Making Connections in Elementary and Middle School Social Studies - Softcover

A practical, holistic approach to integrating social studies with language arts and other content areas

This comprehensive, reader-friendly text demonstrates how personal connections can be incorporated into social studies education while meeting standards of the National Council for the Social Studies. Praised for its wealth of strategies that go beyond social studies content teaching—including classroom strategies, pedagogical techniques, activities, and lesson plan ideas—this book presents a variety of methods for new and experienced teachers.

Key Features

• Thinking Ahead invites readers to link their own experiences with the chapter content before reading
• How Do I? boxes give explicit, step-by-step instruction that demonstrates how to implement and apply the strategies, techniques, and activities described in the chapter
• Making Connections activities help readers make personal connections with the material

New to This Edition
The Second Edition has been significantly refined to incorporate new topic coverage and strategies needed by elementary and middle school social studies teachers

• New sections divide and organize the text into six thematic sections: foundational concepts, planning and assessment, instructional strategies, literacy, teaching subject area content, and enhancing democracy
• Differentiating instruction provides an additional focus on students with special needs and differentiating instruction
• Additional lesson plans and examples are offered throughout the text

He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in Literacy Education in 1997.  He is currently working at Minnesota State University, Mankato as a professor of literacy in the Department of Special Education where he specializes in literacy instruction for students with reading difficulties.  He is the author of 10 books and numerous academic articles related to literacy, learning, teacher development, and the human condition. 

He lives in North Mankato with his wife, Dr. Nancy Fitzsimons and his dogs Mickey and Emmet.