# data[].attributes.body
I would like for you to do a HEAD, HEART, and FEET reflection on our journey this semester.

HEAD- What are some major takeaways you have had this semester in regards to teaching social studies?

HEART- What are you feeling at the end of the semester? (In terms of your ability to teach inclusive social studies?)

FEET- What might your next steps be? What actions will you take in the future or commitments can you make for teaching social studies?

And since one of your first activities this semester was to create a visual representation of your understanding of the social studies, I would also like for you to include an image that represents your present understanding of the social studies after our semester together. Be sure to briefly share with us how this represents your present understanding of social studies and how it has shifted over the course of the semester.

Please visit at least two of your colleagues posts to comment and show them some love and support!

# data[].attributes.body
- Head: One major takeaway I have from this semester is to ensure that I am stopping the "One story" narrative. I learned how impactful teaching one side of the story can be and how much that effected my takeaway from school. As a new educator, I want to teach my students that there are two sides to every story and I want to go beyond what is in the textbooks for teaching them. Another major takeaway I had was the power of children's literature and how impactful it can be for a lesson. I took pictures of all the literature we were introduced to this semester so I could include it in my classroom library to offer my students a very diverse and inclusive collection.
- Heart: I have learned more in this class than I can remember learning my entire undergrad. I know that can be for a lot of different reasons but I felt that this was super interactive and applied to what I am doing right now. I feel so much more equipped to teach social studies and to teach it in an ethical way. I am so thankful for this course!
- Feet: My next steps are to work with my new school on the curriculum in my classroom. I want to work ahead and look at what I need to teach and how to teach it without the single story narrative. I am really committed to ensuring my students receive a well-rounded understanding of social studies.
- Image: This represents my present understanding of social students and how it has shifted as I look at it as everyone is apart of social studies. We all come together as a community no matter what we look like to make the world a better place. All of our stories have a right to be heard.

Thank you for a wonderful semester!

# data[].attributes.body
Head- One of the biggest takeaways that I had from this semester is that when teaching social studies it is important to strive and show all the sides to history. There are many different sides of history and takes on events that happened and it is important that students are not presented with a single story.

Heart- I feel more prepared and ready to teach students inclusive social studies in an engaging and inviting environment.

Feet- I will continue to prepare myself and grow on my own to better educate my future students throughout the many topics in social studies that we will cover. Reading and educating myself first is important to provide my students with the best opportunities for learning.

# data[].attributes.body
HEAD – My major takeaways was definitively about the danger of a single story. This pattern really needs to change in our school system, young students deserve to know the truth. Any takeaway was the many literacy books that teach social studies skills for younger students. Since, I am a elementary school teacher, it was very eye opening to learn about so many resources out there. Another takeaway was making the lessons related to social studies more engaging and integrate the community as much as possible, pay attention how geography, cultural, economics and history is being taught. Make sure all students can relate and make a connection to the lesson in one way or another.

HEART – I am feeling more prepared, I know I still have a lot to learn and research more ways to educate and prepare younger students to become a more empathetic, compassionate citizen that will take action to fight for justice. Once I officially have my own classroom, I plan on adjusting my social studies classes to teach inclusive, engaging, and meaningful social studies. I will use a lot of the readings from this class as a resource. I also hope I can contact Dr. V. to brainstorm or get some useful tips on modifying the curriculum without getting in too much trouble .   :)

FEET – One commitment I will make is that I will teach the truth. I will teach all sides of the story, I will allow my students to make a meaning of their learning after being able to see the bigger picture, instead of a one narrow version of it. I want my students to learn how to be empathetic, to try to understand where others come from and why they act different than them.

# data[].attributes.body
Head: Some major takeaways this semester have been the important people who have been excluded from the curriculum. I have also been intrigued by the lack of inclusivity even now, in 2023. We still have a lot of work to do.

Heart: I am feeling much more knowledgeable about being able to teach social studies. I knew for a while that our curriculum left out important pieces but I was unaware to the extent. I feel much more knowledgeable about this now.

Feet: I have been sharing with some of our social studies teachers on campus what I have been learning in this class and how they can incorporate certain topics in their classrooms. I will continue to do this. As I teach Math, it is a little (a lot) more difficult to insert these topics into my own classroom.

