Texas Social Studies Framework - Department of Geography ...

8
Implementing the TEKS:
Other Players
School administrators, parents, and institutions other than
schools provide important support, reinforcement, and
additional opportunities to teach social studies.
WAYS ADMINISTRATORS CAN SUPPORT
SOCIAL STUDIES
Social studies serves a critical need in the education of
children, and it is incumbent upon the instructional
leader of the school to validate and support that role. Too
many times social studies is relegated to a role of lesser
importance than other “basic skills” due to time constraints.
This can prove to be a costly mistake when the
goal is to help children become productive citizens in
society. Administrators can make many positive steps
toward remediating the somewhat “second class status”
of this discipline. Following are ten positive contributions
administrators can make to support the teaching of social
studies.
• Recognize the vital contribution social studies
makes to curricular excellence.
• Set high standards for teaching and student
performance in the social studies.
• Become knowledgeable about research on
teaching social studies for understanding,
appreciation, and life application.
• Participate in the review and evaluation of
current social studies programs.
• Provide staff development through campusbased
training and/or professional meeting
attendance to facilitate teachers’ professional
growth in understanding and implementing the
TEKS for social studies.
• Provide necessary and appropriate resources
such as maps, globes, videotapes, simulations,
and computers and software.
• Provide ideas for instruction and assessment
(formative and summative) of social studies
learning.
• Encourage and reward the effective use of
technology in the teaching and learning of social
studies.
• Communicate to parents and community
organizations the importance of social studies
knowledge and skills for successful living.
• Appreciate the basic values of our state and
nation as referenced in the Texas Education
Code, §28.002(h).
Inspired by the Curriculum Standards for Social Studies,
National Council for the Social Studies (1994).