Reposting this poem that I wrote last fall because...well... [waves hands at the world]

High school students in #Delaware are mostly too young to vote, but they are charged with staying informed, participating in the civic process, & communicating w/elected officials according to state civics standards. #sschat www.delawareonline.com/story/news/e...

Next time you are in Washington, D.C., visit the Carter G. Woodson statue & National Park Service historic site. See: nps.gov/cawo/index.htm Defend right to teach and celebrate Black history in schools & national park sites. #FreedomtoLearn #TeachOutsideTextbook 📷 by @scotteabbott.bsky.social

New statement from Big City Social Studies encourages social studies educators to "bear responsibility for an honest civics education that speaks to the present moment and engages young people with the unfolding world around them." Read the full statement: bigcitysocialstudies.org/video-and-so...

Appreciate Professor Richard Perloff's (Cleveland State U) argument for more (and better) civics education for college students. #CivXNow www.cleveland.com/opinion/2025...

Highly useful new infographic on #NewsLiteracy from the latest issue of @udelaware.bsky.social magazine w/specific & helpful advice and shout outs to @newslit.org, @allsidesnow.bsky.social, @politifact.bsky.social, @netflix.com Smart ideas for savvy consumers of media given our wild info landscape.

“These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” – Thomas Paine, The American Crisis (Dec. 23, 1776)

“When democracy deteriorates, you need more and better civic education. If there is a pandemic, you need to send in the nurses and the doctors. It’s the same thing with a democracy crisis — civic educators are the nurses.” www.nytimes.com/2025/10/07/w...

During @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social Book Banning Week, it’s important to remember the 1st Amendment prevents the government from regulating or restricting speech or other expression based on its content or viewpoint. www.ala.org/bbooks

“The Constitution belongs to you in all its complexity. You inherit both its promises and its unfinished business. Register if you can. Learn your rights. Ask hard questions about power. And then act…” wordinblack.com/2025/09/teac...

Attention social studies educators: The Middle States Council for the Social Studies call for proposals is now open for the Feb 27-28 #MSCSS26 conference in Newark DE, submissions are due by Oct. 17th. Submit your proposal today! sites.google.com/view/mscss20... #sschat

The 2026 Middle States Social Studies Conference is gearing up for Feb 27-28, 2026 in Newark DE. We’re looking for awesome session proposals, exhibitors, and award nominees. Register now and check out other details here: sites.google.com/view/mscss20... #MSCSS26

🎉 20 Delaware civics teachers assembled for a powerful day of learning, laughter, & collaboration at our We the People institute! From candy bar hearings 🍫 to improv games ⚡️, we explored how to help students speak, listen, & engage like citizens using WTP & DE model lessons. @decivics.bsky.social

🇺🇸 25 years strong! The Democracy Project at @udelaware.bsky.social is still shaping the future, 1 civics teacher at a time. From Dover to D.C. to Philly, this year’s @decivics.bsky.social institute empowered educators to spark civic participation with students. #sschat www.udel.edu/academics/co...

Frederick Douglass’ words are well-worth a reread this #4thofJuly “Oppression makes a wise man mad…With brave men there is always a remedy for oppression.” #sschat www.blackpast.org/african-amer...

“There’s a lot of evidence that having knowledge about the world is important for reading comprehension…Students who have broader bases of knowledge about the natural & social world do better on reading assessments, even when controlling for other things.” #sschat www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...

Just stating some facts about the U.S Constitution #NoKings

The full agenda is now posted, check it out here: www.socialstudies.org/2025svcagenda

Registration open for the #NCSS Virtual Conference June 25-26 focusing on Civil Discourse. Save the date for June 25th at 1pm EDT for my session w/Tim Shaffer - Mic Drop or Open Mind: Practicing Civil Discourse in the Classroom #sschat www.socialstudies.org/svc2025

The #Delaware House takes steps to enshrine early voting, vote by mail, and the restoration of voting rights for felons who have served their time. Expanding voting rights aligns with the principle of majority rule, crucial for our democratic republic. www.delawareonline.com/story/news/p...

Reminder: School Board elections in #Delaware today; polls are open from 7am-8pm. Always a good day for democracy when you can vote.

As someone who has worked on/with state social studies standards for many states, this is among the most egregious examples of conspiracy thinking to make it into state SS standards I have ever seen, and through a clearly duplicitous process. 1/2 #sschat www.oudaily.com/news/oklahom...

Old North Church in Boston last night on the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere's ride.

Enjoying the new book from my friends @madisonteacher.bsky.social & @glennwiebe.bsky.social, which reads like conversations I’ve had with them about social studies but is chock full of practical strategies for engaging & effective social studies instruction #sschat www.corwin.com/books/social...

“In social studies—a subject to which schools have historically given short shrift in favor of devoting time and resources to math and reading—the loss of these kinds of supplemental resources and programs may take an especially big toll.” #sschat www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...