Present: The image (gif) I chose represents how we, as teachers, water our students' brains and fill it with the nutrients (knowledge). Just like plants, if we don't feed it with the right nutrients, they will not grow adequately.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
"The past and the future merge to meet us here." -Warsan Shire

# data[].attributes.body
Head- One major take away in regards to teaching social studies is how important it is to show all sides of history. One of the most impactful pieces I heard this semester was the Ted Talk by Dr. Jefferies. In this talk, he says "history reminds us that we, as a nation, stand on the shoulders of policial giants like James Madison, but “hard history” reminds us that we, as a nation, also stand on the shoulders of enslaved African American children… who with their bare hands made the bricks that serve as the foundation for this nation.” This, as well as the quote by Warsan Shire, speaks to the fact that we have a complex, uncomfortable, and complex history, but it is still OUR history. The past is the present is the future. History is the foundation for the world, as it shapes our society, and it will continue doing so. Failing to teach the uncomfortable parts of that only further perpetuates injustice and inequity that the dominant narrative enforces. It is important and neccesary to show all sides of history in order to bring up informed and connected citizens.
Heart- This semester has been incredibly informative, and has made a huge impact on the way I view social studies. There was so much I did not know, and I still have so much to learn, but I feel prepared to face that challenge. The resources I have taken from this course are of great value, and I know that I now have a foundation for inclusive teaching that will inform my practices in all subject areas.
Feet- The next steps for me are to coninue educating myself. Like I said before, there is so much I did not know, and I still have so much to learn. To do this, I will continue reading articles and books that speak to other narratives and ways to teach them. I have really enjoyed listening to Dr. Jefferies podcast about teaching hard history. I have also started following a few different social justice educators on social media, as this allows me to stay up to date on the latest resources.
Image- In my first padlet post, I chose an image that reflected the caption of "we come together by learning about our differences." While I still believe this is true, I know know its much more complex than that. I chose this image because I now believe that we come together by amplifying the voices of those who have had their voice taken away by the dominant narrative. By doing this, we are not only acknowledging the hard truths of the past, but we are healing from it in order to create a better future.

# data[].attributes.body
Head: The major takeaway when learning about how to teach social studies this semester is to teach both sides of the story. It is important to do this so our students can understand what really happened in the history of the United States. I want my students to be critical thinkers and not be blinded to believe that some of the historical figures were heroes and perfect human beings. They need to learn the truth and not see the United States as a perfect country.  I want my students to understand that they are two or more sides to every story and that we need to see all the perspectives to those stories.

Heart: I feel more secure and confident about teaching inclusive social studies. I want my students to also feel this way when they are learning. There might be a point where I may feel nervous when I teach a controversial topic, but I feel that once I start teaching about it and hopefully the students have a great reaction and start asking me more questions than I will feel that I am doing the right thing.

Feet: I want to do more research on historical events and see if those events or historical figures have two sides to the story. I want to be more prepared and learn more about civics, geography, history, and economics. I also want to look for more primary resources that can help my students and I understand how life was back then.

Image: The image represents my present understanding of social studies because now I understand that social studies is not only about being inclusive, but also about teaching the different perspectives sides of a story. Now, I understand that having both sides of the story makes us more critical thinkers and so this would also be reflective on how the students see social studies. Students have to see both sides or different perspectives of a story to understand why life is how it is and why people act they way they do and how it affects the present.

# data[].attributes.body
Head - My biggest takeaway from this class is telling multiple sides to every story. There is no "single narrative" that must be taught or known, and I think that teaching only a single story is detrimental to students.
Heart - I am feeling so competent and ready to teach to the whole student next year.
Feet - My next steps are to create an inclusive classroom library with resources for students to reference.
I chose this image because nothing in social studies is truly individual. We must grow and change together.

# data[].attributes.body
HEAD- The biggest takeaway I have had this semester when teaching social studies is the lack of information on influential historical figures (Ona Judge) that have contributed to our history in a positive way. Instead, we offer information to our students that paint a picture of major historical figures to be these perfect heroes. For example, when we were required to investigate the TEKS in Socials Studies and the focus was on big characters like, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. I found that these historical figures were also looped into some controversial situations that were shocking that I never knew about as a young student.

HEART- My perspective has changed when it comes to teaching socials studies. I believe it is important for teachers to illuminate the single-story aspect of historical events and figures in our history. When teachers limit the single story, we also reduce this image that people are perfect in our society. We ALL have flaws and that includes historical figures.

