Month: August 2022

iCivics Launches Pilot Program to Localize Innovative Inquiry-based, Project-embedded 8th Grade U.S. History Curriculum

Posted on by icivics

Jefferson County Public Schools (CO), Santa Fe Public Schools (NM), and Oklahoma City Public Schools (OK) working with nation’s leading civic education provider to pilot teacher-created iCivics Educating for American Democracy curriculum

This fall, a select group of 8th grade teachers from three very different school districts are working with iCivics, the country’s leader in civic education, to localize and implement a new U.S. History curriculum based on the Roadmap to Educating for American Democracy (EAD).

Over the past year, iCivics and experts in history and pedagogy worked together with nine teachers to build a general curriculum based on the EAD Roadmap, a framework designed to strengthen civics and history learning in K–12 classrooms throughout the country. The nonprofit then selected three districts – Jefferson County Public Schools (CO), Santa Fe Public Schools (NM), and Oklahoma City Public Schools (OK) – to take part in a pilot program to localize that curriculum to meet the needs and interests of each district’s students and communities.

Each district’s social studies department is working with iCivics and community partners to support six teachers as they work together to modify the curriculum for their district and students. These districts will provide models for other districts to emulate after this pilot year.

The iCivics EAD curriculum centers on depth of knowledge and understanding, taking a project-embedded approach to engage students in learning that brings a full American history to life.

“Across the country, districts, teachers, students and parents are looking for a way to teach civics and history in a way that inspires students to become informed and engaged members of our constitutional democracy,” iCivics Executive Director Louise Dubè said. “Based on our work with millions of students over the past decade, we believe that the iCivics Educating for American Democracy curriculum will do just that. We are excited that these three districts have joined us in the forefront of efforts to strengthen how we teach one of our most important subjects, and we look forward to seeing how this curriculum will be implemented in the classroom to ensure that the practice of democracy is learned by each new generation.”

Michael C. Martirone

Posted on by icivics

Egg Harbor, New Jersey

Teaching experience: 5+ years—high school social studies, including government and politics, Honors and College Prep World Cultures

Select Awards: 

  • 2016 HistoryQuest Fellow, Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation
  • 2016 James Madison Legacy Fellowship

In 2016, I was a first year government and politics teacher looking to connect with teachers who shared my interest and passion for civic education. A friend suggested I join the iCivics Educators Network and since then, my life hasn’t been the same.

The iCivics Educator Network not only helped me develop best practices for teaching civics and government, but has allowed me to collaborate with educators from across the country. I’ve had the opportunity to engage in meaningful pedagogical conversations, share civics resources, and seek new perspectives about my content matter—all of which has made me a better teacher for my students.

The iCivics Educator Network has provided me and my students with a platform like the youth fellowship to share our passion—and elevate the need—for equitable civic education throughout the country.

I have had speaking opportunities to explain why this is the time to fund civic education and give my perspective from the classroom on other topics, as well. The iCivics Educator Network has given me the opportunity not only to teach civics, but to become a part of it.