Social Studies PD Mini-Conference Features Rockwood Educators Teaching, Learning from Peers

Rockwood Summit High social studies teacher Mary Jo Bauer enjoyed a unique experience during Rockwood’s districtwide staff professional learning day Nov. 3.

She embodied the roles of student and teacher during a three-hour 6-12 social studies “mini-conference” at Marquette High, serving as a co-presenter during one session and getting the opportunity to learn from her Rockwood School District colleagues during the other two.

“I loved it,” Bauer said. “We don’t have a schedule where we get to see many of our colleagues actually deliver material. We are a giant district so, as much as we try, time and distance make that kind of challenging. It was really nice to get a glimpse of what’s happening in other buildings and in my own building as well.”

Bauer and Rockwood 6-12 Social Studies Coordinator Dr. Jordan McGaughey presented one of 18 total sessions split over three different 50-minute time blocks that were available to Rockwood educators at the mini-conference. Each attendee had the opportunity to choose which session they attended in each block.

Other session presenters included: Jessica Barnes (Rockwood South Middle); Dr. Greg Baum and Becky McLaughlin (Rockwood Summit); Vince Deblasi and Matt Waeckerle (Lafayette High); John Deken, Steve Klawiter (Lafayette) and Jamie Manker (Rockwood Summit); Kyle Denny (Selvidge Middle); Zach McDaniel (Lafayette); Meghan Menchella (Crestview Middle); Amy Merriott (Lafayette); McKenna Peters (Marquette High); Lauren Schoellhorn (Eureka High); instructional technology specialist Dana Stiebel; and Teresa Yakel (Eureka).

McGaughey said he asked social studies educators from around the district to submit session ideas for consideration so that it would feel like a national curricular conference.

“We felt really good about the responses and the quality of the presentations themselves,” McGaughey said. “All of the submissions were of the quality of professional learning that Rockwood teachers deserve. It’s the best feedback I’ve gotten from a professional development day. Our teachers really liked the ability to choose their sessions, their learning and personalize their own path.”

Bauer and McGaughey’s session, “Integrating C3 Building Block Inquiries,” centered on highlighting the purpose and key aspects of inquiry-based teaching and how it is applicable to all social studies courses, from middle school through high school Advanced Placement.

Last school year, Rockwood was one of 12 districts from around the country chosen to have representatives in the C3 Leadership Academy, a professional learning experience designed to nurture, energize and connect educators committed to advancing inquiry-based social studies.

The model prizes student-centered learning approaches that focus on students investigating questions, problems or scenarios to gain knowledge. C3 refers to using social studies to attain mastery for college, career and civic life. The “building blocks” are sets of mini-lessons that educators can use to introduce – and get students thinking critically about – larger topics.

As participants in the leadership academy, Bauer and McGaughey helped develop mini-lessons with the Library of Congress that are now available to use for educators all over the country.

“A perceived barrier to teaching project and inquiry-based learning is time,” McGaughey said. “The goal of building block inquiries is to give teachers choice in teaching these lessons to provide exposure to inquiry-based learning in your classroom, and you can really pick and choose how you want kids to engage within their class. The goal is to give more voice and choice to teachers and give teachers the ability to engage kids more deeply in social studies.”

One particular example from Bauer and McGaughey’s session served as a blast from the past for an educator in attendance.

Bauer played a music video from Nigeria as an example of how music can cultivate a sense of national identity. One of her former students – Kaitlyn Dunn, now a social studies teacher at LaSalle Springs Middle – remembered it from her time at Rockwood Summit.

“That took her back to being in my class,” Bauer said, with a smile. “There is something about teachers teaching teachers that I really enjoy. I feel as though I love what they’re doing, I wish I had them as a teacher, I respect them so much. We are collaborating with other people who do the same things that we do: here’s what works, try this idea. I thought it was probably the best PD I’ve attended and participated in for many, many years.”

McGaughey recently published an article, with North Carolina State University Professor of Social Studies Education Dr. John Lee, in the October edition of Social Education, a journal of the National Council for Social Studies.

The article deals with ideas for integrating AI into inquiry-based social studies learning, and McGaughey, Bauer and Lafayette’s Brittany Trott are part of a cohort of educators in the process of helping develop national recommendations for AI in social studies education.

McGaughey enjoyed the opportunity he and Bauer had to bring their work with the C3 academy back to Rockwood as part of a special day of teaching and learning for Rockwood social studies educators.

“Seeing our teachers both teaching other teachers and engaging in the learning from other teachers, it was inspiring, one of my favorite experiences of the school year,” McGaughey said. “I was very proud to see teachers being in a position to share the great things they do with their colleagues. It just opens everybody’s eyes to the great things everyone is doing around the district.”