Implementing Standards

    Chapter three of Teaching Social Studies in the Elementary School: Communities, Connections, and Citizenship discuss using standards. Education standards are the basis for all standards because it provides "... teachers with the information that establishes what students should learn" (Lyman et al., 2015). This is important because it determines what the student will be learning.

    Some standards are subject matter standards, career and college-ready standards, common core state standards, and federal standards. Subject matter standards are made for each subject area; this could be social studies or math. Career and college-ready standards are the states keeping data on students on language arts and mathematic achievements and growth. Common core standards are written by educational experts, teachers, and administrators, and they are meant with more complex content to encourage students to use their higher-order thinking skills.

    Literacy is the connection between most subjects, so working with students to become literate is one of the most important purposes. Literacy is important for school and connecting subjects and in the world; if we do not try to help students become literate, they may have a more challenging time understanding later on. 

   Integrating a curriculum means having a specific type of classroom. The best type of classroom for an integrated curriculum is one "... structured for active student involvement and interaction" (Lyman et al., 2015). To do this, teachers need to build positive relationships with and between students, which is encouraged whether or not you are not creating this type of classroom. Integrating the curriculum is also important because, just like literacy, it is something students will take out into the world with them. 

References

Lyman, L., Foyle, H. C., Waters, S., & Lyman, A. L. (2015). Teaching Social Studies in the 
    Elementary School: Communities, Connections, and Citizenship. National Social Science Press.