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social studies conneCTion
Social studies education inspires all students for lifelong inquiry and informed civic action. Join social studies leaders, Steve Armstrong and Tony Roy, as they connect with educators and advocates from across the state. Each episode will include entertaining dialogue, insights into best practices, and practical connections to social studies standards. Produced by the Connecticut Council for the Social Studies.
Episodes
56 episodes
Steve Thornton and The Shoe Leather History Project
Steve Thornton has spent his adult life as an activist and organizer, working with various groups for social, economic, racial, and environmental justice. He is the author of A Shoeleather History of the Wobblies: Stories of the Industrial ...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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47:15
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Yasmeen Galal and Snigtha Mohanraj: Student Perspectives on the Intersections of Civics and Sciences
Snigtha Mohanraj is a rising senior and volunteers with local climate groups, conducts independent research regarding water contaminant removal and works on addressing educational disparities in New Haven. She enjoys the intersection of civics ...
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51:37
Melissa Zablonski and Communicating Complex History to Younger Audiences
Melissa Zablonski has taught social studies at Putnam High School for nine years, including U.S. History, AP U.S. History, Psychology, Anthropology, and the Black, African-American, Puerto Rican and Latino studies class. In 2022, she earn...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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58:15
Wesley Hedgepeth and Sustaining Social Studies Education
Having taught many secondary social studies courses, Wesley Hedgepeth currently teaches AP U.S. Government, AP Comparative Politics and World History at Collegiate School in Richmond, Virginia. In 2023, he was elected to be the National Council...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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58:51
Larissa Babij and The Story of an American Kind of Refugee
Returning to the podcast, Larissa Babij, was born in the United States to Ukrainia-American parents, and attended school in Manchester, CT where she was taught by co-host Steve Armstong. Living in Kyiv, Ukraine since 2005, Larissa chronicled th...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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53:00
Daniel Martinez HoSang and Teaching Anti-Racism
Daniel Martinez HoSang is a professor of American studies at Yale and a member of the Anti-Racist Teaching and Learning Collective Steering Committee. Before graduate school, Dan worked as a community and labor organizer for many years, focused...
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45:44
Irene Parisi and The Rules for Educational Design and Delivery
Irene Parisi is the chief academic officer of the Connecticut State Department of Education. As a chief academic officer, Irene has been working with the team to co-create a renewed ecosystem of support for Connecticut school districts to rewri...
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54:42
Brady Anderson and Sabrina Cassano and Declaring Freedom
From Fairfield Ward High School, juniors Brady Anderson and Sabrina Cassano discuss studying history at a time when world events are rapidly unfolding before them. A junior student athlete, when Brady isn't studying and admiring the history of ...
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51:07
Peter Moran and the Importance of Telling the True History
Peter Moran is the project director for Civics Education for Connecticut Students at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History. He is an alum of the Public History Program at Central Connecticut State University and has worked as a mu...
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51:09
Maryam Wardak and Educating Students to be Global Citizens
This episode, Maryam Wardak, the Social Studies Teaching and learning supervisor for magnet schools, discuss her passionate commitment to student learning and achievement through the use of research based pedagogical approaches catering to dive...
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55:48
Lisa Olivere and the Passion for Education After Working in the Private Sector
Lisa Olivere started her professional career in the private sector working for Poland Spring Water, before dedicating herself to 30 years of experience in public education. Currently, she is the director of K-12 Social Studies at Fairfield Publ...
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59:09
Lynn Mervosh and Understanding the Past Through Historic Sites.
Lynn Mervosh is the Site Administrator for the North Central Region for Connecticut Landmarks, which includes historic sites such as the Butler-McCook House & Garden and the Isham-Terry House, both in Hartford, and the Phelps-Hatheway House...
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Season 3
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Episode 9
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46:30
Jessica Blitzer and Developing Social Studies Learners
Having worked in public education for over 20 years, Jessica Blitzer currently serves as the secondary supervisor for history and Social Studies in West Hartford, Connecticut. She supports quality teaching and learning through developing profes...
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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52:17
Tony Roy and a Passion for Social Studies
Continuing our series to learn more about the hosts of CCSS CONNECTion, the focus turns to co-host and CCSS Board President, Anthony Roy. A passionate social studies educator, Tony discusses how his interest in history began as a student and de...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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51:58
Steve Armstrong and a Lasting Legacy in Social Studies
The focus turns on regular cohost Steve Armstrong as he reflects on his time growing up in the Manchester Public Schools to eventually teaching in the same school system that educated him. He shares a lifetime of not only teaching social studie...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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50:17
Nicole Jones and Engaging High Quality Practices
During her time in high school, Nicole Jones did not find social studies that engaging. However, through her lifelong love of reading and writing, she used her talents of influence to connect with students and promote education.
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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48:44
Garrett Griffin, Rayna Walters, Kurt Zimmermann, and their School-Museum Partnership
Garrett Griffin, Jr. Rayna Walters, and Kurt Zimmermann reflect on their collaboration with the Greater New Haven African American Historical Society through the CCSS school-museum partnership program.
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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43:40
Eira Prakash, Angelina Li, and "Othering" in Education
Eira Prakash and Angelina Li, high school students both, join us this week to discuss their experiences with representation and inclusivity in education and the realities of "othering" in the classroom and curriculum.
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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52:31
Lauren Francese and Historical Perspective Taking
Lauren Francese, Social Studies Department Chair in Westport Public Schools and standards project leader, discusses the importance of historical contextualization to understand the actions and thoughts of individuals in the past.
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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55:49
Kasey Dunn and Macro Approaches to Social Studies Education
Kasey Dunn, Teaching and Learning Specialist at Cooperative Area Services and CT Social Studies standards project leader, joins us this week to discuss her transition from the classroom to affecting educational reform at the district level and ...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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46:30
Harman Singh, Inclusivity, and Ingraining Sikhism into Social Studies Content
Harman Singh, Education Director of the Sikh Coalition, joins our show to explain the origins and mission of the Sikh Coalition. With the rise of bullying cases of students within the Sikh community, Harman explains the efforts that the Sikh Co...
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Season 2
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Episode 21
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54:27
Stefanie Wager and Facilitating Good Inquiry in the Classroom
Stefanie Wager, past president of the National Council for the Social Studies, provides meaningful insight on approaching inquiry in the classroom. Stefanie works to support teachers by developing strategic practices to apply inquiry skills for...
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Season 2
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Episode 20
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45:35
Federico Fiondella and the Outcome of Passionate Teaching & Community Outreach
Federico Fiondella, high school teacher & adjunct professor at Southern CT State University, joins us to provide insight on teaching student teachers and current high school students in today's age. Federico explains the importance of engag...
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Season 2
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Episode 19
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49:28
Kathy Swan and Facing the Past, Present, and Future with Inquiry
Kathy Swan, project director and lead writer of the C3 Framework, joins us to promote the power of inquiry in social studies education. Dr. Swan explains how inquiry aids students by skillfully navigating historical concepts and adeptly facilit...
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Season 2
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Episode 18
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59:44
Thomas Broderick and the Mission for Equity in Education
Tom Broderick, middle school social studies teacher & housing abundance advocate, joins us on our podcast to discuss education from academic and socioeconomic perspectives. Tom's passion for equity in CT's educational system is evident thro...
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Season 2
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Episode 17
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49:57