RefreshED 2026

How can we support all students in thinking more deeply about social studies content? In this interactive session, educators will explore practical strategies for differentiating instruction through effective questioning, structured student dialogue, and short constructed responses. Participants will learn how to align questions and tasks to the TEKS while using student responses as formative data to guide instruction. Walk away with ready-to-use strategies that promote critical thinking, meaningful discussion, and greater student engagement in the social studies classroom.

Attendees can expect to identify, examine, and create simple, curriculum-based writing opportunities within the Studies Weekly materials. The session will focus on addressing the need to provide content-based writing within social studies.

Attendees can expect to locate and examine English Language Development scaffolds built into the Studies Weekly materials before exploring a variety of ways they can be seamlessly incorporated into different timeframes and instructional scenarios.