Nick has presented on numerous topics ranging from: "Integrating UbD into Social Studies Classrooms", "21st Century Social Studies", and "The Elementary Social Studies World".

Workshop Descriptions:

Social Studies Methods and Instruction
As teachers (especially at the high school level), we sometimes get bogged down in creating assessments, planning out units, making Power Point presentations, finding primary resources, etc., and we forget to take the time to prepare the most important thing: the day-to-day methodology of instruction. As our students become “digital natives” and as we make our way towards authentic assessment, we can no longer “wing” lessons and lecture for an entire period. In this workshop, we will explore both big and small activities where more of the onus is placed on the students.

Social Studies in the Block
Although the idea of block scheduling is always a daunting task for a district, especially when teachers try to figure out ways to keep students' attention for anywhere from 60-90 minutes, it is unquestionably the greatest thing that has ever happened to Social Studies! In this workshop, we will explore both pacing, curriculum mapping, and individual lesson structure to meet the specific needs of your block. Whether your school has had a block schedule for years or if it is thinking of making the transition, the biggest mistake one can make is to think that it is “two lessons in one”. Here, we will make teaching in the block fun, engaging, and less-stressful

Integrating the new S.S. Standards/Curriculum Realignment
Having trouble integrating the new NJCCCS in Social Studies? This presentation is designed to discover the needs of your particular district and tie those into the new standards and existing programs.

"Doing History"
Gone are the days of memorization and fact recall in Social Studies. Students now need to play the roles of explorers/detectives with history. In this workshop, teachers and administrators will both design lessons and specific units of study that focus on "Doing History". A big component of this workshop is also a push to get teachers/administrators to understand that the old way of teaching Social Studies no longer fits into today's educational setting.

Integrating UbD in Social Studies
Gone are the days of completing chapters and picking up where you left off with the students' day-by-day. Backward design and setting the stage for students in terms of teacher expectations is the wave of the future and lends itself nicely to the teaching of Social Studies. Whether we are designing individual lessons, units, or an entire curriculum, UbD needs to be the focal point of these changes.

Social Studies at the K-5 Level
Tired of just "fitting Social Studies in" or worried that enough time is not spent on Social Studies because it is not a tested area? In this workshop, we will explore the ways that Social Studies can take its rightful place among the other core content areas at the K-5 level. Whether we are designing lessons, units, or grade-by-grade curriculum, you will become comfortable with Social Studies and realize that it is a necessary part of a balanced education.

Designing Accelerated Social Studies Courses
The AP tests are around the corner, and, especially in Social Studies, there seems to never be enough time to cover everything that appears on the test. From mapping out curriculum in AP History courses to diving into the great mysteries that are the DBQ and FRQ, this workshop is designed to help the beginner, novice, or expert AP teacher have their students ready to succeed.

The Coverage Issue/Curriculum Mapping
The days of covering every topic, every term, and every act imaginable are over. Still, it becomes very difficult to cut some of our favorite topics in our bag of tricks. In this workshop, you will learn how to set up your year accordingly based on your strengths/likes and those of your students. Never get bogged down again with the help of "survival units". A key component of this workshop is an exercise whereby teachers get comfortable with the idea that not every topic needs to be taught.

21st Century Social Studies
This workshop is designed to completely transform your district's Social Studies Department. From the integration of UbD, to the focus on Active Citizenship, to the changeover from direct instruction to web-based learning, this is an intensive workshop that is meant to redefine Social Studies at the K-12 level.

Language Arts Integration in Social Studies
This workshop focuses on the integration of reading, writing, and oral skills into the Social Studies classrooms at the K-12 level. At the end of this course, not only will you be able to design writing tasks that are grade-level and topic appropriate, you will learn that assigning essays and open-ended questions are just a small part of integrating literacy into Social Studies.

Assessment
This workshop will aid the Social Studies teacher in his/or her efforts to properly assess students. From finding that delicate balance between formative and summative assessments, to realizing that assessment is not just something that happens at the end of a unit (because it is on-going), to creating authentic, student-centered projects, this workshop is geared towards creating 21st Century learners. Teachers will be able to leave with a multitude of new ideas, most notably that of the test/quiz no longer being at the forefront of student achievement.