Making History: Help raise Ohio Graduation Test scores in your school district
Posted Jan. 18, 2008

About the Making History Project
Your AAUW branch can help improve Ohio Graduation Test scores in your community by adopting the AAUW/Ohio state-wide Making History Project.

Join Other Ohio Branches
And when you do, you'll join five other branches around the state who are already bringing the project into their school districts.  Ohio branches participating in the project include Athens, Chillicothe, Piqua, Waverly and Westerville.

In the six districts that used the book last year, the scores went up between 7 and 26 percent.  Statewide, public school students increased their scores by 2.4 percent.

The centerpiece of the project is a social studies study guide called The New Little Book. This paperback book can be used by teachers and students -- both in the classroom and at home -- to help high school students prepare for the history and social studies section of the mandatory Ohio Graduation Test. The social studies section of the test is one of two on which Ohio high school students consistently score the lowest.

Branches throughout the state will receive a sample copy of the book, along with an introductory letter and informational packet designed to introduce them to the Making History Project and help them coordinate it in their own communities.

Schools are working on next year’s budgets now. This is the time to contact them. Since under-funded public school often cannot afford materials to help students prepare for the test, The New Little Book is priced at only slightly above cost. Prices depend on the quantity ordered, with prices for large districts as low as $2.92 per copy. Any amount above cost will be donated to AAUW’s Educational Foundation.

For information on obtaining copies of The New Little Book for your local schools, contact 216-556-4968 or aauwhh@roadrunner.com. Or visit the book Web site.

Background of the Making History Project
The Making History Project grew from state board discussions with members searching for a way to put AAUW's support of public education into action. Board members previewed copies of The New Little Book, which was adopted for use in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District last fall, learning that it was well received by Cleveland students, teachers and professional development staff.

The board reasoned that a statewide education project involving social studies also could be used to gain visibility for AAUW/Ohio branches and increase membership. They voted to ask Ohio’s branches to make their local schools aware of The New Little Book and named the initiative the Making History Project.

The Making History Project aligns with AAUW's belief that quality public education is the foundation of a democratic society as well.

That’s why a local branch of the American Association of University Women has published a new study guide designed to help increase social studies test scores.

About The New Little Book
The New Little Book covers all sections of the Ohio social studies graduation test: history, people in societies, geography, economics, government, citizenship and social studies skills and methods.  Each section is set up as a mini study guide with its own glossary.

“To be successful on the Ohio Graduation Test, students must think differently about social studies in general and history in particular.  The New Little Book helps them do that by providing important facts and information and explaining their significance,” said Allan Keller of Twinsburg, a social studies teacher who provided professional oversight for the project.

Background of The New Little Book
The New Little Book is an update of The Little Book, which was written by Cleveland area teachers and members of the Church of the Covenant Cleveland. The highly successful older book was written to help students pass the citizenship portion of the ninth-grade proficiency test, which the Ohio Graduation Test replaces.

One AAUW branch provided more than 11,000 free copies of the new study guide to the Cleveland Metropolitan School District -- one for each tenth grader, eleventh and twelfth graders who still need to pass, and classroom sets for ninth grades. Funds from The Cleveland Foundation and The Gund Foundation supported the project.

Glenda Hathaway, deputy chief of curriculum & instruction for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, praised the book and the project.

“The New Little Book is extremely high quality. I truly believe that because of your organization and CMSD’s commitment to support the students in their effort to prepare for the OGT, we will have many more of our seniors pass the Social Studies OGT this year.”

In fact, more Cleveland public school seniors passed the test in October 2007 than in fall 2006.

Teachers who reviewed the guide have praised it for its layout, its explanation of social studies vocabulary, and its story-telling format.

“CMSD is utilizing The New Little Book in a strategic manner," Hathaway said. "At present, we are providing copies of the book and instructions about how best to use it to all seniors and juniors who have not passed the Social Studies Ohio Graduation Test. All social studies teachers will receive professional development regarding how to integrate the books into the classroom instruction, as well as how to assist students to prepare for the test.”

Members and friends of AAUW and affiliated organizations, including the Saturday Tutoring Program at Church of the Covenant and Delta Sigma Theta and Alpha Kappa Alpha sororities researched, wrote and proofread the text and conducted other production activities.

Allan Keller, former social studies department head in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, was lead editor and writer for the guide.  Linda Wilson, former English teacher and co-coordinator of the Saturday Tutoring Program, acted as glossary editor.

Download the Call & Post story about the use of The New Little Book in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.