Civic Engagement, Education and Social Studies

Strengthening Civic Education: The Role of High-Quality Curriculum and Teaching Strategies

TCI

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

Civic education is the cornerstone of a functioning democracy, yet recent evaluations reveal significant gaps in how it is taught across the nation. High-quality civics and U.S. history instruction is essential for developing informed, engaged citizens who can navigate the complexities of modern society.

Civics

Civics Teaching Civic Engagement Social Studies

Social Studies Soundtracks: Using Music to Teach Social Studies

Studies Weekly

MAY 6, 2025

Social Studies Soundtracks: Using Music to Teach Social Studies May 2, 2025 By Debbie Bagley NEWSLETTER At first glance, social studies and music might seem like two separate subjects, but they can come together harmoniously to make learning more engaging and memorable.

Social Studies

Social Studies Teaching Primary Sources Heritage

Boost Student Achievement with High-Quality Instructional Materials on Social Studies

TCI

JANUARY 14, 2025

Engaging students in social studies goes beyond simply covering the material; its about helping them connect historical events to current issues and develop critical thinking skills. Youll also learn about HQIMs impact on academic performance and civic readiness, along with strategies for effective implementation.

Social Studies

Social Studies Civics Civic Engagement Critical Thinking

Teaching ‘action civics’ engages kids — and ignites controversy

The Hechinger Report

AUGUST 1, 2021

Peyton’s testimony is an example of “action civics,” a growing, if controversial, trend in American education of which Massachusetts is the undisputed leader. Related: Can patriotism and criticism coexist in social studies? Larry Paska, the National Council for the Social Studies.

Civic Engagement

Civic Engagement Civics Teaching Middle School

Implementing the Inquiry Design Model for Social Studies in a New Jersey Public School: A Journey of Growth and Discovery

C3 Teachers

MARCH 14, 2025

That search led us to the Inquiry Design Model (IDM), an approach that shifts Social Studies from rote memorization to deep, student-driven inquiry. Teachers engaged in collaborative curriculum writing, developing inquiries that were grounded in our students lived experiences while aligning with state standards.

Social Studies

Social Studies Public School Primary Sources Civic Engagement

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. In my 20 years as an educator, I have seen firsthand how service-learning engages students as they become leaders in their communities.

Civic Engagement

Civic Engagement Civics K-12 Education

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

Now they are demanding a greater role in school policy and the decisions that shape their educations. They are also seeking to use this moment to educate teens about elections and voting and turn them into lifelong voters. “The Andrew Brennen, National Geographic education fellow. Credit: Alison Yin for The Hechinger Report.

Civics

Civics Civic Engagement High School Government

How Teachers Tackle 2024 Election Discussions

Education Week - Social Studies

AUGUST 28, 2024

The 2024 presidential election offers an opportunity to grow civic engagement, teachers say.

Civic Engagement

Civic Engagement Civics

OPINION: Kicking civics out of class and taking it to the streets

The Hechinger Report

AUGUST 26, 2018

School systems are failing their students with outdated and inconsequential civics education that is only focused on facts and memorization. The simple multiple-choice questions found on most civics tests require memorization of unconnected facts in order to pass. Community connections are also key to civic engagement.

Civics

Civics Civic Engagement Government High School

STUDENT VOICE: Let’s stop the apathy in Kentucky and beyond

The Hechinger Report

JUNE 20, 2017

The answer starts in the classroom, where civics education often fails to inspire and engage students. In a system that all too often doesn’t solicit our input on anything beyond planning social events and fundraisers, too many of us become either oblivious or callous about the very concept of civic engagement.

Civics

Civics Civic Engagement K-12 Government

Building Relationships: Connecting and Reconnecting with Cultural Centers

C3 Teachers

MARCH 30, 2022

Image of New York State Archives and Museum in Albany, New York Making connections with cultural centers offers educators a measure of expertise outside their own content knowledge and pedagogical skill. These advantages suggest why connections with cultural centers should matter to educators, students and the local community.

