Michigan State University's 5 Enduring Understandings
(1) Teachers Create the Curriculum
Curriculum is that from which we learn and it is never neutral. It embraces the what, how, and why of learning. Teachers use resources, materials, and student ideas to create learning opportunities that are meaningful, authentic, and socially-relevant.
(2) Teachers Value the Cultural, Social and Intellectual Funds that Students Bring to School
Teachers accept and value what children bring to school. Teachers scaffold learning by using students’ prior knowledge, prior life experiences, personal life goals, role models, values, and talents.
(3) Teaching is a Learning Profession
Teachers continue to learn and grow as they provide access to learning for self and others. Teachers learn as they use past life experience to solve professional problems in the present and to imagine a better future. Teachers learn in collaboration with others. Outside of the classroom, teachers are always reading and everything they read is filtered through their teaching.
(4) Social Studies Teaching is Interdisciplinary and Connect Students to the World Around Them
Social studies teachers creates connections to the world through active inquiry and the use of dynamic teaching strategies. Social studies teachers pull out the “big ideas” as they investigate essential questions with their students. Social studies teachers connect students to the world around them through the curriculum and assessments they have created. Social studies teachers draw from all areas of knowledge (both academic and artistic fields) in their lessons and units.
(5) Teachers and Students are Citizens
Citizens make informed choices and are aware of the impact of their choices on others (locally and globally). Citizens care both about the common good and the unique needs of individuals. Teachers and students recognize and respect each other as citizens of the classroom, school, community, nation and Earth.
Curriculum is that from which we learn and it is never neutral. It embraces the what, how, and why of learning. Teachers use resources, materials, and student ideas to create learning opportunities that are meaningful, authentic, and socially-relevant.
(2) Teachers Value the Cultural, Social and Intellectual Funds that Students Bring to School
Teachers accept and value what children bring to school. Teachers scaffold learning by using students’ prior knowledge, prior life experiences, personal life goals, role models, values, and talents.
(3) Teaching is a Learning Profession
Teachers continue to learn and grow as they provide access to learning for self and others. Teachers learn as they use past life experience to solve professional problems in the present and to imagine a better future. Teachers learn in collaboration with others. Outside of the classroom, teachers are always reading and everything they read is filtered through their teaching.
(4) Social Studies Teaching is Interdisciplinary and Connect Students to the World Around Them
Social studies teachers creates connections to the world through active inquiry and the use of dynamic teaching strategies. Social studies teachers pull out the “big ideas” as they investigate essential questions with their students. Social studies teachers connect students to the world around them through the curriculum and assessments they have created. Social studies teachers draw from all areas of knowledge (both academic and artistic fields) in their lessons and units.
(5) Teachers and Students are Citizens
Citizens make informed choices and are aware of the impact of their choices on others (locally and globally). Citizens care both about the common good and the unique needs of individuals. Teachers and students recognize and respect each other as citizens of the classroom, school, community, nation and Earth.