1. D EVELOPING I NTEGRATED S OCIAL S TUDIES U NITS U SING D IFFERENTIATED I NSTRUCTIONAL S TRATEGIES

2. P ROJECT S UMMARY Under the guidance of experienced teachers, Buffalo State College (BSC) teacher candidates developed integrated social studies units that incorporated differentiated instructional strategies. These units with all supporting materials were presented to Westminster Community Charter School (WCCS) as resources for WCCS teachers. The project was framed within a service learning context as a means by which to provide requested materials for teachers to improve social studies instruction and meet the needs of all students in their classrooms.

3. P ARTICIPANTS BSC Teacher Candidates A. Fall 2008 Semester (n=13) B. Spring 2009 Semester (n=15) WCCS Cooperating Teachers A. Fall 2008 Semester (n=5) B. Spring 2009 Semester (n=7) C. (NOTE: Five participated in both semesters) WCCS Librarian/Media Specialist (n=1) Grades involved – K, 3, 4, & 5

4. A CTION P LAN September/January– TCs oriented to the WCCS community October/February – TCs and CTs introduced to the project goals and begin planning November/March – Meetings before school & e- mail communication to develop unit plans December/May – Presentation/celebration of completed projects

5. D ATA G ATHERED TC pre- and post-survey CT pre- and post-survey Student survey

6. F INDINGS Deepened relationship between BSC and WCCS Better understanding of the NYS social studies curriculum within the context of teachers’ lives TCs ability to imagine how to create standards- based engaging social studies curriculum Greater understanding of concept-based curriculum, on-going assessment, and differentiated instruction Importance of public presentation of work

7. R ECOMMENDED C HANGES Explore ways for TCs to teach (at least a part of) their units in classrooms Require TCs to collect data on students’ responses to the project Integrate culturally responsive pedagogy to make a greater connection to the WCCS community Involve students and parents in the presentation/celebration at the end of the semester

8. D ISCUSSION Responses? Questions? Suggestions/ideas? For more information, please contact: Dr. Pixita del Prado delprapm@buffalostate.edu 878-4112