How to Increase Content Knowledge As Well As Literacy Skills in the Social Studies'

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How to Increase Content Knowledge As Well As
Literacy Skills in the Social Studies.
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ORIGIN
While teaching in New Orleans, I discovered a
disturbing lack of interest in the social studies
on the part of the students. They made no
effort to connect what they were learning to
their everyday lives. I had been trying to think
of ways to increase interest in the social
studies and I began to wonder if increasing
literacy could be the key.
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QUESTION

• What happens when I try to increase content
  knowledge, and interest, in the social studies by
  increasing literacy?

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METHOD

• Journals
• Independent reading
• Current events articles
• Daily lesson reflection
• Free choice

school.discovery.com/ clipart/clip/journal.html
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JOURNALS

• Students will reflect on what they are learning
  inside and outside the classroom. I will read
  and, occasionally, respond to the entries.

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Independent Reading

• Students shall choose books that connect to the
  class curriculum.
• The books may be of any type so long as they
  represent ideas, themes, or events related to
  social studies.

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Current Events Articles

• Students will be required to read the news or
  watch it on television.
• At least once per week, students are to reflect
  upon these events.

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Daily Lesson Reflection

• Doubling as a method of reteaching, students
  shall reflect upon what they have learned.
• They may also ask questions about what they did
  not understand (or if they would like to learn
  more).

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er.gif
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Free Choice

• Students will write about something that is not
  connected to social studies.
• Have the students write about a common topic.
• Favorite television show.
• Vacation plans.
• Give students the opportunity to write about
  anything that interests them.

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y/homeecon/images/clipart3.gif
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DATA COLLECTION

• Accurate records of assignments.
• Student journal responses.
• Self-reflection concerning what I have read and
  observed with regard to the students.

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SUPPORT

• I hope to collaborate with members of the English
  department to determine if the students are
  showing any growth.
• I will talk with other colleagues who have had
  students utilize journals.

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ness/meetings/meeting1.gif
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ANALYSIS

• Read and organize student reflections.
• Look for trends with regard to understanding as
  well as literacy skills.

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PERMISSIONS

• Inform the administration of my intentions.
• Send home requests of permission to use examples
  from the journals if I create an article from the
  research.

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ion_color.gif
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BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Hubbard, Ruth Brenda Power. 1999. Living the
  Questions A Guide for Teacher-Researchers.
  Portland, ME Stenhouse Publishers.
• . 2003. The Art of Classroom
  Inquiry A Handbook for Teacher-Researchers.
  Portsmouth, NH Heinemann.
• www.middleweb.com/MWLresources/dboval.html
• www.tooter4kids.com/Canaan/reading_response_journa
  ls.htm
• www.world-affairs.org/globalclassroom/curriculum/R
  eadongToLearn2.pdf

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CLIPART CREDITS

• http//.school.discovery.com/ clipart/clip/journal
  .html
• http//school.discovery.com/clipart/images/permiss
  ion_color.gif
• www.clipartreview.com/_gallery/_LG/2984842.jpg
• www.clipsahoy.com/ clipart/as0230.gif
• www.clipsahoy.com/clipart/as1030.gif
• atschool.eduweb.co.uk/fraserburgh.ac/academy/homee
  con/images/clipart3.gif
• personalweb.smcvt.edu/rroling/clipart-teacher.gif
• http//ukclipart.allinfo-about.co.uk/graphics/busi
  ness/meetings/meeting1.gif