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An invitation from Peggy Altoff, NCSS President…..
Join me at the:
84th Annual NCSS Conference
Promise and Practice ‘06
December 1, 2, and 3, 2006
Washington, DC
This year’s NCSS Conference theme is “Social Studies: Promise and Practice.” The word “promise” suggests potential; we all wonder about the potential of social studies, the endless possibilities that result from opening the eyes and minds of our students—as well as our own—to the world, to the past and the present, and to the promise future. “Practice” involves all that we do to make ourselves better social studies educators, including the acquisition and application of new knowledge and skills. We bring enthusiasm to the classroom every day, and experience the delight of discovering something new and unknown to make us better prepared to enhance student learning.
The NCSS conference includes opportunities to pursue both the “promise”
and “practice” of our profession, and to energize and excite the social
studies community in its collective pursuit of excellence. Sub-themes for
this conference have been chosen as unifying ideas to provide us with the
power to succeed:
Public Engagement emphasizes our need and responsibility to connect
with others in ways that will empower each of us. Author and scholar Henry
Louis Gates, Jr., our keynote speaker on Friday, will address civil rights; on
Saturday, Newsweek editor Eleanor Clift will enhance our understanding of the current political scene; and on Sunday, controversial television host John
Stossel will participate in a discussion on the role of social studies in public
education. Our featured speakers were selected to engage us in other themes of current importance: Author and scholar Jonathan Lipman will address the role of modern China, scholars James Campbell and James Horton will share recent research on the slave trade and slavery in the North, NBC reporter Linda Fasulo will speak about the role of the United Nations in world affairs, author and scholar Joe Medicine Crow, who is more than 90 years old, will share his insights as the last traditional Crow tribal chief, and Alex Trebek, Jepoardy! game show host, will help us determine our geographic literacy. In addition, former NCSS president James Banks will lead a panel of experts in discussing a vital issue, “Educating Citizens in a Global Age.”
Pedagogy addresses the science, profession, and methodology of teaching. There are nearly 350 sessions, workshops, and clinics, many addressing pedagogy, including those on using technology, engaging students in classroom debates, discussing controversial issues, effective assessment, modifying social studies content for English language learners, using literacy strategies in the classroom, and enhancing instruction for struggling learners. Whether you are interested in the Federal Reserve System, using the GIS system, the 2010 US census, the cases before the Supreme Court, globalizing your classroom, Pavlov and Skinner, the Iron-Jawed Angels, the collapse of civilization, or using art in the classroom, there are sessions that will empower all participants.
Partnerships with organizations and groups help to provide the best
possible information, materials, and professional development for our
members. NCSS is fortunate to have many partners, including hundreds
of exhibitors who provide the latest in materials and resources for participants to peruse, and who sponsor our speakers and special events. Partners based in the Washington, DC metropolitan area include the National Archives, Holocaust Museum, Bill of Rights Institute, Smithsonian Institute, National Geographic Society, History Day, and a host of others who will be present and participating in meaningful ways.
This year’s conference location in Washington, DC provides opportunities
for many off-site visits to museums, historical monuments and sites, and government buildings. You will learn and do, and leave revitalized at
the end of three great days of “promise” and “practice,” so please consider
bringing a colleague with whom to share the plethora of possibilities for
professional empowerment.
Peggy Altoff,
NCSS President
For registration information, visit
http://www.socialstudies.org/conference/
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