FEET- I plan to create open discussions in my classroom so that students can learn from each other’s perspective. When I become a teacher, I want to present truthful history but allow my students to be in a safe place where their opinions matter on the subject. I believe when our student’s opinions are recognized in the classroom, we can create compassion for one another and create meaningful learning.

Image - I chose this image of students working together in open discussions, because it is important for teachers to allow students to offer their opinions in a safe space in the classroom.

# data[].attributes.body
Head: One Major takeaway is that I feel more confident about learning and teaching history.

First, learning about “one Story” and how it can impact our students by just teaching one side of a story. I will provide resources besides textbooks to teach every side of the story.

Heart: I have gained so much that I am confident and prepared to teach history. I gain more knowledge than I ever learn in school, undergrad, or up to this point. Since history was my least favorite or boring subject to me but now I feel confident and say history is my favorite subject. I can teach history. Before, I was hesitant to teach. I feel so much more equipped to teach it ethically.

Feet: I will continue to prepare myself and grow on my own to better educate my future students through the many topics in social studies that we will cover. Reading and educating myself first is important to provide my students with the best learning opportunities.

# data[].attributes.body
Head: The biggest takeaway I have from this semester is the importance of telling all sides of a story. I've always known that social studies teaching is biased, but I guess I thought that there was nothing I could do about it. I now see that it is absolutely vital to counter the single story and give more complete information.
Heart: I feel empowered to challenge the norm and right the wrongs. I will be teaching math and science next year, but I feel empowered to bring untold stories into my classroom.
Feet: My next steps will be to continuously challenge what is taught. Even if I am not teaching social studies, I can be sure my input is heard. I feel like my administration will at least be somewhat open to my opinions. In my own math and science classroom, I will ensure that stories are told about women and minorities that have influenced the sciences.
Image: We all live on planet Earth, and we are all beautifully different yet the same species. If would could all embrace and love each other, maybe we could all find peace.

# data[].attributes.body
I could not decide which photo represents my present understanding of the social studies. So, I will post all three of them :)

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
I could not decide which photo represents my present understanding of the social studies. So, I will post all three of them :) 

# data[].attributes.body
Head: Some of my major takeaways in regard to teaching social studies are that in order to teach about social studies, you also need to know your history; they go hand in hand. My 2nd takeaway is the importance of telling all sides of a story, and finally, my 3rd takeaway is the lack of information we have with historical figures like Ona Judge; our students and ourselves should be learning more about the true heroes. We need to teach social studies and history as it is, we need to stop all heroification.

Heart: My feelings in terms of my ability to teach inclusive social studies are a lot better. I could say I am feeling more prepared, but I still have much to learn in order to prepare myself and my students. My goal is to create students that become citizens that fight for their rights, fight for justice, and stand up for their education.

Feet: I will continue to prepare myself to provide the best education I can give to my students which is teaching the truth and nothing but the truth in Social Studies and History. I will continue to research and see if there are any books, historical events, or historical figures like the one of Ona Judge; with two sides to the story.

Image: The image above represents my present understanding of social studies and how it has shifted over the course of the semester as I look and notice that everybody; each individual is part of social studies. At the end of the day, we all come together as a community no matter where we come from, how we look, or how we talk. We come together as humans in order to make our world and community a better place.

# data[].attributes.body
Image- This image inspires me to remember my role as a teacher is not to make students fear social studies but rather reflect on how they can better shape their future together.

Head- This course has helped me understand the importance of diverse strategies that connect with students’ backgrounds to build a deeper meaning with the Social Studies curriculum.

o   One takeaway is to avoid portraying historical figures used in my lesson or activities as heroes. Students should be given opportunities to learn about historical figures without omitting important characteristics that create them as perfect patriots.

o   Another takeaway when teaching geography is the importance of allowing students to make representations of the environment in which they live and interact to grasp new information about geographical concepts of cultures, people, and places.

Heart – This course has given me the courage and motivation to help students learn about Social Studies in a healthy, positive manner. I also feel a sense of confidence to employ strategies that foster critical thinking about historical events and how it impacts their communities today. Lastly, I feel better prepared to know how to connect Social Studies with other content areas and expand on their abilities to learn beyond the time constraints that are placed on the Social Studies curriculum.

