Social Studies Today

This second edition of Teaching Social Studies Today has been updated to reflect the latest research and today's best practices in social studies instruction. Authored by Kathleen Kopp, this invaluable resource focuses on implementing social studies instruction with a language arts instructional lens. It addresses effective research-supported ways to differentiate instruction, as well as how curriculum can be extended, accelerated, and enriched for the C3 framework. Packed with various teaching methods and techniques, up-to-date research-based theory and practical applications, and easy-to-implement strategies and techniques, this book is essential reading for both novice and seasoned teachers.

Social Studies Today will help educators—teachers, curriculum specialists, and researchers—think deeply about contemporary social studies education. More than simply learning about key topics, this collection invites readers to think through some of the most relevant, dynamic, and challenging questions animating social studies education today. With 12 new chapters highlighting recent developments in the field, the second edition features the work of major scholars such as James Banks, Diana Hess, Joel Westheimer, Meira Levinson, Sam Wineburg, Beth Rubin, Keith Barton, Margaret Crocco, and more. Each chapter tackles a specific question on issues such as the difficulties of teaching historical thinking in the classroom, responding to high-stakes testing, teaching patriotism, judging the credibility of Internet sources, and teaching with film and geospatial technologies. Accessible, compelling, and practical, these chapters—full of rich examples and illustrations—showcase some of the most original thinking in the field, and offer pre- and in-service teachers alike a panoramic window on social studies curricula and instruction and new ways to improve them. Walter C. Parker is Professor and Chair of Social Studies Education and (by courtesy) Professor of Political Science at the University of Washington, Seattle.

Featuring sound educational strategies based on solid research and proven methodology, this exceptional resource provides teachers with best practices in social studies instruction that can be immediately implemented in the classroom. Authored by two social studies experts with more than 60 years combined classroom experience, this resource is designed for anyone who is interested in current educational theory and best practice. Packed with various teaching methods and techniques, up-to-date research-based theory and practical applications, this book is great for new and experienced teachers. This resource is aligned to the interdisciplinary themes from the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. 200 pp.

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A team of researchers from 35 states across the country developed a survey designed to create a snapshot of social studies teaching and learning in the United States. With over 12,000 responses, it is the largest survey of social studies teachers in over three decades. We asked teachers about their curricular goals, their methods of instruction, their use of technology, and the way they address the needs of English language learners and students with disabilities. We gathered demographic data too, along with inquiries about the teachers' training, their professional development experiences, and even whether they serve as coaches. The enormous data set from this project was analyzed by multiple research teams, each with its own chapter. This volume would be a valuable resource for any professor, doctoral student, or Master’s student examining the field of social studies education. It is hard to imagine a research study, topical article, or professional development session concerning social studies that would not quote findings from this book about the current status of social studies. With chapters on such key issues as the teaching of history, how teachers address religion, social studies teachers’ use of technology, and how teachers adapt their instruction for students with disabilities or for English language learners, the book’s content will immediately be relevant and useful.

The field of social studies is unique and complex. It is challenged by the differing perspectives related to the definition, goals, content, and purpose of social studies. Contemporary Social Studies: An Essential Reader discusses the contemporary issues surrounding social studies education today. Contemporary Social Studies: An Essential Reader encourages and inspires readers to think. The chapters included in this volume are written by prominent scholars in the field of social studies. The collection inspires and provokes readers to reconsider and reexamine social studies and its contemporary state. Readers will explore the various critical topics that encompass contemporary social studies. This collection provides readers with rich chapters which are sure to be cited as key works. Compelling and accessible, this collection brings to light the critical topics relevant to contemporary social studies and is sure to serve as a cornerstone and seminal text for the future.

Ronald Evans describes and interprets the continuing battles over the purposes, content, methods, and theorectical foundations of the social studies curriculum. This facinating volume: addresses the failure of social studies to reach its potential for dynamic teaching because of a lack of consensus in the field; links the ever-changing rhetoric and policy decisions to their influence on classroom practice; and helps to clarify the meaning, direction, and purposes of social studies instruction in schools.

This exciting student textbook presents a contemporary global look at human geography. The World Today: Its People and Places connects your students to different cultures and geographical areas and helps them develop a sense of global awareness and responsible citizenship. This engaging textbook includes unique and interesting features designed to help your students become geographically literate. Explore the world with your students using: hundreds of illustrations and stunning photographs of people and places detailed maps, charts, and graphs quotations from contemporary international and Canadian public figures hundreds of glossary terms conveniently highlighted in the text guiding questions; concluding and summary comments Special-interest icons that appear throughout the textbook guide your students to further learning adventures, discussion topics, media investigations, opportunities for developing social studies skills, informative Internet sites, and much more. Recommended by Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth as a Manitoba grade 7 social studies learning resource.