Darren Minarik

#OnThisDay 1st February 1960: Start of the Greensboro sit-ins to protest segregation https://youtu.be/tjeVqNcN5yI #history#OTD 1st February 1960: Start of the Greensboro sit-ins to protest segregation https://youtu.be/tjeVqNcN5yI #historyteacher #sschat

Teach critical analysis of propaganda. #sschat

This looks so good! Saturday, Jan 31.
#sschat

A little bit of a panic: keeping calm to make in-lesson adaptations in the classroom Photo by Anna Tarazevich on Pexels.com Yesterday, I had a little bit of a crisis while I was on a tight deadline leaving work to make the school run.  It had just started to rain and there I was, s…

🚨NEW BLOG🚨
#EduSky #UKEd #Teacher

uonhistoryteachertraining.school.blog/2026/01/13/a...

Mainstream Media Mourns the Post-Gazette, but Looks Away as Student Journalists are Silenced The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which traces its roots to 1786, will close May 3, 2026. That news lands like a gut punch. A once-venerable…

I just published Mainstream Media Mourns the Post-Gazette, but Looks Away as Student Journalists are Silenced medium.com/age-of-aware... #media #journalism @bostonglobe.com @washingtonpost.com @columjournreview.bsky.social #edchat #sschat #studentvoice

Trump administration's posts echo rhetoric linked to extremist groups Just weeks into the new year, the Trump administration has rolled out a campaign across departments that draws on images and ideas borrowed from right-wing and white nationalist circles. Liz Landers r...

Educators: This is a useful news story for teaching about the Trump administration's use of White supremacist propaganda.
#sschat 🗺️ 🍎 🗃️

www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...

Re-upping this on the Legislative Branch #sschat

Contributions from: @cdabvt.bsky.social @reallymrst.bsky.social @swanversations.bsky.social @mapm8ker.bsky.social @gplastrik.bsky.social @samulmschneider.bsky.social @mrnfhaines.bsky.social @altairamorbius.bsky.social @miladyfirestorm.bsky.social

PBS News Hour Classroom Educator Voice: Teachers, if we don’t teach Maduro’s capture in Venezuela, TikTok will. Here’s my plan.

"If you teach any subject touching on power and law, this is your curriculum. Not next week. Tomorrow."

by David Cutler, teacher

#sschat #EduSky https://loom.ly/hUkl28E

Trump says U.S. will ‘run’ Venezuela after capturing Maduro in surprise military attack Discuss the strike and implications for Venezuelans and global security

PBS News Hour Classroom Daily News Lesson: Trump says U.S. will ‘run’ Venezuela after capturing Maduro in surprise military attack

Ask students: Why did the U.S. attacked Venezuela? Do you think one country has the right to attack another sovereign nation? Explain.

#sschat https://loom.ly/8NYxhaw

Teaching About the Capitol Insurrection Above: Images from January 6, 2021, when a group of people participated in an organized insurrection of the U.S. Capitol with the goal of o...

It has been five years since the January 6th Insurrection. Here is a post that I wrote years ago on how to teach it. Even more important to teach today, especially when the current administration is attempting to erase this history. #sschat #edusky christophermartell.blogspot.com/2021/07/teac...

Color political cartoon from Judge titled "A Thing Well Begun Is Half Done." A caricature of President William McKinley stands on a map of North and Central America, using a shovel like a spade to dig a canal across the isthmus between the Atlantic and the Pacific. U.S.-flagged ships crowd both coasts, and American flags mark places like Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. In the background, Uncle Sam stands near the U.S. Capitol carrying tools and a flag, implying Washington is backing the project as part of national expansion.

Trump’s Venezuela stunt feels like the kind of “easy victory” thinking that turns into a long mess. Here's a classroom-safe lesson using LOC political cartoons on U.S. imperialism. Students compare the arguments to today. peterpappas.com/2026/01/the-... #EduSky #history #sschat

Jan. 6, 2021: A visual archive of the Capitol attack NPR’s Jan. 6 archive brings together reporting, video, documents and testimony to show what really happened during the Capitol riot. Explore the timeline, cases and evidence behind the attack.

