What's Going On? A Social Studies Network Podcast

In this episode of What’s Going On? Hosts Mary and Maeve lean into discomfort as they discuss how to have difficult conversations with students. They go over how to prepare, act, and reflect when difficult topics appear in the classroom, whether those topics are built into the lesson or not. Together they explore how modeling conversation skills for students can lead to more meaningful discussions and connections with students.  

In this episode of What’s Going On? Hosts Mary and Maeve discuss their experiences with social studies curriculum and how current forms of teaching history make students feel disconnected. Together they brainstorm different ways to integrate and implement diverse perspectives in the classroom. Reminding us of the importance of embracing mistakes as we meaningfully connections.  

In this episode of What’s going on? Hosts Mary and Maeve discuss the topic of voting as we approach election day. They go over voting in the classroom, the history of voting, past and present forms of voter suppression, and voting incentives. Together they grapple with the complexities of the voting system and the importance of staying informed and taking action.  

In this episode of What’s Going On? host Jae, is joined by Samantha Stearns, a middle school social studies teacher at Roosevelt Middle School in River Forest, Illinois. Together they explore teaching truth in today’s classroom, reflection as an important tool of justice-centered teaching, and transforming harm in social studies  

In this episode of What’s Going On? Host, Jae, is joined by Kara Whitley, a Central High School English teacher in Illinois. Together, they discussed her new role as an AP African American Studies teacher and the struggles, alongside the amazing opportunity to learn that comes with it.  

Season 2, Episode 5: In this episode of What’s Going On? host, Jae, is joined by Seth Brady, Global Peace Studies teacher at Naperville Central High School in Illinois. Together, they discuss what it means to support, and facilitate, free inquiry in social studies through love, relationships, trust, disrupting schooling’s enclosing functioning, circles, facilitating action, and continuous feedback.  

Season 2, Episode 4: In this episode of What’s Going On? host, Jae, is joined by Emily Chyba, preK-3rd grade Art teacher at Bouchet Elementary Math & Science Academy in Chicago. Together they explore the connections between social studies and art in early childhood education. In doing so they discuss students’ natural creativity, creating relevant curricular experiences that connect to students’ lives and communities, respecting young peoples’ brilliance and curiosities, curating experience for students to learn about oppression, and the importance of creating environments that support these inquiry-based and inclusive experiences through interdisciplinary experiences.

In this episode What’s Going On? host, Jae, is joined by Jasmine Gilstrap Hunter, Executive Director of Lion’s Pride, a mentorship program for high school students. Together they discuss the role of mentorship in education, creating safe learning spaces, Black women teachers, restorative justice, trust and humanizing relationships, letting students lead their learning, and lessons learned about teaching and learning in the COVID-19 pandemic.  

In this episode What’s Going On? host, Jae, is joined by Diamond Bell, future social studies teacher. Together they discuss the importance of great social studies teachers, teaching and learning during and following the COVID-19 pandemic, the teachers’ role in student-centered social studies classrooms, pedagogies of curiosity that give students’ the authority to explore their lives, making social studies fun and engaging, 

In this episode What’s Going On? host, Jae, is joined by Jasmine Gilstrap Hunter, Executive Director of Lion’s Pride, a mentorship program for high school students. Together they discuss the role of mentorship in education, creating safe learning spaces, Black women teachers, restorative justice, trust and humanizing relationships, letting students lead their learning, and lessons learned about teaching and learning in the COVID-19 pandemic.