Junior High, Intermediate, Middle School Education and Teaching Commons^™

Assisting Novice Teachers With Promoting Democratic Education In The Social Studies Classroom, Rory Tannebaum, Margaret Peterson, Molly Tierney

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

The purpose of this essay is to provide new social studies teachers with an array of effective and plausible strategies for infusing a democratic education into their classrooms. The presented lessons are grounded in the theories and ideals taught at the university level, but they have been constructed in a practical and realistic manner as such that the often-overwhelmed teacher who is removed from their academic backgrounds can achieve the oft-referenced aims of the field of education. In this sense, the article seeks to bridge the gap between the theories and practices of social studies education and, in doing so, …

Illinois Democracy Schools: Preparing Students For College, Career, And Civic Life, Shawn Healy

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

The current focus of school reform centers on college and career readiness, casting aside the original purpose of schools in this country-- preparing America’s youngest citizens to be informed and active participants in our democracy. Since 2006, seventeen Illinois high schools countered this trend and achieved recognition through the Illinois Civic Mission Coalition (ICMC) as Democracy Schools.

The Democracy Schools Initiative of the ICMC invites high schools to demonstrate commitment to their civic mission by completing a school-wide civic assessment and charting future plans for developing and sustaining high quality civic learning. Successful applicants are recognized through the ICMC and …

Developing Civic Identity Amongst Middle School Students In Northern Chicago, Nicole Karwowski, Sania Zaffar, Rachel Phillips, Katelyn Sullivan, Holly Laws

SPACE: Student Perspectives About Civic Engagement

Civic engagement programs allow students to develop confidence, passion, and a sense of responsibility toward their community. In a program like Summer Civics Academy at Loyola University Chicago, students are provided with a space for dialogue about the social problems they see in their community and given the resources to try and work towards a solution. Students provided with this type of engaged learning experience are thus encouraged to be a part of our democratic system in the future. Our focus on critical civic engagement attempted to build student skills in identity building, intercultural learning and collective social action. More …