ABSTRACT

INFLUENCES AND EXPERIENCES Your experiences as a middle and secondary student influenced how you approach social studies and what you consider to be effective means of educating. Not only do your educational experiences impact your teaching, but also your social, economic, and political experiences. No matter your beliefs and background, keeping an open mind toward the teaching of social studies is ideal. Throughout this book and your career, you will learn new methods and strategies for engaging students. A willingness to change and to try new ideas is a necessity for the professional social studies teacher.