February

WCSS Newsletter

’Twas the month before the WCSS Conference, and all through the state,

Teachers were registering, booking rooms, and checking Sched late.

Sessions were posted, ideas in view—

February’s short, but there’s much to do!

With our conference almost upon us, now is the time to register for the WCSS Conference, reserve your hotel room, and explore Sched to preview the outstanding sessions ahead. See Chuck's Corner below for more information for more info

Though the shortest month on the calendar, February is rich with opportunity. In social studies classrooms, it invites meaningful inquiry, thoughtful discussion, and connections between the past and students’ lived experiences.

February also marks Black History Month, a time to center Black history as more than a commemoration. Black history is American history, and teaching it well means moving beyond isolated figures to examine systems, resistance, creativity, and resilience across time and place.

This month encourages classrooms to elevate Black voices and lived experiences while helping students examine how race, power, and democracy have shaped and continue to shape our communities. The Wisconsin Council for the Social Studies is proud to support educators in this work by sharing resources and professional learning that make social studies relevant, inclusive, and essential.

In Chuck's Corner

Not signed up for the 2026 WCSS Conference on March 13–14 yet? Maybe I can gently nudge you in the right direction ...

Teaching social studies is meaningful work - especially in our current world. It’s also hard work - especially when the late winter blahs hit everyone (teachers included). And if we’re being honest, it can feel pretty isolating sometimes—like you’re the only one in your building trying to explain why history, civics, geography, and big democratic questions actually matter.

One of the best things about the WCSS Conference is that it gives us a chance to step out of our classrooms, take a breath, and spend time with our people—folks who get it. It’s a place to recharge, learn, ask good questions, steal good ideas, and remember why we chose this work in the first place.

This year’s theme, Empowering Tomorrow’s Voices, really gets at the heart of what we do. We know that social studies isn’t just about content—it’s about helping students think critically, engage thoughtfully, and figure out their place in a democracy that needs them now more than ever.

I’m especially excited about our keynote speakers. William C. Snowden brings a powerful and practical perspective on justice, civic participation, and democracy in action. (I saw him speak last year at WCSS - wowowow!) Richard M. Josey Jr. draws on decades of public history work to show how inclusive storytelling can change the way students—and communities—see the past and themselves in it.

And the sessions? They bring the same energy. You’ll find hands-on inquiry and literacy-rich social studies, thoughtful conversations about civic engagement and civil discourse, and Wisconsin-focused sessions on elections, licensure updates, and local history. There are also creative and timely sessions on AI, teaching in polarized times, and elevating student voice—exactly the kind of stuff that sparks new thinking and leads to meaningful classroom conversations on Monday morning.

And, don't forget about the fun. From connecting with teachers across the state to meeting (and grabbing swag) from over 30 exhibitors to our social hour and family game night on Friday, the "recharge" compent of the conference is centered all around you!

If you haven’t already, take a few minutes to check out the full schedule on Sched to see the outstanding breadth and depth of offerings. And if you’re already registered (nice work), don’t forget to book your hotel using the conference discount by Friday, February 14.

Hope to see you there—it really is one of the best weekends of the year to be a social studies teacher. I are excited to see everyone in Madison ... to connect, share, learn, and maybe play a little euchre.

Chuck Taft

President, WCSS

REGSITER FOR WCSS 26 HERE!

Social Studies Education Updates

News and happenings from the world of Wisconsin social studies

Update from Kris McDaniel, WI DPI Social Studies Consultant:

"Just a reminder that State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly announced that we will NOT be revising the Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies at this time. This means that they will remain the same for our 7-8 year cycle, to review again in 2033 or 2034 (that seems like a long time from now, doesn't it?!). There will likely be an updated "second edition" version on the DPI website by late summer - if there are any changes, I anticipate they will be formatting only."

For more information about dates and application: Click Here

Research and Resources

Insights and tools from current research, classroom practice, and professional networks to strengthen social studies teaching across Wisconsin

Expanding Stories, Strengthening Democracy

Black History Month Resources

Wisconsin's legislature designated February as Black History Month, providing an opportunity to reflect on common humanity, raise awareness of the heritage and contributions of people of African descent, and celebrate ethnic and racial diversity within the African diaspora. The proclamation details historical events such as the arrival of enslaved Africans in Virginia in 1619, the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, and the first mention of African descendants in Wisconsin history in 1725. The full text of the legislation can be found on the Wisconsin State Legislature website.

This is a month that honors the achievements and history of African Americans, recognizing their immense contributions to society and shedding light on the struggles against adversity, with origins tied to the birthdays of abolitionists Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, and now a national observance to educate and reflect on Black heritage year-round. Black History is American History!

Teaching Resources:

Spotlight on

Wisconsin's African American Communities

Each year, Madison 365 shines a light on current African American leaders across Wisconsin whose work is shaping communities right now. Many of these honorees are unsung, doing meaningful everyday work that does not always make headlines. For students, these stories matter. They broaden ideas of who leads, connect learning to real people close to home, and show that civic leadership is not just history. It is happening now, and it is something they can be part of.

Click here to see the full list of honorees.

Why Race Matters from PBS Wisconsin offers a Wisconsin based resource that connects history to students’ lived experiences. The series uses local stories and voices to explore how race shapes education, housing, and opportunity today, helping students see Black history as ongoing, relevant, and rooted in their own communities. For teachers, it provides an accessible way to support thoughtful discussion, critical listening, and civic understanding using examples close to home.

