Useful links to help make a social studies regular and special education classroom more interactive and student-centered, NOT lectured based!
Link to the National Curriculum Social Studies Standards (NCSS):
http://www.socialstudies.org/standards/execsummary
http://www.socialstudies.org/standards/strands
Here is a cool way to teach the 10 different key themes with students (please excuse the spelling errors from a student sample):
http://www.socialstudies.org/standards/execsummary
http://www.socialstudies.org/standards/strands
Here is a cool way to teach the 10 different key themes with students (please excuse the spelling errors from a student sample):
WI Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Social Studies Standards:
http://cal.dpi.wi.gov/cal_ss-standards
Help with Social Studies Vocabulary Graphic Organizer:
Graphic organizers help students in social studies organize their thoughts and with the vocabulary, students can create their own personal social studies dictionary in a binder format with the sheets.
As the year progresses, students can alphabetize their vocabulary or alphabetize by subject area in a 1 inch 3 ring binder.
http://www.nasspconference.org/images/uploads/documents/Sample_Material.Schoolwide_Vocabulary.pdf
http://wvde.state.wv.us/teach21/ExamplesofFormativeAssessment.html
Graphic organizers help students in social studies organize their thoughts and with the vocabulary, students can create their own personal social studies dictionary in a binder format with the sheets.
As the year progresses, students can alphabetize their vocabulary or alphabetize by subject area in a 1 inch 3 ring binder.
http://www.nasspconference.org/images/uploads/documents/Sample_Material.Schoolwide_Vocabulary.pdf
http://wvde.state.wv.us/teach21/ExamplesofFormativeAssessment.html
Stix Discussion:
This is another way to have a mini debate within the classroom where there is a smaller group in the circle and each group member has a support team behind them that feeds them info for discussion. Members will rotate so everyone can be in the smaller group. It is fun, I've done it!!
http://www.andistix.com/stix-discussion
Below is how the Stix Discussion classroom layout would look.
You can create your own classroom layout (http://classroom.4teachers.org/)
This is another way to have a mini debate within the classroom where there is a smaller group in the circle and each group member has a support team behind them that feeds them info for discussion. Members will rotate so everyone can be in the smaller group. It is fun, I've done it!!
http://www.andistix.com/stix-discussion
Below is how the Stix Discussion classroom layout would look.
You can create your own classroom layout (http://classroom.4teachers.org/)
Pop Culture in Classroom using Comics:
http://www.ucssblog.com/p/ncss-handouts.html
http://www.ucssblog.com/p/ncss-handouts.html
Essential Questions:
You CAN'T teach without an essential question. They promote higher level thinking and drive the lesson.
http://fno.org/feb01/pl.html
You CAN'T teach without an essential question. They promote higher level thinking and drive the lesson.
http://fno.org/feb01/pl.html
Google Maps:
http://www.associatesdegree.com/2010/03/14/google-earth-for-educators-50-exciting-ideas-for-the-classroom/
http://me.gafesummit.com/program/sessions/map-this---using-google-maps-for-social-studies-and-more
Here is a Google Map of the Freedom Riders route created by someone else:
http://www.tripline.net/trip/Map_of_the_Freedom_Riders_Route-1657536071131003B660B6A5907EC2AD
http://www.associatesdegree.com/2010/03/14/google-earth-for-educators-50-exciting-ideas-for-the-classroom/
http://me.gafesummit.com/program/sessions/map-this---using-google-maps-for-social-studies-and-more
Here is a Google Map of the Freedom Riders route created by someone else:
http://www.tripline.net/trip/Map_of_the_Freedom_Riders_Route-1657536071131003B660B6A5907EC2AD
Role Play/Simulation in Social Studies:
http://otis.coe.uky.edu/ccsso/cssapmodules/sbp/sbp/Role%20PlaySimulation.html
http://info.teachtci.com/forum/experientialexercise.aspx
http://www.phschool.com/eteach/social_studies/2001_04/essay.html
Below is a classroom that is showing what a role play/simulation should look like. They bring a boring classroom alive and students will retain more content when they participate in the experience and not just read about it in a textbook.
http://otis.coe.uky.edu/ccsso/cssapmodules/sbp/sbp/Role%20PlaySimulation.html
http://info.teachtci.com/forum/experientialexercise.aspx
http://www.phschool.com/eteach/social_studies/2001_04/essay.html
Below is a classroom that is showing what a role play/simulation should look like. They bring a boring classroom alive and students will retain more content when they participate in the experience and not just read about it in a textbook.
Visual Discovery:
All you need is a projector and a white wall or bed sheet if you don't have a lot of resources in your room and a blank piece of white paper.
http://www.teachtci.com/pdf/webinar_handouts/Visual_Discovery_Secondary.pdf
http://www.teachtci.com/pdf/webinar_handouts/Visual_Discovery_Elementary.pdf
http://blog.teachtci.com/visual-discovery-finding-images-for-this-favorite-teaching-strategy/
All you need is a projector and a white wall or bed sheet if you don't have a lot of resources in your room and a blank piece of white paper.
http://www.teachtci.com/pdf/webinar_handouts/Visual_Discovery_Secondary.pdf
http://www.teachtci.com/pdf/webinar_handouts/Visual_Discovery_Elementary.pdf
http://blog.teachtci.com/visual-discovery-finding-images-for-this-favorite-teaching-strategy/
Brain Breaks:
What student wants to sit in their chair for long periods of time? If you want to reduce students squirming around for 50 minutes straight then do a brain break. I do them during ABA therapy with my clients on the autism spectrum.
