Lintner Quote

Lintner expressed that "A fundamental objective of social studies instruction is to link students’ lives and experiences to the lives and experiences of others." I definitely agree with this point of view. It is so important to help open students' eyes and minds to the diversity around us. Always focusing on our own limited experiences can lead to narrow mindedness. It's crucial to keep in mind that we represent a very limited perspective of a very large and diverse world! Children are very impressionable and I think often times they pick up the prejudices of their parents and peers. Sadly this can lead to stereotypical and egocentric ideas. As an educator, it will be my job to help open minds and let students "explore" the wonderful and diverse world around us. Of course that doesn't mean I can fly my students over to Beijing or Madrid whenever I want to show them a different culture or point of view (although with the continually dropping temperatures around here, Madrid is sounding pretty nice right about now...).
Social studies by nature is a global topic. Sometimes it can be hard for students to comprehend or appreciate something that they have never experienced though. That is why tools such as photographs, videos, and speakers can have such a great impact in linking diverse topics with student's own lives. Giving them a visual or a concrete example of a more abstract topic can help make it more relatable for students. We are also lucky that we live in such an advanced technological age that has made the world more connected than ever before. We can definitely use this to our advantage when helping students relate global issues to their own lives.