Feet- My next step is to continue to seek professional development through individual research or collaboration with a team of teachers. I am committed to building a library of diverse literature that will connect with the cultures and identities of students in the classroom. I am also committed to creating engaging lessons that foster higher-level thinking and exploration of solutions to relevant problems in students’ communities. Lastly, I am committed to teaching Social Studies with other content areas and ensuring that they align with state standards.

# data[].attributes.body
• HEAD- What are some major takeaways you have had this semester in regards to teaching social studies?
Some major takeaways I have had this semester include the importance of reading instructions/curriculum thoroughly and truly understanding what I am supposed to do or understand. I believe this is a big factor in teaching because if I don't understand what I am teaching, how can I expect my students to understand it. Another takeaway is delivery; from my own experience and through this course, I have learned how you teach something can really affect how students understand content as well as how it can affect them emotionally. I want to be the teacher that makes content relative but doesn't cause biases or neglect any identity in my classroom. My final takeaway from this course in regards to teaching social studies is that there are many parts of social studies, and teaching it can be fun, especially with inquiry models and student-centered techniques, including teaching with pictures and picture books.

• HEART- What are you feeling at the end of the semester? (In terms of your ability to teach inclusive social studies?)
Finishing this semester, I feel like my ability to teach inclusive social studies has grown so much, as well as my passion to teach social studies. I feel like I have so many ways I can connect this broad subject to life and teach my students how important it is to their lives and their futures. At the end of this semester, I feel like I can use cross-curricular tools to build on my students' social studies knowledge as well as language arts and more.

• FEET- What might your next steps be? What actions will you take in the future, or commitments can you make for teaching social studies?
My next step in the near future is teaching math and science, but I am excited to connect social studies in any way I can, as well as using similar tools, graphic organizers, and techniques I have learned in this course to teach my students. If I ever get the pleasure of teaching social studies, I commit to teaching, scaffolding, and being a facilitator in the inclusive learning of my students. I want them to learn and make their own understanding of how geography, history, civics, economics, and behavioral science connect to their own lives.

• And since one of your first activities this semester was to create a visual representation of your understanding of the social studies, I would also like for you to include an image that represents your present understanding of the social studies after our semester together.

I chose this image because it represents Bloom's taxonomy, which breaks down the different ways of teaching and retaining content in any course. This relates to Social Studies because there are multiple concepts in this subject, and they can’t all be taught or learned in the same manner. In the beginning, my focus was on meaningful learning, and coming to the end of this semester, it just shifted to something deeper --into how we make learning meaningful. Our students will learn and grow based on how we teach them as well as how we allow them to learn. This image really represents how I want to create a positive and open learning environment where my students can learn on their own, and I facilitate what they are supposed to gain in the most inclusive way.

# data[].attributes.body
Head: One takeaway I had was the danger of a single story when it comes to Native Americans is that it perpetuates stereotypes and erases the diversity and complexity of Indigenous peoples and cultures. It also reinforces a narrative that portrays Native Americans as a monolithic, static group frozen in time, rather than acknowledging the ongoing presence, resilience, and contributions of Native American communities. This can lead to harmful misconceptions, biases, and misunderstandings, and can contribute to the ongoing marginalization and oppression of Indigenous peoples. Another big takeaway I had was that human geography is a subfield of geography that focuses on the study of human activities and their relationship to the physical and cultural environments. It involves analyzing how people interact with the natural world and how they shape their surroundings.

Human geography encompasses a wide range of topics, including population dynamics, cultural geography, political geography, economic geography, and urban geography. It explores issues such as migration, globalization, urbanization, land use, and environmental management.

Heart: I feel more prepared to teach inclusive social studies. I really enjoyed how interactive the modules were and also really enjoyed the book club project as well. All of these things will stick with me as I start as a new teacher. I feel a lot more ready than before to teach inclusive studies in a conscious matter. I feel more empowered and confident than ever before to teach subjects that I was originally a little nervous to teach,
Feet: My next steps I want to take are sharing what I have learned with other teachers at my school as well as gain even more knowledge on inclusive social studies so I can advocate in my professional community and also seek professional development through my own research and create highly engaging lessons for my students.
Image: My image shows people from all walks of life coming together to work together. It is important for both students and teachers as well as staff to come together with people from all walks of life and embrace each other and work together.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
I wanted to include a funny meme like my first image submission, but at this point, I'm just grateful for the opportunity to have learned in this course.

