• development of a social studies curriculum in a changing world
• a conceptual framework for learning
• develop a multicultural; multiage level perspective
• conceptualize a diverse social studies curriculum
• integration of content areas
• perceive teacher as a continual learner

Reflection on Course:

There were a lot of advice and strategies for this class.  Cirriculum depends on the school. If students complain about doing an activity again, but say this is different.  Have a rhythm and pattern and keep changing.  Pacing-slow or fast, know how to adjust.  When students are moving too fast, how do you intrigue them?  Technology is always changing everything.  Ask for a choice, then honor that choice.  When reading a book, ask about the what, where, when, why and who in the story.  In lesson plans, pace the lesson with each topic.  Start with differences rather than the same when comparing.  Spelling can be a boonus and it can be a team sport.  Have three good spellers, two medium speller and a poor speller and later rotate them.  Make students accountable.  Bring knowledge up in students.  Students need to know here they belong.  Take care of problem-not later.  The more knowledge they learn and keep it longer.  Be in a place where you touch a child's life. 

Concepts:  why do we need to know this?  It's most important.  Look through standards; determine what's to be taught.  Organizing is a plan of attack; we are going to discuss... Details: provide details, present same way more than once three times; dramatic-bring in role playing, book, people, etc.  Vocabulary: give direct instruction of word-no dictionary, have class discussion, have students tell you, draw the word, write their meaning.  Processes:  have variety of activites, role playing.  Skills: giving students the steps, distributing practice.  I did a poster about America the Beautiful where I could write a poem, make a collage or write an essay; whatever I felt about America. 

In this class, I made a lot of lesson plans pertaining to social studies.  While teaching social studies, I could implement language arts, math, science into social studies.