Social+Studies+Materials

Social Studies Materials

Andrea and Karen began requesting materials from various publishing companies on 5/5/10.

The companies at the elementary level include: Harcourt, Houghton Mifflin, Scott Foresman, MacMillan/McGraw-Hill, TCI, Interact, and Nystrom. At the middle school level the companies include: Holt McDougal, MacMillan/McGraw-Hill, Pearson Prentice Hall, TCI, Interact, and Nystrom.

As materials arrive they are being distributed to the grade level reps to review. At the 5/19/10 meeting, the grade level reps shared thoughts on the materials that had arrived thus far. The elementary reps are still waiting for materials from Harcourt, Houghton Mifflin, and MacMillan/McGraw-Hill. The materials are expected early next week (5/25/10).

Once all the materials arrive, the grade level reps will review the materials and share them with their teams. We will choose 3 companies to look at more closely and invite sales reps in to present the materials. From there we intend to choose 2 to pilot in the fall.

Discussion has focused on whether or not the publisher choice should be the same throughout K-5. Concern was also expressed over whether we would need to adopt a text book at the K-2 level, considering time constraints that the Social Studies teaching block faces. Dr. Richmond noted that it makes the most sense to choose one continuous program from K-5 and we should consider that a priority. We should also be considering whether or not the programs are aligned to the PA SS standards as we look at each of them.

At the early elementary levels, the grade level reps are very impressed by the materials **Nystrom** has to offer. The hands on nature and the focus on mapping skills are great. Mapping skills is an area we feel is not currently a strength for us. There is a concern that there is not enough content in areas other than geography, especially beginning at the 3rd grade level.

High School
Piloting of materials for all courses began in September. See the list of materials for each course below:





Elementary

Piloting will begin as soon as we have materials

Middle School Piloting of materials began in September. Additional Information about Holt programs and alignment to the PA Standards