Caleb Kigar

Professor Christensen
Social Studies
20 September 2016
Ch. 1 Reading Response
Summary:
The subject of social studies goes beyond the textbook and
memorizing facts, it is more of the study of how to develop and make
informed and reasoned decisions for the public good of a diverse,
democratic society. Social Studies content includes concepts,
generalizations, and facts. The best ideas to use for teaching come
from the period of Progressive Education, but the New Social Studies
continues to innovate. As a result, social studies processes have
followed into these categories: inquiry, thinking, language arts, visual
arts, performing arts, technology, and participatory.
Use as a Future Teacher:
Technology (12). Technology has transformed all aspects of
contemporary life.
The processes (18). The processes are what students should be
able to master as they learn the content.
Authentic Question:
Why is it so tough to come up with a universally accepted definition of
social studies?
Former Assumptions:
I thought that teaching elementary social studies was a necessity that
was certainly a part of the curriculum. I did not know that there was so
much controversy surrounding the content of social studies.