Address:
Steven C. Beering Hall of
Liberal Arts and Education
100 N. University Street
West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2098
BRNG 4174

Links:

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Kathryn Obenchain

Professor

Social Studies Education,
Curriculum and Instruction

Email:
kobench@purdue.edu

Phone:
(765) 494-2372

Address:
Steven C. Beering Hall of
Liberal Arts and Education
100 N. University Street
West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2098
BRNG 4174

Links:

Profile

+ Professional Affiliations/Memberships

Research & Publications

Dr. Obenchain’s scholarship centers on two lines of inquiry: 1. Social studies as a vehicle for citizenship education. This includes an emphasis on studying the teaching and learning social studies in K-12 U.S. classrooms and how enlightened and engaged citizenship is encouraged. This line of inquiry rests squarely in K-12 social studies education in the U.S. According to the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), the premier professional organization for social studies educators, social studies is the integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence (www.socialstudies.org/standards/execsummary). This particular definition of social studies is the guiding focus of Dr. Obenchain’s social studies scholarship, including studies of how the social studies operates as a vehicle for citizenship education in the K-12 social studies classroom. 2. Democratic citizenship education in emerging democracies. This second line of inquiry focuses on the interdependent and interconnected world and the evolving understandings of democratic citizenship of youth. Working in Romania connects social studies and civic education to an awareness of evolving, global, and transnational conceptualizations of citizenship. This international work provides essential content and an important context for U.S. education in an increasingly complex and diverse world.

+ Selected Publications

Books

deOliveira, L., Obenchain, K.M., Kenney, R. H., & Oliveira, A. W. (Eds.). (2019). Teaching the content areas to English language learners in secondary schools. Switzerland, AG: Springer. (https://www.springer.com/us/book/9783030022440)
deOliveira, L. & Obenchain, K. (Eds.). (2018). Teaching history and social studies to English language learners: Preparing pre-service and in-service teachers. London: Palgrave Macmillan. (www.springer.com/us/book/9783319637358)
Obenchain, K. M. and Pennington, J. P. (2015). Educating for critical democratic literacy: Integrating social studies and literacy in the elementary classroom. New York: Routledge.
Obenchain, K.M. & Morris, R.V. (2015). 50 Social Studies Strategies for K-8 Classrooms.(4thed.). Pearson Education.

Book Chapters

Piedmont, E., Obenchain, K. (2024). Chapter 7: The uprising of the 20,000: Examining social movements through historical fiction. In P. Greathouse, M. Hundley, & A. Hosteler (Eds.), Exploring History with Young Adult Literature: Middle School, Volume 1, pp 107-134. Lanham, MD: Rowmann & Littlefield.
Obenchain, K. M., Pennington, J. L. & Bardem, M. (2019). Intersecting goals in an elementary social studies design project: Confessional tales of teacher and researcher relationships. In B. C. Rubin, E. B. Freedman, & J. Kim (Eds.), Design Research in Social Studies Education: Critical Lessons from an Emerging Field, pp 157-178. New York: Routledge.

