1. WELCOME New Teacher Orientation Elementary Social Studies

2. Some Thoughts About Teaching Elementary Social Studies

3. Teaching and Learning Social Studies
“…liberty and justice for all”
Public education’s role - develop citizens with the knowledge, civic dispositions, and values to advance our constitutional democracy
So… as a teacher, what does that
mean for me?
Discuss importance of social studies in terms of providing students a well rounded education…(beyond it being a state/district requirement) Why?
Note…bullets should be clicked on one at a time
“…liberty and justice for all”: The country’s founders envisioned these important principles for generations of citizens
Public education’s role - develop citizens with the knowledge, civic dispositions, and values to advance our constitutional democracy. Our schools lay the foundation that students need to begin their development as citizens who will live in, work in and shape the future of our democratic society.
By now, you are probably thinking…as a teacher, what is my role in this? What impact do I make in my students’ development?
(continues on next slide)
Purpose of creating citizens that can understand and uphold our democratic form of government, understand the world, its past and present. Relevance to their daily lives…how communities, local, state, federal government function, their role as citizens, how “ordinary citizens” can make an impact in their communities

4. Teaching and Learning Social Studies
As teachers you are… Educating tomorrow’s citizens…shaping our future
It is a short answer…with great implications for the role of teachers….(2 clicks to reveal Creating tomorrow’s citizens and picture)
Let’s think about this for a moment…as elementary teachers, you are providing the first educational experiences that introduce students to the concepts that comprise the social studies curriculum.
In your classrooms sit the future generations of voters and adults who will help to shape history.

5. Teaching and Learning Social Studies
Students enjoy learning about social studies
Department of Social Sciences
New Social Studies Textbooks
As new teachers, there is plenty of “good news” about social studies instruction…here’s a glimpse of it.
We will discuss these in details later…but for now, know that you can successfully teach social studies as a beginning teacher.
But first, let’s take a look at the students of M-DCPS

6. Who Are Our Students?
In the school year M-DCPS teachers taught 356,086 students who…
Represent over 100 countries
Speak about 150 languages
As a large urban school district, our diversity is impressive. Let’s take a close look at who are students are….this helps us think about how important social studies instruction is our community.

7. Top 10 Home Languages Other Than English
Spanish
Haitian-Creole
Portuguese
French
Russian
Zhongwhen (Chinese)
Arabic
Italian
Creole
Vietnamese
A significant segment of our student population comes from all parts of the world. (note: the world has 196 countries so we have “almost half of the world in M-DCPS”) But regardless of where they are born, Social Studies is for ALL Students
Each has a different story given the unique circumstances of their lives, the countries they came from, their culture/beliefs, etc. Education, specifically, Social Studies education, helps our students understand the country’s history, democratic principles, government, etc. and prepares them to be “engaged citizens”

8. Teaching and Learning Social Studies
Teaching students VS
Teaching content
Good TEACHERS Teach STUDENTS
Discuss importance of this statement…how teachers must understand student’s learning styles and needs. Books, computers, pacing guides, charts, maps, globes are our tools… But it is up to us to find the best strategies, methods of instructional delivery and activities and resources to optimize students’ learning experiences

9. K-5 Social Studies Curriculum
What should elementary students learn?

10. K-5 Social Studies Curriculum
Standards for Instruction
Florida’s Standards reflect the foundational expectations of what students should know and be able to do in each grade level, from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Social Studies Pacing Guides include Strands, Standards, Benchmarks

11. K-5 Social Studies Curriculum
Standards for Instruction
Florida’s Standards reflect the foundational expectations of what students should know and be able to do in each grade level, from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Social Studies Pacing Guides include Strands, Standards, Benchmarks

12. K-5 Social Studies Curriculum
Next Generation Sunshine State Standards Benchmark Coding Scheme Strand Key American History = A Civics and Government = C Geography = G Financial Literacy = F SS 3 A 1. 1
Subject
Grade
Strand
Standard
Benchmark
Brief discussion so that teachers have a general understanding

13. K-5 Social Studies Curriculum
Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS)
Example from Grade 3
Strand American History
Standard Historical Inquiry and Analysis
Benchmark Code: SS.3.A.1.1 Analyze primary and secondary sources.
Brief discussion so that teachers have a general understanding
4 Strands American History, Civics and Government, Geography and Economics

14. K-5 Social Studies Curriculum
Elementary School Courses-Themes
Kindergarten: Living, Learning & Working Together
Grade 1: Our Community and Beyond
Grade 2: Who We Are As Americans
Grade 3: The United States and It’s Neighbors
Grade 4: Florida History
Grade 5: United States History

15. K-5 Social Studies Curriculum
M-DCPS Student Progression Plan
Minutes of Classroom Instruction
K-1: 60 minutes per week
2-5: 120 minutes per week
Discuss schedules…created by school, etc.

16. K-12 Shared Responsibility
K-12 Social Sciences skills:
Analyzing Primary and Secondary Sources
Citing Evidence to Support Conclusions
Developing Positive Civic Dispositions
“engaged citizens”
Evaluating Credible Sources of Information
Developing Respect & Appreciation for History
“cultural literacy”
Speaking and Writing to inform and support and argument/persuade
Emphasize that these skills:
Directly support literacy (reading, writing, speaking)
Promote thinking critically

17. K-5 Social Studies Curriculum
What should happen in a social studies classroom?
Inquiry-based activities
Lively discussions and debates
Questions, questions, and more questions!
Looking at issues from multiple perspectives
Finding evidence in text and pictures/reasoning based on evidence
Strong connections to literacy – literacy-based activities
Videos
Projects, crafts and games
Remind teachers about the slide indicating that students like to learn about ss…these activities are why they will enjoy learning.
Also discuss what should not happen or at least on a regular basis…copying definitions, rote memorization of dates, facts, etc.

18. Resources for Social Studies Instruction
Department of Social Sciences Website
Top three resources (remind them that this is on their handout
New books, DOSS website, Pacing Guides
Important Resources
New Instructional Materials
Department of Social Sciences Website
Social Sciences Pacing Guides

19. Resources for Social Studies Instruction
New Instructional Materials
K-2 – McGraw Hill Networks
3-5 – TCI Social Studies Alive
Discuss overview of new books and online resources, training, etc.
K-2 connections with reading series “Wonders”
Talk about demo site..books not in schools for opening of schools
Access to textbook “Demo Sites”…
Department of Social Sciences Website
Current News
Folder “New Social Sciences Textbooks”

20. Resources for Social Studies Instruction
Department of Social Sciences Website
M-DCPS Social Studies Pacing Guides Department of Social Sciences Website
Go to the website and show teachers the pacing guides and resources and explain each section.
Refer them to the handout with the various lessons.

21. Have a great year! Mr. Bob Brazofsky Department of Social Sciences
Mr. Bob Brazofsky
Executive Director
Ms. Raquel Sotolongo
Curriculum Support Specialist – Elementary
Curriculum Support
Specialist