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“TCI has always been a student-centered curriculum. It’s more than a teacher-guided textbook. It is an engaging experience that supports both teaching and learning.”Alan Plummer |
Alan Plummer taught social studies at Northshore Middle School in Bothell, Washington, for 30 years. For half of those years, he has taught with TCI’s U.S. history program for middle school. While he has experienced changes to the program’s format over the years—from teaching with audio cassettes and slides to TCI’s modern digital platform—he notes that the quality of instruction and commitment to students have remained the same.
“TCI has always been a student-centered curriculum. It’s more than a teacher-guided textbook. It is an engaging experience that supports both teaching and learning.”
Today, Alan’s students get to experience TCI’s History Alive! United States Through Industrialism program online and in print. Whatever the format, Alan has seen his students transform into motivated learners who actively engage with history.
TCI’s approach to learning incorporates research-based strategies that promote active learning in the classroom. For example, the Social Studies Skill Builder strategy engages students with thoughtful tasks and rich primary sources, encouraging collaboration, critical thinking, and analysis.
With this strategy, Alan notices that his students interact with history on a deeper level. “I love it when the kids get an opportunity to investigate and learn how to use primary sources. Social Studies Skill Builders are a wonderful tool for this purpose. It is exciting to watch the students engage and interact with the material to see the whole picture.”
For example, in History Alive! United States Through Industrialism, students examine life in the colonies as historians would. They explore diary entries, illustrations, and historical school books to respond to key questions. Then, they read expository texts to make sense of the primary sources about colonial life.
“Students have to make decisions about how the information correlates—they’re putting it all together. They’re able to analyze the information to build an understanding, and then check their analysis through the reading and discussion.”
Alan’s students became more confident in expressing historical knowledge and ideas through group discussions, civic debates, and role-playing, leading to increased participation and enthusiasm.
“Any lesson that actively engages students in learning is exciting. History can be boring and disconnected. The TCI curriculum stimulates learning by using well-organized, age-appropriate activities that encourage students to build connections between the past, present, and future.”
Throughout the years, Alan has kept up with the changes to TCI’s programs as technology has evolved. With the current programs, Alan appreciates the flexibility TCI’s platform offers.
“The platform is phenomenal for both the teacher and students! I’ve had students who traveled overseas for two weeks, and they could still access the entire TCI curriculum. That’s a game changer—they can use it anywhere they go.”
Students can respond to questions in their print or digital notebooks. Alan’s students use both and feel that the experience is consistent on paper and online. “My students appreciate having access to both versions of the textbook. I think it’s a testament that they feel at ease using the graphically organized notes that remain consistent in either format.”
Additionally, TCI’s programs are available in English and Spanish in print and online. The text online is also compatible with digital translations. “I work with many students who speak a first language other than English. The incorporation of Google Translate within the TCI curriculum allows them the opportunity to interact with the information and activities quickly and effectively.”
We are glad to hear that Alan is able to engage his students with TCI’s programs throughout the years, no matter which version he uses.
See how TCI engages students and builds their critical thinking skills with hands-on activities, primary sources, and games. If you’re ready to review social studies programs, contact sales to get a sample.
Students act as investigative journalists in the mid-1700s. They “travel” through the colonies to scrutinize the claims made by the London Chronicle.
This activity leverages the Social Studies Skill Builder teaching strategy, which turns the traditional, rote tasks usually associated with skill-based worksheets into more dynamic, interactive activities.
Students become law students who must pass a final exam in order to graduate, demonstrating their understanding of the Constitution.
This activity leverages the Social Studies Skill Builder teaching strategy, which turns the traditional, rote tasks usually associated with skill-based worksheets into more dynamic, interactive activities.
Students play a game called Do They Have the Right? and read about Supreme Court cases and debate ideas.
This activity leverages the Response Group teaching strategy, which challenges students to discuss complex issues in small groups.