Social Studies Manifesto!

     According to dictionary.com, social studies is the study of how people live and organize themselves in society, embracing geography, history, economics, and other subjects.  If this true, why is it NOT taught in our schools.  Social Studies is extremely important to learn to become an active part of society and it angers me that children know so little.  Social Studies is the study of ourselves! 
     I think at the beginning of the school year, it is important to learn the student's invisible knapsack.  Our invisible knapsack are important because the class can make connections to one another.  I think it is important as a teacher, to gain as much knowledge about your student's as possible.  Before I begin teaching my students I will need to know what they know about social studies.  Social Studies is easily integrated with other subjects, in my classroom I will do all I can to integrate Social Studies with other subjects, therefore if I have a principal that says we do not have time for Social Studies, I have made time; My way.  There are so many parts of Social Studies, for example archaeology, anthropology, economics, geography, history, law, politics, psychology, religion, sociology, etc.  All these are important to know.  I am not saying that a child must know all about all these subtopics at all, but this stuff is important.  Way too important to not be taught at all!  With all these options, there is bound to be something interesting for the children to learn and not just from a book.  Learning can and is fun, if it is taught the right way.  I will have an active classroom.  I will have hands-on lessons that engage the students.  I want my student's to be having fun and at the same time be learning.  Block city, the living history museum, and theatre are wonderful ways to have an active learning environment in the classroom.  I will use my critical voice when I believe it needs to be heard.  I  know at times, not everyone will agree, and I am okay with that.  I  just know that I want my future students to know more about Social Studies than I did growing up and even now.  I feel like I got ripped off during school!  I do not want my student's to be in college learning about the Boston Tea Party or why the Civil War was fought.  Because of my lack of Social Studies when I was younger, I will have to study a lot before I teach, but I don't mind doing this at all.  These are things I am interested in, which I was not get taught, therefore I will happily teach myself.  I will also teach my student's the truth as much as I can.  I will not sugar coat it, however I will not tell them the raw.  I do not want to scare them, I just want them to be knowledgeable of the truth.  I also want my student's to know basic geographical skills.  For instance,I want my student's to be able to look on a map and tell me where Europe is or what the capital of Tennessee is.  Geography is important and children can be learning basic skills before they begin school. 
     I have learned this semester how important Social Studies truly is.  Social Studies is the study of who we are, why would we not study that?  I, without a doubt, will integrate Social Studies any chance I get.  My student's will not only be doing social studies, but absorbing what they learned.  I want Social Studies to be just as important as Math and Science in my classroom.  I want my student's to leave my class one step closer to becoming an active part of society. 

P.S.  Thank you Dr. Meier for a great semester!  I really have a whole different perspective of Social Studies now and it is all because of you!  Thanks so Much!

Living Histoy Museum

Yesterday we started the Living History Museum.  I enjoyed it so much! I think this is wonderful activity for younger children if there are some boundaries.  I think this would be a several week process.  I think the children need opportunity in class to study a historical figure.  I also think the teacher needs to give them things to focus about their historical figure; good facts. For example, birth, death, cause of death, what made the person historical, what did he or she do to make a stand.  I also think that the children must make any costumes by themselves without spending any money.  I don't think it is fair when parents take over and act like it is a "fashion show."  I would be more concerned with the information that the children provide and that they learned something, rather than the outfit.  I learned a lot about Florence Harding, things I probably would never learned without this experience. 

Happy Thanksgiving

I think that Thanksgiving is almost a forgotten holiday.  It seems to me, people have fun at halloween and then up go the Christmas lights and tree.  I don't hear anybody talking about Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving is my favorite time of the year.  I love to spend time with my family and of course we eat fabulous food, but I also think about all the things in life I am thankful for. I am thankful for a roof over my head, food on my plate, and clothes to keep me warm.  People take this important needs for granted.  I am also thankful for the wonderful people in my life and my crazy animals.  I am thankful that I will have a lil' baby before I know it and I am thankful that I can go to school and get an education.  I know that I am very fortunate and blessed to have all this in my life.  It also makes me sad to think about these things because I think about the millions of people in this world that have none of these things, nor will they ever.  Thanksgiving is just a reminder of these things in life.  People should be thankful every day for what they have!

Facts Question Response is what we talked about in class.  I don't know why I am learning about this just now.  I think this a great way to comprehend and relate to what you are reading.  I will use this in my everyday reading and I will, without a doubt, show my students this.  I some times read and read and then forget what I read.  This is a great reminder to what you have read; you can refer back to your notes or your post-its.

Living History Museum

I am excited about the living history museum.  I think this assignment will be great for children to learn about different historians around the world.  I like that our assignment has few limitations, so we will have a variety of people that have impacted or made a difference in the world.  I think children will really enjoy dressing up in character and I think if they can relate to the person, they will learn more!

Mount Everest....WOW!

