Social Studies

Midland ISD Social Studies 
Vision and Beliefs

Vision

The study of social studies in Midland ISD will empower students to become engaged citizens who understand and embrace their rights and responsibilities. We will empower students to think critically about historical, governmental, economic, social, and geographic issues. We teach students to evaluate the validity of information sources, build their own claims using reliable evidence and reasonable arguments, and interact respectfully with peers. With the support of all stakeholders Midland ISD students will graduate college, career or military ready.

Beliefs 

1. We believe in teaching and learning through primary sources.

Focusing on primary sources can help humanize historical figures and provide students with deep and meaningful context for analyzing critical moments in history. The evaluation of primary sources allows students to compare points of view and evaluate the reliability of a claim made in a historical document while also making connections between various times and places. 

2. We believe that students must be able to express knowledge, ideas, and claims visually, orally, and in writing. 

Students should be given the opportunity to develop and communicate a claim and supporting evidence visually, orally, or in writing. Students should know how to use democratic procedures to make decisions on school, local, or state issues. Students need to use problem-solving and decision-making processes to identify a problem, gather information, list and consider opinions, consider advantages and disadvantages, choose and implement a solution, and evaluate the efficiency of the solution.  

3. We believe in respectful discourse.

Critical thinking skills teach students how to think, not what to think. When students encounter different opinions about Social Studies content in the classrooms we want them to process such differences and disagreements through respectful discourse. To foster respectful dialogue, teachers establish clear norms and procedures in their classrooms, help students develop critical listening skills, and give students ample opportunities to practice speaking and listening in respectful ways. 

4. We believe in learning leadership and civic virtue from the examples of historical figures. 

Students should learn about pivotal historical figures that changed the world. We believe the examples of past leaders and change agents can inspire students to stand up for what is right and be a positive influence on their peers as they grow into the next generation of American citizens.