Today was our first class of Social Studies Methods, I am nervous but very excited to dive into this course. Social studies was definitely never my favorite because it seemed like something to memorize and forget so I never understood why I needed to learn it. However, even just after today when I read the Powerful and Purposeful Teaching and Learning in Elementary School Social Studies article I am beginning to realize the huge importance of teaching social studies in the classroom. It is a subject that normally gets placed on the back burner in post Elementary schools because it not part of the EOGs. Yet still the need to be a well-rounded student still exists so our students can become well-rounded citizens. As future teachers, standard 6 of NCPTS calls us to contribute to the academic success of our students. This means we should be preparing them all subjects so they can be successful in all areas. Throughout this semester I hope to discover teaching methods and projects to use in my future classroom to get students excited about Social Studies and change its bad reputation among students. Students are quick to realize when the teacher doesn't like or care about a subject and they will quickly adopt the same attitude. Throughout this semester I hope to discover teaching methods and projects to use in my future classroom to get students excited about Social Studies and change its bad reputation among students. I also want these methods and projects to make the learning relevant and important to my students.
Colleen, I am also quickly realizing that student teaching is approaching very quickly. It seems as if we were just moving on to campus and here we are a year away from student teaching. I always enjoyed social studies in school because I have always found the history of the country and world history very fascinating but a lot of people found history very difficult because it is a lot of information and memorization. I agree that we need to prepare our students to be successful in all subjects to become well- rounded citizens. I hope to be passionate about every subject I teach so that my students will also be passionate.
ReplyDeleteColleen,
ReplyDeleteI am very excited to learn in this course with you. I know what we learn in this course will not only stay with us this semester but indefinitely. I totally agree with you that social studies gets put on the back burner, a lot. It is frustrating as an educator how little time there is and so much information to teach. I love the thought of planning purposefully and powerfully to hopefully ensure that the students we have leave our classes well informed in social studies (& all the other subjects) and not just math and science.
Colleen, I agree with you that time has gone by so fast and it seems like just yesterday we were blogging in 250. I cannot believe student teaching is only one year away! I also had the same mind-set about social studies being boring and a subject that was never "important" in school, however my mindset has change after reading the article. Social studies is more than just states and presidents it is problem-solving, decision-making and skills we will need for every day life. I am also very excited to learn in this course and use the information we learn in my future classroom.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you are optimistic about this course even though SS wasn't your favorite subject in school. SS really can help students begin to close the gap because (hopefully) they will be able to put individual lessons into a larger context!
ReplyDeleteColleen, it is hitting me just how close our student teaching experience is coming as well! I am so glad to hear that even though social studies was not your favorite topic in school, you want to make sure that your students have a different experience and it is fun for them. Hopefully, throughout this semester we can learn methods of how to keep our students interested and learning lots!
ReplyDeleteColleen, it does feel just like yesterday that we were blogging in 250. Student teaching is sneaking up on us. It won't be too long until we are out there in the field doing all that we have learned these past few years. I am excited about our course and yes, I thought the same about social studies too. Didn't really think of it that much or how important it is. This course will show us what social studies is all about and why we need to teach it to our students.
ReplyDelete