MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE NEWBURGH, 12550 DIVISION OF

ED 3411 Social Studies Methods Fall 2008

Dr. Frances R. Spielhagen Office Phone: 569-3532 Email: [email protected]

COURSE DESCRIPTION This course is designed to give an overview of methods, materials, and curriculum for teaching social studies and interdisciplinary connections in keeping with New York State Learning Standards. Students will focus on unit and curriculum development through lesson development and a variety of teaching approaches. This will include individualized and student-centered approaches to instruction and adaptation for students with disabilities. Consideration will be given to the integration of technology for teaching. Field work is required.

Pre-requisite: A grade of C+ or better in ED 3331. Co-requisite: ED 3201.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS • Course content will be developed through student discussions, individual student presentations, lecture, and on-line class sessions. • Readings (in the required text as well as supplementary articles and online sources) will be assessed through quizzes and class discussion. • Each student will develop at least five lesson plans demonstrating knowledge of various instructional models and the use of educational technology. Plans will follow MSMC lesson format and be assessed by the MSMC Lesson Plan Rubric. • Written assignments must be DOUBLE SPACED/FONT 12 (Times New Roman preferred.) Proofread your work very carefully. All work must demonstrate a high standard of English language proficiency. • Attendance at class meetings is mandatory. Unexcused absences will impact the student’s final grade. Class discussions will be enhanced by Moodle online sessions. Students are also expected to participate in these online course sessions and discussions..

1 FIELD EXPERIENCES Field experiences allow teacher-candidates to apply the skills learned in this course and to engage in self-evaluation, interaction with young people, and observation by the course instructor. Dates for field experiences will be announced in class as soon as arrangements are finalized with cooperating schools. This is a serious course responsibility. You must attend all fieldwork sessions. If you cannot attend a session, you must notify both the teacher and the professor and make up the session on another date.

OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

OBJECTIVE INTASC ASSESSMENT STANDARDS Tools 1. Develop lessons with appropriate 7-12 Lesson Plans content that are aligned with state and Standard # 1 Lesson Activities national standards. Micro-Teaching Fieldwork

2. Describe the role of assessment in Assignment teaching in contemporary classrooms. Standards Test # 8, 5 Lesson Plans

3. Integrate technology effectively in lesson Test planning and instruction by: Standards Lesson Plans • Identifying on-line sources #1, 4, 7 Lesson Activities • Using appropriate software and Micro-Teaching other technologies Fieldwork

4. Plan and implement appropriate teaching Test strategies and activities that promote active Lesson Plans learning in all students. Standards Lesson Activities Micro-Teaching # 2, 3, 7 Fieldwork

5. Develop Lesson Plans using the Mount MSMC LESSON PLAN Saint Mary Lesson Plan Format to include Standards RUBRIC the elements in MSMC Lesson Plan Rubric Lesson Activities use a variety of instructional strategies. # 1, 2, 3, 4 Micro-Teaching Fieldwork

6. Be aware of professional SOCIAL Professional Portfolio STUDIES and pedagogical journals and Standard web sites that can provide information on ANNOTATED current research and instructional #9 BIBLIOGRAPY approaches.

2 7. Be aware of local, state, and national Standard Professional Portfolio organizations of SOCIAL STUDIES educators. Join one organization. #9 Folder with organizations’ information and membership application.

8. Attend at least one meeting of Standard Submission of date/time of professional SOCIAL STUDIES educators. meeting, agenda, and #9 handouts (if available)

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Attendance is required. Regular and punctual attendance is a component of the final grade. If you cannot attend a particular class, you must notify the professor by calling the Education Division at 569-3532 prior to your absence to request an excused absence. Failure to contact the professor will result in an unexcused absence and impact your final grade. Tests and other graded activities may be “made up” solely at the discretion of the professor. More than two absences will be regarded as a serious loss of instructional time. If you have unexplained absences, your name must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office for investigation into your status in accordance with college policy.

ASSIGNMENTS

Due dates for assignments are listed in the course outline and may be modified in class according to the needs of the class. Assignments must be submitted on time. If you cannot attend class on the date the assignment is due, that assignment must be delivered to the Division of Education, Hudson Hall, no later than 3:00 p.m. on the due date. At the discretion of the professor, late assignments may or may not be accepted. For late assignments that are accepted, a minimum reduction of one grade will be assessed, e.g., B+ will become B.

Written assignments must be DOUBLE SPACED/FONT 12 (Times New Roman preferred.) Proofread your work very carefully. All work must demonstrate a high standard of English language proficiency. Please note the Division of Education Policy Regarding Written Assignments explained below. Keep a copy of every written assignment you submit. Students are advised to observe standard computer back-up procedures for all work, both when it is in process and when it is completed. Assignments that are accepted via email must also be submitted in hard copy at the next class session.

3 Division of Education Policy Regarding Written Assignments

In an effort to increase the professional quality of student writing, the Division of Education has implemented the following policy in all certification courses:

In grading any work submitted by a candidate, if the instructor identifies five or more errors in spelling (including apostrophes), grammar, and/or sentence construction, the instructor will discontinue reading that work and will return it to the candidate with a grade of zero. At the discretion of the instructor, the candidate may correct the document and resubmit it once (only). In this case, the candidate may receive no more than the equivalent of 73% on the document, receiving a lower grade if otherwise warranted. This grade will be final for the document. (This policy does not apply to work written in class, such as on a test.)