Articles

Piedmont, E. & Obenchain, K. (in press). Should children work?: Teaching about the past and present of child labor in the United States. Social Studies & the Young Learner.
Johnson, C.S., Suh, Y., Obenchain, K., Broome, J. (2023). Guest editorial: Rethinking in-service social studies teacher professional development in polarizing times, pp. 93-96. In C. S. Johnson, Y. Suh, K. Obenchain, J. Broome (Eds.). Rethinking In-Service Social Studies Teacher Professional Development in Polarizing Times, 18(2).
Callahan, R., Obenchain, K., Rico, J., Ochoa, C., Desantos-Quezada, A. Civic identity: Media, belonging, & Latinx youth in the 2020 US Presidential election. Global Studies in Culture and Power.
Obenchain, K., Callahan, R. Ochoa, C., Rico, J., Desantos-Quezada, A. Empathy & civic engagement: Latiné youth motivating change in an anti-immigrant America. Latino Studies.
Lu, C., Obenchain, K., Zhang, Y. (Online First). Exploring teachers’ inclination towards adopting inquiry-based learning in social studies: Insights from teacher professional identity. Teaching and Teacher Education.
Obenchain, K., Oudghiri, S. & Phillion, J. (2020) Critical approaches to study abroad: Challenging dominant discourses, Theory Into Practice, DOI: 10.1080/00405841.2020.1743547
Newton, J., Oudghiri, S., Obenchain, K., & Phillion, J. (2020) Preservice teachers’ understandings of social justice within the context of study abroad programs, Theory Into Practice, DOI: 10.1080/00405841.2020.1739956
Pennington, J. L., Obenchain, K. M., Carter, H. & Bedford, M. (2019). “We have the right to stand up”: Elementary students’ conceptual understandings of civic virtue and engagement. Education, Citizenship & Social Justice, 19(1), 3-22. https://doi.org/10.1177/1746197919886857
Callahan, R. & Obenchain, K. (2017-2018). Toward fully realizing immigrant students’ civic potential. American Educator,41(4), 10-11, 41-42. (www.aft.org/ae/winter2017-2018/callahan_obenchain)
Obenchain, K. M., Pennington, J. L., Bedford, M., Carter, H., & Magee, M. (2016). The students are listening: Elementary education’s responsibility to young citizens beyond the rituals of democratic citizenship. Teachers College Record (commentary). Date Published: October 12, 2016 www.tcrecord.org ID Number: 21680.
Obenchain, K., Balkute, A., Vaughn, E., White, S. (2016). High school teachers’ identities: Constructing civic selves. The High School Journal, 99(3), 252-278.
Callahan, R., Obenchain, K. (2016). Garnering civic hope: Social studies, expectations, and the lost civic potential of immigrant youth. Theory and Research in Social Education, 44(1), 36-71. DOI: 10.1080/00933104.2015.1133358
Ives, B., Alama, M., Oikonomidoy, E., Obenchain, K. (2016). Applying intergroup contact theory to social distance data from ethnic Hungarians and Romanians in Romania. Journal of Contemporary European Studies, DOI: 10.1080/14782802.2015.1117966.>
Obenchain, K. M., Alarcón, J. A., Ives, B., Bellows, E., Alama, M. (2014). Hungarian youth in Transylvania discuss hybrid notions of civic identity: Making the case for cultural preservation and multilingualism. The High School Journal, 98(1), 43-63.
Obenchain, K. M. & Callahan, R. M. (2014). Building the civic potential of immigrant youth. Social Education, 78(4), 179-182.
Pennington, J. L., Obenchain, K. M., Brock, C. H. (2014). Reading informational texts: A civic transactional perspective. The Reading Teacher, 67(7), 532-542.
Obenchain, K. M., Bellows, M. E., Bernat, S., Smith, B. (2013). Romanian youths’ civic identities: 20 years after the revolution. Journal of International Social Studies, 3(2), 32-52.
Callahan, R., Obenchain, K. (2013). Bridging worlds in the social studies classroom: High school teachers’ practices and Latino immigrant youths’ civic and political development. Youth Engagement: The Civic-Political Lives of Children and Youth. Sociological Studies of Children and Youth, volume 16, pp. 97-123. Bingley, UK: Emerald Group Publishing.
Callahan, R., Obenchain, K., (2012). Finding a civic voice: Latino immigrant youths’ experiences in high school social studies. The High School Journal, 96(1), 17-32.
Pennington, J. L., Obenchain, K. M., Papola, A., Kmitta, L. (2012). The common core: Educational redeemer or rainmaker? Teachers College Record, Date Published: October 12, 2012. www.tcrecord.org ID Number: 16902.
Obenchain, K. M., Pennington, J. L. (2012). We elect a president: Using literature to teach decision-making skills. Social Studies and the Young Learner, 25(1), 17-21.
Ives, B., Obenchain, K., Oikonomidoy, E. (2012). Ethnic attitudes of Hungarian students in Romania. Educational Studies, 48(4), 331-346.Obenchain, K., Orr, A., Davis, S. H. (2011). The past as a puzzle: How essential questions can piece together a meaningful investigation of history. The Social Studies, 102(5), 190-199.
Obenchain, K., Pennington, J., Orr, A. (2010). Angela: On a critical curve. Theory and Research in Social Education 38(4), 298-326.
Ives, B., Obenchain, K., Oikonomidoy, E. (2010) Cultural attitudes of Romanian youth.International Journal of Education 2(1),1-18.

Invited Publications

Pennington, J. L. & Obenchain, K. M. (2015). Primary sources as informational texts: Visual literacy as a mode of comprehending and composing. The Oklahoma Reader, 51(2), 23-31.
Obenchain, K. M. & Callahan, R. M. (2014). Building the civic potential of immigrant youth. Social Education, 78(4), 179-182.

Courses Typically Taught

EDCI 21810 — Teaching Civics and Government: Standards & Strategies
EDCI 36101 — Teaching K-2 Social Studies
EDCI 36102 — Teaching 3-6 Social Studies
EDCI 59100 — Research in International Contexts
EDCI 61500 — Qualitative Research in Education
EDCI 61600 — Advanced Qualitative Research in Education
EDCI 62400 — Seminar in Social Studies Education
EDCI 68400 — Seminar in Curriculum Studies: Global Perspectives in P-20 Education
EDCI/EDPS 45200 — Global Studies Seminar
HONR 19900 — Civic Identities in Emerging Democracies: Youth Perspectives

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Kathryn Obenchain

Profile

+ Education

+ Career Experience

+ Professional Affiliations/Memberships

Research & Publications

+ Selected Publications

Courses Typically Taught

Kathryn Obenchain

Profile

+ Education

+ Career Experience

+ Professional Affiliations/Memberships

Research & Publications

+ Selected Publications

Courses Typically Taught

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