Historian here: “To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.” ― Theodore Roosevelt

Taught my 13th graders this week how the U.S. Constitution separates power to prevent tyranny and how the 1st Amendment protects free speech & peaceable assembly to petition the government. Also finished Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny w/ lesson 10 on the need for in-person action. #HandsOff

Glad to see this action from Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings, and many other AGs from around the country. The rule of law is foundational to our democracy.

Etymology of State Names from @locations.bsky.social, very interesting! #sschat

Need to discuss pardons with your students? Check out the always well-balanced Civics in Real Life on Presidential Pardons put out by @loufreyfjcc.bsky.social a few months ago. #sschat floridacitizen.org/wp-content/u...

“It is bad enough to forget the past; it is even worse to intentionally deny the public access to what we remember, have documented, and have expended public resources to disseminate.” Powerful new statement from @historians.org on recent attacks on history www.historians.org/news/aha-oah...

Teachers! Happening Saturday! Join us for this national town hall featuring teachers from across the country who will share about their experiences and offer some thinking for moving forward. All K-12 teachers are welcome. Use the attached flyer or click here to RSVP. us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

An important statement from Scholars for Social Justice about the current situation in the United States. Please give it a read. www.scholarsforsocialjustice.com/universities...

Always a treat to hear the wisdom of Karen Korematsu, today during her closing keynote at the #MSCSS25 conference. She pushes educators to stand their ground and teach students to know their rights, to live up to the legacy of her father, Fred Korematsu #sschat

Dr. Matthew Mingle delivers the keynote address as the 2025 Daniel Roselle awardee at the #MSCSS25 luncheon during which he encourages educators to consider kindness and inclusiveness with our students. #sschat

Delaware social studies educators are well-represented among award winners at #MSCSS25 during the President’s Award Breakfast during day 2 of the conference #sschat

Fascinating discussion this morning during the #MSCSS25 President’s Panel about the challenges & opportunities for social studies in the mid-Atlantic region & beyond #sschat

Today, our Manager of Educator Development, Charlotte Nichols (a veteran HS civics teacher), is at the 2025 Middle States Social Studies Conference in Lancaster PA #MSCSS25. We have plenty of free training and resources for educators interested in helping their students become civically engaged!

We are off and running with the 2025 Middle States Social Studies Conference in Lancaster PA #MSCSS25

Excited for #MSCSS25, the 121st annual conference of the Middle States Council for the Social Studies, coming up Feb. 28-Mar. 1 in Lancaster, PA. With sessions, featured speakers, a Presidential Panel, & networking meals, it will be a great chance to learn & connect! sites.google.com/view/mscss-2...

This program to teach students about the US Constitution & citizenship is funded through a federal grant from the US Dept of Ed. We were just notified to stop work because they are attempting to pull the funds. This money has been appropriated by Congress & supports thousands of kids in 35+ states.

The Philadelphia Eagles were named, in 1933, to honor Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s National Recovery Administration, part of the New Deal—the NRA’s Blue Eagle stood for protection of labor and federal oversight of the U.S. economy (pic: Library of Congress)

Last week I heard speeches from brilliant students at the #ProjectSoapbox event. The student speaking here was our room’s choice to advance to the main stage speeches where they were also recognized. We all benefit from empowering students to be inquisitive, informed, & engaged civic leaders.

“American history is complicated & fascinating; learning about our past should stimulate discussion & debate rooted in evidence…for that to happen, we must let our teachers do what they do best: teach without interference or ideological tests.” -AHA, OAH #sschat www.historians.org/news/aha-oah...

Next time you are in Washington, D.C., visit the Carter G. Woodson statue and National Park Service historic site. See: nps.gov/cawo/index.htm Defend the right to teach and celebrate Black history. #FreedomtoLearn #TeachOutsideTextbook Photo by @scotteabbott.bsky.social

Join us for a webinar next week cohosted with friends from the Bill of Rights Institute, the Florida Council of the Social Studies, and the Wisconsin Council of the Social Studies on executive orders and actions and how we can teach them. tinyurl.com/EAWeb5 (5pm) tinyurl.com/EAWeb7 (7pm) #sschat

"If our nation wishes to ‘save American history,’ then it needs to start by prioritizing American history instruction—and all social studies instruction—every day in the school schedule,” especially in elementary as noted. #sschat #iteachsocialstudies

While many educators are concerned about “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling” Executive Order, it is noteworthy that multiple laws explicitly prohibit the federal from dictating school curriculum. Excellent post from EdCounsel explains this. #sschat educationcounsel.com/our_work/lat...

Feeling inspired @udelaware.bsky.social after a morning of #ProjectSoapbox speeches by 7th graders from New Castle County (Delaware) public schools. They called for civic action on issues like bullying, homelessness, social media, school funding, mental health, etc. #MikvaChallenge #CivXNow #sschat

Also important to note that Executive Orders are not valid if they violate the US Constitution or federal laws, they may only clarify execution of laws and the Constitution if they fit within the unspecified context needed for enforcement.