Facing History & Ourselves’ Approach to Civic Education
This event has concluded.
Durham, NC
This event is in the past.
About this event:
Multi-Session
Our multi-session professional learning series are designed for in-depth exploration of themes and topics that help educators strengthen their skills and competencies. Session information is included in the event details.
Instructor-Led
This professional learning event will be led by Facing History staff. When you register, you will receive instructions for how to attend the event.
In this two-day workshop you will:
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Experience Facing History’s approach to civic education, which helps cultivate young people’s informed civic responsibility
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Engage with classroom-ready lessons and units designed to foster civil discourse and discussions of civic topics in your classroom
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Explore ways to center students’ voices and lived experiences as they develop civic agency and responsibility
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Explore resources that help students reflect on the choices they have within their own community
The workshop will run from 8:30-3:00. Doors will open at 8:00.
Educators play a critical role in helping young people successfully move through our world today. This two-day workshop will examine the interdisciplinary nature of civic learning and Facing History’s approach to civic education.
Utilizing our Fostering Civil Discourse guide, we will introduce attendees to our approach for navigating crucial conversations. This workshop will provide you with tools to empower your students to grapple with complex issues and reflect upon the issues and dilemmas that shape civic life.
The workshop is designed for educators teaching 6th–12th grades who want to integrate civic learning into their social studies courses. You'll leave equipped to facilitate discussions about societal issues and with a few tools necessary for being able cultivate civic agency within your classroom. School and district leadership, curriculum specialists, and instructional coaches who are critical in guiding how students are being prepared for life beyond high school are also encouraged to attend.
This event will be hosted in-person daily from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Additional event details will be shared with event registrants via the email address used in the event application.
Session Descriptions
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Structuring Political Discussions – Dr. Paula McAvoy
This session will take participants through the Structured Academic Controversy discussion protocol and share research about its effectiveness in middle and high school classrooms. Participants will be introduced to free resources for using this strategy in the classroom.
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Stories into Action: Using Storytelling to Inspire Civic Engagement – Dr. Maru Gonzalez
How can storytelling ignite youth civic engagement? In this interactive workshop, participants will explore storytelling pedagogy and discover how stories can spark reflection, build confidence, and drive informed action. Participants will leave with ready-to-use strategies and activities to integrate storytelling into classrooms, youth programs, and community organizations.
Speakers
Dr. Maru Gonzalez
Associate Professor & Extension Specialist at North Carolina State University
Dr. Paula McAvoy
Associate Professor of Social Studies Education at North Carolina State University
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