Teaching Approaches in Secondary Social Studies ASYNCHRONOUS SESSION

WEEK 2: Lesson 1: Topic 4: Rationale of Social Studies

INDIVIDUAL WORK #1:
Instruction: Read and understand the text entitled “The Rationale of Social Studies”. Then, answer the worksheet below:

I. Rationale of the New Social Studies

QUESTIONS YOUR ANSWER
PART 1: Exploring the Rationale of the New Social
Studies

1. What is the main goal of Social Studies?

2. Name some important things students should
learn in Social Studies.

3. How do students learn Social Studies? Why is

this important?

4. What subjects does Social Studies include?

5. How can the skills learned in Social Studies
help students in the future?

Part 2: Learning About Social Studies Research

1. Why is it hard for researchers to agree on how
to train new Social Studies teachers?

2. What are the three main things researchers’

study about Social Studies teachers?

Part 4: Applying What You've Learned

1. Choose one thing you learned in Social Studies
and explain why it's important.

2. How would you teach your classmates about

this topic? What activities or discussions
would you include?

II. Paths of New Social Studies

 QUESTIONS YOUR ANSWER
Part 1: Exploring Paths to Teacher Decision-
Making
1. Describe Path One: Preparing to teach content
as a way of influencing teacher decision-
making. What aspects of teacher education
does it focus on?
2. What is the main focus of Path Two? How
does it differ from Path One?
3. Discuss Path Three and its emphasis on the
decision-making of first-year teachers. What
challenges do beginning teachers face
according to this path?
Part 2: Case Studies and Findings
1. Choose one of the case studies mentioned in
the text (e.g., Michigan, New York, Virginia).
Summarize its findings and implications for
teacher education programs.
2. Reflect on Gradwell's study (2006). What did it
reveal about the influence of high stakes
testing on teacher decision-making?
3. Discuss van Hover and Yeager's findings
(2004) regarding the challenges facing
beginning social studies teachers. How do
these challenges impact their instructional
decision-making?
Part 3: Applying Insights to Teaching Practice
1. Imagine you are a teacher educator designing a
program for preservice social studies teachers.
How would you incorporate insights from the
research discussed to promote rationale-based
practice?
 III. Rationales of Social Studies

QUESTIONS YOUR ANSWER

Part 1: Identifying Purposes in Social Studies

1. Choose one rationale (Social Initiation, Social

Reformation, Personal Development, or
Academic Understanding). Explain why you
think it is important in the teaching of social
studies.

2. Discuss which rationale you believe is most

relevant to society today. Why?

Part 2: Applying Rationales to Teaching Practice

1. Imagine you are a social studies teacher.

Which rationale would you prioritize in your
teaching? Why?

2. Brainstorm three classroom activities aligned

with the rationale you chose. How would these
activities help achieve the rationale's goals?

Part 4: Reflecting on the Role of Social Studies

1. Reflect on your own experiences with social

studies education. Which rationale do you
think was most prominent in your schooling?
Why?