Dynamic Social Studies for Constructivist Classrooms: Inspiring Tomorrow's Social Scientists - Softcover

Maxim, George W.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0138132437 ISBN 13: 9780138132439

Publisher: Pearson College Div, 2009

Synopsis

“How do I get across the important social studies content without being run-of-the-mill or ordinary?  How can I make social studies fun and still maintain control of the classroom?”

 

Dynamic Social Studies for Constructivist Classrooms , Ninth Edition shows teachers how to make social studies fun.  Yet it is also the most practical of social studies texts.  It is highly readable and offers a manageable length.  The author begins with the sound philosophical approach of constuctivism and then provides many practical examples of classroom instruction and creative tools to assist teachers in bringing this framework to life in the classroom.  Readers will feel they are being escorted through model social studies classrooms and will come away with a clear vision of the most effective, creative, and dynamic way to teach social studies.  Meanwhile, students will be learning important social studies content that will encourage them to become informed, caring citizens who will make a difference in our world. 

 

New To This Edition:

 

NEW!  Includes a new chapter (Chapter 3) on Integrated Instruction–helps teachers to fulfill the goals and standards for social studies instruction by incorporating content and skills from other subject areas.

 

NEW! Offers “Backward Design” for Unit Planning- Chapter 10 adapts the popular “Backward Design” suggestions of Wiggins and McTighe to planning and carrying out social studies units.

 

NEW!  Online Resources--TeacherPrep and MyLabSchool assets offer important online resources that help students virtually observe relevant classroom activities.

 

NEW!  Proposes the establishment of Democratic Learning Communities- Helps students experience democracy in their classrooms as a basis for developing the dispositions for democratic living as adults.

 

NEW!  Takes a Developmental Inquiry Approach- Helps readers understand how to introduce and refine inquiry skills through developmentally suitable instructional strategies.

 

NEW!  Includes more examples-Gives even more representative samples of exciting classroom activities to help highlight and illustrate important professional concepts and skills.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

By modeling creative teaching in today’s classroom climate and by providing engaging and meaningful tools to use in the classroom, this engaging, constructivist-oriented text will help new teachers breathe life into social studies teaching. George Maxim writes the book with the premise that bringing the social studies curriculum to life for elementary students encourages them to become informed, caring citizens who will make a difference in our world. From his text, teachers gain a clear vision of the most effective and creative way to teach social studies and to motivate their elementary students to become social scientists.

 

How will this text help teachers create a dynamic social studies classroom?

• NEW!  Takes a Developmental Inquiry Approach- Helps readers understand how to introduce and refine inquiry skills through developmentally suitable instructional strategies.
• NEW!  Integrated Learning: Connecting Learning to the Real World (Ch.3)– this new chapter helps teachers fulfill the goals and standards for social studies instruction by incorporating content and skills from other subject areas.
• NEW!   “Backward Design” for Unit Planning, presented inChapter 10, helps readers apply this popular approach to planning and teaching social studies units.
• NEW!  Includes even more examples of exciting classroom activities to help highlight and illustrate important professional concepts and skills.
• NEW!   Proposes the establishment of Democratic Learning Communities- Helps students experience democracy in their classrooms as a basis for developing the dispositions for democratic living as adults.
• Inside an Active Classroom features, threaded throughout chapters, bring you right into lively, successful social studies classrooms.
• NEW!  Integrated online MyEducationLab resources help support new teachers’ application of chapter content by viewing authentic in-class video footage, rich case studies, examples of authentic teacher and student work, and more.
• Full chapter on diversity helps teachers to understand and address the needs of the students they will be teaching.

About the Author:

George W. Maxim is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Childhood Studies and Reading at West Chester University in West Chester, Pennsylvania.  He is also the author of The Very Young: Guiding Children from Infancy Through the Early Years , (Prentice Hall, © 1997) and The Sourcebook: Activities to Enrich Programs for Infants and Young Children, (Wadsworth Publishing Co. © 1981.)

About this edition

• Publisher: Pearson College Div
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0138132437
• ISBN 13: 9780138132439
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 466