Social Studies Manifesto

                           This semester in Social Studies has been full of new discoveries and surprises. For me, I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it, even if it was challenging at times and pushed me to do things that make me uncomfortable. I cannot believe that this experience is almost over. And I cannot tell you how much I have gained from this semester and I guess I will be able to put it to good use in student teaching when I am there. This entry is a reflection on the information learned in this semester. So here goes!

                           When discussing our own curriculum ideologies, we discovered that there are four and they are leaner centered, social efficiency, social reconstruction, and scholar academic. I discovered that I am learner centered first, followed by social reconstruction. We learned that not one of them is better than another and that a good mix of all is a good thing.

                           Before this semester, I think that teaching social studies in my classroom would have resembled the tourist model, but now I feel that I am equipped to encourage exploration instead of skimming the surface. Students need to be able to explore other cultures and use the natural process of inquiry to learn about things that they may not ever hear about until a lot later maybe. Social studies consists of many aspects among which are geography, culture, citizenship, and history. Students can have active learning during social studies. Possibly one of the reasons that social studies is not popular is because there is a disconnect between the unknown and what is right now and right in front of us. Students can hear about events in other parts of the world and not be able to visualize where it is happening, or they may hear someone reference a person or event from history but if they have never heard of it, they will not be able to make a connection to that particular thing. It is so important for students to be aware of the world around them. And it is important for students to know where they come from and where they are going.

                           The bottom line is this: Social Studies needs to be taught in school. Students benefit from it because it equips them with the information that makes life more colorful and understandable.

               Thank you, Dr. Meier for showing us the wonderful world of social studies. The experience of being a democratic class and making up our own class rules, climbing Mount Everest, creating our own town, while learning how to integrate social studies with other subjects has been so beneficial for all of us. Through this semester we created our own community and became a family. Before this class, I thought that Social Studies just consisted of geography- pointing out land formations and locations on a map, history- memorizing facts and dates across a timeline…. And that’s pretty much it. But now I know that I do not have to limited to that! I love Social Studies! And I will definitely be teaching it in my classroom.

SOCIAL studies; TCAPS

Playing Social Studies Jeopardy using social studies TCAP questions was very interesting today. As a class, I think that we came to the conclusion that most of the questions are recall. I mean really, how many teachers whose performance is continuously being pressured by standardized testing, not to mention the increased standards for math and reading will actually even cover social studies in a given school year. And I think that is sad! I mean, unless you have really inquisitive students who raise their hands in class and ask, "What major city is the Charles River located near?" or "Was China an isolationist country in the 15th century?" which is not very likely. But I do think that it is possible to integrate Social Studies into a school day and still accomplish the reading and math requirements.
Students need to have the opportunity to learn through the stories of influential people before them of all backgrounds. It's all about the stories of people with courage, during hardships, and little twists along the way that makes up SOCIAL studies. Teaching social studies today can be difficult, but the reward for the students and the teacher as well is worth it. Maybe it is high expectations or just an idealistic philosophy, but I believe that every student should at least have the opportunity to know where they came from, and where they are going and be equipped with the knowledge that causes them to want to make a difference for the better like those who have gone before them.


Every day we are called to do small things with great love. ~Mother Teresa

Living History Museum 2

Our next day of our Living History Museum, we had the other half of our class in their costumes. I actually really enjoyed presenting Clara Barton. I also enjoyed the process of  researching and gathering props and information to present. Some of the historical figures represented included Bonny Kate, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Clara Barton, Marion Anderson, Mary Otis Warren, Calamity Jane, Anne Sullivan, and Amelia Earhart. I know I have forgotten names of some others but I know everyone did a great job! With younger grades I think that it would be good to give a list of historical figures for them to choose from so that there will be some options if they cannot think of many people to choose from. I am so looking forward to using this strategy to teach history in my classroom. I love it! And I will most likely be dressing up as well to start off the assignment.

"You must never so much as think whether you like it or not, whether it is bearable or not; you must never think of anything except the need, and how to meet it." -Clara Barton

Living History Museum

With dimmed lights, presenters ready and our professor's anouncement, the grand opening of our Living History Museum commenced!

The Living History Museum today was so much fun. This is a wonderful new way to learn about history. In class today, the historical people represented included Ruby Bridges, Jackie Kennedy, Louisa May Alcott, Florence Nightingale, Mahalia Jackson, Jackie Robinson, J.P. Morgan, and Cleopatra. I don't remember the names of the others but they were: history teacher/astronaut (awesome costume), a major league female baseball player, female fighter pilot, and congresswoman. We have another Museum day left and it will be great to see and learn about many more people. I hear that Calamity Jane, Bonnie Kate, Anne Sullivan, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton will be there! I love the fact that everyone presents in first person during their talks. It is just like we are sitting down and listening to our grandparents tell us stories of their lives.

Fact, Question, Response

FQR=Fact, Question, and Response.

