2020, Civics and Social Studies - Social Studies Network

PROOF POINTS: Slightly higher reading scores when students delve into social studies, study finds

The Hechinger Report

OCTOBER 5, 2020

A September 2020 study from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute found that elementary school students who studied more social studies, including geography, history and civics, scored higher on fifth grade reading tests. Credit: Jason Bachman/Flickr. of a standard deviation higher, on average.

Social Studies

Social Studies Civics Geography Elementary School

The Future of Democracy Depends on a Quality Civics Education

ED Surge

OCTOBER 11, 2023

Fortunately, in light of democracy’s fragility, there has been a steady increase in initiatives from federal and state governments to incorporate civics education in K-12 classrooms. In 2020, California adopted a State Seal of Civic Engagement that high school students can earn upon graduation.

Civics

Civics Education Civic Engagement K-12

Forget civics class: Students want to make a difference in real life

The Hechinger Report

OCTOBER 29, 2020

Some school districts, local governments and nonprofit groups across the country have galvanized this youth activism by giving students opportunities to participate in leadership roles and democracy in ways that go beyond civics classes and student government. Related: Making America whole again via civics education.

Civics

Civics Civic Engagement High School Government

Service-Learning Can Be the Bridge to Social Emotional Learning. Educators Should Embrace It.

ED Surge

SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

In 2020, California’s State Board of Education adopted criteria and guidance to award a State Seal of Civic Engagement to students who demonstrate excellence in civics education. There is no better way to integrate SEL and civic engagement for the next generation of learners. SEL programs are not reported either.

Civic Engagement

Civic Engagement Civics K-12 Education

How the local public library helped one school district cope with Covid

The Hechinger Report

SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

The district built up community trust and used a cautious, step-by-step reopening strategy to make it through the 2020-2021 school year with zero cases identified in school buildings. Starting in fall 2020, the library hosted IT specialists and teachers from the school in one of the library’s conference rooms. Playing it safe”.

Library

Library Geography High School Civics

His Teachers Showed Him Why History Matters. Now He Wants to Pay That Forward.

ED Surge

OCTOBER 9, 2023

Plenty of students find social studies lessons a bit dull. Brown loves — and has long loved — learning about history, civics, geography and government, in part because he had teachers who brought infectious energy and enthusiasm to those lessons. history class and had always enjoyed my social studies classes.

History

History Museum Social Studies Geography

OPINION: We must do a better job of teaching Asian American history in our schools

The Hechinger Report

JUNE 7, 2022

As a social studies teacher and a Chinese American immigrant, I find myself subconsciously asking the following questions: How are Asian Americans viewed by the American public? history and civics curriculum to be more inclusive and equitable? history and civics curriculum to be more inclusive and equitable?

American History

American History History Teaching Primary Sources

Building Relationships: Connecting and Reconnecting with Cultural Centers

C3 Teachers

MARCH 30, 2022

As a former high-school social studies teacher and professional development specialist, I have found that connecting with cultural centers (e.g., I was first introduced to UGRR at the SUNY Buffalo State College Civic Summit when their educational specialists presented “Lessons from the Field: The Legal Geography of Slavery.”

Cultures

Cultures Heritage Civic Engagement Civics

Possible Sentences Vocab Strategy

Studies Weekly

FEBRUARY 26, 2024

Categories Corporate Educator Spotlight English Language Arts Lesson Plans Press Professional Development Science Social Studies Studies Weekly Online Summer School Teacher Tips Thinking on Education Tutorials Uncategorized Well-Being Recent Posts Possible Sentences Vocab Strategy February 26, 2024 Lesson 4: How Does Our Government Work?

Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan Professional Development Geography Civics

Jigsaw Strategy

Studies Weekly

FEBRUARY 28, 2024

Jigsaw Strategy Oct. Tip: When using Jigsaw for the first time, it might be a good idea to walk the students through a trial run and model each step of the process.)

K-12

K-12 Lesson Plan Geography Civics

OPINION: When books are banned, ‘education is impoverished, and everyone loses’

The Hechinger Report

SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

Texas’ legislation on teaching social studies , adopted in June, reflects this conservative critique. How can English teachers discuss Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man,” Philip Roth’s “The Human Stain” or Toni Morrison’s “Beloved” without considering race and social justice?

Social Justice

Social Justice Education American History K-12

Students Call for Hands-On Civic Education to Prepare Them for Democracy

ED Surge

NOVEMBER 1, 2024

In recent years, a number of states have passed civics testing mandates to pressure students to become more civically active. And how useful is civic education for those who chose to get involved? One idea that’s taken root is forcing students to take a civics test as a requirement for high school graduation.

Civics

Civics Education Government K-12

COLUMN: The four steps to safely reopen schools and save our nation

The Hechinger Report

FEBRUARY 2, 2021

Last year was a hard lesson in what happens when the public lacks an understanding of science and social studies. We are ailing socially and politically. White supremacy is facilitated by bad history and civic education. That’s why Biden’s fourth step should be to encourage schools to revive history and civics education.

