ERIC Number: EJ1002596
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 4
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1056-0300
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Available Date: N/A
Scaffolding Classroom Discourse in an Election Year: Keeping a Cool Mood in a Heated Season
Journell, Wayne; May, Laura A.; Stenhouse, Vera L.; Meyers, Laura E.; Holbrook, Teri
Social Studies and the Young Learner, v25 n1 p6-9 Sep-Oct 2012
Certainly, teaching about politics can be daunting, especially as the political climate in the United States becomes increasingly partisan as a result of heated political rhetoric amplified through a variety of media outlets. However, elementary teachers can help students develop the respectful dispositions they will need as young adults living in an increasingly pluralistic society. These dispositions can be fostered only if teachers are willing to engage their young learners in discussions of politics as part of the curriculum. In this article, the authors discuss ways in which teachers can promote political tolerance and respect during coverage of a presidential election, a high-profile event that social studies educators Mary Haas and Margaret Laughlin describe as "the quintessential example of teaching social studies." Here, the authors also describe instructional strategies designed specifically for the upper elementary grades, although they note ways in which teachers can adapt these strategies for younger learners as well. (Contains 1 table and 15 notes.)
Descriptors: Educational Strategies, Social Studies, Rhetoric, Young Adults, Teacher Role, Elementary School Teachers, Elections, Scaffolding (Teaching Technique), Classroom Communication, Politics, Teaching Methods, Elementary School Students, Prosocial Behavior, Cultural Pluralism
National Council for the Social Studies. 8555 Sixteenth Street #500, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Tel: 800-683-0812; Tel: 301-588-1800: Fax: 301-588-2049; e-mail: membership@ncss.org; Web site: http://www.socialstudies.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A