Resources that can be used within the context of Social Studies curriculum
Please be mindful that although the resources are applicable to Social Studies curriculum, some of them can as well be adapted to other subject areas. All the resources are available in the SFU library.
1. Coelho, Elizabeth. 2004. Adding English: A guide to teaching in multilingual classrooms. Toronto: Pippin Publishing.
This book provides strategies to help teachers support language learners more effectively. It also provides content-based language instruction geared to their needs, organizes lessons that meet the needs of students, and finally plan assessment and evaluation activities that take into account the needs of second language learners.
2. Duff, P.A. (2002). Pop culture and ESL students: Intertextuality, identity, and participation in classroom discussions. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 45(6), 482–487.
Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/40014736
This 5 pages article examines contemporary issues in Social Studies teaching and its relationship to English Language Learners. It offers practical suggestions suitable to Social Studies teachers when faced with such demographics. The strategies offered are consistent with the aims of contemporary Social Studies education.
3. Gibbons, Pauline. 2002. Scaffolding language scaffolding learning: Teaching second language learners in the mainstream classroom. Portsmouth: Heinemann.
This book presents different theories behind learning a second language through content in the classroom. Chapters 4, 5, 6 and 7 provide concrete examples and activities to try out on our own.
4. Hooks, B. (2009). Critical thinking. In Teaching critical thinking: Practical Wisdom (pp. 7–11). New York: Routledge. Retrieved from http://www.csus.edu/coe/academics/credentials /resources/hooks-bell-critical-thinking.pdf
This article informs teachers about the importance of developing critical thinking into ELL classrooms.
5. hunkydoryorder. (2012, April 3). Children full of life - important documentary [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tLB1lU-H0M
This video shows a 4th grade teacher educating his pupils not only how to be students, but how to live. Although it can be viewed by teachers of all subject areas, the video tackles on relevant issues that are appropriate to SS teachers, as there are lessons on teamwork, community, the importance of openness, how to cope, and the harm caused by bullying.
6. Lemetyinen, H. (2012). Language acquisition. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org /language.html
This author explains one of the mechanisms of language acquisition that can be applied into different contexts, including Social Studies.
7. Schecter, S.R., & Cummins, J.(2003). Introduction: School-based language policy in culturally diverse contexts. In S. R. Schecter & J. Cummins (eds.), Multilingual education in practice: using diversity as a resource (pp. 1-16). Porsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
The article presents strategies for the effective teaching of foreigner learners, and points to the importance of readings that are related to students' personal stories, and the socio-historical context they are immersed.
It also provides a framework for school language learning.
8. Tan, A. (2008, February 6). Mother Tongue [Web log post]. Retrieved from
https://blogs.law.harvard.edu/guorui/2008/02/06/mother-tongue-by-amy-tan/
Beautifully written by writer Amy Tan, this blog posting shows the diverse ways English language students can express their understandings about the world, and its history.
9. Tuncer, N. (2012). Language and culture. Skipping Stones, 24(3), 14–15. Retrieved from http://proxy.lib.sfu.ca/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh& AN=74650386&site=ehost-live
Short article that presents the relation between language and culture from young ELL own perspectives .
10. Student Statistics - Public and Independent Schools Combined 2013. British Columbia Ministry of Education. Province of BC, Jan. 2014. Web. 24 June 2014. http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/reports/pdfs /student_stats/prov.pdf
It provides useful statistical data so teachers can become well informed about the current demographics in all school districts across British Columbia.
11. Adichie, C.N. (2009, July). The danger of a single story [Video file]. Retrieved from
http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story
This video shows the importance of listening to other people's stories, and how they make us aware about myths and realities of others. Our lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding. Can be used in the classroom.
Please be mindful that although the resources are applicable to Social Studies curriculum, some of them can as well be adapted to other subject areas. All the resources are available in the SFU library.
1. Coelho, Elizabeth. 2004. Adding English: A guide to teaching in multilingual classrooms. Toronto: Pippin Publishing.
This book provides strategies to help teachers support language learners more effectively. It also provides content-based language instruction geared to their needs, organizes lessons that meet the needs of students, and finally plan assessment and evaluation activities that take into account the needs of second language learners.
2. Duff, P.A. (2002). Pop culture and ESL students: Intertextuality, identity, and participation in classroom discussions. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 45(6), 482–487.
Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/40014736
This 5 pages article examines contemporary issues in Social Studies teaching and its relationship to English Language Learners. It offers practical suggestions suitable to Social Studies teachers when faced with such demographics. The strategies offered are consistent with the aims of contemporary Social Studies education.
3. Gibbons, Pauline. 2002. Scaffolding language scaffolding learning: Teaching second language learners in the mainstream classroom. Portsmouth: Heinemann.
This book presents different theories behind learning a second language through content in the classroom. Chapters 4, 5, 6 and 7 provide concrete examples and activities to try out on our own.
4. Hooks, B. (2009). Critical thinking. In Teaching critical thinking: Practical Wisdom (pp. 7–11). New York: Routledge. Retrieved from http://www.csus.edu/coe/academics/credentials /resources/hooks-bell-critical-thinking.pdf
This article informs teachers about the importance of developing critical thinking into ELL classrooms.
5. hunkydoryorder. (2012, April 3). Children full of life - important documentary [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tLB1lU-H0M
This video shows a 4th grade teacher educating his pupils not only how to be students, but how to live. Although it can be viewed by teachers of all subject areas, the video tackles on relevant issues that are appropriate to SS teachers, as there are lessons on teamwork, community, the importance of openness, how to cope, and the harm caused by bullying.
6. Lemetyinen, H. (2012). Language acquisition. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org /language.html
This author explains one of the mechanisms of language acquisition that can be applied into different contexts, including Social Studies.
7. Schecter, S.R., & Cummins, J.(2003). Introduction: School-based language policy in culturally diverse contexts. In S. R. Schecter & J. Cummins (eds.), Multilingual education in practice: using diversity as a resource (pp. 1-16). Porsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
The article presents strategies for the effective teaching of foreigner learners, and points to the importance of readings that are related to students' personal stories, and the socio-historical context they are immersed.
It also provides a framework for school language learning.
8. Tan, A. (2008, February 6). Mother Tongue [Web log post]. Retrieved from
https://blogs.law.harvard.edu/guorui/2008/02/06/mother-tongue-by-amy-tan/
Beautifully written by writer Amy Tan, this blog posting shows the diverse ways English language students can express their understandings about the world, and its history.
9. Tuncer, N. (2012). Language and culture. Skipping Stones, 24(3), 14–15. Retrieved from http://proxy.lib.sfu.ca/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh& AN=74650386&site=ehost-live
Short article that presents the relation between language and culture from young ELL own perspectives .
10. Student Statistics - Public and Independent Schools Combined 2013. British Columbia Ministry of Education. Province of BC, Jan. 2014. Web. 24 June 2014. http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/reports/pdfs /student_stats/prov.pdf
It provides useful statistical data so teachers can become well informed about the current demographics in all school districts across British Columbia.
11. Adichie, C.N. (2009, July). The danger of a single story [Video file]. Retrieved from
http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story
This video shows the importance of listening to other people's stories, and how they make us aware about myths and realities of others. Our lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding. Can be used in the classroom.