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«Back to all edWebinarsHow to Reach Every Learner in Social Studies: Active Learning Strategies That Work
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm EDT
Presented by Stephanie Quarantotto, Former Educator, Current Account Manager, TCI (Teachers’ Curriculum Institute); and Michael Washington, Former Educator, Current Account Manager, TCI (Teachers’ Curriculum Institute)
Sponsored by Teachers’ Curriculum Institute (TCI)
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Give every student access to the same rigorous content without rewriting your lessons. Reaching every student is one of the hardest parts of teaching social studies. Students come in with different reading levels and background knowledge. How do you get all of them into the same content and learning the same skills?
Active learning strategies change the entry point. One strategy allows students to experience a version of an event before they read about it. They feel the crowding, the pressure, or the difficulty of a decision firsthand. That gives the whole class a shared reference point, so students who came in without much background knowledge now have something to attach it to. It also gives them a reason to read, because they want to know whether what they felt matches what actually happened. The content stays rigorous, and the discussion that follows is richer because more students have something to say.
In this edWebinar, we’ll explore active learning strategies and run through some examples together. We’ll break them down to see why the strategy worked, what it asked of students, and why it opened the lesson up. We’ll cover:
- What makes a strategy active, and why that reaches more students in social studies
- How a short, structured experience builds historical understanding, not just engagement
- Why the debrief is where the learning happens, and what to ask
This edWebinar will be of interest to K–12 social studies teachers, instructional coaches, and school and district leaders.
About the Presenters
With over 13 years of experience in K-5 general and special education, Stephanie Quarantotto brings a wealth of classroom expertise to her role as Account Manager with TCI. Before joining TCI, Stephanie taught kindergarten and fourth grade in Southeast Pennsylvania, where she served on several pilot committees and was a prominent member of her district’s teachers’ union. A firm believer that all students can learn, Stephanie is passionate about providing the right balance of rigor and productive struggle to help learners overcome challenges. She finds great excitement in offering differentiation options and witnessing her students’ success and growth each year. As an enthusiastic TCI user in her own classroom, Stephanie now enjoys collaborating with districts to support and refine their learning goals. She thrives on showcasing engaging program components and lessons that reach and inspire all learners.
Michael Washington is an Account Manager for TCI with over 22 years of experience in education. Before joining TCI, he taught high school in Sacramento, California, where he held leadership roles as social studies department chair and academy lead. As a teacher leader, Michael guided his school through successful accreditation processes and developed site- and district-wide curricula. Now at TCI, Michael is passionate about sharing how the curriculum that transformed his classroom can support educators and students across the United States. He looks forward to helping schools implement engaging, content-rich science programs that truly make an impact.
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Learn more about earning a CE certificate and our accessibility features.
TCI is a K-12 education company founded by teachers, for teachers. We are committed to creating engaging and effective social studies and science programs that bring learning to life. With a focus on active learning and differentiated instruction, we empower educators with the tools and support they need to inspire students and drive meaningful learning experiences.
