Using found poetry to cultivate student literacy, empathy, and creativity

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 335-348
Author(s):  
Jennifer Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Social Studies ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Primary Sources ◽  
Secondary Classrooms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Historical Empathy ◽  
College Board ◽  
The Arts ◽  
Found Poetry

Purpose The emphasis on primary sources and disciplinary literacy skills in not only the Common Core State Standards, but other national curricula (i.e. College Board exams and the NCSS C3 Framework) requires that teachers continue to find ways to integrate these skills into their elementary and secondary classrooms. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach This paper introduces a cross-disciplinary approach that integrates primary source reading skills and the arts to cultivate student literacy and creativity though the writing of found poems. Findings Found poetry activities based on social studies primary sources allow students to practice literacy skills, engage more deeply with social studies content, and also may encourage the development of historical empathy toward the experiences and perspectives of distant peoples and events. Practical implications After reading and analyzing primary sources, students can create and present their found poems in diverse formats which allows for student expression and creativity in the classroom. Teachers can easily modify found poetry activities to meet the needs of diverse learners. Originality/value This paper fulfills the identified need to increase literacy skills and incorporate more student participation in the classroom. Using the strategy of student-inspired found poems, primary sources become more tangible and meaningful to students. Found poems offer yet another way to integrate the arts into social studies education.

scholarly journals Which Came First: Literacy or Social Studies? How Primary Sources Can Bridge the Divide

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elise Langan ◽  
Salika Lawrence
Keyword(s):  
No Child Left Behind ◽  
Social Studies ◽  
Historical Analysis ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Primary Sources ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Secondary Classrooms ◽  
Instructional Units ◽  
Development Data ◽  
Community Issues

Due to the implementation of No Child Left Behind and the Common Core State Standards, disciplinary literacy has become a vital component of social studies instruction in middle and secondary classrooms. This paper determines the degree to which nine middle and high school social studies teachers were successful in designing integrated learning experiences for their students after attending professional development. Data from semi-structured interviews, teachers’ instructional units, workshop surveys and field notes were collected and analyzed for the qualitative study. The study considers how teachers’ instructional units incorporated primary sources to support students’ foundational literacy skills, scaffolded disciplinary understanding, historical analysis, and highlighted community issues that connected their lived experiences to broader social concerns.

scholarly journals Summer schools in library service at Aberystwyth (1917-1928)

2015 ◽  
Vol 64 (6/7) ◽  
pp. 489-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Mathias
Keyword(s):  
50Th Anniversary ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Primary Sources ◽  
Library Service ◽  
National Library ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The People ◽  
Information Studies ◽  
Summer Schools ◽  
The University

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the courses in library service jointly developed and run by the University and the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth, between 1917 and 1928. Design/methodology/approach – An historical approach is adopted and use has been made of relevant extant primary sources held in the National Library, as well as various notices and reports of the courses published in the journals of the time. Findings – Strong similarities between the Summer Schools in Library Service of 100 years ago and the degree programmes currently offered via distance learning by the Department of Information Studies have been indicated. Research limitations/implications – Due to the nature of the research and the reliance on the survival of primary source material, it has not been possible to trace a complete set of Directors’ Reports, which would have offered greater insight into the content of the later Summer Schools as well as the people who attended these courses. Originality/value – The year 2014 marks the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the College of Librarianship Wales, (which has evolved into the Department of Information Studies at Aberystwyth University). However, the roots of this educational establishment can be traced back nearly 50 years earlier to the University’s Summer Schools in library service. This is a largely unexplored subject but represents the first step towards the establishment of the current Department of Information Studies.

Primary sources, simulations and peanut butter and jelly

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-319
Author(s):  
Melissa A. Chapman ◽  
Miguel Gomez
Keyword(s):  
Social Studies ◽  
Peanut Butter ◽  
Primary Sources ◽  
Historical Inquiry ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Simulation Step ◽  
The Social ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Classroom Simulation

PurposeThis paper seeks to provide instructional methods for using simulations to teach primary and secondary sources within a social studies classroom. Classroom simulations provide students with authentic opportunities to engage in meaningful learning experiences that are both hands-on in nature and promote the use of critical thinking.Design/methodology/approachThis paper opted to describe an approach to teach students about primary and secondary sources through a classroom simulation. Step-by-step instruction was provided via an included table, so that readers can recreate the lesson in their own classrooms.FindingsThis paper offers insights about how simulations can be used to provide students an authentic experience with primary and secondary sources. These experiences include opportunities to critically think about the benefits and limitations that both primary and secondary sources offer students while engaging in historical inquiry.Practical implicationsThis paper is designed for teachers to utilize and replicate in their own social studies classrooms.Originality/valueThis paper recognizes the important role that primary and secondary sources have in the social studies classroom. Through an original approach, using simulations, the authors present a unique perspective on how to teach about primary and secondary sources in a manner that supports historical inquiry.

