Powerful Vision of Social Studies

The following “vision” of powerful social studies teaching and learning was created in the summer seminar of the 2004 TS4 program. Participants brought together ideas about the characteristics of social studies “at its best” across the three essentials of teaching and learning: teachers, students, and content. The idea behind making this list is pretty simple. Before we can discuss effective mentoring of beginning teachers, it’s important to answer the question, “What sort of practice are we mentoring them for?”

We provide this document as a prompt for reflection about mentoring, learning to teach, and the aims and practices of exemplary social studies.

TOWARDS A VISION OF POWERFUL SOCIAL STUDIES….

Teachers…

Reflect about their own teaching methods and goals. They search for defensible reasons for instructional decision making.
Promote critical thinking.
Expand worldviews (transformative).
Are flexible in creating a positive learning atmosphere.
Evidence passion for their subjects.
Appreciate and are responsive to varying student and community contexts.
Enjoy working with their students.
Connect content to students’ lives and prior knowledge.
Encourage a community of learners centered around meaningful, shared inquiry.
Are knowledgeable about social sciences and have the ability to convey this knowledge to students.

Students …

Are challenged.
Are actively engaged in learning, and find meaning in content.
Are responsible for their own learning.
Are tolerant and open-minded.
Think critically and ask important questions about social and civic concerns.
Are members of a learning community.
Connect specific knowledge to larger contexts.
Develop competency for participation in democratic life.

Powerful social studies content ….

Is diverse/varied and involves different viewpoints.
Develops democratic, civic and social knowledge, attitudes, values, and behaviors.
Is relevant and useful.
Helps students better understand and think critically about civic and social issues.
Promotes democratic civic efficacy.
Facilitates student interaction/communication.
Is integrative across social science disciplines and curriculum content areas.