Chapters 1,2,3

 

What is Social Studies? 

 Social studies is described as the “ Integrated study of social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence.” Social studies is used to help us make decisions for the public as citizens. It is used to make decisions in our world that is diverse, democratic and interdependent.

  Why teach Social studies? 

It is important to teach Social studies because it teaches children about government, economics, history, etc. Social studies is important because America is changing constantly and rapidly teaching Social studies will prepare the children to understand and participate effectively in a changing complex world. Learning Social studies will also result in effective citizens, enhance language arts and communication skills, it will help children apply critical thinking and problem solving skills and lastly it will result in positive relationships, teamwork and problem solving skills.

How can we make Social Studies fun?

We can make Social studies fun by creating fun and engaging activities that correlate along with the topic. We can also make Social studies fun by using technology in the classroom. We can use programs such as Google Docs and Google Slides.

                                                             

Chapter 2

Today, teachers are facing the problem of being knowledgable of the content that they are supposed to teach their children. As time goes on, classrooms are getting more and more diverse and it is challenging for teachers to create classroom communities that use instructional strategies that meet the social needs. With diversity changing, other things are changing too such as technology and the social aspects, which is resulting in teachers having to adapt and alter the way that they are teaching.

The ways that Social studies is today has been affected from a historical aspect. Over the past 400 years, elementary and middles schools have been created in uneven stages. There are 5 uneven stages and they are known as, schooling at home, Dame Schools, , special function schools, free public schools, and influences from abroad. The story containing American elementary and middle schools first started in Northwest Europe and then it traveled by immigrants to the colonies throughout England. The immigrants brought tutoring, apprenticeships and self-education to the Americas.

"Parents were expected to teach their children, especially their sons, to read the Bible and to participate in community life. However, not every parent could fulfill this expectation. Some parents were illiterate themselves."  I believe that the Dame Schools was great for both younger children and older children because based on the fact that back then most parent's were illiterate, the Dame School's gave them the opportunity to learn in the proper way and gave them the chance to learn. Dame Schools consisted of the children learning the alphabet, numbers and how to read. I found it really interesting how the teachers would not only teach throughout the day, they would also do their chores! I also found it very interesting how the women who were teaching, were only a little bit more educated than the student's! 

Chapter 3 

Standards are beneficial in the fact that they tell the teachers what the students should be learning. Standards are crucial to teachers because it allows teachers to plan properly based on what the students need to learn. Some examples of standards are: subject matter standards, state standards, federal standards and, the Common Core State Standards. One con of standards is that they don't say how the students will learn them or how the teacher will use that learning. Standards can help me when I become a teacher by allowing me to see what has to be taught and then I can determine what activities and assignments would be the best way to teach it. 

Chapter 3 stated that intergraded curriculum can increase social, critical thinking and communication skills.