Exploring exemplars in elementary teacher education

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison Asher Dobrick ◽  
Laura Fattal
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Social Justice ◽  
Social Studies ◽  
Elementary Teacher ◽  
Teacher Candidates ◽  
Teacher Education Programs ◽  
Elementary Teacher Education ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Arts ◽  
The World

PurposeEducators who teach for social justice connect what and how they teach in the classroom directly to humanity’s critical problems. Teacher education at the elementary level must center such themes of social justice in order to prepare today’s teachers to lead their students in developing an understanding of how to make the world a better place to live. The paper aims to discuss this issue.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents three case studies of exemplary, pre-service teacher-created lessons that integrate the arts, social studies, and language arts around themes of social justice. Teacher-candidates envisioned, planned and taught effective, engaging, standards-based learning experiences that began with children’s literature and led to artistic expression.FindingsThrough lessons like these, teacher-candidates learned to meet arts, social studies, and literacy standards while building the skills and attitudes their students need as “citizens of the world.”Research limitations/implicationsElementary teacher education programs can help teacher-candidates to prepare for the challenge of teaching for social justice by integrating the arts with core academic areas, including social studies.Practical implicationsThis integrated model suitably serves our current, mathematics- and literacy-focused, assessment-saturated school system. Pre-service teachers learn to plan and teach integrated learning activities. They learn practical ways to infuse the arts in both their field experience and future classrooms.Social implicationsWhen the arts are central in education, students benefit in numerous important ways, developing critical and creative thinking skills, empathy, self-awareness, and the ability to collaborate with others productively. The arts, essential to humanity since the dawn of civilization, thus serve as a natural focal point for education for social justice.Originality/valueThe innovative methods involved in this study, in which subject areas throughout the elementary teacher education program are integrated in one meaningful, practical, applied lesson on social justice, represent a practical, original, and valuable way to enhance teacher education programs’ focus on social justice.

Pedagogical conditions that promote historical empathy with “The Elizabeth Jennings Project”

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Perrotta
Keyword(s):  
Social Studies ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Source Analysis ◽  
National Council ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Historical Empathy ◽  
Secondary Social Studies ◽  
Historical Figure ◽  
Historical Figures

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine whether or not the implementation of an instructional unit about an underrepresented historical figure, specifically Elizabeth Jennings, titled “The Elizabeth Jennings Project” (EJP) creates conditions conducive for middle and secondary social studies students to demonstrate historical empathy. Design/methodology/approach A case study methodology was selected for this study because the researcher implemented the EJP at one school with a small sample size of participants to assess which pedagogical factors, if any, fostered historical empathy through analysis of an underrepresented historical figure among middle and secondary social studies students. Findings Major findings highlight that active learning pedagogies, such as in-class debate, were effective strategies that promote historical empathy when middle and secondary students examined documents about an underrepresented historical figure. Analysis of the implementation of “The EJP” provides insights about how historical empathy pedagogies can connect to national standards and initiatives such as the Common Core Standards for History/Social Studies and the National Council for the Social Studies College, Career, and Civic Life Framework for middle and secondary social studies. Originality/value Historical empathy refers to deep inquiry in which intellectual and affective responses to content are shaped through source analysis of the actions, motives, perspectives and beliefs of people in the past. Although there are several studies that address pedagogies that promote historical empathy through examinations of famous historical figures, there is limited research concerning whether students display historical empathy by investigating underrepresented historical figures such as Elizabeth Jennings.

Did it count?: Preservice teachers’ reflections on teaching with primary sources

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 280-294
Author(s):  
Deborah Lynn Morowski ◽  
Theresa M. McCormick
Keyword(s):  
Preservice Teachers ◽  
Student Learning ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Field Experiences ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Elementary Classroom ◽  
Primary Sources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose During field experiences, preservice teachers often are asked plan and teach a lesson and then to reflect on their teaching. The purpose of this paper is to examine the guided reflections of 66 preservice teachers after they planned and implemented a primary source-based lesson in an elementary classroom. The project occurred during the preservice teachers’ enrollment in a social studies methods course. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative study utilized a fieldwork approach as the methodological framework. This approach provided data that allowed the researchers to develop a deeper understanding of the preservice teachers’ experiences. Data were analyzed using Bogdan and Biklen’s (1998) content unit of analysis. Descriptive and interpretive coding schemes were used to analyze data using a priori categories of successes and challenges. Findings The preservice teachers were able to engage in technical and practical reflection, considering strategies used in the classroom and their effects on student learning, but they were unable to reflect at the critical level, thinking about moral and ethical decisions. The themes and subthemes that many of the preservice teachers identified as successes, others identified as challenges. Originality/value This study highlights the importance of preservice teachers engaging with primary sources, as well as with frequent, meaningful, and ongoing field experiences. Teacher educators need to provide multiple opportunities for teacher candidates to reflect broadly and deeply on their teaching practice and student learning. Additional research needs to be conducted to assess the impact of preservice teachers use of primary sources in the elementary classroom.

