Most of my blogs will be about particular resources and classroom ideas for a well-rounded social studies environment. This post, however, is not one of those.
I think every new process needs to start with some good ‘ol ground rules. For me, after 16+ years of trying every “new” methodology and nuanced educational approach- Oh!- and infusing a sprinkle of Covid-19 parameters, I would say that I’ve given all sorts of instructional methods a try. What have I learned, you may ask? That, when it comes to social studies, traditional methods work best.
Now, my experiences lie within lower socio-economic public-school districts (first in the city, then in a rural district), but I think this theory can be applied to most settings regardless of demographics, funding, public v. private, etc. The key is adapting a traditional approach to the needs of your students. When I started making my Tony the Tourist resources available on TPT, it was important to me that they could be used with teacher-led classrooms, independent learners, and in collaborative settings. Flexibility with how the content is learned is capable because all the resources maintain basic social studies methods for learning.
While I haven’t written a best-selling pedagogical masterpiece, I have witnessed students who are eager and excited to learn social studies, I have experienced student success with state-test scores, and I have had lots of teachers humble me with appreciation for my materials. I also have an insatiable passion for knowing history (proud history nerd right here!). This stuff is important to me, and if you are interested in what “traditional methods” I apply when making social studies resources, here they are:
- R³: Read, Reflect, Reinforce. Understanding social studies means reading/hearing a lot of words! It might seem inundating to students (and teachers), so “chunk” it up! Read one page, section, paragraph, at a time- whatever works for your students. Then, STOP. Have students reflect on what they just read with a quick task (like a summarize question, think-pair-share activity, or rapid-fire questions with treats. Ideas like these are included in the Student Workbooks or Lesson Plans with my units). After all the chunks of a lesson are learned, reinforce learning with a hands-on activity, guided notes, or video. In fact, reinforce learning with ALL of these options to make it even more impactful. Retention and attention rates for kids are pretty low, so over-reading for an entire social studies period can be a lot. R³ allows for variety and brain stimulation.
- Confront the Content: Bias, Perspective, Facts & Opinions. It is important to be honest and neutral when covering history, especially when dealing with tough topics. I always start the year with my Social Studies Basics unit- no matter the grade level or content. It allows students to know how to investigate what they are reading and to detect bias if it exists, distinguish between fact and opinion, and to see history through the lens of multiple perspectives. Be a good adult when kids have questions about any of these themes. I say that because I remember hearing about a curriculum coordinator who told teachers in her district that “multiple perspectives” should be taught about the Holocaust, indicating that we should try to understand the perspective of the perpetrators. Yes. The people that committed some of the most historically atrocious crimes against humanity. As you can imagine, the teachers in that district were horrified, and it led to immense backlash about how to properly present perspective. Be smarter than that curriculum coordinator. Talk about tough topics while also using good judgement.
- SS is content-heavy. Give kids a break- literally! This is very difficult to admit, but- once in a while- history is boring. Not only that, but there are so many names, and places, and treaties, and dates, and… I can go on forever. Sometimes, kids just need a quick reset. Read the room. On a nice day, I have taken kids for a brisk outdoor walk, making jokes, demanding unanticipated high-fives, or simply asking about their day. Sometimes that’s all it takes to reset. Other times, we’ve done ice-breakers or 5-10 minute games that have nothing to do with social studies. One of my student-favorites is an “ask me anything” break. I would randomly pick a few questions that students wrote anonymously on folded up index cards. Of course, if they are inappropriate, toss ‘em, but usually they are funny and enjoyable. For some reason, students see their teachers as these mysterious creatures who sleep under their desk and never leave the school. “Ask me anything” breaks give students a chance to see their teacher more personally, which strengthens relationships, while ALSO providing a break. (It’s good to have this activity set up ahead of time. Keep student questions in an envelop that can be quickly accessed by you, allowing them to refresh questions once in a while).
- Use AI… with caution. This doesn’t sound very “tradional-y” (much like that doesn’t sound like a word…), but I guess we can use it in reference to gathering multiple sources of information. AI is the new way to do that, and it can be very useful. AI can also be used to make quick lessons. But, just like you and me, AI is gathering information from a variety of sources. The difference is that you and I are better at differentiating between reliable and unreliable sources. AI just takes whatever shows up at the top of search engine results, albeit quite quickly. Using AI also allows you to get out in front of your students who will be using AI to gather information. AI can be really useful for quick answers and lesson ideas, but because you are the professional with a college degree, don’t forget to apply those fact-checking and critical-thinking skills.
These traditional methods to teach social studies have worked really well for me, and I hope they work for you, too! History is fascinating and lends itself to exciting and engaging lessons; there is no need to reinvent the wheel and overwhelm yourself with whatever the latest educational trend is.
I can imagine that you have some social studies tools and tricks that have worked really well with your student population, too- I’d love for you to share them! Feel free to comment or shoot me a message. Thanks for taking the time to read my PSA.
If all of this sounds helpful and you need resources to cover your year, try one of these Social Studies Year-Long Curriculums!