Social Studies Education and Me

My interest in Social Studies and Education developed independently of each other. From the American Girl books to the Dear America series to Anne Rinaldi's tween historical fiction novels, I developed a love for history through stories about the past. My historical curiosity led me to Washington, D.C. where I received my BA in History from The George Washington University. Through a combination of my course work and internships at The US Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Civil War Preservation Trust, I became passionate about the preservation and presentation of history. 

My interest in education developed through a love of working with children. My first experience with this came from spending summers as a camp counselor in California. After graduating from college, I was extraordinarily lucky to be hired at an elementary school, first as an assistant librarian and then teacher. These experiences introduced me to the challenge of figuring out how each individual student learns best and my love for figuring out how to make educational concepts become a reality for students. More than anything else, it’s that moment when you see something “click” for a student that has solidified my desire to have a career in education.

In an effort to combine these two passions I have returned to The George Washington University to pursue a MA in Curriculum Instruction with a focus in Social Studies Education. This blog is a part of my second Social Studies methods class, Perspectives and Research in Social Studies Education. My blog posts will include reflections on how the Social Studies are best learned and taught.