Click Here to visit the PBS Website

T his list from UpNorth News celebrates African American Wisconsinites who made a difference

February 16th is President's Day

Happy Birthday President Lincoln!!

Feb 12th!

Check out Resources at Lincoln Presidential Library

Happy Birthday President Washington!

Feb 22

Check out Resources From Washington's Mount Vernon

February 15th is Susan B Anthony's Birthday

February 15 marks the birthday of Susan B. Anthony, a national leader in the fight for women’s suffrage and one of many women who worked for voting rights over generations. While Anthony is often named, the movement was built by a long list of organizers, activists, and educators, including women here in Wisconsin who shaped suffrage efforts at the local and state level. Resources created for the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment highlight these Wisconsin stories and remain strong tools for helping students understand civic action and the collective nature of social change.

Wisconsin's Women Centennial Tool Kit (Wisconsin Historical Society)

Teaching the Lunar New Year

From History.com: Lunar New Year is one of the most important annual celebrations among East and Southeast Asian cultures, including Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean communities. Tied to the Chinese lunisolar calendar, the holiday began as a time for feasting and to honor household and heavenly deities as well as ancestors.

Across cultures, the holiday goes by different names. Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival, or Chūnjié in Mandarin. Meanwhile, Koreans call the holiday Seollal, and Vietnamese refer to it as Tết.

The timing of Lunar New Year changes annually depending on the moon’s phases, but the holiday typically begins between January 21 and February 20. The New Year celebration lasts multiple days—not just one day as in the Gregorian calendar’s New Year on January 1.

Here are some great resources to help teach the Lunar New Year.

NYC Schools: Learning About Lunar New Year.

ReadWriteThink: Lunar New Year (this lesson was for 2024, but has great ideas for 2026).

Asian American Education Project: The First Lunar New Year Celebration in the United States.

National Geographic: Lunar New Year.

WHAT WCSS IS READING AND WATCHING

Words of Inspiration from the 2026 Wisconsin Teachers of the Year

Wisconsin Association of School Boards, Inc. has featured interviews from the 2026 Wisconsin Teachers of the Year in their January-February publication of Wisconsin SchoolNews.

Read on for inspiration from the 2026 Teachers of the Year, including one of our very own--2026 Wisconsin Teacher of the Year Toni Fink, Southeast Delegate on the WCSS Board of Directors.

Read the Article

Art and Music Meet History

After the War: 1919

Mobilize the Poets, in partnership with Four Seasons Theatre, present

AFTER THE WAR: 1919

a multimedia rock and roll history show

1919: the forgotten year after the forgotten war. It’s one of the most troubling peacetime years in the history of the United States. The post-war, post-pandemic country is reckoning with the fundamental rights of its citizens.

Americans have just fought a war “to make the world safe for democracy” and now are fighting to preserve that very democracy at home. Strikes, race riots, women’s suffrage, mass deportations, the Red Scare, and Prohibition dominate the headlines and people’s lives.

This show reflects on the lives of everyday people who lived during this extraordinary time, the meaning of peace, and Wisconsin’s role in it all.

February 27, 2026

7:30pm

Barrymore Theatre, Madison, WI

Tickets and Details

Two American Families: 1991-2024

It’s a central premise of the American dream: If you’re willing to work hard, you’ll be able to make a living and build a better life for your children.

But what if working hard isn’t enough to get ahead — or even to ensure your family’s basic financial stability?

Two American Families: 1991-2024, a special, two-hour documentary filmed over more than 30 years, is a portrait of perseverance from FRONTLINE, Bill Moyers, and filmmakers Tom Casciato and Kathleen Hughes that raises unsettling questions about the changing nature of the American economy and the impact on people struggling to make a living.

Fast Approaching Professional Development

A once-in-a-generation opportunity for social studies educators.

Colonial Williamsburg’s Bob & Marion Wilson Teacher Institute is now accepting scholarship applications for its fully funded Summer 2026 onsite program, Revolutionary Roots: Teaching Civic Engagement at 250, created in recognition of the nation’s 250th Commemoration.

This weeklong, immersive residential experience places elementary and secondary educators inside the people, places, and ideas that sparked the American Revolution, and continue to shape civic life today.

Educators will:

Learn inside iconic Revolutionary-era sites
Work with historians and historical interpreters
Explore artifacts and special collections
Leave with classroom-ready strategies, primary sources, and digital resources
Connect with a national network of social studies educators

Scholarship applications close February 2, 2026. Don’t miss this premier professional learning experience for social studies educators!

Learn more & apply for the Summer Teacher Institute: Onsite Residential Programs

Updates and Resources

Wisconsin is an affiliate of the National Council for the Social Studies. This section shares news and opportunities from NCSS to connect our state with national conversations. Learn more at www.socialstudies.org.

Join us in Chicago!

The National Council for the Social Studies annual conference is in Chicago this year. We’d love to see a strong Wisconsin turnout. Consider making plans to join us and represent Wisconsin together

Learn More Here

Call for Proposals!

Have an idea you’d love to share with other social studies educators? Submit a proposal for the National Council for the Social Studies conference—proposals are due February 25. New to proposal writing or unsure how to shape a strong presentation? Serving as a proposal reviewer is one of the best ways to learn what makes proposals work and build confidence for submitting your own.

Submit a Proposal