1. Authentic Literacy (Reading , Discussion & Writing)
·
Strategic
(Close) Reading strategies
·
Interactive
reading strategies
·
Argumentative
discussion strategies
·
Different
approaches to increase student oral proficiencies in classes through
discussion, deliberation, Socratic dialog and others.
·
Writing in
social studies classroom
·
A
coordinated approach to expository writing
Each PLC grades 6-12 will identify one or more
historical fiction or non-fiction book to be read and discussed in class.
Each PLC will identify one common writing piece per
quarter. This will include a minimum of two or more DBQ’s per year depending
upon the grade level.
Each PLC will experiment with different formats to
challenge student thinking through academic conversation (discussion).
Teachers may earn up to 4 hours of in-service
through book study using Academic
Conversations, by Jeff Zweirs
2. Authentic Instruction in the Social Studies Classroom
Authentic Instruction is defined by Dr. Fred Neuman (UW- Madison) as
contain one or more of the following components:
·
Higher
Order Thinking ( activity stimulates critical thinking)
·
Has
significant depth of knowledge (encourages comprehensive learning)
·
Has real
world connections ( teaches application of concepts)
·
Has
Substantive Conversation( engages students in discussion)
·
Includes
Social Support ( provides support and inclusion)
Authentic Learning may include:
·
Oral
history projects
·
History
Day Program
·
Roman/Greek
Day Program
·
We the
People Mock Congressional Hearings
·
Crime
Lab simulations, interactive autopsy, etc.
·
Psychology
Case Studies/Experiments
·
Civil
War Day
·
Simulated
Mock Trials
·
Independent
study class (as discussed by James Percocco) which might involve the Marathon
County Historical Museum, Marathon County Civil War Round Table, Marathon
County Genealogical Society, Portage County Historical Society, Pomeranian
German Society, VFWs. Other possibilities include independent study in
Sociology or Psychology.
·
Archeological
digs
·
Virtual
Field Trips via CILC (using distance learning lab)
·
Other
PBL (Project Based Learning) Programs
3. Technology Innovations in the
Social Studies Classroom
·
Advanced level use of the smartboard technology.
E.g. Creation of smartboard lessons, use
of clicker response systems and the document camera.
·
Use of web-based interactive simulations
·
Using MOODLE as both a repository for videos,
handouts, quizlets, podcasts, powerpoints, etc., but also as an interactive
tool for forums, chats, journaling, blogging, etc.
·
Using Web 2.0 tools for student creation of
products to exhibit learning. E.g.
socrative, Qwiki, Edmodo, Animoto, Prezi, etc.
·
Use of the distance learning lab for virtual
field trips and for collaborating with authors and experts in distance
locations.
·
Consider flipping lessons in your classroom.
Implementing some of aspects of the Flipped Classroom.
·
Remember, technology is just a tool to deliver
learning and can used effectively for formative assessment.
4.
Assessment in the Social Studies Classroom
·
Emphasis this year will be on improving and
increasing the use of formative assessment in the classroom.
·
Increase the use of formative assessment through
the use of technology (smartboard clicker system, Moodle testing, etc.
·
Improvement in grading system used in the social
studies classroom. Some teachers will continue
to experiment with standards based grading, while others will move to a 4 point
grading scare. Toxic practices like using
zero’s, over grading of homework, too much extra credit, etc. will be
eliminated.
·
PLC conversations should focus more on student
learning whether it is about informal observations of student learning or more
specific test data.
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