Author Archives: Herodotus
Fall Meeting – Friday October 9, 2015 @NJPSA
The fall meeting of the New Jersey Social Studies Supervisors Association will take place on October 9, 2015 at the NJPSA/FEA Conference Center in Monroe, NJ (12 Centre Dr, Monroe Township, NJ 08831), from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Registration for the meeting is now open on this link. The main focus of the meeting is “Providing Teachers With Effective Feedback”.
The Agenda includes:
- updates from Beverly Plein, NJDOE;
- Using the teacher evaluation instruments to improve social studies instruction;
- Development of Observation Look-Fors;
- Advocacy and Legal Issues.
There is NO CHARGE for this meeting, thanks to our generous sponsors, National Geographic/Cengage and ListenCurrent.
Spring Meeting 2015
New Jersey Social Studies Supervisors Association Spring Meeting
May 8, 2015
NJPSA/FEA Conference Center – Monroe, NJ
Registration and breakfast
Welcome and introductions
- Opening Padlet: What are some strategies you have used or seen that improve or maintain morale among your staff? http://padlet.com/noelbaxter/morale
- Poll: Which AP courses do you offer in your department? Please take our short survey!
- Introductions of attendees
Sponsor presentation – Nicole Sheppard, Bedford, Freeman and Worth
Redesign of AP European History/Connections to AP US History
Linda Burns, Director of AP History Instructional and PD Resource Development, College Board
Discussion of Best Practices
- Share a best practice from your AP courses – how has instruction changed as a result of the redesign?
- How can/should the skills and concepts emphasized in the AP course redesigns be reflected in other courses?
- How do the skills and concepts emphasized in the redesign support implementation of Common Core? Of C-3?
- Group share-out: What lessons from your experience with AP courses can you apply broadly across your other courses?
Sponsor Presentation – Sandra Brand, Pearson
Business Items:
- Election – N. Baxter
- Google Group/Listserve
- Logistics of membership and registrations – S. Maher
Updates/Reports:
- NJSSSA Elementary Social Studies Meeting – N. Baxter
- NJCSS Professional Development – B. Cameron
- NJCSS Fall Conference – proposal deadline is June 1 – N. Baxter
- Mock Election – R. O’Dell
- Submission of testimony about testing – K. Fox
- NJPSA meeting on evaluations – K. Fox
- Pre-service event was cancelled – N. Baxter
Policy Updates and Advocacy – Debra Bradley, NJPSA director of government relations
Advocacy
Fox and K. Dennison
Fall Meeting 2014
NJ Social Studies Supervisors Association Meeting
October 17, 2014
NJPSA/FEA Conference Center – Monroe, NJ
- Breakfast and Registration
- Welcome and Introductions
- Sheila Miller, Nystrom and Social Studies School Service – Active Classroom
- Presentation by Claudia Ocello, Montclair Historical Society film project – asking for assistance – 1920 to 1965 New Jersey Documentary
- Introduce new Board and Officers; Membership reminders
- NJCSS events and initiatives (professional development)
- Mock Election – Bob O’Dell
- NJ350 – Arlene – two web sites; www.officialnj350.com -short videos and http://civiced.rutgers.edu/njlessons.html for use in 4th grade but also has resources for other grades (2-8) – lessons. Looking for teachers to pilot.
- Model Assessment update
- Lunch
- SGO 2.0 debriefing
- Discussion about NCSS statement on standards
Sponsored Presentations
Winter Meeting 2015
NJ Social Studies Supervisors Association Meeting
January 30, 2015
NJPSA/FEA Conference Center – Monroe, NJ
- Breakfast and Registration
- Welcome and Introductions
- National Geographic Presentation
- Updates from Beverly Plein, NJDOE
- “Creating Effective Assessments” – Dr. Mari Pearlman
- “Using Webb’s Depth of Knowledge to Improve Assessments” – Liz Azukas, Jefferson Township Public Schools
- Workshop on Assessment Development – NJSSSA Board of Directors
- Lunch
- Presentation by Benchmark Education
- Business Meeting
Presentation – Assessment in Social Studies – Dr. Mari Pearlman

Sponsored Presentations
NJSSSA Business Items
- Elections (M. Mingle)
- Human Rights Education curriculum guide (W. Fernekes)
- Drew University Center for Holocaust/Genocide Studies (M. DiBiasse)
- Listserve and membership (N. Baxter)
- Google Group (S. Maher)
- Standards cheatsheets (N. Baxter)
- State BOE Public Testimony on Impact of Testing (N. Baxter)