The Maine Department of Education once again has a staff member specializing in social studies instruction.
Kristie Littlefield began work this fall as the Department’s social studies content specialist and liaison to the Western Maine superintendents’ region.
Littlefield taught middle- and high-school social studies for 12 years at Lawrence Junior High School in Fairfield and Gardiner Area High School. During that time, she routinely integrated technology into instruction and worked intensively on social studies curriculum design and development.
Most recently, she worked with teachers, community members and students as part of the Maine Community Heritage Project, a Maine Historical Society program that fosters collaboration among schools and community organizations to explore and share their history online through the Maine Memory Network.
In that capacity, Littlefield collaborated with teachers to devise curriculum plans that met the aims of the program and the Maine Learning Results and provided ongoing professional support and training to educators.
Littlefield has also authored online educational resources for the Bates College Museum of Art’s Thousand Words Project, a writing-through-art program.
Her true passion continues to be elevating the teaching and learning of social studies in Maine. She believes all students, at all grade levels, should have the opportunity to become actively engaged with social studies. Social studies provides a unique opportunity for students to learn and apply essential skills, along with content – helping ensure students graduate prepared for college, career, and civic life.
As Maine DOE’s social studies specialist, Littlefield is working to connect with social studies educators across Maine to develop a professional community focused on collaboration and continuous improvement.
Social Studies Survey
The Department is asking K-12 teachers of social studies to complete a short online survey. The results will help to determine future professional development opportunities.
Visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/socialstudies2011 to complete the survey.
Maine Social Studies Listserve
Social studies educators are encouraged to subscribe to the Maine Department of Education Social Studies Listserv to receive updates about professional development opportunities and other news.
Visit http://mailman.informe.org/mailman/listinfo/mdoe_social_studies to subscribe.
Web Page
The Department of Education social studies web page offers curriculum resources, information about standards and news about conferences, initiatives and more for Maine social studies teachers. Visit http://www.maine.gov/education/lres/ss/
Contact
Kristie Littlefield, Social Studies Specialist
Maine Department of Education
207-624-6828
kristie.littlefield@maine.gov