Contra Costa County Office of Education

History/Social Science

Jason Muñiz, Associate Director, UC Berkeley History-Social Science Project

We are committed to supporting district leaders, coaches, and classroom teachers in implementing the California H-SS Framework, which was adopted in Summer 2016. We provide learning opportunities to improve and expand history instruction in K-12 classrooms.

Our services include

Support for Professional Learning Communities
Guidance in Curriculum Development
Coaching and Leadership Support

History/Social Science Subcommittee Meeting Highlights

September 20, 2022 Meeting

Subcommittee Meeting Peaks:

The History Social Science Subcommittee convened for the first time this year in a meeting led by The UC Berkeley History Project's Associate Director Jason Muñiz. The cohort introduced themselves and shared the values they bring educators to the space. The group discussed last year's HSS priorities, the state of our content area in Contra Costa County, as well as the ways in which identity, power and privilege impact our history instruction.

On the Horizon:

The HSS Subcommittee will discuss textbook adoption and piloting, as well as ways to use Historical Thinking and Inquiry to supplement instructional materials

January 24, 2023 Meeting

Subcommittee Meeting Peaks:

Participants shared where they were in the adoption process and explored an adoption criteria rubric
Discussed the role of inquiry-based instruction in classrooms and ways to foster it moving forward.
Shared Big Six Guideposts – Critical Inquiry Resource to help foster more critical engagement with the Guideposts when examine how to make the guideposts more equitable.

On the Horizon:

Educators in the History Social Science cohort can look forward to unpacking the reasoning behind including Land Acknowledgements in our classrooms, and how to share them with our students. We will also be co-constructing Land Acknowledgements for review.
The HSS Subcommittee will also be preparing to meet with Corrina Gould, who represents The Sogorea Té Land Trust and will be speaking with Contra Costa County educators about Ethnic Studies and the Landback Movement for Native Americans.
In the coming months the HSS Subcommittee will also be discussing the hallmarks of effective Ethnic Studies instruction, and the ways that we can support thoughtful decisions around staffing for courses within this discipline.

March 7, 2023 Meeting

Subcommittee Meeting Peaks:

Participants engaged with Tara Yosso’s six-part Cultural Wealth Model which includes six types of capital that educational leaders may use to frame their interactions with students.
Participants explored the idea of multiple perspectives in history lessons. The group explored dominant perspectives and historically marginalized perspectives. Participants discussed barriers to incorporating multiple perspectives in history.

On the Horizon:

Looking ahead, participants will be learning about developing land acknowledgments from Sogorea Te’ Land Trust Organization.
This group will also be exploring what to consider when a district determines the need for supplementing history/social science curriculum.
Integrated Action Civics Project (IACP):The IACP at UC Berkeley is hosting a free 5-day institute, from June 26–30, 2023. The institute will introduce integrated action civics projects, strategies for student self-reflection, change-analysis models, strategies for integrating these concepts into course content, and collaborative planning time. Learn more and register here.