The Benefits of Interdisciplinary Instruction in English Language Arts and Social Studies Classrooms

Authors

  • Richard Coehrs University of Toledo

Keywords:

interdisciplinary instruction, English Language Arts, Social Studies, cross curricular instruction

Abstract

Interdisciplinary instruction using objectives based on English language arts and Social Studies standards has many benefits for students. It strengthens their content area knowledge through inquiry, close reading, the interpretation of multiple sources, authentic writing tasks for an audience or purpose, and critical thinking.  Examples of strategies that have produced positive results are presented here in the form of data and analysis from previous case studies. The results of these studies demonstrate how this specific type of interdisciplinary instruction can help students understand that content area knowledge can be transferred and used in innovative ways in fields that may not seem obviously related. This contributes to the advancement of research-based instruction in each of these core content areas of education.

References

Bickford, J. H., Clabough, J., & Taylor, T. N. (2020). Fourth graders’ reading, thinking, and writing about historical sources. Social Studies Research and Practice, 15(1), 57–82. https://doi.org/10.1108/SSRP-07-2019-0039

Collins, A. A., Ciullo, S., Graham, S., Sigafoos, L. L., Guerra, S., David, M., & Judd, L. (2021). Writing expository essays from social studies texts: a self-regulated strategy development study. Reading & Writing, 34(7), 1623-1651. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11145-021-10157-2

Common Core State Standards Initiative. (2022). English language arts standards. Retrieved May 31, 2023, from https://learning.ccsso.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ELA_Standards1.pdf

Cowgill II, D. A. (2015). Primary sources in the social studies classroom: Historical inquiry with book backdrops. Social Studies Research & Practice (Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama), 10(1), 65–83. https://doi.org/10.1108/ssrp-01-2015-b0004

Davis, S., & Lawler, D. (2014). Teaching social studies concepts using children’s literature to meet Common Core strands. National Social Science Journal, 41(2), 22–29.

Fowler, M., Freeman, L., & Hubbard, J. (2020). PreK-5 teacher views of professional development integrating Common Core language arts with science and social studies. Journal of Educational Research and Practice, 10(1), 1–25.

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Published

2023-12-15

How to Cite

Coehrs, R. (2023). The Benefits of Interdisciplinary Instruction in English Language Arts and Social Studies Classrooms. Learning to Teach Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies Through Research and Practice, 12(1). Retrieved from https://openjournals.utoledo.edu/index.php/learningtoteach/article/view/803