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4 THINGS TO CONSIDER IN TEACHING SOCIAL-STUDIES SUBJECTS by: Arwin Mira

Social Studies, as both science and art, posit some challenges to teachers on the way they handle

the subject. As a science, Social Studies delve on the social aspects that require higher critical

analysis and deeper reflection on human dealings. On the other hand, as an art, Social Studies hold

the grandeur of the classic narratives that shapes humanity since time immemorial.

Sadly, most often, given that these focus on the past -- and to some extent, compound by its nature

-- some students find these subjects mind-numbing, relatively unimportant on their day-to-day

scheme and irrelevant to their future lives. Not in general, but I am certain that social-studies

teachers already heard these common remarks from students who are enrolled in their subject. As

what others say, “If there’s a problem, there are always a lot of solutions.” therefore, social-

studies experts have come across their ways to help us make our students appreciate and realize

the essence of studying social-studies. Some vital considerations are as follow:

1. Make the Students Know Why Studying Social-Studies is Important. To make it

happen, we have here two pointers such as:

a. Make the Students Realize that Social-Studies is not about Memorization. It is a

Subject of Appreciation. As students work their way through school, they may be

memorizing information in each grade level, but are they really learning? According to Dr.

Bob Kizlik a U.S curriculum writer, wrote on his article “Ideas About Becoming a Good

Social Studies Teacher” in teaching social-studies, moving the students beyond

memorization will help them a lot do not just focus and stop on the names, places, dates

and events of your topics. Instead, highlight the importance and lessons behind every

history by using “how” and “why” instead of “what”. Social studies is probably best

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understood as an organized way of helping students develop understandings and

appreciation that have long-term staying power. If you made the students appreciate it,

meaning they absolutely learned from it.

b. Encourage the Students to Share their Experiences and Relate it to the Present

Situations. In teaching social-studies, the students can learn best when they could relate to

the topic. Thus, the teacher should always use the student’s experiences and relate it to the

current situations or issues on the society where they belong.

According to Christie Hinson Norris in her article entitled “Tips and Tricks for Engaging

Students in Social Studies Instruction” believes that the teacher should provide time for

students’ reflection that will allow them to respond with their feelings, experiences,

thoughts, and connect these back to the actual history throughout the lesson.

These will make the students realize that studying social-studies subjects is not just about

‘knowing’ the past but more on ‘understanding the significance’ of it to the present and to

their future.

2. Be an Exemplary Story Teller.

Aside from English and Filipino subjects, Social-studies has a lot of stories to tell which

commonly came from the history of various societies to the entire world and even the

universe. In some ways, good social-studies teaching rest on the ability to tell stories well.

According to Dr. Kizlik in his article “Ideas About Becoming a Good Social Studies

Teacher.” He suggests to not just read the stories to the students. Bring back the students

as if they are there. Gifted are those social-studies teachers who have an ability to give life

to the past by merely telling it. Filipino students are imaginative. Trigger it by using an

enthusiastic mode of storytelling as this will give an edge to a teacher to catch the full

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attention of their students that could possibly be stored on their long-term memories and

could lead to a better understanding of the topic.

3. Make it Fun and Memorable. Through ages, many experts in the field of education have

developed hundreds of different methods and strategies that facilitate the teaching and

learning process. But as per Dr. Kizlik is concerned, he believes that methodology without

subject matter content is not worth very much. Simply "knowing about" teaching methods

won't do. It denotes that no matter how countless methodologies of teaching we have, it

still depends on the teacher on how they will be used.

In relation to this, a great minded Albert Einstein defined insanity as “doing the same thing

over and over again and expecting different results.” If you feel students are not as engaged

in your social-studies lesson as you would like them to be, oftentimes the smallest of

changes can make a huge difference on students learning. In the first place, teaching

strategies were made not just to make teaching easier. These are also to entertain and to put

smile on the faces of our students while learning. Aside from being a good story teller,

since social-studies is an interdisciplinary subject, teachers should also allow the students

to use their talents and full potentials to explore the mystery of the topic. Remember, to

make the teaching and learning process memorable, make it full of joy. This can only

happen if the teacher knows what is best for their students. Isn’t it satisfying to see our

students leaving the classroom with smiles on their faces?

Go teach and explore not just in the four sides of the classroom. Sometimes, best learning

awaits those who leave their comfort zones.

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4. Be Passionate. Every teacher who entered teaching will agree that they took education

because they love it. We can incorporate it to passion. This virtue is the most important

recipe that every teacher should possess.

Of all these four considerations, having a passion is the most significant because without

passion, those abovementioned considerations will not matter. Teacher’s passion can be

observed when they have patience and love to what they do, no matter what circumstance

challenges them. Passionate teachers are those who keep thinking what’s best for their

student just for them to learn. According to Jordan Catapano in his article “5 Ways to Share

Your Passion for Learning” the teachers should open their own passion and get students

apply it too. Passionate teachers can move their students to defy mediocrity inside and out

of the classroom. It can only be done if those students were motivated by their teachers.

There may be a number of burdens that try to hold back your devotion in teaching but no

matter what happens as long as you love your students and you’re profession, just keep that

fire in your heart because your passion will be the reason for the brighter next generations.

Surely, there are some other ways on how we can teach social-studies subjects effectively.

We have our own culture, preferences, beliefs on how the students will learn best. But one

thing is for sure. We are the same with one goal -- this is to mold our students to be better

citizen of today and of the future not only on their society or nation where they belong but

a good citizen of the world. Quoting what the former South-African president Nelson

Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the

world.” If you believe in him, believe in yourself and together, let us make it happen!

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References:

• Kizlik, B. (2017) Ideas About Becoming a Good Social Studies Teacher. Retrieved from

http://www.adprima.com/socialteach.htm

• Norris C.H. Tips and Tricks for Engaging Students in Social Studies Instruction.

Retrieved from http://civics.sites.unc.edu/files/2012/05/SocialStudiesStrategies1.pdf

• Catapano J. (2015) 5 Ways to Share Your Passion for Learning Retrieved from

http://www.teachhub.com/5-ways-share-your-passion-learning