"Does that mean we need to say nasty things about each other?" : examining elementary teacher decision making and student civic learning during the U.S. 2016 presidential election

This qualitative multiple case study took place in two fifth grade classrooms during the United States 2016 presidential election. Research focused on the complex and overlapping factors that influenced the two teacher-participants’ decision making in regards to the election, and how the teachers’ resulting practices created knowledge, disposition, and/or skill-related civic learning opportunities for their students. Data analysis revealed that the organizational and policy factors within the context of the research site, as well as the election itself, all had a significant influence on the teachers’ decision making. Furthermore, the teachers’ personal and pedagogical beliefs affected their curricular-instructional practices as they drew on democratic civic education and media literacy for civic learning. The findings from this study have implications for both social studies curriculum and teacher education.