EVALUATION

Grades will be based on: • Lesson plans • Written assignments (including quizzes and tests as needed.) • Performance in field situations • Class discussions and presentations • Professionalism expressed in attendance and punctuality in class and fieldwork, as well as timely completion of work.

Grading percentages: 25% Class assignments (written work, discussions, tests, quizzes, professionalism) 25% Fieldwork (preparation, planning, performance: fieldwork observation, journal, log) 50% Lesson planning

Failure to complete the fieldwork assignment satisfactorily will result in a grade of “F” on the fieldwork component.

Grading Scale A 93-100 **** A- 90-92 B+ 87-89 **** B 83-86 **** B- 80-82 C+ 77-79 **** C 73-76 **** C- 70-72 D+ 67-69 **** D 63-66 F 0-62

OFFICE HOURS Office hours will be posted in the Education Division. Please sign up at least one day in advance of the requested time.

REQUIRED TEXT and Materials: Handbook for Teaching Social Studies by James W. Stockard, Jr. New York State Learning Standards for Social Studies.

4 ED 3411 Social Studies Methods (Grades 7-12) Dr. Spielhagen Fall, 2008

ASSIGNMENTS A specific calendar of assignments will be distributed showing the readings and activities for each week and the due dates for all written work. This calendar is subject to change according to the needs of the class. Below are explanations of the major assignments of the class.

1. Reflective Essay Due: Friday, August 29, 2008

You have decided to become a teacher in a specific content area. It is likely that some teacher has turned you on to the goal of being a teacher and/or to that content area. As you embark on this course, it is important that you recall the role models you had as a student. In a well-written essay of 3 – 5 pages, describe a teacher you had in grades 7-12, reflect on her/his effectiveness in the classroom, and tell why s/he has made such an impression on you. Some questions you might consider: • How did that teacher display a passion for learning? • How did that teacher exhibit knowledge of the content area? • How did that teacher engage the class in the lessons of each day (select a few strategies you remember)? • How did that teacher organize her/his classroom? • How did the teacher relate to the students as people? Your goal is to capture this person on paper so that s/he comes alive for the reader. The questions above are merely suggestions. You can add anything else that brings the teacher to life in your memory.

2. Regents Analysis Due: Monday, September 8, 2008

Take either of the New York State Global Studies exams. (You can find them online at www.nysed.gov.) Summarize the skills and content assessed on the Regents exam you took. Skim another exam to see if the expectations are consistent on both exams. Compare those expectations to the New York State Standards for the content area you will teach.

3. LESSON PLANS Due: Various dates throughout the semester.

Each student is responsible for creating AT LEAST five lesson plans that will derive from the unit developed in ED 3331. The construction of these lesson plans is a critical element of the course content and will be discussed in class. All plans will be collected. Three will be accepted for a grade. The teacher- candidate will also design and teach at least one lesson in the fieldwork classroom. All lessons must use the Mount Saint Mary College Lesson Template and will be graded using the standard MSMC lesson rubric, which will be discussed at length in class.

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4. Fieldwork Observation Journal contains several components, listed below. These must be compiled into a folder and submitted no later than December 1, 2008.

The following components must be included:

9 Reflection Entries Due: Alternate Fridays throughout the semester Write five targeted observations regarding the methods aspects of your fieldwork experience. Date and list the topic for each journal entry. This is an opportunity to evaluate what you observe according to information you have gained from the readings of the course and class discussions. Therefore, you are expected to reference those sources in your journal entries. Suggested prompts: • The teacher’s classroom management procedures as affecting instruction. • Classroom dynamics: student interaction, their responses to you, the teacher, how they respond when your instructor comes in to observe you; • Individual students and their styles, the ways in which they approach learning; • Discipline challenges – what they were and how the teacher handled them; • Planning your lessons: your fears and concerns; • Executing your lessons: How did the class respond? What would you change? 9 Completed observation rubric signed by the sponsoring fieldwork teacher. 9 **Completed and signed student teaching checklist. 9 **Signed and dated fieldwork log (dates and times noted) ** Submit originals of these to Mrs. Brauer. Place copies in your folder. Keep copies for yourself.

5. Professional Portfolio Due: Monday, December 1, 2008

Teacher candidates must compile a folder of portfolio materials they have created and gathered through this course. A professional portfolio is an essential tool when applying for teaching positions. Basic portfolio components from this course include: 9 **Evidence of your membership in a professional organization 9 **Evidence of attendance at a professional meeting in your content area 9 Annotated bibliography of relevant journals and websites for your content area. 9 At least one other portfolio item. (A separate item sheet will be distributed containing other possible portfolio components and the additional specific requirements of the portfolio for this course. You will be able to select from the items on that list.) ** Submit originals of these to Mrs. Brauer. Place copies in your folder. Keep copies for yourself.

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