The Education Week Spotlight on Teaching Social Studies to Build Literacy and Critical Thinking is a collection of articles hand-picked by our editors.
Social studies classrooms do more than teach history; they build literacy, critical thinking, and analytical skills. From exploring presidential elections to evaluating sources, students learn to ask essential questions and interpret complex narratives. These articles highlight key U.S. history topics, show where teachers seek support, and offer practical strategies — from oral history projects to reading instruction frameworks — for developing critical readers and thinkers.