Help students move from reading sources to interpreting them through structured academic conversation, role-based collaboration, and sources formatted for all learners.
Collaborative Social Studies Literacy Strategies
Work in structured small groups with defined roles
Analyze Social Studies sources collaboratively
Practice academic dialogue with clear protocols
Build meaning through evidence-based conversation
Move from comprehension → interpretation → argumentation
What Students Do
Students do not just answer questions. They construct meaning together.
What Teachers Get
Ready-to-use collaborative learning strategies
Structured lessons that reduce prep time
Built-in discussion protocols that increase participation
Sources formatted for all learners
Tools that build disciplinary literacy over time
Instead of managing discussion, teachers facilitate deeper thinking.
Why It Works
Repeated practice with authentic sources builds literacy
Structured collaboration increases engagement and accountability
Defined roles ensure every student participates
Students develop sourcing, contextualizing, and reasoning skills
Source Squads was developed by teachers for teachers.
Learn more about our team below!
Andrew Bedell
Andrew is a National Board Certified Social Studies and Special Education teacher who brings a wealth of experience to the Source Squads team. Andrew has taught for 11 years and holds a M.A. in American History. He is continually working to develop new curriculum and strategies to benefit his students, which has resulted in work at the district and state level, and multiple organizations including New American History, National History Day, and the Delaware Historical Society. His passion for historical literacy led him to create Source Squads, and after multiple years of testing and refining, he created this company to help students and educators across the country use the Source Squads curriculum. When he isn’t teaching or writing curriculum, Andrew can be found spending time with his family or performing locally as a freelance saxophonist.
Erin Sullivan
With over 20 years of teaching experience, a M.A. in American History and a M.A. in Economics, and National Board Certification for Teachers, Erin is passionate about social studies education. Her work has included curriculum development for multiple organizations including National History Day, National Endowment for the Humanities, The United States Institute of Peace, Delaware Historical Society, and Delaware Public Archives. Her favorite part about teaching history is helping students make meaningful connections to what they are learning and watching as they become confident young scholars. When she isn’t nerding out about history, Erin can be found with her nose in a book or spending time with her family and puppies.
“The most student engagement I’ve seen with source analysis.”
Testimonials
“Clear structure for academic dicussion.”
“Students become leaders of inquiry.”