Teaching Elementary Social Studies: Strategies, Standards and Internet Resources

Written for the elementary social studies methods course, this "interactive" program combines features of a textbook and a workbook, with thorough integration between the print text and a dynamic web site. Increasingly, majors in elementary education (if not the population at large) are more attuned to reading interactive material with relatively brief narrative, bulleted items, text boxes, and targeted messages (like web pages) rather than traditional, denser text. To accommodate these preferences, the layout of the print text features a larger-than-usual font, an 8 x 11" trim size, and spiral binding, and the content includes an abundance of bulleted lists, shaded text boxes, and contemporary graphics. The program's interactive approach and flexibility allow the professor to model the kinds of teaching principles and practices that students will want to use in their own elementary school classrooms. These principles and practices are integrated throughout the text and include a focus on active-learning strategies, application of constructivist principles, focus on Big Ideas and thinking skills, use of the Internet, and modeling of Best Practices and Performance-based assessments (based on INTASC and NCATE standard). Thus, the book will serve as a springboard for classroom activities, web site explorations, and/or instructor-led activities.

Table of Contents:
Unit 1. Introduction to Social Studies Fundamental Goals Topic 1. What Is Social Studies Education? Topic 2. Social Studies Knowledge Topic 3. Character Education Topic 4. Citizenship Education Topic 5. Multicultural and Global Education Unit 2. Planning Social Studies Instruction Topic 6. Expanding Communities and Core Knowledge Frameworks Topic 7. Instructional Models Topic 8. Lesson Planning Topic 9. Choreography of Instruction Topic 10. Internet Resources, Sources and Safety Topic 11. Creating Lesson Plans Using Internet Resources Topic 12. Adapting Internet Activities and Lesson Plans to Your Classroom Unit 3. Assessing Student Learning in Social Studies Topic 13. Assessment Topic 14. Alternative Assessment Topic 15. Traditional Assessment Unit 4. Social Studies Disciplines, Standards, and Internet Resources Topic 16. National and State Standards Topic 17. Social Studies, Standards, and Internet Resources Topic 18. History, Standards, and Internet Resources Topic 19. Economics, Standards, and Internet Resources Topic 20. Geography, Standards, and Internet Resources Topic 21. Government, Standards, and Internet Resources Topic 22. Social Sciences, Topical Approaches, and Internet Resources Unit 5. Literacy and Basic Skills in Social Studies Topic 23. Reading Strategies for Social Studies Topic 24. The Crucial Role of Social Studies Vocabulary Topic 25. Textbooks and Social Studies Instruction Topic 26. Children's Literature and Social Studies Instruction Topic 27. Writing and Presentations Topic 28. Primary Documents and Realia Topic 29. Charts and Statistics Topic 30. Creating and Interpreting Maps Topic 31. Chronological Thinking and Timelines Unit 6. Social Studies Instructional Approaches Topic 32. Strategies and Direct and Indirect Instruction Topic 33. Concept Formation Topic 34. Active Versus Passive Learning Topic 35. Critical Thinking Skills Topic 36. Problem Solving and Decision Making Topic 37. Values Formation Unit 7. Social Studies Methods Topic 38. Modeling and Metacognition Topic 39. Lecture Topic 40. Questioning Topic 41. Analogies Topic 42. Concept Organizers Topic 43. Group Learning Topic 44. Practice and Homework Topic 45. Self-Directed Learning and Learning Centers Topic 46. Role Playing and Games Topic 47. Discussion and Case Studies Topic 48. Service Learning, Field Trips and Guests Speakers Topic 49. Video and Sound Recordings Topic 50. Conclusion--Integrating What You Have Learned List of Assignments and INTASC Standards Correlations References Index

Review :
"I found as I went through, I immediately wanted to check online to see what was available, and how it tied in with what we were talking about. As a teacher I love the imbedded assignments which students will see as an integral part of the learning, not just an add-on...."It's truly an interactive style. Not add-on activities but integrated activities and technology usage. Great resources: web sites, ERIC documents, basal K-6 excerpts, online videos, graphic organizers, etc. Currency is also a strength. I particularly liked the literacy and basic skills unit which explicitly shows how literacy strategies must be incorporated in the social studies class." "It appears from my review of the TOC, Professor's Preface, Student Introduction, and Units 1 & 2 that the layout, language, and resources provided in this text will make lectures and assignments less formidable on both sides of the desk. In these regards, it is superior to the text I currently use. Based on my review, and having scanned the entire manuscript, the goals and approaches in the Preface have been achieved."The interactive approach of the text is stellar in that it is critical for teachers to experience 'how' they should teach. It focuses the strategy (List, Group, and Label) with teachers' in-class participation. Many professors will become aware of this effective way to get teachers to integrate theory with practice (in their presence) and to generalize instruction of specific strategies to their classrooms." "Yes, I would definitely consider adopting this book for my course as I particularly find the web site links and resources to be very helpful for me as an instructor. I also like the constructivist approach to teaching social studies--very appropriate because as teachers, we cannot solely transmit knowledge, but rather guide students in formulating their own views and perspectives about historical and contemporary knowledge and the causes and effects of our own thinking and actions."