I enjoyed this approach to reading the articles on Monday. I think that this a good process for students to track the mental responses that occur while reading. The article on the 1st Thanksgiving surprised me. I actually had what could have been a text to self or text to text experience while reading. I remember learning in elementary about Squanto's life. I know that it was historically innaccurate. I watched the movie Squanto: A Warrior's Tale. Even though the movie was innaccurate, I didn't grow up thinking that Squanto's life was easy. And I remember finding it interesting and wanting to know more. I think that we owe it to our studdents to at least let them know that parts of what they may learn about Thanksgiving in school is false. I hope that I will be able to present information about the first Thanksgiving in a way that will give students a better picture of the true story. Because the true story is very eventful and filled with good as well!

But on a side note! The Thanksgiving tradition has surely evolved into a wonderful celebration with family, food and football! That is something to be thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Nearing the End...and the Beginning

As I was looking through my planner yesterday, I realized holy cow! We only have 4 more weeks of school and then exams! That means less than 30 more days of being the student. This semester has been an event filled one with homework assignments, projects, and for me, wedding preparations. Even though this semester has been stressful and frustrating at times, I feel like I have gained more understanding and knowledge about actual teaching and what the career will be like. And I have to say, I know I have loved it!

The end of the semester also means the nearing of my wedding!  My mom has been soooo helpful in all of the planning. We haven't had to finish many things during the semester besides some little details. I am so thankful for that because it has taken a lot of pressure off of Corey and I. Right now I am so ready to start the new chapter of my life. We have so many plans that we will soon be able to see play out. It will be really cool to see what happens.

For me the end of this semester means the end of essays, presentations, and exams as we have known it for so long and the beginning of lesson plans, centers, and reading corners among a lot of other things. Not to say that we will not be learning anymore. Our goal as educators will always be to remain lifelong learners.

And I hope our BLOCK family will stay in touch after this semester. We have such a great group of people!

See you all Wednesday!

Hands On!

Today at my placement, I had the priviledge of traveling with the first grade classes on a field trip! We drove down to Hands On and piled out of the bus (I hadn't been here since 3rd or 4th grade). You could feel all of the students' excitement as we lined up, walked down the street and stepped through the doors. After the instructions given by the musuem educators, the students were divided into groups and sent to their section of the museum. And boy did they have fun! It was great to see the same students I see every week in the same setting, playing and exploring every aspect of the museum. Part of me wished I was a kid again to have an excuse to jump in with them and play around (even though I still did in some places).

I did learn today that kids will surprise you. I saw students who usually seem bored or reserved in class getting on the stage with a play guitar and discover other interesting exhibits while really getting into it. I loved seeing this!
I think today I realized the most about how often elementary students need guidance. They needed help understanding the function or reason behind some of the exhibits. And it was fun going alongside of them and helping them understand. 

Overall, it was a great experience to see the students explore and discover new things and just have fun.

Campfire Day

This past Friday I went to my placement. It was Campfire day in first grade! At the end of the day... about the last full hour, the three first grade teachers gathered their students into one of the teacher's room. There, she had set up a light in the middle of the room with logs set over it to look like a campfire. Then each teacher took a turn reading from a Halloween related book. They were about pumpkins or ghosts, etc. Just friendly little stories, not too scary. Meanwhile, the first grade aide and I were in the teacher's lounge preparing 58 s'mores in the microwave popping six in at a time on a plates. Through trial and error, we figured that it takes approximately 12 seconds to make the perfect melty microwave s'more. (Each first grade teacher had brought enough graham crakers, Hershey's and marshmallows for her own class that day). We then divided them between classrooms so that they were ready for the kids when they came back. The kids LOVED this and it was pretty enjoyable for the teachers and me. One of the teachers had mentioned that it was a good way to celebrate Halloween without naming it since they are not allowed to have Halloween parties there.

 I personally had so much fun doing it. I really had the chance to see a great activity to celebrate this time of year; and a couple of girls had no idea what s'mores were until that day!

All in all it was a very enjoyable end to the school day.

Tanka's, Tux's, and Towns

Today was a fun-filled day. I loved our poetry discussion this morning. It reminded me of a project that my 8th grade teacher had our class do. Each student made a poetry packet that was labeled "All About Me" (I actually rediscovered this while rummaging through an old box of school papers under my bed last week). On our cover page we drew a picture of ourselves. We filled the packet with a Haiku, Concrete, List, and Acrostic poems. I just loved reading through what I had written. I also found a folder full of free writings and journals from a Creative Writing class in high school. They were hilarious to read, at least to me, and I loved going over them again.

I loved creating the town in Social Studies today. I was really glad I was on the zoning comittee in charge of coming up with names for the town and streets. I just love this idea of creating an educational experience by building a mini town. I mean, I don't know how many times my brother and I would do something like this for fun when we were kids. I can't wait to do this with my students.