http://www.minds-in-bloom.com/2012/04/20-three-minute-brain-breaks.html
What student wants to sit in their chair for long periods of time? If you want to reduce students squirming around for 50 minutes straight then do a brain break. I do them during ABA therapy with my clients on the autism spectrum.
http://www.minds-in-bloom.com/2012/04/20-three-minute-brain-breaks.html
Discussion in Social Studies:
Discussion in social studies is important because students can provide their background knowledge to the topic as well as learn how to develop questions, explain their viewpoints, and listen to other peers. Discussion should be lead by the students, not by the teacher.
http://americanhistoryrules.com/ed315/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Hess_discussion-in-the-social-studies-3.pdf
http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/108035/chapters/Procedures-for-Classroom-Talk.aspx
https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/developing-communication-skills
Discussion in social studies is important because students can provide their background knowledge to the topic as well as learn how to develop questions, explain their viewpoints, and listen to other peers. Discussion should be lead by the students, not by the teacher.
http://americanhistoryrules.com/ed315/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Hess_discussion-in-the-social-studies-3.pdf
http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/108035/chapters/Procedures-for-Classroom-Talk.aspx
https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/developing-communication-skills
Read a novel in an hour:
Did you know you can read a novel in an hour with your class? Yup. Each student is responsible for reading a chapter assigned by the teacher (or you can draw names/sticks) from the novel. After the students have read their selected chapter and wrote down information on a graphic organizer (see below) there would be a student lead class discussion about what the story is about. The teacher will write the main points on the board that the students mentioned while using their graphic organizer as a guide to retelling. Chapters don't always have to be retold in order, depending on the book, like the ones from the I Survived series (http://store.scholastic.com/search/search/I+Survived/?keyword=i%20survived%20series&adgroupid=General_Top_Terms_Exact&matchtype=e&psch=SSO/ps/20140909/Bing/txtl/General_Top_Terms_Exact//i%20survived%20series/adgroup/e).
Did you know you can read a novel in an hour with your class? Yup. Each student is responsible for reading a chapter assigned by the teacher (or you can draw names/sticks) from the novel. After the students have read their selected chapter and wrote down information on a graphic organizer (see below) there would be a student lead class discussion about what the story is about. The teacher will write the main points on the board that the students mentioned while using their graphic organizer as a guide to retelling. Chapters don't always have to be retold in order, depending on the book, like the ones from the I Survived series (http://store.scholastic.com/search/search/I+Survived/?keyword=i%20survived%20series&adgroupid=General_Top_Terms_Exact&matchtype=e&psch=SSO/ps/20140909/Bing/txtl/General_Top_Terms_Exact//i%20survived%20series/adgroup/e).
Reading Social Studies Texts:
Let's admit, reading social studies content can be difficult, especially if not every student is at a middle school reading level. Graphic organizers are great tools to use to organize thoughts as well as doing Think Alouds with students.
http://americanhistoryrules.com/ed315/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Reading-Strategies-in-the-Social-Studies.pdf
http://go.hrw.com/hrw.nd/gohrw_rls1/pKeywordResults?ST2Strategies
http://wvde.state.wv.us/teach21/ExamplesofFormativeAssessment.html
Below is a graphic organizer I created to help while reading social studies content texts.
Let's admit, reading social studies content can be difficult, especially if not every student is at a middle school reading level. Graphic organizers are great tools to use to organize thoughts as well as doing Think Alouds with students.
http://americanhistoryrules.com/ed315/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Reading-Strategies-in-the-Social-Studies.pdf
http://go.hrw.com/hrw.nd/gohrw_rls1/pKeywordResults?ST2Strategies
http://wvde.state.wv.us/teach21/ExamplesofFormativeAssessment.html
Below is a graphic organizer I created to help while reading social studies content texts.
Becoming Aware of Civic Unawareness:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-kerrey/civic-education_b_1519037.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-kerrey/civic-education_b_1519037.html
Need help creating a rubric? Rubistar is great and you can make one in less than 10 minutes.
http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php?screen=NewRubric&module=Rubistar
http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php?screen=NewRubric&module=Rubistar
The Memphis 13 is a great documentary and includes lesson/discussion/viewing guides for the classroom:
http://thememphis13.com/
http://thememphis13.com/
Want to teach with a social justice view in the classroom? Here are some wonderful resources along with lesson plans to support teaching through social justice:
http://www.tolerance.org/
http://zinnedproject.org/
http://indykids.org/main/
http://www.rethinkingschools.org/index.shtml
http://perspectives.tolerance.org/
http://www.teachersforjustice.org/search/label/all%20curriculum
http://teachingsocialjustice.com/
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/eduwonkette/2008/04/what_is_social_justice_teachin.html
http://www.tolerance.org/
http://zinnedproject.org/
http://indykids.org/main/
http://www.rethinkingschools.org/index.shtml
http://perspectives.tolerance.org/
http://www.teachersforjustice.org/search/label/all%20curriculum
http://teachingsocialjustice.com/
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/eduwonkette/2008/04/what_is_social_justice_teachin.html
Other websites to follow for up-to-date information on regular and special education:
http://www.edweek.org/ew/index.html
http://www.understood.org/en
http://ncld.org/
http://sped.dpi.wi.gov/sped_autism
http://cast.org/index.html
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/
https://www.teachingchannel.org/
This is my personal blog:
It has a lot of examples of lessons I've taught over the past few semesters with photos.
http://jjeducationspot.blogspot.com/
http://www.edweek.org/ew/index.html
http://www.understood.org/en
http://ncld.org/
http://sped.dpi.wi.gov/sped_autism
http://cast.org/index.html
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/
https://www.teachingchannel.org/
This is my personal blog:
It has a lot of examples of lessons I've taught over the past few semesters with photos.
http://jjeducationspot.blogspot.com/