Paid PD Opportunity

Teach Different Certificate Program

Teach Different, in partnership with the Illinois Institute of Colleges and Universities, has secured funding through an Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) grant to certify a select group of Illinois social studies teachers in the Teach Different Conversation Method.

Teach Different provides a research-based, structured conversation framework using essential questions, claims, and counterclaims to spark meaningful dialogue, promote critical thinking, and strengthen emotional resilience.

What’s Involved?

• Complete Teach Different’s 8-week remote certificate program. This training includes two Zoom sessions, with the remainder of the work focused on applying the method in your own classroom and receiving feedback through an online platform. Click here for more detailed information on the program.

Why Participate?

• Receive professional training on how to start and manage classroom conversations.
• Receive 15 CPDUs of recertification credit.
• Earn one graduate credit from the University of St. Francis. (Teacher covers $100 cost.)
• Gain membership to an online professional learning community of educators around the country who are using the Teach Different Method.
• Earn a $250 stipend payable upon completion of the program and no later than June 30, 2026.

Spots are limited. Sign up HERE for either the Winter or Spring Cohort.

Questions? Email Frank Houston, Program Coordinator at frankhouston@illinoisinstitute.us.



What's in the Mix for 2026?

Navigating the Midterm Elections with Dr. Shawn P. Healy

As the 2026 midterms approach, Senator Dick Durbin's pending retirement toppled dominoes throughout Illinois. The Lieutenant Governor and several US House members are among the contenders to replace him, providing opportunities for political upstarts in their respective districts. Plus, Governor Pritzker seeks a third term--while positioning himself for a presidential promotion two years later.

The stakes could not be higher in Washington, where Democrats seek a congressional check on the Trump Administration, or Springfield, where fiscal constraints continue to challenge state lawmakers.

Come learn about the current state of play just months before the Illinois Primaries in these contests and others down the ballot. Leave this webinar equipped to engage students in conversations about these candidates and prevailing issues, navigating public opinion polling and political advertising, and developing an excitement about and commitment to informed voting in this and future elections.

Register for this FREE webinar here.

Volunteer for NCSS 2026 in Chicago

NCSS 2026 needs you!

In preparation for the 2026 National Council for the Social Studies Annual Conference, we are looking for volunteers to help make this a wonderful experience. We need volunteers to organize and provide logistics before and during the conference. The 2026 NCSS Conference will be held on December 4-6 at the Hyatt Regency Center in Chicago.

Those who volunteer on the Local Arrangements Committee may qualify for free or discounted conference registration contingent on the number of hours you serve.

Explore opportunities serve on this Google Form!

Are you the next Retro Report Teacher Ambassador?

Retro Report is looking for middle and high school Social Studies educators to serve on our Teacher Advisory teams. Your expertise will help Retro Report reach more educators and create resources for teachers across the country.

Become a Teacher Ambassador or member of our Council of Educators to receive exclusive perks, such as stipends and SWAG. Learn more about the responsibilities and benefits of both groups, and apply today: bit.ly/RRAdvisor26

Application deadline is Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Engaging With Revolutionary History

Retro Report Teacher Fellowship

This new Retro Report initiative will provide professional learning opportunities in U.S. History and Civics to educators from predominantly rural and remote locations. The three-year program will serve up to 50 teachers and provide access to high-quality resources and pedagogical practices, along with workshop sessions with scholars and teacher leaders. Teachers receive yearly stipends, paid travel for the Summer Workshops, and graduate credits. This project is supported in part by the American History and Civics – National Activities grant program of the U.S. Department of Education. Learn more and apply at bit.ly/RR-EWRH.

Application deadline is Friday, December 12, 2025.

Plan Your Summer 2026 Summer PD

Opportunities for summer travel and professional development are starting to be shared. Check out this comprehensive list of summer opportunities from organizations like Gilder Lehrman, Founding Forward, Sphere, and more!

Many thanks to NCSS past-president Stefanie Wager for creating and updating this list.

The Declaration Turns 250!

Webinar from Lou Frey Institute and

C-Span: Americans with Disabilities Act

Join LFI & C-SPAN Classroom as we look at how the Declaration served as an inspiration to Americans with Disabilities in 1990 with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The webinar will feature Nic Novicki, the Founder & Director of Easterseals Disability Film Challenge. He'll be exploring how Americans with disabilities have fought to obtain the promises outlined in the Declaration of Independence for generations.

• Thu, Dec 11, 2025
• 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM CT
• Online event

Register HERE.

The American Revolution Youth Media Challenge from KQED

Ken Burns' new PBS film series, The American Revolution, is finally out, so now’s the time to bring the legacy and ideals of the Revolutionary era to life in your classroom using media-rich resources inspired by the series!

Middle and high school students can do project-based learning with The American Revolution Youth Media Challenge. They will make media—audio essays, mini-documentaries, photo essays, etc.—to reflect on what they’ve learned about the era and on the foundational American principles of liberty, self-governance and democracy. Some example prompts include:

• What does democracy mean to you?
• What is the meaning of freedom?
• Identify an important battle or campaign in the War for American Independence. How did it play out and what impact did it have on the people who experienced it or on the course the war took?

