Powerful social studies
teaching combines elements of all the disciplines
as it provides opportunities for students to conduct inquiry, develop and display data, synthesize findings, and make judgments.
recognition and serious consideration of opposing points of view, respect for well- supported positions, sensitivity to cultural similarities and differences, and a commitment to individual and social responsibility.
Powerful Social Studies is Values-Based
Students are made aware of potential social policy implications and taught to think critically and make value-based decisions about related social issues
.
Powerful social studies teaching helps
students develop enduring understandings in the core content areas of civics, economics, geography, and history
, and assures their readiness and willingness to assume citizenship responsibilities.
What is powerful teaching and learning?
Powerful Teaching and Learning is a term we use to describe
brain-based, reform-like instruction that is characterized by active-inquiry, in-depth learning and performance assessment
.
In some ways, good social studies teaching
rests on the ability to tell stories well
. … They are able to do it because they understand in more than one way what they are teaching and are able to draw upon this knowledge to make any lesson an adventure for their students.
Meaningful social studies teaching refers
to teaching for learning and critical thinking that incorporates diverse perspectives and students
. This means taking students beyond memorization to comprehension and coherence. … Critical thinking means raising and pursuing questions about the ideas one encounters.
Social studies can also be referred to as social sciences. It’s
a field which deals with human behavior, relationships, resources, and institutions
. Specific topics within social studies that are studied in school coursework include geography, anthropology, economics, history, sociology, political science, and civics.
Through the social studies,
children explore and ask questions about social systems, the abstract societal norms and values affecting human relationships and interactions in everyday life
. These include nonverbal yet observable social cues that reflect subtle forms of bias, discrimination, and inequity.
The social studies curriculum is integrated into all learning centers in the room. … Which of the following is the primary goal of a broad, inclusive social studies curriculum?
To equip children to become self-reliant, participating members of their communities
.
You have a child with special needs in your classroom
.
The primary purpose of social studies is
to help young people make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society
in an interdependent world.
- Siloing social studies minutes. …
- Falling back on legacy materials. …
- Assuming all diverse perspectives are representative. …
- Only prioritizing big events and well-known names. …
- Not providing robust resources for teaching complex topics.
Standards based instruction
helps guide the planning, implementation, and assessment of student learning
. The use of standards to streamline instruction ensures that teaching practices deliberately focus on agreed upon learning targets. Expectations for student learning are mapped out with each prescribed standard.
Is the science of learning?
The Science of Learning is an approach that
recognizes the value and importance of cross-fertilization across traditional fields of
study, drawing on many different methods and techniques to understand how learning occurs— with the ultimate goal of optimizing learning for all.
What is interleaved learning?
Interleaved practice – when
you are learning two or more related concepts or skills
, instead of focusing exclusively on one concept or skill at a time, it can be helpful to alternate between them (for example, if you are learning topic A and topic B, rather than practice only A on one day and only B on the next, you …
What is whole brain teaching?
First developed in 1999, Whole Brain Teaching promotes a
high-energy, hyper-focused method
where teachers use game-like challenges, key words, and motivational methods, while eliciting continuous spoken responses from their students to keep them fully engaged every minute.