How can I help my student do well in Social Studies?

One of the best ways to help your student is to be aware of what they are responsible for learning each year. You can become informed by reading this web site. Get to know the key terms, people and events they will study this year and share what you know with them. Our local area offers some of the most fascinating historical sites and educational resources in the nation. And while you are exploring the world class resources available in our nation's capital, please don't over look the wonderful resources we have right here in PWC and the City of Manassas.

Our teachers are committed partners in your child's education and they value the expertise of the very talented and educated parents of our community. As you develop an understanding of our curriculum and if you feel you have valuable expertise to lend to what our students are learning, please contact your child's teacher to offer your talents.

Social studies can be a very enjoyable subject for students and their parents to experience together. As students gain more knowledge of themselves and society they begin to view the world around them in new ways. Sometimes these new experiences challenge their previous understandings, other times it confirms long held beliefs. On occasion, this tension can recreate confusion and frustration. These are the growing pains associated with learning about the story of different people and their accomplishments and failings. This is a normal part of the intellectual growth that social studies can stimulate.

When students express frustration with social studies because they "just don't get it" or they fail to see "why we need to know this stuff" it may be because they have not yet seen the relevance of what they are studying and how it relates to the world they know today. Good teaching helps bridge that gap. If your student is having trouble in a social studies class, please contact the teacher. Try to be specific about your student's concerns or difficulties. Our teachers want your child to succeed. Communication is critical to ensure the success of the student and their teacher.

The most common problems in social studies relate to reading comprehension and retention. History is a story. The story can be told from many different perspectives, but all of them will rely on some form of communication. Most often the story is told in writing and that is where good reading skills are critical. There are many ways to improve reading comprehension and retention. Contact your child's teacher or your school's reading specialist for help.

Sometimes students understand what they have read but do not know why it is important. Studying history and the social sciences requires students to look at the "Big Picture." This requires summarization and analysis skills. Textbooks often provide important questions at the start of a chapter or unit to help students see important trends or the significance of events, individuals or groups. Teachers often guide learning by questioning in class.