Blogging for Block

Social Studies. Hmmm......what do I think about this subject? My initial thoughts...bleh!

Social Studies had always been my least favorite subject all through school. I don't remember ever liking it. Memorizing dates, locating continents, countries, cities, etc. was never on my top ten list of favorites. Remembering the order of dead presidents...who really cares? What's that got to do with anything?

Then....just a few years ago, I had the most wonderful History teacher at ETSU. I can't remember her name, but she was a grad student from the UK. She LOVED American History and was working on her masters. She made the second section of American History so interesting and fun that I really enjoyed it and learned a lot. We didn't memorize dates, but we did get a "feel" for the order of historical events. (MUCH better than memorizing the dates of the Civil War or some inoquous event.)

Although Social Studies is still not my favorite subject, I do have an appreciation of what NOT to do if I should have to teach it. I pray I will be able to make the subject matter fun and exciting and get my students involved in a meaningful way.

So....here's to this semester's block and my progression through it!