Two-Column Notes

Date:

Name: Tanner McKinney

Class/Subject: EDTL 2760 1001

Bower, B., Lobdell, J., and Owens, S. (2010). Preview assignment. Bring learning alive!
Methods to transform middle and high school social studies. Palo Alto, CA: Teacher
Curriculum Institute, pp. 22-26
The Text Says
I Say
Notes (key concepts, direct quotes, etc.)
My notes, commentary
227

227

227

Is it easily broken down into teachable

sections? Craft the essential questions so
that it can be broken down into smaller,
more manageable parts. These parts, or
sections, should be allow students to
reflect on the question, explore it from
different angles, and gather evidence for
their answers.
The simpler the question, the better.

The question should encourage students to

see the big picture, weigh evidence, and
form an argument.

This is a fantastic part of the reading this week.

I dont think enough teachers really focus on
creating questions that can be broken down
into teachable sections that are easily
understandable for the students to grasp. Many
times, the teachers arent even giving an
essential question, limiting the students ability
to critically think about the topic.
While I agree that there should be essential
questions to assist in learning of the topic, I
dont necessarily agree that the simper the
question, the better. Posing a simple question
leaves room for simple answers. If you planned
for several weeks around this question and the
students come up with a simple answer they
like in only a several minutes, the question is
effectively null and void.
While I agree that students should see big
pictures, weigh evidence, and form arguments,
sometimes simple questions arent the way to
provoke such reactions. It makes me think that
maybe everything shouldnt be based around
one question, because it might constrict what
you would teach, and how you teach it.

I would say that the EQs in our syllabus are strong questions to be asked. The questions provoke
thought, and make you think about why we are really here to teach Social Studies. Through the pondering
of the questions that have been asked, I have really found why I am meant to be here, and it has me over
joyed. In regards to if the questions asked in here are good to the reading, I would say that they are. The
questions asked in this class provoke thought, and the professors allow us to discuss this amongst each
other, only deepening our understanding of what we are talking about. In blog post two, we discussed what
we thought social studies was, and why we should teach it. Its questions like these that truly make us
understand what we are meant to do while teaching social studies. Its about so much more than just
content studies, we are preparing students to be great citizens, and very knowledgably. Its these
questions that allowed me to understand that.