This is a very useful text for middle grade social studies educators and their increasingly diverse student populations. Utilizing concepts and research findings about how multilingual students learn, Chen and Newman propose a triad approach to social studies instruction, consisting of inquiry learning, primary source documents, and visual literacy. Well-designed sample lessons combine an understanding of TESOL principles for teaching multilingual students with strategies for improving students' visual literacy and understanding of primary sources…. Chapter reflection questions will assist instructors who employ this text in teacher preparation programs or as a professional development resource. The book also makes a strong case for the centrality of social studies as a school subject that can help develop both content understanding and literacy skills, applicable across the curriculum…. [A] welcome addition to the social studies literature on education. Recommended. Advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and professionals.

Choice Reviews

Teaching Social Studies to Multilingual Learners in Middle School is packed full of practical ideas for effective and meaningful Social Studies instruction. The authors look at research-based strategies for teaching all aspects of Social Studies, including history, geography, civics, and more, and include case studies to demonstrate their effectiveness. The research-based models discussed in this book, including TESOL and the Visual Literacy Framework, are necessary for all Social Studies teachers to have a strong understanding of how to best meet the needs of their emergent bilingual students. The ideas in this book will benefit all learners, especially emergent bilingual students in the Social Studies classroom. I strongly recommend this work for all Social Studies teachers.

Jason Kruski, 7th grade social studies teacher and Polish-American genealogy writer and speaker, Mannheim Middle School, Melrose Park, IL

As the authors state in the introduction, at no other time in history have we needed to take a closer look at how we teach history, especially towards our urgent social issues. This book not only has foundational teaching theories and frameworks but also friendly and delightful lesson examples for multilingual, multi-cultural students. As an immersion history teacher, this book helps me understand how the framework and applications connect in real-life situations.

Mary Weerts, middle school Chinese immersion history teacher, Barrington 220 School District, Barrington, IL