Page 11 - Social Sciences Humanities - The Ontario Curriculum Grades 9 to 12 - 2013

• Local and Global Mindedness: Social sciences and humanities courses develop students’ awareness that people do not live in isolation; each person affects and is affected by his or her social, cultural, economic, and environmental context. Students examine the norms underlying different familial, societal, institutional, and cultural practices. Students are encouraged to be mindful of their responsi­ bilities with respect to the environment and of the importance of making morally and ethically responsible decisions. Students explore how theories and concepts can influence social action, and how such action can affect the well-being of individuals, families, and communities throughout the world.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES PROGRAM
Students
Students’ responsibilities with respect to their own learning develop gradually and increase over time as they progress through elementary and secondary school. With appropriate instruction and with experience, students come to see how applied effort can enhance learning and improve achievement. As they mature and develop their ability to persist, to manage their behaviour and impulses, to take responsible risks, and to listen with understanding, students become better able to take more responsibility for their learning and progress. There are some students, however, who are less able to take full responsibility for their learning because of special challenges they face. The attention, patience, and encouragement of teachers can be extremely important to the success of these students. Learning to take responsibility for their improvement and achievement is an important part of every student’s education.
Developing a fluency with social science and humanities concepts, research and inquiry skills, and critical thinking and other appropriate habits of mind requires a sincere com­ mitment to active engagement and sustained practice. Students can further contribute to their own learning by exploring the connections between the concepts addressed in their social sciences and humanities courses and their own lived experience and current events.
Parents
Parents3 have an important role to play in supporting student learning. Studies show that students perform better in school if their parents are involved in their education.
By becoming familiar with the curriculum, parents can better appreciate what is being taught in the courses their daughters and sons are taking and what they are expected to learn. This awareness will enhance parents’ ability to discuss their children’s work with them, to communicate with teachers, and to ask relevant questions about their children’s progress. Knowledge of the expectations will also enhance parents’ ability to work with teachers to improve their children’s learning.
Effective ways in which parents can support their children’s learning include attending parent-teacher interviews, participating in parent workshops, and becoming involved in school council activities (including becoming a school council member). Parents who encourage and monitor homework or project completion further support their children in their social sciences and humanities studies.
3. The word parent(s) is used in this document to refer to parent(s) and guardian(s). It may also be taken to include caregivers or close family members who are responsible for raising the child.
INTRODUCTION
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