# data[].attributes.body
HEAD- Foremost, I need to work to recognize biases, not just in myself, but those in my curriculum, and I must work to address it to make sure I'm teaching from a variety of perspectives instead of dominant narratives.

I need to research a wide variety of resources from different cultures, races, genders and socioeconomic backgrounds to include in my curriculum.

All of these can help foster critical thinking among students and prepare them to question and analyze information they learn, and they'll be able to consider different perspectives and interpretations.

HEART- I still have some doubts -- not about whether I believe I can teach social studies, but whether I am the right person to teach it credibly.  I realize I still have much to learn about inclusive social studies and conveying concepts to young learners in a way they'll understand.  I am certainly more prepared now after this course, but it highlighted the idea that I still have a lot to learn.

FEET- What might your next steps be? What actions will you take in the future or commitments can you make for teaching social studies?

For now, I plan to continue trying to learn more about teaching inclusively, including more courses at UNT regarding teaching and creating inclusive curricula. At some point, I'll finish my graduate studies and can start on my certifications, at which point I believe I'll be able to make better connections in practice.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
I choose this picture because we all have different ways of seeing things, but our thoughts can overlap even slightly and I think that can be used to positively

# data[].attributes.body
Head- A major take away from this class was the danger of the single story. As we have discussed in class, a single story has been told for years in school in regards to how this country was formed and the different roles different groups of people played throughout history. I really feel that students need be exposed to the counter narratives...not to promote hate but for them to value each point of view that will (hopefully) enable them to form a fair judgement of their own. To be honest this is not limited to students but for all teachers and citizens too, in fact it needs to begin with us so that we can teach our children at school and at home the importance of counter narratives so that we can all make a fair judgement of things and opt for the "correct ways".

Heart- I feel very motivated but also very challenged and maybe a little intimidated because I am aware that not everybody thinks the same as me and it can get really challenging to teach students the counter narratives, especially if their parents don't believe those exist. My hopes are that if this is done in a loving way where students feel included and heard and that their points of view are valued, then we can slowly make that shift away form the single narrative.

Feet- My commitment is to always listen to and value whatever students have to say. As I mentioned before, not everybody thinks as me but I think it is very damaging (specially as teachers) to say things like "you are wrong", what we can do instead is listen to as many different points of view and that way understand where everybody is coming from and their reasoning.

# data[].attributes.body
1. Head: I think my biggest takeaway from this semester is the idea of making sure that whatever lesson/event/unit I'm teaching is taught from multiple perspectives. I want to be careful that my classroom is a place that questions single stories and includes and focuses on narratives that have been previously hidden.
2. Heart: I am feeling nervous and excited. I am well aware of the mistakes I will make as I journey into teaching social studies well, but I also know that with a growth mindset I will continue to improve my teaching and right my wrongs.
3. Feet: My next step right now is to continue my work as a substitute teacher part time. Through this I hope to immerse myself in as many social studies classrooms as possible, seeing what other teachers are doing well and what I might improve upon.

I actually included my first motivational poster as my final one as well. As I thought about changing it and creating something new, I realized that the original one actually still stands. Not because I knew everything at the start of the semester--quite the opposite. I've learned so much that I feel like I can apply deeper, more thorough meaning to the original image, without it needing to change. So even though I had so many misconceptions and lacked a lot of knowledge when I created this poster, the growth and change behind my idea still stands. And it still represents what social studies is about to me.

# data[].attributes.body
1. A major takeaway I had this semester was learning how to integrate social studies with other subjects, and how social studies is a part of students' everyday lives. For example, even though students aren't old enough to vote in government elections, they still use voting and democratic practices daily, such as their friend group deciding what game to play, or the class voting on a free-choice activity. Social studies can be found, taught, and practiced in many ways throughout the day.

2. I have always enjoyed social studies and would feel excited and prepared to teach it. I feel confident knowing that I will be able to create a classroom where everyone is welcomed, treated with kindness, and guided to reach their potential.

3. I will ensure that all students in my class are treated with kindness and respect. I will also look for ways to connect social studies with students' experiences and with other subjects. By pointing out real-life examples of social studies, students can see the relevance it has in their lives.

