When I think of "Social Studies," I find myself thrown back into junior high school learning about civilizations around the world by reading a dry text book. I remember taking the book at home to read chapters for homework, and the innevitable test at the end of the lesson about the various facts memorized. All in all, I feel that my personal experience with the social studies curriculum has been rather dry and limited. In addition, I feel that as a teacher, this is one area in which I have not yet had time to develope.
Because I have been working in very early education in for the last two years, I feel that I have minimal expireince with teaching social studies or developing a social studies curriculum. At the same time, I have incorporated some remote social studies activites such as neighborhood tours and interviews with parents about their work place.
I have many goals for this course. I plan on teaching elementary grades in the future and am looking forward to learning just what it means to integrate a social studies curriculum. As of yet, I have never used a social studies curriculum so my goal for this week is to learn more about what a social studies curriculum looks like, and how to use a social studies curriculum to include all members of the class while drawing interest on a particular focus at a time.
My primary goal for this week is to build some foundational knowledge of what social studies can be. I hope to gain appreciation for the ability of the curriculum to be engaging and interesting for all students involved. I see the skill that I am hoping to aquire as just this--to be able to view social studies as a tool or an entry point at which all students can feel welcome to share their own life experiences, while learning about the world around them.
Because I have such limited experience, I hope to rely somewhat on my peers for my education in this course. I hope to bounce ideas, read about varying view points, and discuss our own learning process throughout the duration of this course. I see this forum as a type of ongoing conversation which will enhance my own understanding of the matirial as well as help me to express certain points I feel are worthy of the attention of the others in this course.
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Hi Eva,
ReplyDeleteI suggest you copy this and post it on our class blog, then you others in the class might be willing to help you with some of the questions you raise.
Specific to your interests for this week. I will send you a reading on early elementary social studies and what it should look like from a BSC perspective. Your idea of touring the community and talking with parents is an excellent example of where a good social studies curriculum should begin! And remember, if your goal for this week is to begin to bounce ideas off your classmates, then you are setting the goal of actively seeking them out, commenting on their posts, asking if you can subscribe to their blogs etc. Next week, you will begin the week by posting your progress in this area. Terrific start!