Thread: Social Studies Frameworks

Nah, I know exactly how you feel. We have to teach 5000 years of world history in 1 semester (hour and a half block schedule). We also have to teach US history (albeit only from Washington's administration to Bush II) and Civics and Economics (with a blip of colonization) as semester classes also. If we were to do it right we'd have split some of these classes up. But that necessitates hiring more social studies teachers, and that won't happen. So, you go ahead and gripe.

My God. How deeply, severly obnoxious. And burdensome! I mean, what are they expecting in terms of depth if that's the breadth they're requiring?! Hmm. It seems to me that the humanities kinda get knocked around a lot. I mean, no one would suggest that a math teacher cover Algebra thru Pre-Calc all in one year...

It seems to me that the humanities kinda get knocked around a lot.

Heheh....that's an understatement. The school I teach in is a good example- we have the smallest number of teachers of any academic department, we get a bone thrown to us in technology every other year- maybe a worn-out laptop or a projector that should have been tossed 8 years ago. And, of our 3 required classes, 2 have state-mandated end of course tests. Talk about a heavy yoke- and the wagon's wheels are squarish.....

They have been "reworking" Michigan's for at least two years. They had posted the GLCEs accidentally on the state website two or three summers ago. I just happened to see them and print them before they were withdrawn. We purchased our new texts based on those. Seems they are still arguing over the HS curriculum last I heard.

We have state tests in SS in MI. That is the worst part as you have to cover all of what they say you need to because you can bet they will pick some obscure part of the curriculum to test. (One year they actually concentrated on the XYZ Affair of all things)

I teach 5/6/7/8 SS. I MAY be able to get thru most of the history part and maybe throw in a little civics. But 6/7 is near impossible - especially 7th which is Eastern Hemisphere. Right now the 6th grade is showing a lot of interest in the English monarchy and the lines of succession (we're studying Canada) and the 7th grade wants to learn more about the Russian Revolution. It is so frustrating to have to make the decision as to whether we should spend a little extra time on something they WANT to learn or to keep plowing through the curriculum because they will be tested on it.

I share your frustration - believe me.