A great resource for teaching about January 6, 2021. #SSChat #EduSky

apps.npr.org/jan-6-archive/

NCSS just came out with a great new book for early career teachers called A Classroom with Purpose: A Guide to Teaching Social Studies Today edited by Kristi Fragnoli and Timothy Potts #SSChat

When they begin wrapping up their student teaching experience, I have them take their notes and use AI to create a checklist and list of goals for their first year. They modify the checklist into something that can fit on one page, double-sided. #SSChat

I have them consider classroom management and what daily routines work best and why some behavior challenges repeat themselves. From this reflection, I encourage them to explicitly teach expectations and routines they want to establish. #SSChat

I have them ask questions during student teaching like: Which strategies generated the most student engagement and learning? When did your students think, talk, and write the most? What strategies helped students learn complex ideas? How did pacing impact your teaching and student learning? #SSChat

I have my students write down moments when they feel comfortable or uncomfortable as a teacher to establish their teacher identity. #SSChat

I encourage my students in social studies teacher preparation to create a journal of ideas to prepare themselves for their first year of teaching. I find that they learn so much in field experience and methods, but do not prioritize what is needed to get a good start to the year. #SSChat

Here’s the first question for our slow chat. This will go through next week.As we head into the new year, many student teachers are beginning their teaching journeys. What advice would you give to a pre-service teacher for their student teaching experience? #sschat

I'm curious history educators, what's your course GenAI policy? Please specify the level you are teaching (high school or university). 🗺️🍎 🗃️ #sschat

Who isn’t signed up yet ?
#sschat #elachat 🍎🗺️

5 Movement-Based Social Studies Activities Introducing movement into lessons can help students maintain focus and attention and boost engagement in learning.

If your students need a boost, try these movement-based activities to help bring history to life! 📜🏃

#sschat #ITeachSocialStudies #HistoryEducation #EduSky

Many of you asked me to tell you when my episode of Jon Stewart’s Weekly Show aired.

Here you go.

#sschat

Book cover of A Classroom with Purpose: A Guide to Teaching Social Studies

A picture of Chapter 8, Being the Best Social Studies Teacher for Students with IEPs

Great new book published by NCSS and a chapter on working with students with IEPs! A Classroom with Purpose: A Guide to Teaching Social Studies
#NCSS2025 #EduSky #ITeachSocialStudies #SSChat #SpecialEducation #DisabilityInclusion

Audience during Building Democracy from the Ground Up in Our Government

Audience taking notes during Building Democracy from the Ground Up in Our Government

A handout showing how to plan a government class starting at the local level up to the federal level, the Bottom Up Teaching Technique.

Amazing time with our presentation, Building Democracy from the Ground Up in Our Government Classrooms. My friends Jerry Skotleski and Sean Curry (Scranton High School) rocked the house and I went along for the ride!
#SSChat #NCSS2025

Virginia social studies leaders warn proposed testing shift could sideline critical thinking • Virginia Mercury Some Virginia social studies leaders are sounding the alarm over a proposed change to how student performance in history and social science is measured, warning it could swap critical-thinking assessm...

Virginia social studies leaders warn proposed testing shift could sideline critical thinking
Educators say state plan risks replacing inquiry-based assessments with multiple-choice exams virginiamercury.com/2025/11/10/v... #ushistory #sschat #socialstudies #historyteacher

Co-sponsorships are due by this Friday, November 7th. I know at least 8 state councils plan to sign on as co-sponsors!

We submitted a resolution to the House of Delegates asking NCSS to issue a position statement supporting the full academic, social, emotional, and physical inclusion of students with disabilities, and that disability history be included more in social studies curricula. bit.ly/NCSS-Inclusive #SSChat

We’re honored to welcome @hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social as a keynote speaker at the upcoming 105th NCSS Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. Register now to join us as he shares insights on what democracy demands: hubs.li/Q03Mxdm-0 #NCSS2025 #edusky