Literacy Initiative Brings Non-Fiction History and Historical Novels to the 6-12 Social Studies Classroom

Since 2009 each grade level PLC has selected historical fiction novels and non-fiction history texts to increase students literacy opportunities in the social studies classroom.  Mike Schmoker (Focus: Elevating the Essentials) states that "we don't appreciate deeply enough the outsize value of social studies. If we did, we would do more to preserve its soul: literacy, analysis, and argument." The High School Advanced Placement classrooms are in their third year of summer reading offering 8 titles about the American Revolution including 1776 and Rise to Rebellion.  American History Seminar incorporates a book into its oral history unit and students have read War and Genocide: A Concise History of the Holocaust and will read Unbroken this year.  AP World History reads An Edible History of Humanity while AP European History reads A World Lit Only by Fire.  Global Studies students will be exposed to graphic novels Waltzing with Bashir and Shenzhen.  Alternative Social Studies is considering reading a novel about the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire.   At the Junior High 9^th graders in the honors classes read Summer of 1787 and will be reading the economics text The Invisible Heart during second semester.  A graphic novel on the Constitution is also being considered.  8th grade teachers were leaders in promoting the reading of fiction and non-fiction.  In 8^th grade U.S. History students in the honors sections have read Eyes on the Prize, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee and this year will be reading Unbroken, a non fiction book on WWII.   Regular education students read Woodsrunner, Night John, Copper Sun, The Devil’s Paintbox and do literature circles with a variety of Civil War novels. The Reading Specialist, Ann Hoesly has helped teachers choose books. Middle School student in World Studies read The Enemy Has a Face and The Royal Kingdoms of Ghana & Mali.   More books will be selected this year in 6^th grade Ancient Civilization. The IMC Librarian Beth Martin has provide the social studies staff with a variety of topic books which are used for Inquiry projects.