SS Stories
What is the Social Studies Stories column?
What is the Social Studies Stories column?
SS Stories is an ongoing column published in Social Studies Journal. We envision the authors of these stories to be practicing teachers, student teachers, teacher educators, researchers, administrators, curriculum developers, school board members, legislators, parents, school support staff, students, etc. who see, experience, or teach social studies. We imagine these narrative stories to be 500-1500 words. Please reach out to us by email if you have questions or ideas. These stories may or may not contain formal references. Please see Volume 43, Issue 2 for examples.
Jessica Schocker, SSJ editor, shares about the genesis of the Social Studies Stories column*:
Jessica Schocker, SSJ editor, shares about the genesis of the Social Studies Stories column*:
As a graduate student and then early in my career, I used to feel compelled to write research as though I, the author, was irrelevant. In research methods courses, I learned the importance of objectivity and minimizing bias. So many research papers I read in graduate school were written in a third person, passive voice. I, too, tried to write in a way devoid of personality, of experience. In doing this, we also remove critical context: who is asking the research questions? And, why? Who is interpreting the results? Who is positioning this research and its implications for our field?
As a graduate student and then early in my career, I used to feel compelled to write research as though I, the author, was irrelevant. In research methods courses, I learned the importance of objectivity and minimizing bias. So many research papers I read in graduate school were written in a third person, passive voice. I, too, tried to write in a way devoid of personality, of experience. In doing this, we also remove critical context: who is asking the research questions? And, why? Who is interpreting the results? Who is positioning this research and its implications for our field?
Over our years as colleagues, I can remember several occasions where Mark and I commented how much we appreciated “voice” in academic writing. In May of 2020, for example, I co-wrote an editorial in SSJ with Sarah Brooks about the intersections of our personal and professional worlds during the COVID-19 stay-at-home order. In writing about how to teach “about and during a pandemic,” we also shared our experiences raising young children and figuring out how to navigate what the pandemic meant for their education and recreation. I remember Mark saying, “I wish we had more of this kind of writing in our field” in response to those anecdotes.
Over our years as colleagues, I can remember several occasions where Mark and I commented how much we appreciated “voice” in academic writing. In May of 2020, for example, I co-wrote an editorial in SSJ with Sarah Brooks about the intersections of our personal and professional worlds during the COVID-19 stay-at-home order. In writing about how to teach “about and during a pandemic,” we also shared our experiences raising young children and figuring out how to navigate what the pandemic meant for their education and recreation. I remember Mark saying, “I wish we had more of this kind of writing in our field” in response to those anecdotes.
Out of these conversations, the idea to collect and share stories that situate both the self and the context of social studies was born. In SS Stories, we want to create a space for everyone and anyone who sees, experiences, or teaches social studies to share. We believe there is much to learn from storytelling. Storytelling inspires our practice and our research. It encourages reflection, synthesis, and creativity, and can be a catalyst for research and new ideas. Storytelling is unifying, and there are no divisions or limits on who can participate.
Out of these conversations, the idea to collect and share stories that situate both the self and the context of social studies was born. In SS Stories, we want to create a space for everyone and anyone who sees, experiences, or teaches social studies to share. We believe there is much to learn from storytelling. Storytelling inspires our practice and our research. It encourages reflection, synthesis, and creativity, and can be a catalyst for research and new ideas. Storytelling is unifying, and there are no divisions or limits on who can participate.
The call for SS Stories is intentionally vague. We seek to be inclusive and to encourage everyone, including school support staff, parents, and community members, to see themselves as part of social studies. Social studies is inseparable from the greater community context, and the best way to meet the needs of the current sociopolitical climate is to create bridges between school and the outside world and between individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds. Storytelling builds connections, creates opportunities to teach empathy, and encourages us to consider different perspectives.
The call for SS Stories is intentionally vague. We seek to be inclusive and to encourage everyone, including school support staff, parents, and community members, to see themselves as part of social studies. Social studies is inseparable from the greater community context, and the best way to meet the needs of the current sociopolitical climate is to create bridges between school and the outside world and between individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds. Storytelling builds connections, creates opportunities to teach empathy, and encourages us to consider different perspectives.
*This excerpt is from the prologue to Social Studies Journal's Summer 2023 issue, which is linked here and features the inagural edition of the SS Stories column, including 10 stories.
*This excerpt is from the prologue to Social Studies Journal's Summer 2023 issue, which is linked here and features the inagural edition of the SS Stories column, including 10 stories.