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[00:17:32] Hi there, and welcome to another episode of the Social Studies Teacher podcast. This is an audio only episode because I wanted to give you some quick updates on some new changes that will affect the Teaks for Texas teachers for grades K through eight. That is mainly what we're going to be focusing on.

[00:17:53] This is in regards to the State Board of Education of Texas convening in this [00:18:00] week of September 8th, and they've been meeting throughout the week in committees and general meetings, and I wanted to specifically hop on and talk about the discussion and action on the social studies, Texas essential knowledge and skills framework.

[00:18:14] And if you're not aware of what the SBOE is, it's basically. A elected group of individuals in a variety of districts in Texas that set policies and standards for [00:18:30] Texas public schools. They're responsible for setting curriculum standards, reviewing and adopting instructional materials, graduation requirement, setting up the rules for that.

[00:18:42] In a variety of other responsibilities, and they meet quarterly, so they have convened this month. As I'm recording this and have adopted a couple of things, the one thing I wanted to talk about is [00:19:00] the course scope and sequence or. What you would call the main topics of each grade level they voted to adopt.

[00:19:11] The specific one that I'm going to share with you, so the proposal that they officially adopted on Friday was proposal G, and this is going to be very unprecedented because rather than thematic. Courses that students take [00:19:30] from K through eighth grade, beginning in third grade, it's going to be chronological, and at the end of eighth grade or in the eighth grade year, you're going to have a Texas capstone year.

[00:19:45] And that's the same year where they take their first social studies state assessment. So this is going to be a major change in what has happened in previous years. So I'm gonna start at the very [00:20:00] beginning with kindergarten, first grade, and second grade. These are all gonna be very similar. It's all foundational.

[00:20:07] It's starting with the best of America and Texas symbols and stories to build foundational knowledge. That will be built on in higher grade levels. And for reference, I'm referring to a visual that I'll make sure to put on my blog post that was screenshotted from the board documents during the meeting.

[00:20:28] So this is all public [00:20:30] information and it is a part of what was at the. SBOE meeting. So this is just kind of a recap of that graphic and I'm just sharing that information with you. So just to recap, grades K through second grade, they are building the foundation of the stories of America and Texas. When you get into third through seventh grade, it's presenting a deep dive into topics within a [00:21:00] shorter time span.

[00:21:01] Within the grades, through a layered and chronological approach connecting world, US and Texas history. So from grades four through seven, student expectations spiral back to connect to content introduced in prior grades. World cultures, and geography will be taught in grades three through seven where appropriate.

[00:21:25] So rather than having a condensed, focused world cultures course, which [00:21:30] is typically. In sixth grade, it is going to be taught throughout grades three through seven where appropriate, and everything else is just going to spiral back to connect to what was introduced in previous grades. Then eighth grade is going to be a capstone course that captures all prior content for a deep dive, synthesizing the history of Texas and America as leaders in the nation and the [00:22:00] world.

[00:22:00] So that is the high level overview of what will be happening as far as beginning in kindergarten through eighth grade. Now I'm gonna go into even deeper detail. About third through eighth grade because I do think it is important they mentioned the chronological layered approach, and I'm going to show you and tell you about exactly what that would mean.

[00:22:24] So starting with third grade. Third grade is going to focus [00:22:30] on pre-history to the year 500. World history is going to be the birth of Western civilization, including the impact on America and Texas. So it's going to be about 50% of standards for world history. 25% is US history talking about the birth of civilization in the Americas in relation to the Nobles experiment of America and Texas.

[00:22:59] [00:23:00] Then 25% of the standards will be focused on Texas thinking about the birth of civilization in Texas in relation to the Noblest experiment of America and Texas. So that is third grade. Moving on to fourth grade. Fourth grade is going to cover 500 to the year 1500. 30% is going to focus on world history, so the foundations of Westernization and the growth of empires [00:23:30] in relation to the noblest experiment of America and Texas.

[00:23:34] Then you have 50% related to the United States, and this is going to be. A main focus for fourth grade, or the majority of the focus for fourth grade is US growth of empires in the Americas and their lasting influence in relation to the noblest experiment of America and Texas. And then you have 20%. For specifically Texas [00:24:00] growth of Empires in Texas and their lasting influence in relation to the noblest experiment of America and Texas.

[00:24:07] So just to recap for that, third grade is prehistory to 500. Fourth grade is 500 to 1500. A lot of third and fourth grade is the same. It's just focusing on different time periods. There's a little bit more of a focus of world history in third grade and a little bit more of a focus on US history in fourth grade, fifth grade.

[00:24:29] The [00:24:30] bulk of the content is going to be US History, and it's focusing from 1500 to 1800. So starting with world history, about 15% is going to talk about how the world influenced the development of the United States. The US portion is going to focus on a, this is 60%. American Colonies, the American Revolution [00:25:00] and the Constitution, and then 25% is going to focus on Spanish, Texas because that is what Texas was during that timeframe of 1500 to 1800, and in sixth grade, we are going to focus on a very short time span from 1800 to 1900.

[00:25:21] And the bulk of what the content is is going to be Texas history. It's going to be at least 80%. [00:25:30] About 15% will be, or up to 50% will be US History. And then up to 5% will be world history. So I'm gonna work backwards on this because 80% is a lot, but in sixth grade. Students will focus on the birth and growth of Texas in the American experiment.

[00:25:49] Thinking about. When colonists from the United States or American citizens moved into Texas, the Texas Revolution, and the [00:26:00] Republic of Texas, and the growth of Texas from 1800 to 1900, then you also have related to US history, the growth of the US and expanding freedoms. Thinking all about the events happening between WestBridge expansion and the Civil War and American reconstruction.