4. The picture I chose shows the 4th president of the United States, James Madison, alongside one of his notable quotes. The quote conveys the message that in order for our country's freedom to remain, knowledge must be pursued and passed on to future generations. I selected this image because I believe that its message is at the heart of social studies, and education as a whole. Knowledge and enlightenment are key to keeping our country and its values strong for generations to come. Without an education, particularly in social studies, it is difficult, if not impossible, for people to become active citizens who uphold "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." My view of social studies has not shifted; rather, it has become stronger and clearer. I believe it is a great privilege, and an even greater responsibility, to teach students (our future leaders) about our country and their role in it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
My way of thinking shifted from only knowledge to the expansion of what social studies really means and what it all includes.

# data[].attributes.body
My present understanding of social studies after our semester together has expanded. This course went beyond my expectations of what my thinking about social studies. I never liked social studies because it seemed like only reading from textbooks and doing worksheets or memorizing. This course gave me a different perspective than what I experienced in school.

HEAD- One major takeaway I have had this semester when teaching social studies is it is significant to be truthful, honest, and non-bias. Avoiding the "single story" in the classroom will be a way to fight the dominant narrative of many historical figures. Another takeaway from our last module content was young minds can handle a lot more than we think!

HEART- I am feeling more confident about my ability to teach inclusive social studies. It is intimidating as a preservice teacher to dive in and put my newly acquired knowledge to the test in a real classroom. Although, I feel more comfortable putting my newly acquired information to the test in a classroom setting. I'm excited to see the impact of what meaningful, purposeful, and rich content I bring to young minds.

FEET- My next steps are to keep a constant flow of knowledge that other teachers and resources can provide me to incorporate in my classroom. The actions I will take in the future for teaching social studies is to make sure my classroom is a safe, comfortable, respectful, and positive learning environment. One commitment I am making is to build an inclusive book collection that shares different perspectives. I want my students to have a sense of themselves in their classroom connected to the community beyond the school building. I hope to model the teaching I didn't receive regarding social studies.

# data[].attributes.body
HEAD- I had a few major takeaways this semester. Learning more about historical figures, and different cultures, learning how to teach the truth in a kid-friendly way, and fun ways to teach social studies.

HEART- I feel empowered, however, I would like to research inclusive social studies a bit more before I delve into teaching it. Once I feel like I have a handle on it, I know I will teach it in a way that is straightforward and truthful in a kid-friendly way. I would also like to build a classroom library of culturally diverse books and literature. Students feel comfortable when they see something that looks like them.

FEET- Next steps are to get educated on inclusive social studies so I can advocate at whatever school I work at. I want to be able to teach the truth, not just the good parts of history. I will attend professional development trainings, webinars, utilize my professional community and complete my own research.

# data[].attributes.body
Head: One major takeaway from this semester is to avoid single stories and teach my students to do so as well. There are numerous voices telling their stories but have been silenced by the dominant narrative, causing harm to many communities especially marginalized communities. Also, one of my other major takeaways is not to be afraid to talk about the uncomfortable and complicated parts of history with my students, they deserve to know the whole truth. If they have all the information and the proper tools, I can only hope that in this way they will want to fight and speak up for what they think is wrong.

Heart: I am feeling more prepared to teach students. I have gained more knowledge on how to create an inclusive learning environment where I know my students can succeed.

Feet: The next step for me is to keep learning how to accommodate and teach students with different needs and backgrounds. I’ve been making a list of educational documentaries to watch, books to read, etc. so I can continue to grow to be more culturally responsive and a better educator.

Image: I chose this image because it takes account the roots of everyone in the classroom- their communities, their perspectives, their culture, how they learn, their roots etc. I believe this is what social studies is, acknowledging and respecting different stories and backgrounds and learning the history of the world around us so that we may grow towards a better future.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
This picture represents my understanding of social studies because it shows everyone coming together with love and their helping hands. We are one community!

# data[].attributes.body
Head: This semester I have learned so much as a future teacher, and as a person. My biggest take away this semester in regards to teaching  social studies is that there is much more to supporting a student than just instruction. I have learned that in a classroom it is a community of people who are working together every day to reach goals and a community who supports each other in the challenges and in the successful events. Learning this has given me a different perspective and changed my teaching style that I had planned to implement. Not only that but also another take away from the semester is giving my students opportunities to make their own opinions covering different topics and persons we may be studying in history. Giving students the power, and the knowledge to decipher themselves is something that we need to start implementing as teachers and will help our students grow to become a better part of their community and in our society.

