The social studies theory and methods course begins with an overview of the varied and, at times, competing goals and visions of the profession. Students examine these goals and their underlying rationales, and then develop their own philosophy of social studies teaching and learning. Students also examine state and national scope and sequence frameworks for the social studies, as well as the language arts Common Core standards. A variety of classroom strategies and methods are explored during the remainder of the course, including unit design, leading class discussions, how to approach controversial issues, teaching concepts and generalizations, increasing student engagement and empathy with the past, incorporating technology and the arts, management and discipline, and formats for assessment and grading.

Social Studies Methods explores practical teaching models, techniques of implementation, and relationships to curricula in elementary classroom instruction. The New Hampshire Social Studies Frameworks and Common Core Curriculum Standards for instruction are identified and implemented in creating lesson plans for a mini unit.

Methods in reading and writing instruction, including current theories, practices and materials for teaching, learning and assessment. Course includes a weekly practicum in an elementary classroom and satisfies reading/language arts requirement for prospective elementary teachers in the elementary or P-3 certification programs.

Students will become familiar with key concepts and principles of critical theory, critical pedagogy, and social justice education so that they may use this body of work to inform their teaching, leadership, and scholarship. We will examine the role of a) schools in providing equity of educational access and outcomes, b) teacher agency to change unjust conditions, and c) micro experiences within schools and the macro layers of context (i.e., history, politics economics, culture).