In the past, literacy was defined as the ability to read and write. According to the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE, 2013), this definition has evolved and expanded to now include the ability to effectively utilize technology, build cross-cultural relationships in order to solve problems, multitask, use multimedia texts in a variety…

Anecdotal evidence shared by teachers appears to support the iPad as a useful tool for working with children with autism. However, there are thousands of possible applications, known as "apps", available in the Apple iTunes store for download and trying to decide what would be most useful for students can be daunting. This article will…

In this article, director of Educational Outreach at the Library of Congress Lee Ann Potter describes a classroom activity that focuses on an 1876 single-page circular published in Salem, Massachusetts about Alexander Melville Bell's Visible Speech. A. M. Bell's son, Alexander Graham Bell described "Visible Speech" as "a…

In preparation for her school's celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, Elizabeth Brown developed an integrated language arts and social studies one-week unit of study on the civil rights movement, where she reinforced reading, writing, and speaking skills. The overarching goals for the five-day lesson on Dr. King's "I Have a…

Suggests that social studies teachers review how they ask their students to speak publicly in class (question-responses, oral reports, group discussion, and/or role playing). They should also assess how alert their students are to language clues such as certain vocabulary words, intonation, facial expression, and gestures. (DB)

Suggests that the teaching of skills should be a major goal of all social studies courses. Presents a list of activities which help to develop skills such as gathering and sharing information. (KC)

Describes an educational research study which was undertaken to determine and assess use of recitation in the elementary school classroom as a teaching technique, particularly in social studies and mathematics education units. Findings indicated that recitation should be used more often in the classroom because it does permit some degree of…

This article provides a number of oral communication-based learning activities which focus on the social, religious, and political history of the Middle East. (JDH)

Activities that reinforce social studies instruction and improve writing skills are described, including: (1) writing resumes for historical figures; (2) "on-site" reporting of historical events; (3) defining social studies concepts; (4) perspective taking and letter writing; and (5) speech writing. (CJ)

The Young Historians project provides abundant opportunities for students in grades one through six to apply basic reading, writing, listening, speaking, and computing skills learned during reading and math and to learn firsthand about their own heritage and the many resources in their own community. (RM)

Describes how "The Odyssey" is taught to fifth graders as a part of a study of ancient civilizations. Beginning with a storyteller's version of the tale, the children hear, read, discuss, and write about parts of the story. Learning activities and resources are described. (LMO)