Civics

Civics K-12 American History History

Last week was tough, teachers say. But it wasn’t the first difficult ‘day after’ they’ve faced

The Hechinger Report

JANUARY 15, 2021

It’s about teaching human beings, and it’s not science or English or social studies or math … It’s about teaching human beings how to become good people.”. March 14, 2020. A protester holds a sign during a protest over the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, Monday, June 1, 2020, in Louisville, Ky.

Charter School

Charter School Civics Middle School Civic Engagement

5 Activities Ideas for Teaching the Electoral College

Let's Cultivate Greatness

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

Including the Electoral College in your civics and government class is essential. And since it’s a bit complicated, it’s a great topic to spend a few days on because there are so many ways to practice critical thinking and general social studies skills. Want these activities and more to bring into your Civics class?

Teaching

Teaching Civics Government Archiving

OPINION: The wrong roadmap for teaching American history

The Hechinger Report

MAY 28, 2021

secretaries of Education and funded in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities, is to “transform teaching of history and civics” in ways that (they hope) will diminish political polarization in this country. Related: Can patriotism and criticism coexist in social studies? An admirable goal, and one we broadly share.

American History

American History History Teaching Civics

Practicing What We Preach: Using Inquiry to Design a Social Studies Methods Class

C3 Teachers

MAY 23, 2022

Most importantly, I want the course content to be relevant to their lives as future teachers, and I want them to see themselves as civic and political actors. The post Practicing What We Preach: Using Inquiry to Design a Social Studies Methods Class appeared first on C3 Teachers.

Social Studies

Social Studies Social Justice Controversial Topics Pedagogy

Can we teach our way out of political polarization?

The Hechinger Report

JANUARY 25, 2021

High school social studies teachers and scholars of American history don’t deny that the nation’s story is full of mobs, civil unrest and violence. Author Andrea Gabor called the violence a “Sputnik moment for teaching civics.”. history and civics, and many leave school with big gaps in political knowledge.

Teaching

Teaching Civics American History Controversial Topics

John Thompson: Ryan Walters Appoints Extremists to Revise Oklahoma Social Studies Curriculum

Diane Ravitch

JULY 16, 2024

Now Walters has appointed a list of rightwing luminaries to rewrite the state’s social studies curriculum. When asked if he believes that President Biden won the 2020 election, Roberts replied, “No.” Recently, he mandated that the Bible be taught in the state’s classrooms.

Social Studies

Social Studies Heritage History Government

Can patriotism and criticism coexist in social studies?

The Hechinger Report

MAY 28, 2021

Chris Tims, a social studies teacher in Waterloo, Iowa, says he won’t stop teaching the 1619 Project, despite political pressure. history and civics since at least Reconstruction, the turbulent period that followed the Civil War. Some call this teaching conflict — now more than a century old — the “ social studies wars.”.

Social Studies

Social Studies Civics History American History

TEACHER VOICE: The United States is not a democracy. Stop telling students that it is

The Hechinger Report

NOVEMBER 16, 2020

Textbooks and mainstream civics curricula make the same mistake, stipulating the brilliance of the framers, the democratic nature of our system and the infallibility of the U.S. Related: Making America whole again via civics education. What if our civics lessons invited students not just to become occupants of an already-built U.S.

Civics

Civics Government History Social Studies

OPINION: Our schools must figure out a way to teach this presidential election

The Hechinger Report

OCTOBER 27, 2020

In 2020, teaching about the presidential election feels more like teaching about the Second Amendment or the abortion rights debate. It’s time we looked at the 2020 presidential race not as one that is too contentious to touch, but rather as an exercise in how to teach controversial issues. Because this is a teachable moment.

Controversial Topics

Controversial Topics Teaching Civics Civic Engagement

Social Studies Network

PROOF POINTS: Slightly higher reading scores when students delve into social studies, study finds

The Future of Democracy Depends on a Quality Civics Education

Trending Sources

Forget civics class: Students want to make a difference in real life

Service-Learning Can Be the Bridge to Social Emotional Learning. Educators Should Embrace It.

How the local public library helped one school district cope with Covid

His Teachers Showed Him Why History Matters. Now He Wants to Pay That Forward.

OPINION: We must do a better job of teaching Asian American history in our schools

Building Relationships: Connecting and Reconnecting with Cultural Centers

Possible Sentences Vocab Strategy

Jigsaw Strategy

OPINION: When books are banned, ‘education is impoverished, and everyone loses’

Students Call for Hands-On Civic Education to Prepare Them for Democracy

COLUMN: The four steps to safely reopen schools and save our nation

Last week was tough, teachers say. But it wasn’t the first difficult ‘day after’ they’ve faced

5 Activities Ideas for Teaching the Electoral College

OPINION: The wrong roadmap for teaching American history

Practicing What We Preach: Using Inquiry to Design a Social Studies Methods Class

Can we teach our way out of political polarization?

John Thompson: Ryan Walters Appoints Extremists to Revise Oklahoma Social Studies Curriculum

Can patriotism and criticism coexist in social studies?

TEACHER VOICE: The United States is not a democracy. Stop telling students that it is

OPINION: Our schools must figure out a way to teach this presidential election

Stay Connected