Social Studies

The third grade team at LeRoy alternates units between social studies and science. Typically they spend a month on each unit. When I first began my clinical experience in Traci’s classroom they were starting a social studies unit on explorers. Me being the history buff I am really enjoyed this and jumped right into the activities. It was fun to teach the kids more of the history component to social studies because that is my passion. I had my explorer lesson all set to go but unfortunately was unable to teach it.

When I got back they were already done with the unit on explorers. They were working on taking their ISAT. After testing had finished the third grade team has bow started introducing the topic of simple machines. This was good and bad for me because I could no longer teach my explorer lesson. However, I did get to teach my science lesson on the lever.

After talking with Traci we have decided that when she moves from the simple machines unit to the famous inventors unit covering the social studies end that this will be a perfect time for me to teach my lesson. I am going to teach on April 25^th at 10 am. I haven’t decided if I want to teach my lesson on Ben Franklin or Thomas Edison. However, I know that with either inventor I can plan some fun historical interactive lessons.

I am really excited to teach this lesson because history is a passion of mine. I originally was a history secondary education major. This is why I love our class because I think it is vital to teach students about the past and how we can learn from our mistakes.

Last semester I was at Tri- Valley in Downs. It hard for me to compare the two social studies units to say if one is better then the other. At Tri-Valley they were not interactive and fun like at LeRoy. It was more work sheet based, writing and reading.

Overall, I think LeRoy does a good job encompassing social studies into their teaching. I don’t know if I like how they alternate between science and social studies monthly. Where at Tri- Valley they alternated science and social studies every other day.  Honestly, I am so unsure of my feelings on the two situations that I can’t give either a fair assessment at this point. I think they both have great qualities, I know once I teach everyday I will a better understanding of what I prefer and what I don’t prefer.

Honestly, I think Traci does a great job teaching about the past and is sensitive to every child and their backgrounds, Traci always makes sure to tell her students before she begins a lesson and says that if at any time they feel uncomfortable to put their head down on the table. This way she will know to stop the conversation. This was a great learning experience for me because all students should feel safe in their classroom otherwise they won’t want to learn. That is the last thing any educator wants. Traci knowing this deters any negative feelings from happening. History is one of those topics that can be had for others, which is why I believe many schools try to ignore it all together which doesn’t do any good. Children need to know about the past because they are our future.

My question for Traci is. I want to know what her teaching philosophy is when it comes to social studies in general?