Social Science / Overview

Mission Statement

With an instructional foundation in common formative assessment, the Woodgrove High School Social Science department is committed to providing all students with consistent, equitable instruction and regular, meaningful feedback so that students can accept responsibility for their learning while collaborating with their teachers and peers to read reactively, think critically, and develop a passion for life-long learning.

The Loudoun County Public Schools Social Science departments will promote learning through meaningful collaborative instruction and student-centered discovery. We will provide equitable opportunities in which students are encouraged to:
•Think critically and communicate effectively
•Respect diversity and build relationships
•Understand the relationship between past and present
•Become life-long learners with a global perspective

The Social Science Department at our school took the following steps, during school year 2010-2011, in pursuance of the LCPS Social Science mission:
·       Cohorts in every subject met every other day to plan lessons, create formative assessments, analyze data from formative assessments, reflect on data from formative assessments, create common summative assessments (in some subject areas), and modify our practices to reflect common goals.
·       Recognized individual accomplishment through the creation of unique, diverse departmental awards reflecting common values.
·       Encouraged and facilitated original research in the social sciences through active participation in the social science fair. Coordinated with English colleagues to share resources and expertise to improve research skills.
·       Participated in a peer observation program to give meaningful feedback to teachers and to discuss effective teaching strategies.