Meeting the Literacy Demands of the 21st Century Through Inquiry David T. Kendrick Steven Bilski Molly Kendrick Madison County Middle School Comer, GA

Why Teach Social Studies?

Common Core demands effective communication Reading Writing Speaking

States wants Social Studies teachers to: Engage learners in powerful literacy experiences Take on a more dynamic role in literary instruction. This can be achieved through inquiry- based instruction in the middle grades.

Present a clear understanding of how to integrate the new Common Core Standards by: Utilizing reading and writing techniques to promote literacy within the social studies/history discipline. Objectives:

Offer guidance to help implement research-based strategies from the language arts content-area Introduce Literary Circles to facilitate active, student-driven analysis of both primary and secondary sources. Objectives:

Literature Circles are frequently used in English/Language Arts classrooms They are means of : Promoting active analysis. Discussion of the text by the students themselves. What are literature circles?

“Active, frequent engagement in meaningful discussions not only promotes learning of the skills and substance of a particular subject but fosters an environment of tolerance, critical thinking, and democratic spirit.” Deborah Meier What are literature circles?

In order for literature circles to function well and for the students to be successful participants in inquiry-based discussions, we, the teachers, must have a clear idea of the key components of functioning literature circles. What are literature circles?

Text Selection - Most important component of effective literature circles. The text cannot be too complex The text cannot be too simplistic What are literature circles?

Since the text is at the heart of the discussion, it is appropriate to spend some time considering various features of each text that is selected for use. What are literature circles?

If you are uncertain as to how complex a text is or to what reading level it might belong, you can access a free leveling program through Lexile Measures. A Lexile measure is just a way of discussing how complex a text is based upon the vocabulary or words used in that text. What are literature circles?

Grouping If you are grouping the homogeneously, then you should create your text sets so that there is a low, middle, and high level texts. If you use any type of heterogeneously mixed grouping, whether planned or randomly selected, then you should design your text sets as describe above, so that every student can access the information at their level. What are literature circles?

Before ever moving your students into small group discussions, you should conduct a couple of literature circle discussions as a whole class. The teacher as a facilitator of large group discussion serves as a powerful model for the students, who are likely to imitate what the teacher does when he or she participates in a small group environment. What are literature circles?

Discussions Inquiry based discussions are not ones conducted in the traditional style of leading students to answers the teacher already knows. It is to lead class discussion that invite all students to contribute to the exploration of ideas. What are literature circles?

By hearing a variety of thoughts, by challenging each other’s positions, by supporting their own position, by trying to understand the positions of others, and by assessing the merit of others’ thoughts, students become involved in complex thinking processes that foster understanding and support effective problem solving and decision making skills. What are literature circles?

In order to create authentic discussions like this in social studies classrooms, it it critical that the topics we choose to discuss be problematic and raise doubt about some aspect of the concept that is the focus of the current inquiry. Evaluating and determining one’s own position is what makes historical inquiry and study compelling and relevant What are literature circles?

Planning and Managing Small Group Discussion Create a safe environment. Establish group membership. Direct the formation, location, and proximity of the groups. What are literature circles?

Set the small group task. Outline the group procedures. Monitor group behavior. Evaluate the groups’ dynamics and individual performances. Bring the conversation to closure. What are literature circles?

The theme of the aforementioned sources will be grouped thematically around major historical events. The events addressed in our presentation will include the conquest of the New World, the U.S. Civil War, World War I, and World War II. Our model lesson will be about World War I. Objectives:

World War I

Soldiers in a Trench World War I

Common Core and Themes of Social Studies So how do we as educators implement the Common Core while maintaining the integrity of our state standards? Answer – Use the Social Studies themes as a framework of understanding the discipline!

Common Core and Themes of Social Studies Literacy standards for reading and writing, as outlined by the Common Core, challenge students to utilize higher-order thinking skills. State-mandated standards are often broad and quite detailed.

Common Core and Themes of Social Studies Our four time periods: Age of Exploration, the Civil War, World War I, and World War II are applicable to eight of the ten National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies Themes

Common Core and Themes of Social Studies Culture Time, Continuity, and Change People, Places, and Environments Individuals, Groups, and Institutions

Common Core and Themes of Social Studies Power, Authority, and Governance Production, Distribution, and Consumption Science, Technology, and Society Global Connections

Obstacles to Overcome

Collaboration Researching the reading and writing standards regarding the Common Core What are literacy circles? Transcending departments Social Studies and ELA interaction! Utilizing the school’s reading specialist/literacy coach

Which Standards Should Be Used? Is it possible to implement any/all of the following to every standard? Literacy circles Primary and secondary sources Should we focus literacy on the power standards?

Obtaining Primary and Secondary Sources What do primary sources really look like? Do they always have to be diaries, newspaper articles, correspondence, etc.?

Obtaining Primary and Secondary Sources Where can primary sources be found? University databases provided through the library system Archives Various internet websites specifically dedicated to primary sources

Obtaining Primary and Secondary Sources What do secondary sources look like? Articles Historical fiction novels Magazines

Obtaining Primary and Secondary Sources What do secondary sources look like? Graphic novels Political cartoons (which can also be used as a primary source)

Constructing the Literacy Circles Developing questions pertaining the text to facilitate comprehension and higher thinking Constructing Lexile level circles to encourage high, medium, and low readers

Constructing the Literature Circles Finding Lexile level compatible texts for students Narrowing down the bibliography for the Lexile levels

Impact of Grouping Homogeneous vs. Heterogeneous Grouping impacts the development and implementation of the Lexile levels

We Hope Participants will learn how to infuse the Common Core literacy standards into their domain- specific standards.

We Hope Students will develop skills necessary to communicate in the twenty-first century through the use of literacy across the curriculum.

We Hope We also hope to show how to implement literature circles into social studies classrooms.

We Hope By encouraging literacy techniques, students will experience a successful and enriching learning environment that includes the active reading and analyzation of various texts with the aid of peer support and collaboration.

Questions?

Contact Information David Kendrick - Steven Bilski - Molly Kendrick -