Instructional time for elementary social studies decreased dramatically after No Child Left Behind, as schools and districts shifted their focus to math and reading scores. However, there is a growing body of research that indicates that decreased instruction time in social studies has been detrimental to students, especially students of color.
Throughout the year, inquirED will Make The Case for Elementary Social Studies through a series of webinars co-hosted with the National Council for the Social Studies that convene experts in literacy, policy, and curriculum.
Our goal is simple, to demonstrate how social studies instruction can:
Create better readers and writers
Build knowledge crucial for future success
Promote civil discourse and civic engagement
Support culturally responsive teaching by honoring lived and historical experiences
Develop future-ready skills
All resources will be compiled here. We encourage you to attend and Make the Case for Elementary Social Studies in your school or district. #itstimeforsocialstudies
Webinar Schedule
If you aren’t able to attend live webinars, recordings will be sent the day after.
Making Case For Elementary Social Studies: The ELA Connection
Tuesday, October 20th @ 12:00 pm/CST
Explore the latest research on the connection between elementary social studies and improved reading comprehension. Adam Tyner, Associate Director of Research at the Fordham Institute, will join NCSS President Stefanie Wager and inquirED CEO Shanti Elangovan to examine the findings from the Fordham Institute’s latest analysis of data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study. Join this important conversation regarding the power of elementary social studies instruction.
Making Case For Elementary Social Studies: Knowledge Building
Tuesday, November 17th @ 12:00 pm/CST
Join special guest Natalie Wexler, author of The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of America’s Broken Education System—and How to Fix It and inquirED CEO Shanti Elangovan to discuss the role of elementary social studies instruction in building deep background knowledge.
Making Case For Elementary Social Studies: District Leaders
Wednesday, December 9th @ 3:00 pm/CST
Join a panel of district social studies leaders from urban and suburban school districts to explore how they are meeting the need for elementary social studies instruction across their schools. With special guests Heather Van Benthuysen (Director of Social Science and Civic Engagement at Chicago Public Schools) and Tina Ellsworth (K-12 Social Studies Coordinator, Olathe Public Schools; NCSS Board of Directors).
Making the Case for Elementary Social Studies: Social Studies in the Age of Disinformation Tuesday, January 19th @ 3:00pm CT
What is the role of social studies in preventing the spread of misinformation and combating the intentional use of disinformation? Join inquirED CEO Shanti Elangovan as she discusses this topic in conversation with Sam Wineburg, Head of the Stanford History Education Group and the Margaret Jacks Professor of Education at Stanford University.
Making the Case for Elementary Social Studies: Media Literacy in Elementary Social Studies | Wednesday, February 3rd @ 3:00pm CT
Students form their habits of mind in elementary school — and this includes how they interact with, evaluate, and share information. How can schools and districts support teachers as they build elementary students’ media literacy, developing the skills and mindsets they’ll need to make informed decisions in school and throughout their lives? Explore this important topic with host Martin Andrews and special guest Elisabeth Ventiling Simon, Vice President of Learning Experiences at inquirED.
The Case for Elementary Social Studies: Mirrors and Windows: Using Diverse Sources in Social Studies | Wednesday, February 24 @ 3:00pm CT
How can schools and districts support teachers in selecting sources that provide opportunities for students to understand and reflect upon their own identities and the identities of others? Join host Martin Andrews and special guest Cereescia Sandoval, Learning Experience Designer at inquirED, to explore using diverse sources in elementary social studies classrooms.
Resources
Additional resources will be added as they become available.
School reading classes still in slump without more social studies, The Washington Post
Elementary Education Has Gone Terribly Wrong, The Atlantic
How social studies can help young kids make sense of the world, The Hechinger Report
Powerful, Purposeful Pedagogy in Elementary School Social Studies, National Council for Social Studies