Week 6- September 29, 2010

Entry 6: Due: September 29, 2010

Guiding Prompt: Discuss each of the social science disciplines in a way that helps you identify/remember/analyze what makes each important. What are your areas of weakness in regards to these topics? What are your areas of strength? Did you learn SOCIAL STUDIES or SOCIAL SCIENCE in your elementary school days?

In his textbook “Teaching and Learning Elementary Social Studies”, Albert Ellis discusses the different social science disciplines: anthropology, economics, geography, history, sociology, and political science. “Anthropology is the study of culture or the scientific study of human beings” (Ellis). In order to remember this term, I find it helpful to draw a Venn Diagram. In this illustration, I would include different values and types of behaviors, beliefs, traditions, and cultures; this helps me visually see the similarities and differences between individuals and cultures, etc. Economics is the “study of how people choose to use resources” (Ellis). I apply this area of social science to real world situations and experiences in order understanding its significance; for example, I face decisions everyday where I have to decide how to deal with my monetary spending. In doing this, I am deciding what I have to gain and give up. Geography is the “science of place and space” (Ellis). Using maps and visual representations help me to see relationships among areas and locations as well as understanding relativity of specific areas. History “can be defined as the discipline that studies chronological records of events using analytical methods in an attempt to explain their causes” (Ellis). Reading books and textbooks allow me to understand key concepts of the past. I also try and keep up with the news to focus on the present as well. These actions allow me to keep track of the time, continuity, and change of our world. Sociology is the “study of life, social change, and the social causes of human behavior” (Ellis). In simply observing life and how it effects and occurs to different individuals, I am able to understand and analyze sociology’s importance. From these observations, I am able to see different characteristics that distinguish individuals and how these make them different and unique. Lastly, political science is “the study of governments, public policies, and political processes, systems, and political behavior” (Ellis). Through politics taking place in our nation, I am able to understand the fundamental ideas of our American constitutional democracy. Through watching leaders such as Presidents, I am able to see how important power, authority, and governance are. The fundamental values (common good, liberty, justice, equality, and individual dignity) are vital to our successful country. Personally, my strengths include anthropology, sociology, governance, and economics. I find that I am good with understanding and appreciating different people and their different ways of life. I find it easy to understand and remember the importance of power, leadership and authority. I find myself struggling more with the actual area of history and geography. It is difficult to understand and retain the large amount of information read/learned about the past and how we have gotten to where we are. I also need to spruce up my geography skills and learn where locations are in relation to one another. As a teacher, I believe these two areas are vital to successful teaching; thus, I will strive hard to improve my areas of weakness. In my elementary school days, I learned social STUDIES. My teachers really focused on ideas and topics of culture, people, change, civic ideals, etc. The content was really focused on human society, family, and the community. Although the content had potential to be interesting and engaging, I feel as though the elementary school social studies teachers I had lacked enthusiasm which rubbed off on the students. I have always had the mental idea of history and social studies to be boring.