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 biggest mistakes I made as a new social studies teacher (and the same mistakes I see many teachers make today). More importantly, I'll show you simple, practical solutions that you can implement before the first day of school.

Whether you've been assigned a new grade level, don't have a curriculum, or simply want to feel more confident planning your year, these tips will help you build a social studies block that is engaging, organized, and sustainable.

In This Video

  • Why passage-only instruction often leads to disengagement
  • How planning by unit saves time all year long
  • Why consistency matters more than long social studies blocks
  • The classroom routines every social studies teacher should establish
  • How to save time by using quality, ready-to-use resources
  • Simple strategies to build an engaging and sustainable social studies routine


If you're preparing for back-to-school, these five mindset shifts can help you avoid burnout and spend more time focusing on what matters most...your students.

Resources Mentioned

Social Studies Bootcamp - thesouthernteach.com/bootcamp

Plan Your Social Studies Year From Start to Finish

Mentioned in this episode:

Grab the Back to School Social Studies Pack!

Get your upper elementary students excited to start the school year using these low-prep back to school social studies getting to know you worksheets! With 20 pages of engaging activities targeting geography, history, and classroom community building, it makes a great back to school resource for the first week or first month of school!

Learn more about the Back to School Social Studies Resource

Teacher Summer Talks and Bootcamp - Double Dose of PD!

The week of July 20th is jam-packed with some exciting PD for teachers!

Sign up for the Teacher Summer Talks audio summit >> https://thesouthernteach--secondstorywindow.thrivecart.com/tst-26-max-pass/​

Sign up for the Social Studies Bootcamp >> https://thesouthernteach.com/bootcamp

Podden och tillhörande omslagsbild på den här sidan tillhör Kirsten Hammond, The Southern Teach LLC. Innehållet i podden är skapat av Kirsten Hammond, The Southern Teach LLC och inte av, eller tillsammans med, Poddtoppen.