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You are here: Home / Preparation programs / Standards and requirements / Endorsement competencies / Social Studies (2015)

Social Studies (2015)

1.0 Civics

The candidate has knowledge of our American democracy including: its foundations, principles, perennial issues/tensions, development, and ways for citizens to participate in civic and democratic processes at the local, state, tribal, national, and international levels.

1.A Understand key ideals, principles, and perennial issues/tensions inherent in the Declaration of Independence and the Washington State and United States constitutions.

1.B Understand the organization and function of governments, and deliberate about the democratic purposes and laws of political systems.

1.C Understand the interdependence of the global community including the complexity of international relationships and policy making.

1.D Understand the rights and responsibilities of democratic citizenship and civic involvement at the local, state, tribal, national, and international levels.

 

2.0 Economics

The candidate understands the concepts and tools necessary for an economic way of thinking, the interaction of buyers and sellers in markets, the workings of national economies, and interactions within the global marketplace.

2.A Understand that people have to make choices among wants and needs and evaluate the outcomes of those choices, as embodied in concepts and factors such as scarcity, decision-making, opportunity cost, resources, values, and beliefs.

2.B Understand the functions of different economic systems: what goods & services are produced; how they are produced; for whom they are produced; and how they are allocated.

2.C Understand governments’ role in an economy—budgeting, monetary/fiscal policy, and regulation—and its consequences.

2.D Understand the perennial economic issues and problems that all societies face.

 

3.0 Geography

The candidate applies and demonstrates knowledge of geography and how geographic features and human cultures interact.

3.A Understand how to create and use geographical representations (e.g., maps, charts, diagrams, models) and use geospatial technology to answer geographic questions

3.B Understand the interactions between humans and environments including place, region, culture, and governance.

3.C Understand the size, composition, distribution, and movement of human populations.

3.D Understand the geographic context of issues and events and their global connectivity.

 

4.0 History

The candidate understands historical thinking as a process of chronological reasoning which includes knowing and examining issues of causality, connections, significance, and context with the goal of developing credible explanations of historical events and developments (including local, state, tribal, national, regional, world) based on reasoned interpretation of evidence.

4.A Understand historical chronology, with the ability to:

4.A.1 Describe and explain key themes in the early history of the United States such as indigenous cultures, revolution, government, slavery, expansion, removal, and conflict.

4.A.2 Describe and explain key themes in the 20th century of the United States such as the emergence of America as a world power, the struggle between the liberty associated with capitalism and equality associated with democracy, and tensions between different economic and political systems.

4.A.3 Describe and explain developments in world history from 8000 BCE through 1450 C.E. including the rise and fall of civilizations and/or societies in two or more world regions.

4.A.3.A. Describe and explain key themes such as emergence of agriculture, development of world religions, empires, and trade.

 4.A.4 Describe and explain unifying threads in world history from 1450 to the present such as colonization, global commerce, and challenges to democracy and human rights.

4.A.5 Describe and explain key themes and developments in Washington State history such as indigenous cultures; tribal sovereignty; regional settlement; labor movements; and economic and entrepreneurial trends.

4.B Analyze multiple complex causes and effects of historical events.

4.B.1 Analyze and synthesize multiple interpretations and perspectives about historical events.

4.C Critique historical analogies to understand the present and inform choices for the future.

4.C.1 Explain how the perspectives of people in the present shape interpretations of the past.

 

5.0 Social Studies Skills

The candidate understands and applies reasoning skills to conduct research, deliberate, form, evaluate, and communicate claims.

5.A Understand academic language and processes (e.g., claim, revision) necessary for inquiry-based learning in the social studies.

5.A.1 Develop questions and planning investigations

5.A.2 Apply disciplinary concepts and tools

5.A.3 Evaluate diverse sources and evidence

5.A.4 Form and communicate conclusions

5.B Understands learner-centered discussions

5.B.1 Evaluate diverse viewpoints

5.B.2 Know processes and roles appropriate for learning context

5.B.3 Know appropriate formats (e.g., whole and small group discussion, seminar, deliberation)

 

6.0 Social Studies Pedagogy

The candidate enables students to develop and apply essential social studies concepts and skills

6.A Create a classroom environment that supports the development of deliberative and interpretive discussion skills.

6.B Engage students in a process of school-community involvement (e.g., involving students as active citizens in the community, integrating the resources of the community).

6.C Supports inquiry and critical thinking through the skillful use of questioning.

6.D Support the discussion of controversial issues by:

6.D.1 teaching academic language such as evidence, opinion, reasoned argumentation, sentence frames

6.D.2 modeling behaviors such as respectful language and interactions, active listening, cultural competence

6.E Teaching students strategies to acquire information through:

6.E.1 close, interpretive reading of informational texts, speaking, listening and writing skills that support a reasoned position.

6.E.2 locating, acquiring, and evaluating information from multiple sources for a variety of purposes.

6.E.3 using close, comparative reading of primary and secondary source materials appropriately.

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