Cultures

Cultures Heritage Civic Engagement Civics

Civil Conversation Protects Our Civil Rights

Teaching American History

DECEMBER 5, 2023

Young citizens need civics education to understand their constitutionally guaranteed rights. The best civics teachers also help students learn the skills they need to protect their rights. Kymberli Wregglesworth, a 2016 MAHG graduate, teaches Civics, World history and social studies electives at Onaway High School in Michigan.

Civics

Civics Civic Engagement American History Government

Children's Voting Habits Could Influence Their Parents' Political Participation

Education Week - Social Studies

SEPTEMBER 12, 2023

A new study finds a two-way relationship between parents' and teens' civic engagement.

Civic Engagement

Civic Engagement Civics

Civics Is About Skills, Not Just Facts. How Do Schools Measure Students' Readiness?

Education Week - Social Studies

DECEMBER 19, 2023

Most state assessments aren't testing how students civically engage in their communities, a new report finds.

Civics

Civics Civic Engagement

Elevating Social Studies with High-Quality Instructional Materials

TCI

OCTOBER 28, 2024

Social studies is more than just a subject—it provides the foundation for understanding and engaging with the world around us. According to the National Council for Social Studies (NCSS) , social studies is the integrated study of social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence.

Social Studies

Social Studies Civics K-12 Geography

Donald Trump and teaching in a democracy: Where did we go wrong?

The Hechinger Report

NOVEMBER 10, 2016

For educators across the nation, it has been a trying time. Most educators believe that schooling is a place for children to deliberate ideas, to weigh different perspective, to learn about our past. How have we, as educators, failed to teach white students about social studies?

Teaching

Teaching Civic Engagement Social Studies Civics

Politics, Pressure and Poor Sources: History Teachers Have It Tough These Days

ED Surge

MAY 7, 2025

But, yes, at the end of the day, if more people, more Americans understood what teachers are teaching in history classrooms, theyd have a very different attitude about how to fix some of the problems of public education. Conditions havent improved for social studies teachers since. We feel so polarized right now.

History

History Civics Museum American 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

Last Thursday was the latest in a decades-long string of markedly difficult days for educators — the “day after,” when the country begins to process and some teachers push aside planned lessons to explore students’ questions and unpack their emotions. Then they heard the scream of jets taking off from a nearby National Guard armory. “In

Charter School

Charter School Civics Middle School Civic Engagement

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

The Hechinger Report

OCTOBER 27, 2020

They must figure out a way to teach this election, rather than limiting their students’ education. Related: PROOF POINTS: Slightly higher reading scores when students delve into social studies. Emma Humphries is the chief education officer at iCivics and the deputy director of CivXNow. Because this is a teachable moment.

Controversial Topics

Controversial Topics Teaching Civics Civic Engagement

Social Studies Network

Strengthening Civic Education: The Role of High-Quality Curriculum and Teaching Strategies

Social Studies Soundtracks: Using Music to Teach Social Studies

Trending Sources

Boost Student Achievement with High-Quality Instructional Materials on Social Studies

Teaching ‘action civics’ engages kids — and ignites controversy

Implementing the Inquiry Design Model for Social Studies in a New Jersey Public School: A Journey of Growth and Discovery

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

The Future of Democracy Depends on a Quality Civics Education

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

How Teachers Tackle 2024 Election Discussions

OPINION: Kicking civics out of class and taking it to the streets

STUDENT VOICE: Let’s stop the apathy in Kentucky and beyond

Building Relationships: Connecting and Reconnecting with Cultural Centers

Civil Conversation Protects Our Civil Rights

Children's Voting Habits Could Influence Their Parents' Political Participation

Civics Is About Skills, Not Just Facts. How Do Schools Measure Students' Readiness?

Elevating Social Studies with High-Quality Instructional Materials

Donald Trump and teaching in a democracy: Where did we go wrong?

Politics, Pressure and Poor Sources: History Teachers Have It Tough These Days

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

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

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