Right after class, I met Corey, walked to the library and we took our Exit exams. And wow.. it is really hard to believe that at this time last year I was adjusting to my first semester here. And now I am getting ready for my last semester.

After our exit exams were finished, (Yay!) we went over to put in an order for the tuxedos for our wedding. We went through and picked out the colors of shirts, patterns of vests, and kinds of cuff links. You know what, it was actually kind of fun. We are getting so excited! I know that every girl probably feels this way but I feel like our wedding is gonna be just perfect lol.

Here is a picture of Corey and I after we finished our Exit exams.

Critical Voice

     I can tell you exactly when I decided that I was going to be a teacher. It had always been a backup, thats for sure and I had always enjoyed school since I was in first grade. People always asked what I wanted to do and I never gave just one answer because I could never make up my mind. But people would always tell me, "Oh you would be a great teacher" or "You should be a teacher" etc. Every time I would hear this, (which was often) I would think to myself,  "I don't have to be a teacher just because everyone says I will be... I can do anything I want."  Well, I graduated high school and still was not able to decide on anything. Then I had the opportunity to help with the Children's Ministry at my church in the summer of 2008 and man, I fell in love! It was then that I wanted to be a teacher. And I knew it.
     Well here I am about to enter the field and I have something else to decide on. My critical voice. There will be always be those people who think that they have the best way for you to go about doing your job. And just like those people who had their ideas about what career would be best for me, I must decide what is best. I have a critical voice. I believe that every teacher has their own strategies and techniques that he or she believes is most effective with students. As a new teacher, I will probably hear many opinions about students' strengths and weeknesses, types of learning etc. And it is alright that everyone has their own voice. Everyone will be different, and can figure out what works best for them in their own classroom. I must have my Critical Voice and learn to use it when I teach so that I can be effective and know that for my students it is the best that I can do for them.

A "Cool" Idea

This weekend I was in Des Moines, Iowa. I was a bridesmaid and my fiance, dad and brother were ushers in my aunt's wedding on Saturday! The weekend was pretty hectic but the wedding turned out beautiful.
Anyway, while we were there we had to run an errand and my cousins wanted to come with. (They are in 2nd and 6th grade ...I think). Well while we were driving, they kept trying to convince us they needed to stop at dairy queen for ice cream. Then, one of them shouted, "Ah man, we should've brought our ice cream sheets!" I was curious and asked them what that was. They both went on to tell me that at their school, if they read 20 books, they get a sheet that they can take to Dairy Queen in the area and get a free small ice cream cone, free dilly bar, or free small sundae! And they don't have to just pick just one, they can go back and get whichever one they want.
Ok, I don't know about you, but I love ice cream and to me that would be a pretty good incentive. I'm not sure how the whole thing works beyond what they told me, but how cool is that?

Diversity

Teaching with an awareness of diversity in the classroom can help to reach students more effectively. I believe that teaching is a great opportunity, to not only reach students with differences, but also create a sense of awareness in those same students about others of different race, religion, etc. Even though we as teachers, may not know all there is to know, we can build a classroom environment in which differences are discussed and accepted. Students may come into a classroom with their own stereotypes, but the teacher has a great voice to be the one to challenge these. It is easy to point out differences. But, I am sure that if we teach our students to take a closer look, they will find that we all have more in common than we realize.

Here We Are...

Today:
 I found out my placement school and I am very excited because I will be in a 1st grade class! I love this age group and am really looking forward to working with them.
Probability...oh my...
I enjoyed some yummy cheesecake squares.
The assignment list for the semester grew yet again... still feeling confident we can do it!
Corey and I attended Financial Peace University... I am learning many new things and preparing for the future.

I am having lots of ideas for lesson plans and cute ideas for integrating subjects running through my head all day while I sit in class. I especially got inspired by the video in Social Studies today. I love the approach the teachers were using in their classrooms! I hope to engage my future students by integrating different aspects of Social Studies with Reading and Science and Math in a creative way. I cannot wait to put my ideas into actual lessons! (I am definitely sure that I picked the right career).

Overall, after today I am not very stressed or worried. Maybe I should be? Maybe it is simply the peace of God, but despite the news of major upcoming assignments and a large wedding to-do list I am feeling alright.

 Every day is one step closer to new and exciting things coming up soon!

In the words of Dory from Finding Nemo "...just keep swimming, just keep swimming..."

First Blog!

Hey guys!

So this is my first official Blog! I enjoyed setting it up, looking through all the options and picking out the colors and theme. There was sooo much to choose from.

I will be using this blog mainly to describe my experience in BLOCK this semester and write about teaching techniques that I find helpful and sharing teaching links I find along the way. I have a lot that will be changing soon. I will be getting married this December... so along with writing about my life in BLOCK, I will also include entries about preparing for this new, exciting turn in my life.

Welcome to my Blog!