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Reading Schedule

The readings for this course will supplement our discussions of social studies content, issues, and instructional methods. We will use variety of selected readings which will be either handed out in class or online. You will be expected to bring a written reflection on each reading and at least one question which you could pose for the class related to your reflection. You should also be prepared to lead some portion of any given discussion. Your written reflection and question(s) should be no more than one page and will be taken up each class period. Discussion participation and the reading reflections will count 20 points of you final grade. 

Reading schedule

Reading #1 Thursday, June 17 – Defining social studies

• The first two sections of Expectations of Excellence a curriculum report from the National Council for the Social Studies titled “What Is Social Studies?” and “How Do We Achieve Excellence in Social Studies?” These are available online at http://www.socialstudies.org/standards/toc.html
• Whelan, Michael. "Albert Bushnell Hart and the origins of social studies education" Theory and Research in Social Education; 22/4 (Fall 1994): 423-440. Available at http://www.lib.usf.edu/ldsu/digitalcollections/T01/journal/v22n04_94fall/423-440.djvu You will need a special plug in software program called Djvu available at http://www.lizardtech.com/ click download and look for the Djvu program listed on the page.

Reading #2 Tuesday, June 22 – Teaching history

• Peter Stearns essay titled “Why study history” available online from the American Historical Association at http://www.historians.org/pubs/Free/WhyStudyHistory.htm
• Kathleen Anderson Steeves essay titled “Working together to strengthen history teaching in secondary schools” available online from the American Historical Association at http://www.historians.org/pubs/Free/StrengtheningSecondaryTeaching.htm

Reading #3 Thursday, June 25 – Teaching geography

• Excerpts from “Geography for Life: The United States National Georgia Standards” available online at http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/standards/index.html

Reading #4 Tuesday, June 29 – Teaching government **Social Studies Planning Project due **

• “National Standards for Civics and Government” from the Center for Civic Education available at http://www.civiced.org/stds.html
• “What Democracy Means to Ninth-Graders: U.S. Results From the International IEA Civic Education Study” available at http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2001/2001096.pdf

Reading #5 Thursday, July 1 – Teaching economics

• Stephen Buckles and Michael Watts’ article in the Journal of Economic Education titled “National standards in economics, history, social studies, civics, and geography: Complementarities, competition, or peaceful coexistence? available online at http://susan.uits.indiana.edu/jee/pdffiles/spring98/buckles.pdf.

Reading #6 Tuesday, July 6 – Instructional methods ** Political ideology on the Web **

• No Reading

Reading #7 Thursday July 8 – Assessment in social studies

• Moskal, Barbara M. (2000). Scoring rubrics: what, when and how?. Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation, 7(3). Available at http://PAREonline.net/getvn.asp?v=7&n=3  
• Boston, Carol (2002). The concept of formative assessment. Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation, 8(9). Retrieved May 24, 2004 from http://PAREonline.net/getvn.asp?v=8&n=9
• “The Nation's Report Card: U.S. History Highlights 2001 from the National Assessment of Educational Progress” at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pdf/main2001/2002482.pdf. See the full report at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pdf/main2001/2002482.pdf.

Reading #8 Tuesday, July 13 – Social studies and technology: Digital history **Instructional Narrative due **

• Edward Ayers’ essays titled  “The pasts and futures of digital history,” available online at http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/vcdh/PastsFutures.html.
• Browse "The Differences Slavery Made: A Close Analysis of Two American Communities" by William G. Thomas and Edward L. Ayers available online at http://www.vcdh.virginia.edu/AHR/

Reading #9 Thursday, July 15 – Controversial Public Issues in social studies

• Hess, Diana. "Discussing controversial public issues in secondary social studies classrooms: learning from skilled teachers." Theory and Research in Social Education; 30/1 (Winter 2002): 10-41. http://www.lib.usf.edu/ldsu/digitalcollections/T01/journal/v30n01_02winter/010-041.djvu You will need a special plug in software program called Djvu available at http://www.lizardtech.com/ click download and look for the Djvu program listed on the page.

Reading #10 Tuesday, July 20 – Alternative views of social studies

• Stanley, William B. "The Radical reconstructionist rationale for social education." Theory and Research in Social Education; 8/4 (Winter 1981): 55-79 available online at http://www.lib.usf.edu/ldsu/digitalcollections/T01/journal/v08n04_81winter/055-079.djvu (Need DJVU player)
• Cherryholms, Cleo H. "Discourse and criticism in the social studies classroom ." Theory and Research in Social Education; 9/4 (Winter 1982): 57-73 available online at http://www.lib.usf.edu/ldsu/digitalcollections/T01/journal/v09n04_82winter/057-073.djvu (Need DJVU player)
• Leming, James S. "Ideological perspectives within the social studies profession: an empirical examination of the "Two Cultures" thesis." Theory and Research in Social Education; 20/3 (Summer 1992): 293-312 available online at http://www.lib.usf.edu/ldsu/digitalcollections/T01/journal/v20n03_92summer/293-312.djvu

Reading #11 Thursday, July 22 - Education for Democracy

• Parker, Walter C. "Educating democratic citizens: A broad view" and Thornton, Stephen J. "Educating the educators: Rethinking subject matter and methods" from a special Issue of Theory into Practice Issue 40 Volume 1 (Available from the GSU library website - http://www.library.gsu.edu click "Find e-journals" button on the top of the page and locate "Theory into Practice" and click on the full-text option. Issue 40 Volume 1 was published in 2001).
• Patrick, John J. “Essential elements of education for democracy: what are they and why should they be at the core of the curriculum in schools?” Available online at http://www.civiced.org/pdfs/EEOEforDemocracy.pdf

Reading #12 Tuesday, July 27 – No Reading **Historical Inquiry Project due **