Correlating the Perceptions of Preservice Elementary Teachers and Social Studies in the Elementary Curriculum

Abstract

Elementary social studies is often viewed as less important than mathematics and reading. Although part of the curriculum, social studies is often overlooked by teachers due to testing demands. Therefore, it was important to investigate preservice teachers’ perceptions and attitudes about social studies upon entering their methods courses to determine what may be needed to enrich the course. The study’s findings suggest preservice teachers often hold negative views of social studies and fail to connect it to citizenship, the goal of social studies. The results have assisted educators in strengthening the methods courses to help preservice teachers teach social studies.