Social Studies Methods Instruction in Teacher Education Program

Social Studies Methods Instruction in Teacher Education Program engages practitioners in a deeper understanding of the nature, scope and the purpose of the social studies as a method course in the program. A fair amount of the content is drawn upon ideas and insights gained from extensive reading of literature pertaining to social studies. However, the bulk of the content in this book is based on and informed by my combined personal and professional lived experiences as a student in elementary social studies methods classroom, as a developer of social studies methods curriculum, as faculty and supervisor of pre service teachers of social studies in K-12 classrooms for several semesters within a teacher education and professional development program at Central Michigan University. The book uses a unique pedagogic approach to social studies methods instruction in Teacher education programs at higher education level. The approach is not only to help practitioners gain a deeper understanding but also to be able to articulate their understanding of the nature and scope, the purpose and the methodology by reflecting on 3 questions: What: What are social studies? Why: Why we teach it? How: How to teach Social Studies? Based on my experiences in classroom teaching social studies methods, I strongly believe that deeper understanding and reflective practice are key dispositions Necessary for sound and effective instructional decision making in a social studies method classroom to benefit students‘ learning and growth into effective reflective practitioners themselves before stepping in K-12 classrooms to teach social studies. The book is published both online (e-book) and paper back formats to make it affordable and accessible to Social Studies Methods faculty and pre service teachers in Teacher Education Programs in Higher Education, In service Teacher Training Schools, in service teachers in Public K-12 schools.