For grades 3-12, there’s PBS LearningMedia’s The American Revolution classroom collection. Explore resources to support commonly taught topics — including life in the British colonies, causes of the Revolution, key events, key figures and ideas, and the lasting legacies that shaped the nation.



ACT: An Introduction to Deliberative Talk-to-Action Initiatives

There’s still time to join the concluding session in NIFI’s Talk. Decide. Act. virtual workshop series!

Our communities and campuses face increasingly complex challenges—and many people are hungry for ways to move from productive conversation to meaningful action. This workshop focuses on exactly that: helping groups identify shared priorities, translate forum outcomes into next steps, and create action processes that are inclusive, fair-minded, and grounded in what participants learn together.

During this interactive session, explore practical strategies for:

• connecting deliberative forums to achievable, community-driven actions
• supporting groups as they sift through tensions, clarify tradeoffs, and find points of alignment
• designing talk-to-action initiatives that foster transparency, momentum, and long-term trust
• strengthening relationships and civic capacity so people can collaborate beyond the forum itself

All are welcome—community leaders, educators, facilitators, students, nonprofit partners, public officials, and anyone interested in helping people work together across differences. No prior participation is required.

ACT: Thursday, December 4, 2025, 2-3 p.m. ET

Free, Online via Zoom.

To learn more, click here.

To register, click here.

Bias Bites from Sphere

Take a look at Sphere's new collection on helping your students navigate their biases and the complexities of their own independent thinking. These mini‐​lessons begin with the idea that our brains take shortcuts that sometimes help us – and sometimes lead us astray. As students engage in these short lessons, they will learn about 10 cognitive biases that hinder critical thinking, helping them develop the intellectual humility to question their own assumptions and think more clearly.



Bias Bites Content

What History Teaches:

 Isolationism, Immigration, and the World Watching

from the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center

Online | December 9 |

12 PM CST

Join ILHMEC for the series finale of What History Teaches: The Rise of Nazism with Dr. Daniel Greene, Adjunct Professor of History at Northwestern University and a leading expert on American responses to the Holocaust. 

Dr. Greene will unpack how the United States reacted to Hitler’s rise and the persecution of Jews, tracing the clash between isolationist sentiment and moral responsibility. He will examine restrictive immigration policies, what leaders knew and when, and how choices in Washington D.C. shaped lives across the Atlantic. 

Dr. Greene curated the acclaimed Americans and the Holocaust exhibition at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and served as historical advisor for the PBS documentary The U.S. and the Holocaust by Ken Burns, Lynn Novick, and Sarah Botstein. 

Free to the public. Registration is required. 

iCivics Educator Network Applications Now Open!

The Educator Network is free to join. As a new member, you will receive exclusive sneak peeks of new resources, professional development opportunities, and a network of like-minded educators.



The application deadline is January 12, 2026. Apply now.

Take Action: Putting News Literacy into Practice

In the new activity on the News Literacy Project Checkology® virtual classroom, students work through a fictional scenario and develop a personal code of ethics for the information they seek, share, and produce.  

Explore the middle school version here.

Explore the high school version here.

To assign “Take action,” log in or sign up for your free Checkology account and search “take action” on the homepage. 

P.S. “Take action” is designed as a culminating activity at the end of students’ Checkology learning. If your students are new to news literacy, start with NLP's Brain Gains planner. This 5-week plan includes interactive lessons and posters that teach students how to vet sources, examine data, weigh evidence and assess algorithms. 

Echoes and Reflections

December Online Courses

During the final month of 2025, join Echoes and Reflections free online courses on Foundations and Holocaust memory and legacy.

Each course offers a certificate of completion and is available for CEUs.

Foundations of Holocaust Education

Gain classroom resources to help students build a profound understanding of the Holocaust, the history of antisemitism, and its enduring significance in today's world.

• Three interactive modules released over three weeks; approximately 6 hours to complete in total.
• Proceed at your own pace each week, be supported by an instructor, and enjoy interaction with other educators.
• Complete all three modules for a 6-hour certificate.
• Final module includes additional time to complete optional final project for a 10-hour certificate.

Course Dates: December 1-28, 2025

Register

How We Remember: The Legacy of the Holocaust Today

Help students consider the aftermath of this global watershed event – the pursuit of justice, how survivors sought to rebuild their lives, and how we remember and memorialize the Holocaust today.

• One interactive module, approximately 4 hours to complete in total.
• Proceed at your own pace each week, be supported by an instructor, and enjoy interaction with other educators.
• Complete all activities for a 4-hour certificate.

Course Dates: December 8-21, 2025

Register

Civics In Real Life from Lou Frey Institute

Civics in Real Life is a series of weekly, one-page resources that uses a student-friendly format to explore current events through a civics lens. These resources, which include hyperlinks and reflection activities, help educators connect timely topics to essential civics concepts for their students. 

