Social Studies for Secondary Schools: Teaching to Learn, Learning to Teach

by Alan J. Singer

Now in its 4 th edition, this popular text for secondary social studies methods courses integrates discussions of educational goals and the nature of history and social studies with ideas for organizing social studies curricula, units, lessons, projects, and activities. A major theme throughout is that what teachers choose to teach and the way they teach reflect their broader understanding of society, history, and the purpose of social studies education. Advocating an inquiry and activity-based view of social studies teaching that respects the points of view of students and teachers, and based in practice and experience, it offers systematic support and open, honest advice for new teachers.

Each chapter addresses a broad question about social studies education; sub-chapters begin with narrower questions that direct attention to specific educational issues. Lesson ideas and materials in the book and online are especially designed to help new teachers to address common core learning standards, to work in inclusive settings, and to promote literacy and the use of technology in social studies classrooms. Chapters include highlighted Learning Activities, Teaching Activities, nd Classroom Activities designed to provoke discussion and illustrate different approaches to teaching social studies, and conclude with recommendations for further reading and links to on-line essays about related social studies topics. Activities are followed by four "Think it over," "Add your voice to the discussion," "Try it yourself," and "It’s your classroom." All of these are supported with online teaching material. Designed for undergraduate and graduate pre-service social studies methods courses, this text is also useful for in-service training programs, as a reference for new social studies teachers, and as a resource for experienced social studies educators who are engaged in rethinking their teaching practice.

New in the Fourth Edition

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 25, 2014

Reviews

[Caleb Lagerwey · Rating 4 out of 5]

While better than Duplass' The Essence of Teaching Social Studies: Methods for Secondary and Elementary Teacher Candidates, this book still felt a bit outdated at times. Part of that is due to its 2014 publication date--many of the resources in the resources chapter are fairly outdated and Singer himself admits little interest in technology--but even that date should have enabled Singer to incorporate the C3 Framework published by the NCSS in 2013. Since that forms a critical foundation of much of contemporary Social Studies teaching, its absence is conspicuous.

Singer is admirably upfront about his progressive biases, but I would have appreciated more recognition and discussion of how some of the more activist suggestions would not work in some other contexts. I appreciated him sharing his ideas, of course, but more discussion would have given readers more ideas and information about how to apply Singer's stories to their contexts.

Singer has useful practical advice, especially for planning units, lessons, and activities. I appreciated the depth and breadth of that coverage. He gives sound and practical advice. Like the Duplass book, I was disappointed with the lack of engagement with more recent History Education scholarship or important scholars like Seixas, VanSledright, Reisman, Nokes, Fogo, Breakstone, De La Paz, Monte-Sano, Felton, etc. Perhaps that is Singer' prerogative in a general textbook that is Social Studies-focused, but those shortcomings were indicative of a general frustration with the book and its applicability to Social Studies teachers. I would advise instructors who assign this book to supplement with Nokes' Building Students' Historical Literacies: Learning to Read and Reason with Historical Texts and Evidence.

[R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Singer definitely has a bias but I found a lot of the material helpful for lesson planning and how to possible construct lessons.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit repetitive at times, but some interesting ideas to chew on.