Social Studies is revived due to the concepts and content that Laurel Schmidt provides in Social Studies That Sticks. In this book, Schmidt provides a clear call for action to reestablish history as a course where humanity remains a central focus. The study of mankind should not be replaced with emotionless learning about dates, events, assessments, and memorization. In the first chapter, Schmidt makes it clear that history is a subject that demands the observation of its learners. However, putting social back in social studies is not just a task that can be accomplished through an occasional class discussion. In the larger scheme, teaching history that sticks will require instruction that refocuses on problems, context, and continuity. Students …show more content…
It is argued that historians should steer away from being solely dependent on textbooks, assessments, and traditional instruction. Educators should focus more on using primary sources such as first-person narratives, art, and documents to gain student engagement. According to Schmidt, “In short, primary sources help you and your students get as close as possible to what actually happened” (Schmidt, 44). Essentially using primary sources encourages curiosity and leads to a more memorable experience for students because they now have more autonomy in the classroom. Once students are enjoying the inquiry stage of the learning process, teachers will use tools such as simulations, role playing, public speaking, and individual research to apply the knowledge that they have …show more content…
Instead of just bombarding readers with different tools, the author highlights that standards should not and cannot be forgotten about. Teachers are professionals and public educators have a requirement to align their lessons with state standards. However, the author shows readers how standards can be accompanied by resources and primary sources that exist outside of the given text materials. This strength reminds teachers of their obligations as well as guides them on how to use it to their
This is a key part in schools today because it’s enforcing a higher bar of achievement for teachers and students (Catapano, 2018). Implementing standards into a school system that are internationally benchmarked means all states and countries have a way of measuring their academic performance. They can use this also as a tool to compile scores and understand the weaknesses to improve students’ knowledge. This provides teachers with various ways to assess their students more frequently through observations and informal assessments to understand the student’s comprehension level of the lesson material. It will help the teachers to strive to improve her test scores by adapting lesson materials to the needs of each
This work guides the reader along a path of history that is often misconstrued
Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States offers great educational value, not only on history itself but on how history is typically taught, how it should be instead portrayed, and the arguments that arise as a result. Such a controversial book can bring up many different opinions and analyses. Zinn’s purpose in writing A People’s History of the United States was to share history from a perspective different from that which we typically read. “Too much history, he contends, is written ‘from the point of view of governments, conquerors, diplomats, leaders.’ His People’s History, by way of contrast, sides with the losers, the downtrodden, the underdog” (Zinn XVI).
One of the biggest concerning the need for an increase in rigor in instruction in American schools. She discusses that in Poland students must stay in academic classes for an extra year and teachers are paid bonuses to engage in professional development work. She also notes that in Finland they “rebooted their teacher-training colleges, forcing them to become much more selective and rigorous.” In an article written by Sarah Tantillio on Only Good Books, she recognizes the validity of these statements, but comments that in America “the Common Core States Standards, which most states have adopted, they are definitely rigorous, But how they are implemented (and assessed) from state to state and school to school is still a Very Big Question.” Further in her article she points out the large population differences between Finland, Poland, and the United States, and how this affects our education system.
There are two sides to every story. This is especially true when it comes to the history of the world. The two textbooks that we read for this class, A Patriot’s History of the United States and The American People, are great examples of this idea not because they cannot agree on the events of American history, but because they have different viewpoints on the significance of events, and the impact of some controversial topics. This essay will discuss the similar and different perspectives of the two textbooks mentioned above, while talking specifically about Chapter 6 of A Patriot’s History and Chapter 10 of The American People. More specifically, this essay will cover the books contrasting interpretations of societal, political, and religious
Students sense that history is just history, not realizing that they are a part of history, and because of history they are where they stand today. “They have no understanding of the ways that opportunity is not equal in American and no notion that social structure pushes people around, influencing the ideas they hold and the lives they fashion”.
Given the widespread availability of information today, students no longer need teachers to lecture to them on the causes of the Civil War, for example, because that information is readily available—and often in more engaging formats that a typical classroom lecture. For this reason, educators should use in-school time to teach students how to find, interpret, and use information, rather than using most or all of the time to present
In History 1111, it teaches a broad introduction to the development of the United States. From the casualty losses to major expansion, the United States has developed World History with each major aspect of important, historical events. In this course I have learned not only important events, but how to analyze them and how they affect our world today. History is a great topic because as we acknowledge past events, it influences the future. Events really mold the culture and society that everyone lives in.
Historiography sets a better stage for an understanding of a subject and opens up a boarder class discussion dialog. Introducing historiography would introduce critical thinking at an early school age, rather than in college. If
Studying American history allows students to understand society and citizenship as well as their own identity. As students emerge into adulthood, their education from elementary to secondary schools influence their contribution to American culture, politics, and economy. Thus, the knowledge attained from history courses must be precise in order to produce well-rounded, educated citizens. Unfortunately, American history textbooks lack the truth that could alter a student’s perception tremendously, such as becoming a republican or democrat. It is essential for history textbooks to provide students with the basic knowledge that will, in return, shape their American identity.
For years, the American Revolution has been taught using the same lens. This lens has been one that involves militaristic themes, and harbors on the idea that war will solve world issues. According to William McCorkle, the author of the article, “Applying a Critical and Peace Education Lens to the American Revolution in the Social Studies Classroom”, unknowingly, teachers present a nationalistic view when they are teaching the American Revolution. McCorkle dissects each aspect of the American Revolution in his article, and explores how teachers can teach these aspects in a peaceful manner.
History is a novel idea that has been a continuous idea throughout our time in class. We have gone over what history means to us, the students; as well as the authors and filmmakers we have studied. For me, before this class, History merely meant what we
For many American students, their understanding of the past is formed by their high school history class. While not the case for all, for some students, the content in their history textbooks is the only exposure to history they will ever have. Because of this, textbooks must properly depict the past, as they shape how students understand the world. But how past events are understood is constantly being critiqued and revised. This can be seen through how textbooks have changed to reflect our understanding of what caused the Spanish American War.
American History Education Reforms The definition as well as the specific parts of accurate American history is a highly debated topic- especially in regards to educating children on American history. In “Let’s tell the Story of All America’s Cultures” by Yuh Ji-Yeon gives her point of view on the controversial topic of the success of American history education. As the author is a Korean immigrant she has a special connection to this topic, and is writing this article to giver her opinion in the debate of reforming education in America. Ji-Yeon successfully persuades the audience that American history education in the United States is discriminatory by using her personal experiences and emotions as she informs the audience of a possible solution
Of the many great teachers currently working at the Founders Academy, none have had a greater impact on my life more than my history teacher, Mr. Van Ewyk. Over the time that he has taught, I have received important knowledge that I can carry throughout my life. In addition to giving me tools for my well being, he makes each class a time to look forward to, and makes it as enjoyable as possible. Mr. Van Ewyk has become one of the most impactful teachers on my life, and much of reason lies in the subject that he teaches. While some would argue that history is a lesser subject in education, and that it should be made a less important subject compared to classes such as math and science, my history teacher instills the importance for the subject