Some past topics include:

• The Hatch Act of 1939
• The 2025-2026 Docket Preview
• The Case of The Voting Rights Act of 1965 & Drawing of Congressional Districts
• The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966

Check out Civics in Real Life

Bill of Rights Institute My Impact Challenge

Have you heard about MyImpact Challenge, but don't understand what it is? It is a civic engagement contest hosted by the Bill of Rights Institute. In simple terms, BRI highlights students actively engaged in service, volunteerism, or entrepreneurship in their communities. 

MyImpact Challenge is open to U.S. citizens and U.S.-based young people between the ages of 13 and 19. Students are eligible if they are involved in an active project that was undertaken or completed between May 18, 2025 and May 3, 2026.

MyImpact Challenge honors student service and innovation with the opportunity to win up to $10,000 for their work and a total of $40,000 for combined student and teacher prizes!

Encourage your students to take initiative—have them create a login today and begin their journey toward making a real impact!



Facing History and Ourselves Civic Education Collection

In today’s complex and polarized civic landscape, helping students explore why democracy matters and the role they can play in sustaining it feels both urgent and daunting to many educators.

To support you in addressing this important need, Facing History and Ourselves designed a new Civic Education Curriculum Collection grounded in Facing History’s proven approach. Built for middle and high school classrooms, the collection brings together C3-aligned units, inquiries, and lesson plans to prepare students for ethical, informed participation in democracy. 

 With these ready-to-use resources, your students will:

• Build historical analysis and media-literacy skills
• Engage in civil discourse 
• Develop a foundation for civic participation 

Whether you’re deepening a U.S. history unit, teaching a civics course, or helping students make sense of current events, the Civic Education Curriculum Collection offers a framework that meets you where you are.

 

Residential and Online Professional Development Opportunities from Colonial Williamsburg

Online PD

The Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute of Colonial Williamsburg is excited to offer online workshops for teachers that cover a wide range of historical topics. Teachers who attend these online programs gain access to Colonial Williamsburg collections, curricula, and staff—all from the comfort of their home! Many of these programs include an interactive element and provide the opportunity to discuss resources and activities with educators from across the nation.

Learn More

Summer Residential PD

The Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute is excited to offer weeklong, immersive residential programs every summer that give educators the opportunity to dive into the history of colonial and revolutionary America. In honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Teacher Institute is offering a special, one-time program immersing elementary and secondary teachers in the people, places, and ideas that ignited independence and continue to inspire civic life today.

Colonial Williamsburg offers weeklong programs most weeks throughout the summer, with participants arriving on Sunday and departing on Friday. Applicants can indicate their preferred week(s) when completing the application. Please note that participants for location specific cohorts have specific dates they must attend.

Apply Here



Professional Development Opportunity for

History, Government, and Civics Teachers

from the Case Method Institute for Education and Democracy 

The Case Method Institute (CMI) is offering exceptional, no-cost professional development opportunities this year for high school teachers of U.S. history, government, and civics. These programs introduce educators to the case method and the History of American Democracy case collection, developed by CMI founder Professor David Moss of Harvard Business School. When applied to history, the case method places students in the role of historical decision-makers and allows them to experience history as it unfolded. Educators who complete the PD gain access to 23 Harvard-developed cases on pivotal moments in U.S. history, our brand-new case on democracy in Ancient Athens, comprehensive teaching materials, and ongoing, personalized support from CMI staff, all free of charge.

To learn why teachers and students think the program is so powerful, you can watch this video featuring CMI partner teachers and real students. Here’s how one teacher captures the student experience: “…it puts them as the center of the attention, and I love that particular spotlight on them, because ultimately their thoughts really, really matter.”

Choose from one of two pathways to get started: a live Zoom-based workshop featuring an interactive session led by Professor Moss, with an upcoming date on December 8, 2025, or a fully asynchronous option teachers can start right away. Visit cmi.org/apply to view CMI’s upcoming PD opportunities and sign up. If you’re not ready to apply just yet, you can join the mailing list or download this brochure to learn more.

New Report Highlights Civic Consequences of AI

In partnership with the EDSAFE AI Alliance, CivxNow is excited to release an urgent new report, States of the Union: Rebuilding American Civics for a Digital Republic. 

While many reports focus on the economic effects of AI, this document emphasizes its civic consequences, specifically how it will influence citizens' relationships with one another and with core American values like life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

ISBE Guidance for History Mandates

ISBE's Standards and Instruction Department is pleased to announce the upcoming release of comprehensive, culturally responsive instructional resources designed to support the revised Illinois Learning Standards for Social Science. 

This initiative represents a major step forward in ensuring every K-12 student in Illinois experiences a rich, inclusive education that authentically reflects the diverse histories and perspectives of all communities, including Indigenous/Native Americans, Asian American Pacific Islanders, Latin/o/x peoples, those with religious and spiritual affiliations, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with special needs/disabilities. The complex histories of Holocaust and genocide survivors also are examined.

Olive Foster Outstanding Teacher Award

Are You the Next Street Law Classroom Champion?

The 2026 National Civics Bee

Winter Guardians of Democracy Microcredential Courses