Instructional Strategies for Teaching Middle/High School Social Studies

TLED 455 (15627)/TLED 555

Course description: 3 hours; 3 credits.  This course explores social studies instructional strategies and teaching methods appropriate for middle and secondary instruction.  This includes classroom methods and activities, adaptations to maturity and ability levels, teaching resources, evaluation and professional resources for teachers. 

In a 35-hour one credit-hour practicum, teacher candidates observe master teachers and teaching practices in secondary school settings. 

Prerequisites:

• Declared major in appropriate academic department;
• 2.75 GPA overall;
• Earned at least a C- in all courses in the major and professional education core courses;
• Passing scores on Praxis I or State Board of Education approved scores on SAT or ACT;
• Admission into the Darden College of Education Teacher Education Program

Purpose: This course introduces teachers and teacher candidates to content knowledge, skills, and resources needed to teach social studies in grades six through twelve. Teachers and teacher candidates will begin to develop a clear understanding of the social studies as defined by the National Council of the Social Studies (NCSS) and the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs).  Teachers and teacher candidates will work within a community of learners to become knowledgeable about the local community, state, nation, and the world.  They will recognize critical issues and the responsibilities of productive citizens.  In this course teachers and teacher candidates will become knowledgeable about the skills and resources necessary to become effective social studies teachers.