The Social Studies Teacher Podcast

From Standards to Lessons: How to Plan an Entire Social Studies Unit

Where do you start when you have a list of standards but no clear plan for turning them into lessons? In Part 5 of this PD Series, I’m walking you through the process I

Stop Grading Everything: 4 Smarter Ways to Assess Social Studies

Pssst - that stack of social studies papers on your desk does not all need a grade! In Part 4 of this special PD Series, we are talking about how to assess student learn

5 Social Studies Lesson Hooks You Can Use in Under 5 Minutes

You do not need an elaborate classroom transformation to get students interested in a social studies lesson. In Part 3 of this PD Series, I’m sharing five simple lesson

Your Slideshow Is NOT Your Lesson: Turn Information Into Learning

A slideshow can help you teach social studies, but simply presenting information does not guarantee students are actually learning it. In Part 2 of the PD Series, we are

Are You Overcomplicating Social Studies? 5 Things You Can Stop Doing

Social studies does not have to be complicated to be meaningful. In Part 1 of this special PD series, we'll talk about five things teachers can stop doing to make social

Differentiating Social Studies: Real Teacher Challenges + Practical Solutions

Differentiating social studies can feel overwhelming - especially when you're trying to support struggling readers, English learners, students with accommodations, and ad

10 Must-Have Teacher Supplies for the Upper Elementary Classroom

Quick note: This episode is a repost, but it’s perfect to revisit as you start thinking about back-to-school prep, classroom setup and the supplies that actually make tea

5 Mistakes New Social Studies Teachers Make (and How to Fix Them)

Teaching social studies for the first time? You're not alone, and you definitely don't have to figure it all out by yourself. In this episode, I'm sharing the five bigge

Social Studies Summer Series Day 5: How to Teach Economics Skills

Quick note: This episode is a repost, but it’s a great one to revisit as you plan ways to make economics and free enterprise easier for students to understand. Welcome t

Social Studies Summer Series Day 4: How to Teach Government/Civics Skills

Quick note: This episode is a repost, but it’s a helpful one to revisit as you plan simple ways to make government and civics easier for students to understand. Welcome

Social Studies Summer Series Day 3: How to Teach Culture and Society Skills

Quick note: This episode is a repost, but it’s a great one to revisit as you plan meaningful ways to help students learn about culture, community and the world around the

Social Studies Summer Series Day 2: How to Teach History Skills

Quick note: This episode is a repost, but it’s a great one to revisit as you plan simple, engaging ways to help students build stronger history skills. Welcome to Part 2

Social Studies Summer Series Day 1: How to Teach Geography Skills

Quick note: This episode is a repost, but it’s the perfect one to revisit during summer planning as you think about how to make geography more engaging and easier for stu

5 Steps to the Ultimate Summer Prep

Summer is the perfect time to reset, reflect and get ahead before the back-to-school rush begins. In this episode, I’m sharing five simple steps to help you prep for soc

No Curriculum? No Problem! How to Teach Social Studies Without One

Have you ever been told you're teaching social studies… but given absolutely nothing to work with? No textbook. No pacing guide. No curriculum map. In this video, I’m w

How to Help Students Think Like Historians | Teaching the Why in Social Studies

History lessons often focus on dates, events, and timelines. But when students understand why events happened, history begins to make sense! In this video, we explore pr

4 Tips for Teaching Famous Figures Year-Round | Make Biographies Meaningful in Social Studies

Do you save teaching about famous figures for one unit or month...and then move on? Let’s change that. In this video, you’ll learn 4 easy ways to teach famous figures ye

Texas SBOE Jan 2026 Updates - Social Studies Topics and Subtopics...TMI?

I spent over 9 hours listening to the SBOE meeting, so you don't have to! In this bonus audio-only episode, I share with you takeaways and recaps (with my opinions sprink

Building Literacy Skills Through Social Studies - Reading and Writing Strategies

In this video, you’ll learn practical ways to strengthen literacy skills through social studies instruction. Discover how reading, writing, and critical thinking strategi

Getting to Know Your Students - 9 Common Classroom Personalities

Every classroom is full of unique personalities - and understanding how your students think, learn, and interact can make all the difference. In this video, we’ll explor