Heart: During this semester, I have had the opportunity to be in a classroom that advocates fairness, inclusivity, support, and uniqueness. Going through this semester and learning the different ways I can support my classroom, and seeing what I learned in person, has given me a stronger connection to my students as a teacher. I feel like I have learned the important techniques and factors that will greatly impact my students in a positive and respectful way. There are so many things that teachers can do for their students and sometimes it can feel very confusing and cause a teacher to feel lost and confused. With the guidance of this class, and in my experience, I feel that I am prepared and ready for my future classroom and of the wonderful students that will be inside.

Feet: After finishing this course, and finishing my experience as an instructional aid in the pre-K classroom, I have many goals for myself that will help me become a better teacher. In my journey, my next steps are to student teach in a third grade class. I enjoyed my experience with the little ones, and I was able to see the fundamentals, but I see myself teaching older grade levels in the elementary school level. In my future commitment as a teacher in my district, I plan to give the students my effort and support throughout their learning experience. I will work in unison to the mentor teacher and share my ideas and thoughts that I have learned in my class. When working with the mentor teacher and creating my own lesson plans, my commitment to my class is to allow them different forms of learning and giving the students the opportunities to see more than one side of each story.

In this class, we have all learned and grown to become a better teacher for ourselves and for our students, I am so excited to take what I learned and put it into my future classroom.

# data[].attributes.body
Head- I have gained a better understanding of the importance of teaching students the subject of social studies. This subject needs to be given appropriate attention, intention, and care. This discipline helps students create connections to different cultures, current events, politics, the past, and to the rest of the world.

Heart- I honestly believe that I have much more to learn when it comes to teaching social studies. This class was truly an eyeopener as to how social studies can be taught in misleading ways to students. I would like to teach this subject in an inclusive manner with accurate information.

Feet-My next steps as an educator would be to create habits that allow me to access more information about current events and past events in our country and around the world. I need to keep myself updated so that I can give my students appropriate information.

# data[].attributes.body
Head: One major takeaway for me this semester is to ensure my future students understand all sides to history and that I give them the fair opportunity to learn the truth behind all history. I believe it's very important for students to learn about the past in a not so "cookie cutter" position, it leads to a greater understanding and compassion for others.
Heart: Honestly, this course and semester has been a great learning experience and very informative. I feel prepared to teach social studies to students in an open and honest manner.
Feet: The next steps I plan to take will be continuing my growth on the subject and learning more about social studies curriculum through books, peers, and discussions. My commitment for my students is to provide them with inclusive, culturally responsive learning environment that's built on trust and care.
Image: I chose this picture because it's a representation of social studies in my eyes. We come from all walks of life and cultures. It should be celebrated, respected, and taught.

# data[].attributes.body
Head- A major takeaway I have had this semester in regards to teaching social studies is to teach without bias and not leave holes in a story regardless of how difficult it may be to revisit a historical time period that is unsavory. There are age appropriate ways to introduce students to ideas in a manner that does not poorly affect them. Students are resilient and it is up to the teacher to honestly relay the entirety of the truth to them and have students make their own judgements on the matter.

Heart- This course provided me with many wonderful tools to use in the classrooms. I have learned to approach students with a greater level of sensitivity and understanding rather than expecting them to understand certain things when they arrive to the classroom. Students come from all walks of earth and view the world much differently then each other it is our job to celebrate that and introduce to them new ideas. Being patient with them when things are difficult to grasp because it takes time to warm up to certain approaches is important.

Feet- I'm committed to being the teacher that students feel comfortable to turn to during the difficult and sensitive times whether that is when they are learning about something that might be heavy on the heart or outside of the classroom. I want my students to understand that they have an advocate for them more than just someone that wants to feed their brains knowledge. I want them to succeed inside and outside of the classroom and they have me cheering for them every step of the way.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
This was an authentic semester and I will always remember it. 

