Date:

8/30/16

Name: Joseph Mysyk

Class/Subject: EDTL 2760 1001

MR Title(s): Why Kids Dont Like Social Studies:

MR Source(s): Schug, M., Todd, R., & Beery. R. (1984). Why kids don't like social studies. Social Education,
48(5), 382-387.
Page #
1,
Paragraph
1.

The Text Says

It is apparent that if social studies is not perceived by
young people as not being valuable, then learning
social studies will be adversely affected.

2,
Paragraph:
Results
and
Discussion

48% of the students, with an even split between

elementary and secondary students, said that the
reason for their choice was base in future careers
(either in Math, English, Reading, or Science fields).

3, second
to last
paragraph

Social studies is not perceived as a particularly

enjoyable subject, it is seldom mentioned as
important, and it is not considered especially

I Say
Social studies has been taught the same way for many years.
This is sitting in a class room taking notes and listening to a
teacher talk throw massive amounts of information at
students in short periods of time. While the information is
very interesting and important for students to learn, this
format of teaching tends to bore students and make them
forget the whole reason why they are learning this subject.
So instead of coming to class every day eager to learn about
the history of the world, students come in thinking of the
hand craps they are going to receive from taking so many
notes. This format needs to be changed for then students are
more engaged and excited to learn.
While there are more careers in these other fields students
do not understand or are even run aware of the many careers
that can come from learning social studies. I feel that the sis
something that teachers need to emphasize when teaching
social studies. Most students think that they are taught
social studies just for then they know thing that happened in
the past. This is not true, students knew that social studies
could land them many successful and import jobs, such as
being involved in politics in one way or another, they would
have a bigger interest in landing a career in this field.
Social studies is different in many ways compared to other
subject in the degree of difficulty. it cannot be compared to
math because these are two entirely different subjects. But

difficult.

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paragraph
4

5, last
paragraph

6, last
paragraph

One-fifth of students were not interest in repeating

information they had learn earlier

Another set of students mentioned a desire to do

more creative work. (In creative writing, you can
write what you feel like and use your imagination)

Student responses clearly suggests that more active

learning experiences and greater variety in teaching
methods and greater variety in teaching methods are
ways social studies instruction could be improved.

social studies may be seemed as less enjoyable because in

math you have to work out complex equations that can be
seen as interesting, while in social studies it mostly consists
of the students listening to lectures. To make this subject
more enjoyable there needs to be more activities and group
work to make the students get engaged in what they are
learning
This is a problem in the format of social studies. A lot of
information is repeated throughout grades 6-12. It seems
that every year I some way or another the same information
is getting taught to students. If less of the same information
is taught every year then students may have more of an
interest in social studies because they will be learning things
that they have been taught in previous years. Also this
would allow teachers to cover broader and more complex
topics throughout the year, helping the students gain a wider
knowledge of information pertaining to social studies.
This is actual a very interesting thing that could be
implemented in social studies. Doing things such as having
students pick someone throughout history and have them do
creative writing as the person that they picked, or having
various things such as this. This could allow student to be
more creative in social studies and maybe find it more
enjoyable, while having them learn even more about a
specific topic. I will definitely do something like this when I
become a social studies teacher because I think this will be
very enjoyable for the students.
The format for which social studies has been taught for
many years needs to change. Students going to class and
listing to their teachers lecture while they take notes is not
working. Students are bored of this format and they are not
happy with learning the same information over and over
again. The information needs be spread out and not be
covered every year. Also teachers need to get more involved
with their students and have more fun activities to engage

their student in what they are learning. There needs to be

more group activities and creative writing type projects to
make social studies a more enjoyable subject that students
are eager to learn.
Connections to previous MR:
In my experience I had only one good social studies teacher and that was my government teacher senior year. This teacher made
class fun and interesting and she is the reason that I want to become a government teacher. Instead of lecture to us while we took
notes, like every other social studies teacher that I ever had, she would always make us get involved in what we were learning. We
would do thing such as get in groups and make polls based off our current government and we would want around the school
asking other students their opinions. My favorite part was that every Friday we would have a class debate completely lead but the
students. I plan on being this type of teacher that allows students total charge of what they are learning.
I do believe in the authors findings. This is because I have experienced everything that the students that were interviewed had. I
agreed with the students that social studies can be a very boring and repetitive subject. And I agree with the authors that the way
social studies is taught needs to be changed and fast!