adventures.

Celebrating the Professional

October 28, 2019

Spotlight interviews with NCSS members. A podcast on teaching racial literacy and controversial issues. A statement celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. An archived lesson plan on baseball in the World War I era. What do these four things have in common? They are the content of our “Top 10” most-read articles in The Social Studies Professional over the past year!

Meet Your Social Studies Ambassadors

October 28, 2019

On Friday, September 29, NCSS announced our three 2017 Teacher of the Year award winners. Our award winners represent exemplary practice – outstanding achievement in fostering the kinds of learning spaces in social studies we want all students to experience. Before I write any more, I want to personally congratulate Kathryn A.

Lights, Camera …Social Studies in Action!

October 28, 2019

We are pleased to announce the official opening of registration for our NCSS 99th Annual Conference themed A4 | Austin Informed Action: Agency, Advocacy, Activism! We are equally pleased to take this step in partnership with two outstanding professional associations, the National Council for Geographic Education and the Texas Council for the Social Studies.