Author: Sarah B. Shear

Sara B. Shear is an assistant professor of social studies education at Pennsylvania State University-Altoona. She teaches undergraduate courses in elementary social studies methods and foundations of education. Prior to becoming a teacher educator, Shear taught middle and secondary social studies in Connecticut. Her primary research focuses on teaching and learning social studies within Indigenous contexts, and examining race and settler colonialism in social studies curriculum, teacher education and qualitative research methodologies.

Where Are the Voices of Indigenous Peoples in the Thanksgiving Story?

The Thanksgiving story many of us grew up learning in school neglects the voices and experiences of the Indigenous nations whose lands were invaded by Europeans, including the Pilgrims.

How do state-mandated history standards represent Indigenous peoples in social studies education? In this season of “Thanksgiving,” should we revise curriculums to be more accurate and culturally relevant?