# data[].attributes.body
This picture represents what I feel about social studies because this is an image of a huge book, which represents how much students can learn from the subject social studies. I also chose this image because teachers will teach students all about the world, culture, people, citizens, respect and more.
HEAD: I learned some key points from this class, which is highly appreciated. One takeaway I had this semester is the different side I saw in George Washington. I held him to be such a major part of history, which he is, but he had a negative side. The history that I learned and remember discussed nothing about him enslaving people. If that was taught in a true light, I wonder how I would feel about him, instead of being disappointed in the character I once knew.
Another point that I found was interesting is how Native Americans are being stereotyped and not treated properly. I didn’t realize their feelings in the present time.
HEART: My feelings at the end of the semester in terms of my ability to teach inclusive social studies is that I am scared, quite frankly. I am afraid to talk about slavery and the negatives of our country because it is simply uncomfortable. Second, I could potentially create conflict with parents as opposed to a partnership. I do not like conflict at all. I just wish I could teach fun things, maps, economics, and things in that nature.
FEET: My next steps would be not to judge and to allow for two (plus) sides to a story. I want to train my mind that there is always another point, perspective, or reason to situations. The actions and or commitments I plan to take in the future for teaching social studies are to inform students of the truth and there are multiple sides to stories. I want to teach them about two (or maybe more) sides to stories. For instance, when we talk about former presidents, I will explain all aspects (positives and negatives) of their lives. I will explain to the students that certain behavior was acceptable then, as it is not now.

# data[].attributes.body
HEAD- My major takeaways are learning how to include more art that integrates social studies. I found new artists and literature that I can utilize in my own lessons. I also very much valued the "mythology" of historical figures which is something I found that I am guilty of doing. I am so passionate about history that I have the same blinders on that I fight so hard to tear down.

HEART- I am feeling very excited and empowered. I feel like I am at a campus where I can make a big difference and work with good people who would be willing to collaborate with me. I interested in aligning my art lessons to teach more historical stories that relate to what students are learning in social studies and am confidant I can do it. (I just need to sacrifice a little bit of my summer for it haha)

FEET- My next steps will be collaborating with the freshmen and sophomore humanities teachers on my campus. Our school has social studies and english combined into one class that is double blocked called Humanities. I feel very strongly that I can align my art curriculum with their curriculum to make sure that multiple sides of stories are being told and increase student critical thinking skills through visual thinking strategies. I am really excited to get the ball rolling on this.

# data[].attributes.body
HEAD- What are some major takeaways you have had this semester in regards to teaching social studies?

Hard History demands to be taught. Those who don’t know the past are doomed to continue it. One of my main takeaways this semester is to constantly be authentic and honest (in an age appropriate way) to students. We do them no favors by sugar coating the hard parts of history.

HEART- What are you feeling at the end of the semester? (In terms of your ability to teach inclusive social studies?)

I feel like I still have a lot of areas I need to grow in, but I want to. I’m excited about doing independent research to further figure out how to make my classroom curriculum  as inclusive as it can be.

FEET- What might your next steps be? What actions will you take in the future or commitments can you make for teaching social studies?

I will always be ready to say “I don’t know but I’d love to look into that with you” if a student asks me something I am uninformed about. I make a commitment to constantly be engaging the ideas of others and listening to views different than my own in order to before a stronger educator.

# data[].attributes.body
Head - For me, a major takeaway that I was able to get from this course is how important it is that we refrain from teaching a single narrative. I believe that the book project unit really opened my eyes to how one-sided history can often be taught and how we need to challenge ourselves to learn about different perspectives in the past. Alongside the single story narrative, I also took away the idea of heroification and how we often place historical figures on pedestals when they in reality can be flawed just like any other human. We need to be providing students with a real and diverse lens of history, not the glamorized version that we often can see in textbooks.

Heart - I feel way more confident in teaching social studies at this point in the semester than I did when I first started. I will be going into my first year of teaching next year and social studies was always something that I was a bit nervous about teaching because of how controversial it can be to the public. Even so, I now feel like I have been equipped with the tools and knowledge to provide my students with valuable historical lessons and analyzing skills.

Feet - I want to continue to further educate myself about inclusivity in social studies by reading books, watching videos (such as Tedtalks), and listening to podcasts. I very much want to be prepared for my first year of teaching and this class has pointed me towards the right direction for my preparation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
I have found the pieces I was missing to understand social studies. 

# data[].attributes.body
One major takeaway that I have is that there is so much more to social studies then I thought. I was taught a one story narrative growing up and because I felt it did not include me I just stop caring and believing in history all together.
When I began I felt lost like there was so much I was missing. Now I can say that I have been found and a love for social studies has gain so much knowledge that I was lacking.
When we began I felt like I had been missing things and I was embarking on s journey to find them. My image above represents how I have discovered some of the information that I had lost.