Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge American Revolution North

Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge American Revolution North Tour Boston, MA to West Point, NY June 26 – July 2, 2013

Renee K. Cavanaugh 5 th Grade Teacher • Silver Strand Elementary School in Coronado, CA • We are the highest performing military impacted elementary school in San Diego County • 360 students K-5 with a 50% mobility rate

We were a diverse group of teachers – Kindergarten to High School

Personal Revelations

Professional Impact

The way we educate our students is changing.

Common Core State Standards • • • establishes a single set of clear educational standards for kindergarten through 12 th grade in English language arts and mathematics are designed to ensure that students graduating from high school are prepared to enter college programs or enter the workforce clear and concise to ensure that parents, teachers, and students have an understanding of the expectations

Teachers are not seen as the holders of information. Instead we are to act as facilitators for learning.

The Common Core Education Standards that have been adopted by 46 states demands more rigorous instruction, higher levels of critical thinking, and deeper conceptual understanding.

Reading and Writing Standards • Students are expected to develop their skills and apply them to more and more complex texts – explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas or concepts in a historical text – analyze multiple accounts of the same event or topic noting differences in the point of view they represent – integrate information from multiple sources to write or speak knowledgeable on the subject

For example, in English Language Arts, the Common Core State Standards require certain critical content for all students, including America’s Founding Documents.

How has this experience changed my teaching?

Considerations for Social Studies 1. Students need more visual information about historical events – photos, maps, videos anything that will help orient them.

Considerations for Social Studies 2. Students need access to primary source documents and the support to fully understand them.

Considerations for Social Studies 3. Students need opportunities to discuss and analyze historical events to help them reach their own conclusions.

“History Mystery” Series • A series of lessons that allows students to “act” out historical events and to reach their own conclusions about the people and events.

Thank You! • Thank you for the amazing opportunity to not only learn about our history, but to experience it in a way that will forever change me personally and professionally.