Choosing an Elementary Social Studies Curriculum for Iowa Schools
Patty Foster
Jill Wurzer
Ali Locker
Brooke Ludovissy
NOTE: There is no recording for this webinar.
Choosing an Elementary Social Studies Curriculum for Iowa Schools
Key Takeaways
This webinar explores how three districts in Iowa are prioritizing social studies aligned to the Iowa Core Standards in Social Studies.
Anne Matz, Partnerships Executive at inquirED, interviewed a panel of Iowa district social studies leaders to explore how they are meeting the need for elementary social studies instruction across their schools. The panel included:
- Patty Foster Elementary Principal/Special Education Coordinator, and Jill Wurzer, Inquiry Advocate, from Dunkerton Community Schools
- Ali Locker, Director of Elementary Teaching & Learning, Waukee Community School District
- Brooke Ludovissy, Educational Support Leader Elementary Science/Social Studies, Dubuque Community School District
The district leaders from Dubuque Community School District, Dunkerton Community Schools, and Waukee Community School District discussed best practices in choosing an elementary social studies curriculum that meets the Iowa Core Standards in Social Studies. They talked about rebounding from the marginalization of social studies of the last decade and finding a curriculum that meets the demand for inquiry in the Iowa Core Standards in Social Studies. They also spoke about how they are managing changes in their district as they adopt a new social studies curriculum, Inquiry Journeys.
Resources
- inquirED has gathered resources for district leaders in facilitating a selection of a social studies curriculum.
- Ali Locker from Waukee mentioned that Waukee helped develop teachers in inquiry-based teaching with resources and professional learning from Heinemann.
- Dubuque Community School District used inquirED’s Curriculum Guide in their selection process as it aligned to their priorities.
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Inquiry Journeys, inquirED's K-5 social studies curriculum, engages students in inquiry-based learning, strengthens literacy skills, and supports teachers every step of the way.
inquirED was founded by teachers with the mission of bringing inquiry-based social studies to every classroom. Inquiry Journeys, inquirED’s elementary social studies curriculum, is used in schools and districts across the country to help students develop deep social studies content knowledge and build the inquiry skills that are essential for a thriving democracy.
