This book is designed to provide elementary school teachers with information, suggestions, and models for using writing in the social studies, from early primary to middle grades. There are four major chapters to the book. Chapter I is titled "Research on the Teaching of Writing." The articles in this first section move from a survey of research in writing to a survey of classroom practice in the use of writing in elementary school social studies and finally to a specific classroom study that integrates the two areas and presents specific implications for the study and teaching of writing. Chapter II is titled "Developing Readiness in Writing." The first two articles stress two important aspects of a classroom environment that nurtures and supports student writing. The remaining five articles describe techniques such as interviewing, exploring the past, and brainstorming that teachers can use to initiate writing. The title of Chapter III which contains seven articles is "Using Writing to Learn Social Studies Content." The articles describe ways in which writing can be used to help students learn social studies information or develop social studies generalizations. Another describes how writing can be used to conduct simulated field trips in the social studies classroom. The title of Chapter IV is "Combining Writing with Social Studies." Discussed are three essential supports for a successful program: a detailed curriculum guide, inservice teacher training, and cooperative teacher/administrator assessment procedures. The book also cites related resources in the ERIC system. (Author/RM)

"Good writing skills are a pathway to academic success and a lifelong asset for students. The social studies disciplines offer excellent opportunities for the development of these skills because social studies subjects require students to present informatiion clearly and accurately, to summarize different perspectives, and to construct persuasive arguments ... This book offers invaluable suggestions that will help social studies teachers in grades 7 through 12 to teach the skills of communication and self-expression that will enable students to achieve their college and career goals and become effective citizens with a voice in American society."--Page 4 of printed paper wrapper.

Through clear and concise introduction materials and lessons, this series develops student's writing skills so they can successfully meet the writing challenges in essay tests and research papers. Reading Level: 5-6 Interest Level: 6-12

In Strategies for Writing in the Social Studies Classroom, award-winning author and veteran educator Kathleen Kopp offers simple and practical writing strategies that any social studies teacher can integrate into every phase of the learning process. Writing is a valuable learning tool that can quite effectively--and easily--help students learn and understand social studies content. Teaching it, however, can be challenging for content-area teachers now under pressure from the Common Core Standards' refocused attention on reading and writing. With step-by-step directions, rubrics, student examples, templates, technology tips, and ideas for differentiation, Kopp goes beyond journals or reports to show how social studies teachers can use writing to develop critical-thinking skills, improve understanding of social studies concepts, assess students' progress, and hone skills in content-area writing. Her writing strategies support the Common Core Standards and, because the focus is on applying writing skills--and not teaching writing as an end in itself--social studies teachers can easily incorporate these strategies in any unit of study. This comprehensive resource makes it easy to incorporate writing in your social studies class today--and every day!

Writing in the Social Studies is a practical guide for educators. On each page are strategies, tips, and takeaways for teachers to implement in their classroom, while every chapter concludes with helpful handouts to distribute directly to students. Beginning with a framework and pacing guide, Writing in the Social Studies examines foundational, academic, and real-world writing, concluding with a methodology for grading and a spirited plea for teachers to write themselves. Teachers who believe in teaching “skills through content” finally have a blueprint from which to work. Those who understand it is imperative students graduate with the ability to think critically and express a point of view now have a vehicle with which to achieve their goals. Writing in the Social Studies will be the first book to tackle this crucial yet neglected corner of the curriculum. There is a desperate need for professional development in this area, and therefore also tremendous opportunity. It is a professional imperative that social studies educators teach a variety of writing skills through content. As a result they should have access to a resource which clearly and engagingly shows them how. This is Writing in the Social Studies.

An AEP Award winner, this resource provides detailed strategies and activities with classroom examples across multiple grade ranges. Learn practical standards-based strategies to help students understand Social Studies content. Specific suggestions for differentiating instruction for English language learners, gifted students, and below-grade level students are included with every strategy. Includes a Teacher Resource CD of customizable graphic organizers and other student activities. This resource is correlated to the Common Core State Standards and is aligned to the interdisciplinary themes from the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. 208 pages + CD

"Randi Stone has assembled an exciting collection of teaching methods to benefit all learners. The book brings together an esteemed group of teachers who are to be congratulated for sparking interest in a subject that is too often taught solely from a textbook." —Heather E. Robinson, Fifth-Grade Teacher Desert Canyon Elementary School, Scottsdale, AZ Adopt or adapt these exemplary social studies strategies from the nation′s best teachers! Randi Stone transports readers into the lively classrooms of award-winning teachers in this collection of outstanding methods for teaching social studies to diverse elementary, middle, and high school learners. Like its companion volumes for teaching writing, mathematics, and science, Best Practices for Teaching Social Studies presents firsthand accounts from educators offering fresh ideas and inquiry-based techniques to build student confidence, increase academic achievement, and develop critical thinking skills. Highlights include master teachers′ tips on how to: Organize and produce oral history projects Use technology to explore diversity Teach the art of geography and the geography of art Put the "social" back into social studies, and more! Beginning and experienced teachers alike will discover an abundance of creative teaching practices to strengthen the social studies curriculum.