The California Council for the Social Studies is an organization that is primarily focused on educators in the classroom, but membership also includes, teachers on special assignment, instructional coaches, district & county administrators, college professors, h/ss organization leaders and community members.
District social studies lead teacher and EL Bridge Program Teacher, Adam Kubey is bringing his CCSS Conference session to the virtual space for this month's webinar. Engage students in structured academic discourse that prioritizes consensus-building over debate. This session explores practical strategies—including Socratic Seminars, Four Corners, Consensus Lines, and AVID protocols—to foster collaborative dialogue. Teachers will learn to use tools and AI to scaffold discussions, helping students using Construct Meaning methodology, consider multiple perspectives, and navigate complex social studies topics with empathy, critical thinking, and civic engagement.This session aims to help educators intentionally structure student talk to move beyond winner-loser debates toward collaborative consensus-building. Participants will identify strategies to facilitate structured, inclusive discourse in classrooms (Socratic Seminars, Four Corners, Consensus Lines, Quads, Constructing Meaning), analyze methods for integrating multiple perspectives, including AI-assisted discussions, to deepen discussions and foster critical thinking and develop actionable plans to embed consensus-building practices across social studies content, promoting civic engagement, empathy, and respect for diverse viewpoints.
Featured Speakers
Adam Kubey
Teacher & Teacher on Special Assignment
Hosted by: The California Council for the Social Studies
Empowering educators
Engaging students
Strengthening democracy
