Best Things To Implement

1. The website All About Explorers surprised me to realize that the

information on the website all incorrect on purpose. Using this
website, students can be taught about how to research, what to
use researching, and how to evaluate if a source is a viable or
reliable source.
2. In Zarillos book, the chapter about Inquiry and Critical Thinking
has a section on cooperative group learning. Zarillo uses the
example of Gallenstein in 2000. In his model there are six stages
of group investigation. This model is important to know so
students can learn how to work as a group and follow the steps
to having a successful group investigation
a. Identify the question to be investigated and organize the
group
i. Teacher and decide if the topic can be better
answered by dividing the investigation into subtopics
b. Plan the investigation
i. Students decide what each member of the group will
do, what resources theyll need, and an outline of
what they are going to do.
c. Carry out the investigation
i. Groups gather information and compare with other
members of their individual groups
d. Prepare for the final report
i. Construct a report of their findings
e. Present the final report
i. The presentation should be edited and
comprehensive
f. Evaluate
i. Each member of the group evaluates their own
experiences
3. Performing arts are essential for students to experience
differentiated learning. In social studies, the arts can provide
alternatives fro the presentations of social studies, can help with
cultural studies, and students can express what they have
learned in various artistic ways.
4. Incorporating personal experiences is what helps students
connect with the social studies content. Often times, the cultural
differences among the students can also provide alternative
viewpoints and perspectives. No two students are the same, so
controversial topics will be interpreted in many ways, which
could be a discussion in it of itself.
5. Learning democratic citizenship is essential for students because
knowing about the system of government the United States is in
is as the foundation of how it progresses over time. Most will say

it is the number one goal of social studies. It is education for

diversity and helps students learn about the pluralism in the
United States.
6. Historical thinking skills, chronological thinking, historical
comprehension, historical analysis and interpretation, and
historical research capabilities are all concepts students should
know as the begin to become involved in more researching
throughout their academic life. Knowing how to think in different
skills like the ones mentioned before can set the foundations to
students knowing how to develop perspectives, not being biased,
and how to distinguish time.
7. Classrooms should have a classroom constitution or rules that
should include the students. Students should feel represented
and a part of the structure of the class and creating a
constitution is a way for them to do so. That way, we can follow
the steps to becoming a successful and effective citizen.
8. The three-step interview process is a learning structure that
maximizes student participation.
a. Students break into groups of four with a provoking
question given to everyone.
b. Students work with a partner where one is the interviewer
and one is the interviewee
c. The students ask questions to the interviewee and follow
up questions for them
d. Students switch roles and repeat
e. The group of four reconvenes and each student shares
their answer
9. Adapting materials to help students understand the content
better is a concept I would like to remember. Not all students
work best by going through the textbook, but by other methods.
The purpose of teaching is so the students can learn the content,
not cover everything in the book in one year. All units and many
lessons should include as many possible materials and activities
as it can to cover all the students learning processes.
10.
I want to remember to use journals. Journals are ongoing
summaries of what the students think, what they know, and
what they need help on. Therefore, it is a way to keep track of
how students progress throughout the activity, unit, and year.