Building a timeless audiovisual collection: libraries and archives as repositories of oral history

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 188-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Marmol Yap ◽  
Agnes Sambalilo Barsaga
Keyword(s):  
Human Memory ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Local History ◽  
Primary Sources ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Standard Industrial Classification ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Arts ◽  
Usual Process

Purpose Oral histories (OHs), as primary sources of information, are used as evidences of the past and inculcate human memory. It is a real testimony of our history. However, OHs are now neglected and somehow unpopular. Strategies must be done to make sure that OH projects should continue to be used as proofs. The purpose of this paper is to go back in time and review the OH in Asia, in the Philippines, and the collection at De La Salle University. Design/methodology/approach This study explores the OH collection of the DLSU Archives. Data are extracted from the Sierra library system. Extracted subjects are arranged alphabetically. They are presented and summarized below. Historical data coming from the correspondences kept at the archives are also used to understand how the collection accumulated and how they are being organized, classified, and used by the patrons. Literature reviews are also consulted to learn more about the background of OH in the Philippines. Findings A total of 176 subjects are identified. These subjects are selected on the basis of the Library of Congress Classification Scheme which is re-categorized according to the Philippine Standard Industrial Classification to identify which type of industry does each OH belong to. The category on professional, scientific and technical activities had 30 LCC-related subjects or 16.95 percent of the total number of subjects, next is 15.25 percent or 27 LCC-related subjects which comes from the arts, entertainment and recreation, and top three is Public Administration and Defense; Compulsory Security with 10.23 percent. Research limitations/implications This paper shares the challenges and experiences of establishing and maintaining OHs. Practical implications The paper presents new ways or initiatives to capture OH other than the traditional and usual process. Social implications Oral interviews are given proper attention as part of the local history. Originality/value There is a scarcity of OH papers written by librarians; therefore, this paper presents the current status of OH in the country.

Digitized historical content for teaching: library of congress primary sources training

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 10-13
Author(s):  
Michelle Kowalsky
Keyword(s):  
Preservice Teachers ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Primary Sources ◽  
College Level ◽  
Library Of Congress ◽  
Multiple Perspectives ◽  
Historical Events ◽  
Digital Collections ◽  
Content Type ◽  
K 12

Purpose This paper aims to teach educators a variety of ways to navigate the digital collections of the Library of Congress, which include primary source materials from the past which can be used to instruct students of all grade levels from elementary through college. Design/methodology/approach Workshops for preservice teachers, practicing teachers and their college-level and librarian counterparts focused on advanced searching skills and pedagogical structures which help students access primary sources and use them as evidence to draw conclusions about historical events in history. Findings Many of the Library of Congress’ holdings have been digitized, described and categorized for ease of access (subject, keyword and metadata descriptors) and for ease of rights management (copyright, ownership and permissions indicated for each digital object). Practical implications Digitized primary sources help students create deeper understandings of historical events and periods and allow for multiple perspectives on the same events, thus teaching students valuable skills in drawing conclusions based on primary and secondary information sources. Originality/value Online collections from the Library of Congress are free for use by teachers, students and the general public, and the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources program makes available free training for teachers in how to use the materials, as well as provides lesson plans, project ideas and thematic units for use in K-12 schools and beyond.

Fourth-graders' reading, thinking, and writing about historical sources

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-82
Author(s):  
John H. Bickford ◽  
Jeremiah Clabough ◽  
Tim N. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Civil Rights ◽  
Social Studies ◽  
English Language ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Primary Sources ◽  
Elementary Grades ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Elementary Social Studies ◽  
Secondary Sources

PurposeElementary classroom teachers can infuse social studies into the curriculum by integrating history, civics and English/language arts. Elementary teachers can bundle close reading, critical thinking and text-based writing within historical inquiries using accessible primary sources with engaging secondary sources.Design/methodology/approachThis article reports the successes and struggles of one fourth-grade teacher's theory-into-practice interdisciplinary unit. The month-long, history-based inquiry integrated close readings of primary and secondary sources to scaffold and refine students' text-based writing about the oft-ignored interconnections between two Civil Rights icons who never met.FindingsFindings included the import of historical inquiries within the elementary grades, students' abilities to scrutinize and extract meaning from dozens of sources and the value of revision for text-based writing, particularly its impact on the clarity, criticality and complexity of students' writing.Originality/valueThe inquiry's length, use of repeated readings, bulk of curricular resources and integration of revision are each comparably unique within the elementary social studies research literature.

Experiencing historical empathy's humanizing lenses: adolescents' interpretative flights

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherri Colby
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Second World War ◽  
Primary Sources ◽  
World War ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Historical Empathy ◽  
The Past ◽  
Historical Figures ◽  
Second World ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeDefined as perceiving the past via the lens of former peoples, historical empathy engenders rich cognitive and affective understandings. Drawing on Ricoeur's hermeneutics (1981, 2004), this paper departs from previous work on historical empathy by conceiving empathy as dialogically mediated by sociocultural and narrative perceptions.Design/methodology/approachThis hermeneutic phenomenology explores eight adolescents' engagements with primary sources from the Second World War.FindingsThis study reveals the power of empathy to draw the students into the past and to investigate sources. Alternately, the students struggled with fanciful elaborations and overidentifications with historical figures.Practical implicationsCultivating wise judgments begins with accepting the inherent link between students' historicity and historical empathy and then teaching students to wisely interpret.Originality/valueThis study broadens historical empathy's framework to include Ricoeur's hermeneutic philosophies of narrative and history.

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