I guess I didn't really know too much about Mount Everest till class on Monday.  I guess I am surprised about the deaths? I don't know?  I guess I am more surprised about how many people attempt climbing knowing that you may never return.  I said I would like to climb it in class, however, I think my mind was changed.  I don't know if I would be that prepared to "maybe" die.  I would also be very mad, if I climbed all the way to the top and the sky was not clear. I would be pissed! You climb all that way, hours and days, to feel like you are on top of the world, and then you get up there and can't see.  I would be furious!  But for the people that have lost their lives, I believe they died doing something they were extremely passionate about, which is very courageous and I honor them for that.

VOTE

**I really enjoyed seeing everybody's view on Social Studies through their photo diary on Monday**
     Today is voting day and I have not went and voted yet.  I am going and I should have already, but time has just got away from me this morning.  Voting is a privilage.  Many people probably do not see at as a privilage till it is taken away from you.  For instance, I know a young man that has a felony and it bothers him every election because he can no longer vote, nor will he ever.  Many people complain about what goes on in our world but does not care enough to go vote when it is time.  I don't think people have the right to complain about any political party if they have not done their part in voting.  Does that make sense?   

Geocaching!!!!

Wow! I did not know a scavenger hunt could be so much fun!  Wednesday was the first time I heard about geocaching and I am still amazed by it.  I think it is amazing that there are so many caches around our area  and EVERYWHERE!  Maybe when I finally graduate, I will have a new hobby.  :)

Almost the end of October

WOW!  Where does time go?  Can you believe that it is almost November?  Before we know it, Block will be over.  I just can't believe it. 
     I was in my 2nd grade classroom Thursday and learned something very disturbing.  My teacher left for the day and it was just me and the teacher's aid.  I have learned that Social Studies is not very important in the classroom and is not incorportated much in the classroom either, but today we were going to spend 25 whole minutes on it.  So the children got their books out and opened it to the correct page.  We were looking at maps and map keys.  The map key consisted of a star which was for capitals, a star with a circle around for the national capital, and a dark line for boarders.  The first question that we asked the class was, "Can anyone tell me Tennessee's state capital?"  The children begin calling out anwsers, "Johnson City," "Kingsport," "Elizabethton."  Not one child knew the correct anwser.  We also asked, "What is the National capital?"  Again, not one of the children knew the correct anwser.  The children laughed because they didn't know the anwsers, but it really upset me.  I think knowing about our country is very important! I will remember this and when I have my own classroom, I will make sure I teach Social Studies for more than 25 minutes every couple weeks.

Fall Break

                   It is fall break.  I have so much to do and I am having trouble doing any of it! 
I really enjoyed doing "block city" this week.  Our town is named Diverse City.  We have continents as road names and we have all the necessities in our town.  This "city" is a wonderful learning tool for children and it can be used all school year.  Children can learn about direction, latitude, longitude, how a city is governed, rules, regulations, and so much more.  This activity can also be combined with other subjects, such as math and language arts. 

Social Studies this week

     I really enjoyed the activities we did in Social Studies this week.  I think plays are wonderful ways to experience and engage in specific events from history.  I think children would love doing this activity; I know that I did.  I also think the history booklet we made is a great hands-on activity.  This is a good way for children to understand the concept of a timeline.  This is a very benificial activity to do at the beginning of the school year, in which the students are able to learn about one another. 

Critical Voice

I think it is extremely important to have your own critical voice.  Of course, starting a new teaching job, it is going to be intimidating and scary.  You want to do everything you are told, but I think it is important to voice what you believe in. 
In the article, Jenni was able to develop a lesson and assess it in multiple ways.  John, however was scared that the criteria was not being met and sent Jenni to the library for a day, so that he could teach the necessary information the traditional way because he was sure Jenni didn't teach it.  John has no critical voice and likes teach the rote/traditional way.  Personally, I  don't think this is the best way.  I think children learn and comprehend better when they are actively involved in the lesson.  Children get bored easily and I know that when I am in a classroom and we do the same things over, the same way every day, it is just awful!
So when I get a teaching job, I hope I stand true to my beliefs.  I will use my critical voice when I feel it is necessary.  I won't be the teacher that teaches the traditional way.  I will make my lessons fun, active, and hands-on.  My children will love learning!

Black Ants

"Black Ants and Buddhists" is a fantastic story.  This story proves how important it is to teach different perspectives and traditions besides the "American way." I think it is extremely important as a teacher to know your students and their religious backgrounds because there might be a Som Jet in our classrooms.  I think the teacher did a wonderful job turning an argument about " black ants" into a lesson that the children learned from and enjoyed.  They learned about different religions, but also learned to respect them.  I also enjoyed reading about Ben and his interest in the book Baseball Saved Us.  Not only was Ben interested in learning about the history of Japanese Americans, he was also willing to try to read a book that was above his reading level, which tells me that the teacher did something right.  As a future teacher, I hope to engage my student's about history, cultures, religions, etc. as well as the teacher did in this article.    

This is my first blog.  How exciting!  I think I am getting it?