Elementary Truths

We know that...

Social Studies is a discipline, not a content area.  Instruction should be driven by inquiry that employs content as a vehicle for understanding larger concepts and developing specific skills.  

So...

We must design learning experiences that ask students to develop social studies-specific skills and build understandings of broad social studies concepts as they use content to create answers to essential questions.  We don’t want kids to just memorize content for content’s sake.  

We know that...

Social studies is inherently tied to literacy, but cannot solely be taught through ELA modules and domains or any other literacy (reading/writing) program.    

So...

We must look for times when social studies content, concepts, and/or skills line up with ELA and build off of that foundation to optimize student learning.  We must also look for when the social studies curriculum isn’t covered by ELA and plan in an equally thoughtful way to cohesively address those gaps. 

We know that...

Social studies must be part of regular instruction at all grade levels.

So...

We must structure our short and long-range plans to incorporate social studies content, concepts, and skills in an integrated and cohesive way – not just a “sprinkle” of content here and there.  

We know that...

Local curriculum maps and the NYS K-12 Social Studies Framework define what social studies content, concepts, and skills should be taught at each grade level.  Textbooks do not dictate instructional progressions.   

So...

We must use authentic sources, documents, and artifacts to engage students in learning about the required curriculum at the grade levels we teach.  

We know that...

We are responsible for implementing instruction aimed to satisfy the requirements of both the Next Generation ELA standards and the NYS K-12 Social Studies Framework.

So...

We must be sure that we plan instruction that touches on each aspect of our report card indicators during every 10-week marking period.  Our report card indicators are aligned with NYS Standards.   

Authentic social studies instruction is inherently based on a foundation of literacy.  The only way to engage in learning new content, make meaning of broad concepts, or develop specific social studies skills is to employ the skills outlined in the Common Core standards for literacy (reading, writing, listening, etc.).  Likewise, the only ways to demonstrate true understanding or mastery is through Next Generation literacy skills (speaking, presenting, writing, creating, etc.).