MAKE AUGUST ... AUGUST!

Did you know the word august literally means "marked by majestic dignity or grandeur"?

Whether you’re soaking up the last majestic sun-drenched days of summer, diving into a great beach read, marveling at the grandeur of the first-place Milwaukee Brewers, or slowly easing into "back-to-school" mode, we hope you’ve had time to rest, recharge, and refuel.

The month of August occupies a unique space in an educator's calendar—a time to hold onto the relaxation of summer while beginning to spark excitement for the year ahead. (Or, for me, the anticipation of doing what I love to do ... and the mild, annual anxiety attack that comes right along with it!) As we look toward the fall, we know many of you are preparing for big transitions: getting to know a new group of students, diving into fresh curricula, tackling new grade levels, or even settling into a new school entirely.

Hopefully, our upcoming PD opportunities can help you navigate those changes and look forward to the new school year with excitement, energy, and that majestic August dignity you naturally possess.



Enjoy every remaining moment of summer!

Chuck Taft, WCSS President

OUR AUGUST NEWSLETTER LINEUP!

WCSS BACK TO SCHOOL JAM! (8/17)

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

FREE TEACHER OPEN HOUSE AT OWW THIS WEEK (7/31)

NEXT WEEK! CIVIL WAR MUSEUM TEACHER SEMINAR (8/7)

CONFLUENCE OF COMMUNITIES IN AUGUST

AMERICA 250 SOURCES FROM WI DPI

FREE PD WEBINARS FROM THE OER PROJECT

MORE FREE PD AND COURSES FROM FACING HISTORY

NCSS 2026 - #SOCIALSTUDIES365 IN CHICAGO

SAVE THE DATE FOR WCSS 2027! (2/19-20)

THE WCSS BACK TO SCHOOL JAM

MONDAY AUGUST 17

As summer winds down, the excitement (and to-do list!) for the new school year begins to build. To kick things off, we’re hosting the WCSS Back to School Jam—a relaxed, virtual meetup designed by Wisconsin teachers, for Wisconsin teachers.

It’s an informal 90 minute get together to reconnect, drop some beat-worthy lesson ideas, and gather fresh inspiration before the first bell rings.

What’s on the possible docket:

• Grade & Subject Breakout Sessions: Jam out directly with fellow educators teaching your specific grade levels and subjects (Elementary, Middle School Civics/Histories, High School AP/Dual Enrollment, and more).
• First-Week Hooks & Icebreakers: Share and discover high-energy Day 1 activities that set a positive tone and spark inquiry right out of the gate.
• Resource & Tech Share: Swap go-to primary source sites, lesson frameworks, and helpful tools to save you time this fall.
• Tune In & Tell Us: Help us arrange our professional development playlist for the rest of the school year by telling us what topics and support you need most!

Grab your favorite evening beverage, bring one idea to share (or just a notebook to snag a few!), and let’s kick off the 2026–2027 school year together.

What kind of professional development are you looking for this year and at our annual conference?

• Innovative classroom tools & tech?
• Elementary social studies strategies and support?
• Approaches for civil discourse & civics?
• Hidden histories and diverse lenses?
• Inquiry-based learning frameworks?
• Curriculum planning & collaboration?

Reply to this email or drop us a line at pd@wcsswi.org and let us know how WCSS can best serve you this school year. We will do our best!

OLD WORLD WISCONSIN OPEN HOUSE

JULY 31!

Old World Wisconsin is hosting a special open house dedicated entirely to celebrating educators, and the WCSS team will be there live in Caldwell Hall. We want to help you gear up for the year ahead, so please stop by our exhibitor table to connect with fellow social studies educators and learn about upcoming WCSS initiatives.

What is waiting for you:

• Free Educator Admission: Teachers with a school ID can explore the 600-acre living history site completely free of charge.
• The Resource Roundup: Meet with WCSS leadership and other educational exhibitors to gather lesson ideas, social studies tools, and curriculum support.
• Field Trip Scouting: Use a specialized teacher map to scope out school program locations across the grounds and plan an immersive historic experience for your students.

Please note that free teacher admission must be redeemed on-site with a valid school ID. Friends, family, and colleagues are welcome to join the fun at regular admission prices.

We look forward to connecting with you on the grounds and supporting your teaching journey for the year ahead.

AMERICA 250 SOURCES FROM WISCONSIN DPI

The DPI America 250 page serves as a vital hub for educators, offering an array of classroom-ready resources, innovative lesson ideas, and enriching learning opportunities designed to foster thoughtful and inclusive teaching practices. As schools navigate the complexities of engaging with this historic milestone, these resources empower educators to create learning experiences that resonate with Wisconsin's diverse student body. By embracing these tools, teachers can cultivate an environment where every student feels valued and included, ultimately enhancing their understanding of civic responsibility and cultural awareness. Together, we can inspire a generation of learners who are not only informed but also engaged citizens ready to contribute positively to their communities.

FRIDAY AUGUST 7 IN KENOSHA

Join the Kenosha Civil War Museum, ICSS, and WCSS for the second annual summer Teacher Seminar! Museum staff and guest speakers will offer an engaging and informative seminar that dives into creative and immersive ways to utilize history education resources from your community to your classroom.



AWESOME AUGUST CELEBRATION IN PRESCOTT!

Come experience a day of community, culture, and connection in western Wisconsin on August 8.

FREE ONLINE WEBINARS FROM THE OER PROJECT

The OER Project offers a robust series of free, live online professional development webinars designed specifically for social studies educators. Throughout the year, teachers can attend virtual sessions on essential topics like historical thinking skills, guiding student writing, civil discourse, and student-driven inquiry. Each interactive event provides classroom-ready strategies and resources from experienced educators and academic experts. For those who can't tune in live, the site also features an extensive library of on-demand PD session replays to watch anytime.

SELF GUIDED COURSES FROM FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES

There is still time for free anf flexible PD from an outstanding organization! Facing History and Ourselves offers a rich library of self-guided webinars and on-demand workshops designed to fit into your summer schedule on your terms.

These asynchronous modules cover essential social studies themes—including building inclusive classroom communities, fostering civil discourse, navigating hard history, and integrating social-emotional learning into history and civics instruction. Each self-paced session pairs recorded expert presentations with practical, classroom-ready protocols, primary sources, and discussion frameworks you can immediately save for fall.



It’s an ideal, cost-free option for educators looking to sharpen their practice and grab fresh teaching strategies without committing to a fixed event time!

NCSS 2026 IN CHICAGO!

Registration is now open for the 106th NCSS Annual Conference, December 4–6, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.

This year's theme, Social Studies 365, is a declaration: our work doesn't stop at the classroom door, and it doesn't pause when the school year ends. #NCSS2026 will reaffirm its essential role in preparing informed citizens, strengthening democracy, and helping students understand the world around them. You'll leave Chicago with practical strategies, renewed purpose, and a national network of colleagues who share your commitment to the discipline.

What's Waiting:

• 500+ sessions: build your own schedule from innovative classroom strategies, current research, and real-world applications
• Renowned keynote speakers addressing pressing issues in education and democracy
• Chicago field experiences: bring history and civics to life at museums, memorials, and local landmarks
• A dynamic exhibit hall showcasing the latest teaching tools, curriculum resources, and technology
• A network of thousands of fellow educators, academics, and advocates, all in one place

WCSS will be there in full force - so please join us!

MORE INFO TO COME IN A FEW WEEKS!