In an age of test scores and an increasing emphasis on literacy skills, the social studies often seem less important. Teachers schedule the class at the end of the day and may choose to skip it when they run out of time because of their other "more important" classes. This sectional will make the case that the social studies are important not just because of the content that they teach, but also because they are the perfect subject to help students practice important literacy skills, such as reading non-fiction texts, developing writing and speaking skills, and more all without increasing the teacher's correcting load! Using the Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies as a guide, attendees will be given strategies for improving student literacy skills, formative assessment solutions, and insight into what high school social studies teachers are looking for in their students.
Matt Linton serves as head of the social studies and theatre departments at Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School in Jackson and as an adjunct history professor for Bethany Lutheran College. His previous teaching experiences include serving as a grade school principal, teaching grades 4-8 in a single classroom, and a wide range of departmentalized classes in grades 7-12. He holds a masters degree in history from American Public University and is currently working on a dissertation focused on effective teacher collaboration as part of a doctorate in Teacher Leadership from Concordia University-Chicago. He has a passion for helping others carry out our mission from God to use our gifts faithfully to serve Him.