Social studies are among the most critical school subjects that empower students to master knowledge, skills, and understanding that will enable them to perceive the world as it is ( Lyons, S. & Rothstein, n.d) . It provides students with a comprehensive body of knowledge that is crucial in transforming them into creative and critical thinkers to solve complex current and future world problems. A systemic and well-coordinated study that draws insights from various disciplines such as economics, anthropology, sociology, psychology, and philosophy enables students to make informed decisions that perfectly fit the expectation of a democratic and culturally diverse world.
What are Your Current Understandings of the NY Social Studies Framework and Social Studies Concepts?
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The New York Social Studies Framework is specially designed to introduce students to college and careers and their civic responsibilities through courses scrupulously aligned to the standards of New York State Learning (The State Education Department, n.d). This framework is customized to support progressive instructions that incline students to the fundamentals of college and careers. The current New York studies Framework highlights the elemental concepts that students should know.
What is your Current Understanding Of Incorporating the Arts in Education?
Incorporating arts in education is a revolutionized teaching form that integrates both performance and fine arts as fundamental learning pathways ( Scurletis, 2009) . It slightly differs from the initial form of traditional education because of the inclusion of standard subjects and various art disciplines. The goal of incorporating art in education is to improve the general understanding of an issue and concurrently foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of arts' essentiality.
While myths surrounding art postulate that the subject does not solve problems but make people acknowledge their existence, studies have shown that incorporating art in education does solve problems ( Lyons, S. & Rothstein, n.d) . Furthermore, learning art improves concentration, teamwork, and motivation. Arts create an open pathway that connects people on a much deeper level and provides them with insights into approaching problems from a completely different perspective; thus, it is a groundwork for forging strong social bonds.
What are Some Strategies/Resources You Plan to use When Teaching Social Studies and the Arts ?
I will introduce team teaching because of various compelling reasons, both practical and pedagogic. In an ideal world, drama, music, and dance specialists should have a standard planning time. Institutions could implement interdisciplinary units and lessons. In reality, such collaboration is difficult because different social studies teachers teach various subjects. However, working out the logistics of team teaching is worth the effort because it will enable other teachers and me to develop correlative sessions crucial in producing all-rounded students.
What is the Value of Integrating Social Studies and the Arts?
Integration of social studies and arts achieves more than just enabling students to become effective learners ( New York City Department of Education, n.d) . It allows students to experience diverse learning modalities. The concepts of arts are uniquely rooted in cultural perspectives in different cultures, and it illuminates various distinct cultural interactions and migration patterns. Since artists respond to happenings in the society, they live in. Arts provide a correctional window that explodes stereotypic ideologies ( Scurletis, 2009) . Integrating social studies and arts enables students to exploit their adeptness through multitasking, thus improving dynamism constructively. Similarly, incorporating social studies and arts helps students to improve their focus and concentration skills beyond the compelling desire for instant gratification.
Integration of social studies with arts enhances social understanding among students ( Scurletis, 2009) . Different topics such as African-American festivals, different kinds of clothing people wear across the world, different types of families and foods, and socio-religious norms help students learn, observe and understand the nature of attitudes, values, and existing relationships among different people. They gain an understanding of different cultures and religions in the world other than their own. Students also get to learn about different societal strata and embrace the need for governance across various institutions.
Subjects such as political science, economics, and history educate students on different political ideologies, virtues, constitutional laws, and citizenships to become better citizens ( New York City Department of Education, n.d) . It informs students of their responsibilities concerning civil and social affairs. Providing students with relevant skills and attitudes empowers them to grow as active and reflective members of society.
Explain How This Will Help You Become a More Effective Social Studies Teacher
Irrefutably, social studies' teaching presents teachers with unique sets of challenges. Most students tend to see social studies as a subject matter of less relevance to their current lives and future necessities ( Lyons, S. & Rothstein, n.d) . I have conceded that they might or might not point to a certain degree of cultural literacy and comprehension of the most recent worthy goal. However, through the integration of social studies and arts, we learn the difference between teaching students and teaching content. As a teacher, it will enable me to teach about what matters. As teachers, we are entitled to excite students about the world and teach them how they can change society through the powerful expression of ideas and embrace the fact that social studies are all about transforming people's lives. As teachers, social studies and arts integration will enable teachers to create a playful and experimental classroom setting.
Conclusion
The autonomous relationship between social studies and art recommends for their inclusion in the current curriculum. Education stakeholders should introduce social studies and art knowledge as primary subjects in the United States. As the knowledge of arts begins with exposure to fundamental elements such as color, it steadily explores global issues. Therefore, as a source of knowledge, art presents abstractions and facts that social studies alone cannot explore.
References
Lyons, S. & Rothstein, E. (n.d). Don't assign writing — Teach it! Educator's Voice, Volume III . Retrieved from http://www.nysut.org/~/media/files/nysut/resources/2010/may/educators-voice-3-adolescents/educatorsvoice3_adolescents_02_writing.pdf?la=en
New York City Department of Education (n.d). Blueprints for teaching and learning in the arts. Retrieved from https://www.weteachnyc.org/resources/collection/blueprint-for-teaching-and-learning-in-the-arts/
Scurletis, G. (2009). Marzano's six steps to effective vocabulary instruction. Retrieved from http://www.visualthesaurus.com/cm/wordshop/marzanos-six-steps-to-effective-vocabulary-instruction/ (Links to an external site.)
The State Education Department, (n.d). K-12 Social Studies Framework . The University of the State of New YorkNew York State. Retrieved from https://www.engageny.org/file/121411/download/ss-framework-k-12-intro.pdf?token=IOfbUIuGX9e2jgsqHlgQSCTp0yfuQrcaJwVG-Wt4Q4g
