Week 2- September 2, 2010

Entry 2: Due: September 2, 2010

Guiding Prompt: Reflect on your thoughts from the text readings this week (i.e. Ch. 13). What stood out to you as a learner? As a future educator of social studies content? Any surprises?

As a whole, I found that our assigned reading from this week was somewhat of a review. Last fall, I took EDU 255 (Child Lit.) with Dr. Duncan. In our class, we focused on the importance of reading in the lives of children. I was truly able to take the information I read in chapter 13 of our social studies text and relate/connect it to my prior knowledge from EDU 255. This chapter talked a lot about the importance of literacy and gave it a ‘social studies twist.’ I also was reminded that being literate doesn’t mean just being able to read and write. According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, the first part of the definition of literate is “educated, cultured.” It then goes on to say “able to read and write” (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literate). From this, one may see the importance of education and knowledge in being “literate.” As a future educator of social studies content, I hope to really give my students a thirst for knowledge in history. History information has a tendency to be boring, lengthy, and well….boring. In order to change this, I hope to provide the information to my students in a fun way that will make them coming back for more! For example, picture books can be used often to help students (and adults) understand history in a fun, easy, and creative way. Another fun activity for older students (3rd-5th grade) would be a scrapbook project. In this year long project, students would have different dates throughout the year for certain pages due. This would require students to go out into the world and find different history related items. For example, one page would be a “famous historical site.” For this page, students could visit The Governor’s Mansion, Historic Oakwood (Victorian neighborhood in Raleigh), and many more. In this assignment, each student would take a picture of his or her location/item and write a paragraph on it (history, description, and facts). I think this would be a great assignment in that it requires students to go out and learn about history first-hand (rather than a book or worksheet). Because social studies was my least favorite subject in elementary school, I am determined to make it different for my future students! I hope to produce literate students that are bursting at the seams with knowledge.

Week 1- August 25, 2010

Entry 1: Due: August 25, 2010

Topic: What are your reactions to the design of this course? Excited, nervous, apprehensive, overwhelmed? What are your goals for yourself as a learner of social studies this semester?

I attended my first class of EDU 358 tonight. In all honesty, I left the room very overwhelmed; there was a lot of information to take in. History has always been my least favorite subject which makes me nervous in taking this course. However, I am excited to learn how to teach this material in a fun way for my future students. I want to inspire children to have a thirst for history and knowledge. I really like the design of this course. I like how there are assignment options to choose from; the layout inspires independence and creativity. Being able to choose which assignments to complete allows each student to pick a project she is most passionate about. As a learner of social studies this semester, I want to be able to identify all the states of the United States of America on a map. As a future educator, I believe it is imperative to know where places are located. I also want to be fully engaged and interested in the material rather than simply memorize it long enough to earn a good grade. Overall, I am excited to take this course and have another chance in learning and appreciating social studies in the elementary level.