Why Teach Social Studies?

How Changes in Students' Goal Orientations Relate to Outcomes in Social Studies

“…As the introduction indicated, students have often viewed social studies as unimportant and boring (Schug et al, 1984;Stodolsky et al, 1991). Stodolsky et al (1991) found that while fifth-graders viewed math as difficult, they did not perceive social studies as particularly challenging, nor did they see its pertinence to their personal lives.…”

Are Prospective Elementary School Teachers’ Social Studies Teaching Efficacy Beliefs Related to Their Learning Approaches in a Social Studies Teaching Methods Course?

“…It has been well-established that teacher-related factors (for example, teaching methods, the social environment fostered in the classroom, teacher attitudes towards social studies) affect student perceptions of social studies (Alkis & Gulec, 2006;Chiodo & Byford, 2004;Dündar, Acar Güvendir, Onat Kocabıyık, & Papatga, 2014;Goodlad, 1984;Russell & Waters, 2010;Schug, Todd, & Beery, 1982;Yılmazer & Demir, 2014).…”

THE Middle School Social Studies Classroom: An Exploratory Study

“…Resear·:::h indicates that high school social studies teachers may rely heavily on a few teaching strategies (Fout:s, 1987;Schug, et al, 1984). It appears that the limiting of the teaching of social studies to a select few teaching strategies begins at least as early as the middle school grades.…”

“…A theory and a small body of research (Fouts, 1987;Shaughnessy and Haladyna, 1985;Schug, Todd, & Beery, 1984;Shaughnessy, Haladyna, & Redsun, 1982) indicate that attitudes toward a subject are partially determined by the classroom environment.…”

“…The questions were based on similar questions asked by Shug, Todd, & Beery (1984). This questionnaire was also completed in a group setting prior to completing the CES.…”