Philosophy of Social Studies

To me, teaching social studies is not limited to teaching students about history and
government from a textbook, it is about teaching students to be socially literate and to develop
critical thinking and problem solving skills to participate in our ever-changing world. In order for
students to grow physically, cognitively, and socially, social studies is essential in facilitating
this development. My classroom will be composed of diverse learners with a wide range of
abilities. Every student has the right to be socially literate; learning social studies should not be
about privilege. It is my goal to use social studies as an instrument for social change and social
justice. I will utilize the following principles to achieve this goal:

I believe:

• Social studies should aid students in seeing issues from multiple perspectives to examine
the world around them and to experience benefits of diversity.
• Social studies should facilitate students’ development of positive social identities and of
becoming tolerant and respectful of peoples’ differences.
• Social studies should support students in acquiring knowledge about people that make up
a community and realize that they are part of a larger community too.
• Social studies should encompass a curriculum that is value-based, meaningful,
challenging, active, and integrative, which contains culturally relevant texts, where
students can see themselves and others in the text to examine diversity.
• Social studies should contain interactive classroom activities, like simulations, role
playing, inquiry, and discussions, to make the content come to life.
• Students should receive exposure to current events to help them grasp the world as it is.
• Social studies should prepare students with the skills and knowledge to become better
citizens, by building empathy, respect, understanding, and connections.
• Social studies can facilitate students in learning how to have productive conversations
when disagreements arise and to recognizing their responsibility to stand up to injustice.
• Students can learn how to appropriately cope with and handle real life situations through
social studies instruction.

In conclusion, it is my desire to influence students to leave me better than before they met
me. To facilitate each of my diverse learners towards reaching their full potential, I will
implement the listed principles. This philosophy will support my goal of using social studies as a
tool for social change and social justice among my students, by aiding them with developing
critical thinking and problem solving skills needed to participate in our world.