[00:26:20] Then you also have revolutions in the age of imperialism abroad in world history. So all of those things happening in various parts of the [00:26:30] world. That is going to be for sixth grade. Seventh grade is gonna be a little bit more balanced. World history is going to be about 20%. 40% is about US history, and then you've got about 40% Texas history.

[00:26:45] So seventh grade is going to focus on the 19 hundreds to 2000, so another a hundred years focusing. In seventh grade, we're thinking things like. The Great Depression, world War I, world War ii, roaring [00:27:00] twenties, this the Cold War. Thinking about all of those really big events happening, the civil rights movement happening in 1900 to 2000.

[00:27:09] So you have for world history, the perils of communism and the establishment of New Nations. Thinking probably about all of the countries that were previously colonized by European nations and how they became independent nations. We also think about in US history, the American century. It's a lot happening in [00:27:30] that century with what I previously mentioned.

[00:27:32] You also have the Texas Miracle, the growth of the oil and gas industry, and various other industries like the technology industry. So I'm just, I'm not like saying this is exactly what's going to be the standards, but I'm going to assume based on what I know about Texas history and US history and world history, this is likely what's going to be covered in that grade level.

[00:27:53] So that's seventh grade. Then we have the capstone. Eighth grade, it's going to be Texas and US [00:28:00] 80% is focusing on Texas history, and 20% is going to be focusing on. The US history, and there is no world history in this particular course. So with the US history, it focuses on the American legacy, including the roots of Texas Independence, and then 80%, or the Texas history portion focuses on the fulfillment of enlightenment ideas, the founding of the United States and the annexation of Texas.

[00:28:29] [00:28:30] The impact of nations whose flags have flown over Texas. So thinking about all the six flags, all the people and nations who have had a claim in Texas and the impact of Texas and America on the world. So that is a lot to cover, but I have faith that our state Board of Education will create. Tess that are age appropriate and also help them continue to build into the eighth [00:29:00] grade.

[00:29:00] So that is something that I just wanted to share with you about. Given the pattern of when the new tes rolls out, it's usually every six years. They recently adopted the. 2024 teaks. And so I don't anticipate the new teaks that they voted on to be officially put into effect until 2030. So that. Gives them a good amount of time to [00:29:30] write the actual specific standards as well as for districts and schools to implement and adopt those standards however they see fit.

[00:29:41] Now, as far as strands, there are currently eight strands in the teaks. Standards, and I actually have a blog post related to the different strands, and I'll make sure to link that in the show notes so that you can take a look at it. I will be updating my blog posts to make it more [00:30:00] relevant to what's currently happening in real time.

[00:30:02] I always do that for my blog posts anyway, but just to let you know, for reference, there's eight strands. They are proposing condensing to five strands, and they actually voted and adopted this particular strand proposal, so. The first strand would be history World, United States and Texas. The Second Strand, geography and Culture.

[00:30:25] The Third Strand, government and civics. The fourth Strand [00:30:30] economics and the fifth strand would be social studies skills based on disciplinary thinking skills. So thinking about problem solving, critical thinking, all that stuff That is going to be the main. Basic changes now. What's happening moving forward?

[00:30:48] Number one, we don't have any teak skills yet for any of these topics. They're going to be writing that, working on that in future meetings. So it's not like a change is going to be [00:31:00] happening this year. Or even next year, but they will have those updates as the time gets closer as far as what's on the agenda, and I will be keeping a pulse on it and taking a look to see what exactly is going to be changed.

[00:31:17] I will keep you up to date on all of the things that are going on with the teaks changes that are coming soon. This is something that has been on hold for a few years [00:31:30] now. If you recall, in 2022, there was a big meeting and they decided to table it until this year, and so the time has come and now they are moving forward with the process.

[00:31:43] If you have any of my resources, they are still aligned to the current teaks as of 2024. So as of right now, we have the third grade communities, fourth grade Texas history, fifth grade, US [00:32:00] history, and sixth grade world cultures. When the time comes to adopt the new standards, whatever they might be. I will be working to make sure I either.

[00:32:15] Create new lessons and resources that align to the new teaks, or if those teaks still align with what I currently have created, I will rearrange them in the appropriate grade [00:32:30] levels to make sure that anybody who purchases a specific grade level that's aligned to the new teaks. Has everything they need.

[00:32:41] So whether you're teaching third grade or fifth grade. And you want to make sure everything is aligned to the new teaks, you will have that in those new resources. From what I can already tell, the standards for social studies are going to [00:33:00] be very unprecedented. This is really something drastically different than ever before.

[00:33:07] Something that is not. Heard of in my years of teaching, but I will work my hardest to make sure that the resources I have already created and any future resources I have will align with the new standards that they create by the [00:33:30] time they need to be rolled out. So rest assured. That the resources I create will be aligned if you currently have my fifth grade bundle or fourth grade bundle.

[00:33:42] Third grade bundle. They are still currently aligned with what we have into effect as our standards, but this is a very big. Heads up that it's going to change. That's just kind of the main thing. It's going to change, it's going to look very [00:34:00] different. It is much more chronological and very different than before.

[00:34:05] And so with that will come different changes as far as the types of resources that are going to be aligned for fourth grade versus third grade. Know that the curriculum I do have for the smart and simple Social Studies curriculum is fully aligned to the current teaks as it stands today, but it will be changing in the future.

[00:34:29] That's [00:34:30] just a little bit of what's happening currently with the State Board of Education in Texas, and as far as what you should be doing right now. There's really nothing that you need to be changing or doing. It's just going with and following the current teaks as they are. And just be aware that changes to the social studies teaks are going to be happening in the near future.

[00:34:56] Alright, well hopefully this helps you get up to date [00:35:00] with what's happening. I hope you have a great rest of your week and I'll talk to you next time.