Psychology

Thank you for taking the first step in uniting yourself with other Psychology and AP Psychology teachers around the country. This website should provide you with a valuable communication tool. Now the next thing you need to do is to oficially join the NCSS Psychology Community by completing the membership form listed below under “Become a Psychology Community Member” or email Lindsay Hackman-Cushing at lindsay.hackman@d214.org. Membership dues are $30 for a lifetime membership. Once received, you will receive our “Welcome Package” and your first of three newsletters that are filled with wonderful teacher tested activities, projects, assignments, and demonstrations that can easily be added to your curriculum.

The Psychology Community, formally known as the Psychology Special Interest Group, is part of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS). In conjunction with the NCSS, the purpose of this organization is to help in the teaching of Psychology in pre college and in Advanced Placement Psychology. We have members from all over the country who are interested in the teaching of psychology, primarily at the high school level.

The history of this organization began when it was realized that psychology teachers lacked a network within their schools. Thus, Bob Stahl founded the NCSS Psych SIG (Special Interest Group) in the 1970’s. Several years later, Jim Matiya and Dale Kenney continued the quest to provide psychology teachers with unique classroom teaching techniques and strategies, while presenting each year at the NCSS Annual Conference.

Beginning in 2005, Daria Schaffeld, Lindsay Hackman and Joe Geiger proudly assume leadership of this group with the hope of continuing to unite psych teachers across the United States and Canada. Though the name has changed in 2007 from the “Psych SIG” to the “Psych Community”, the focus has remained the same: to help psychology teachers be the best they can be!

Psychology Community Chairs

Daria Schaffeld Prospect High School daria.schaffeld@d214.org

Joe Geiger Carl Sandburg High School jgeiger@d230.org

Lindsay Hackman-Cushinig Buffalo Grove High School lindsay.hackman@d214.org