Pre-service Elementary School Teachers’ Reflection Before, During and After Their Social Studies Teaching Demonstration: Focusing on the Development of Instructional Design Competency

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-117
Author(s):  
Su-Ryong Lee
Keyword(s):  
Elementary School ◽  
Instructional Design ◽  
Social Studies ◽  
Elementary School Teachers ◽  
School Teachers ◽  
Social Studies Teaching

“I like […] different time periods:” elementary teachers’ uses of historical fiction

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-97
Author(s):  
Kristy A. Brugar ◽  
Annie McMahon Whitlock
Keyword(s):  
Elementary School ◽  
Social Studies ◽  
Language Arts ◽  
Elementary School Teachers ◽  
Historical Fiction ◽  
State Standards ◽  
Fifth Grade ◽  
School Teachers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Social Studies Instruction

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how and why teachers use historical fiction in their classroom (e.g. selection and instruction) through the lenses of their pedagogical content knowledge (Shulman, 1986) and pedagogical tools (Grossman et al., 1999). Design/methodology/approach The authors explored the following questions: In what ways do elementary school teachers, more specifically fifth grade teachers responsible for early US history as part of their social studies curriculum, use historical fiction in their classrooms? and What factors do elementary school teachers consider when they select historical fiction to use in their classrooms? In order to explore these questions, the authors interviewed eight fifth grade teachers. The authors describe the ways in which these teachers use historical fiction as part of their social studies instruction by employing collective case study (Stake, 1994). Findings This study has reified this notion that historical fiction is widely used by fifth grade teachers. The authors identified that these teachers are choosing texts that allow them to integrate their language arts and social studies instruction in effective and engaging ways. Many participants described choosing the texts purposefully to address social studies standards during their language arts time. Despite many of these teachers using prescribed curricula for language arts instruction and following state standards for social studies, the teachers in this study felt free to make curricular decisions related to integration. Most importantly, when given this freedom, they chose to integrate purposefully with quality texts. Research limitations/implications The primary limitation of this research study is the small sample size (n=8). However among the eight teacher participants, there are two states are represented, varied teaching contexts (e.g. departmentalized, self-contained classrooms), and many years of classroom social studies teaching experience. Originality/value The Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (CCSS) (Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Governors Association, 2010) have prompted teachers to present both informational text and literature in equal balance in upper elementary grades. Little research has been done in the last decade about the ways in which historical fiction addresses these standards.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document