In 2019, we wrote about the challenges of teaching social studies in modern classrooms. Years have passed and a global pandemic has passed, but much of what we shared still rings true.
Teachers are still grappling with the delicate balancing act of meeting the unique needs of individual students while adhering to school, district, and state requirements. Although social studies class time has decreased, teachers are still expected to teach content and prepare students for active and engaged civic lives.
some things have Changed from 2019. In other words, social studies classrooms are at the center of national debates about curriculum. Across the country, the way social studies is taught, the content chosen, and the stories and stories it includes are being questioned.
Let’s take a look at the challenges facing social studies classrooms today and how to ease the burden facing educators.
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Access to quality materials for social studies classrooms
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Many students entering social studies classrooms have reading levels well below grade level.
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Navigate and teach real-world problems in the classroom
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Adjustments to improve visibility in the classroom
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Support for breaking habits learned during the pandemic
1. Access to quality materials for social studies classrooms
When it comes to social studies content, a common pitfall can be found in the materials themselves. We want our students to engage deeply, ask questions, explore competing perspectives, and build skills that support college, career, and workforce readiness. Unfortunately, traditional educational materials (such as textbooks) often fail to achieve this goal.And while some decision makers still believe that these legacy materials provide good value in the classroom, teachers I don’t usually do it Share that perspective.a new cera report District and school administrators believed that social studies teachers used textbooks as “core content” for students up to 15 days per month, whereas teachers used textbooks only 6 days per month. It has become clear that the company has reported that it has not.
So if teachers don’t use textbooks, what do they use? The majority of teachers report getting their content from multiple websites.practice needed quite a while And effort. Looking elsewhere for content and lesson materials creates quality and consistency issues and increases the risk of using unpublished sources. properly examined. new cera Resources like ours offer well-vetted content and ready-made activities developed by social studies curriculum experts, in addition to being state-specific and tailored to your course. , you can trust that teachers reflect students’ needs in a relevant and engaging way. or district standards.
2. Many students entering social studies classrooms have reading levels well below grade level.
Even if teachers have access to high-quality teaching materials, many students do not have access to them. Much of secondary social studies instruction is rooted in text-based analysis, and it is often difficult and time-consuming for teachers to differentiate instruction for students at different reading levels within a class. In elementary school classes, teachers increasingly spend time practicing out-of-context reading skills to improve literacy, at the expense of social studies class time. Ironically, social studies and literacy have a symbiotic relationship. The more time you spend on social studies, the more you will read.
result? Students are not acquiring the critical skills and knowledge they need to succeed in college, careers, and civic life.
It is time to invest in literacy development through social studies and ensure that readers of all abilities have what they need to access grade-level social studies concepts. Newsela Social Studies makes grade-level social studies concepts accessible to all students using scaffolded materials and activities that can provide extra support in building key social studies concepts and skills. You can help your students improve their reading and writing skills along the way.
3. Navigate and teach real-world problems in the classroom
As students are exposed to more global issues and political debates, this naturally spills over into schools. Teachers, especially social studies teachers, have unique and sometimes heavy responsibilities, including: Separating the news from the noise and to provide information that helps students understand their world.
Ann research-based approach Education provides students with the space to investigate and evaluate these real-world problems, ask difficult questions, and even learn what the standards require.pairing with Guidance content Flexible enough to capture the nuances of history, teachers can help students consider history and current events from multiple perspectives. You can also support student growth by encouraging discussion and debate in the classroom. These conversations should be structured and provide students with: Guidance and guardrails School discussions help keep academic conversations focused and productive.
professional development Inquiry-based, student-directed learning helps build the foundation needed to provide students with the support they need to engage in their own curiosity and path of discovery.
4. Relate social studies to students’ lives
Social studies is often called “boring class” by students who think it’s just memorizing irrelevant facts that have no bearing on everyday life. But we know that the skills developed in social studies classrooms equip students to solve today’s most pressing and difficult problems. So how do we bridge that gap?
Rely on textbooks and memorization doesn’t work. When you combine high-quality materials that reflect your students’ experiences with effective teaching strategies, you’re more likely to keep your students engaged and interested in their learning. Tapping into the authentic and rich stories of history ensures that students have the opportunity to build knowledge and develop a deeper understanding of the subject area.
5. Support for breaking habits learned during the pandemic
Many students have developed counterproductive habits during the pandemic. I’ve developed all kinds of habits, like making phone calls during Zoom classes, constantly scrolling through TikTok, and Googling all the replies. Now, with ChatGPT and other AI tools, the temptation for students to take shortcuts is increasing. If left unchecked, these habits can potentially lead to an increase in infections. behavioral problems In the classroom. However, it is understandable that teachers may not have the time or resources necessary to address all these issues and foster a love of learning.
Staffing issues, teacher burnout, and possible pandemic-era extinction Funding for mental health support, there may be a lack of resources to create student motivation and a sense of belonging. While counselors, professional development, and training to build comprehensive skills for emotional regulation in students cannot be substituted (and must be fully funded), other resources such as educational materials can help with social and emotional It helps you maintain consistency in your learning.
By integrating social emotional learning By engaging with subject matter, creating routines, and engaging students with materials that are relevant to their lives and identities, teachers can make a big difference in building better habits and fostering a sense of belonging at school. .
Need more resources to support your social studies lessons?