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Photo of Rob Martinelle

Rob Martinelle

Senior Lecturer

  • Office WED 715
  • Email robm@bu.edu
  • Phone 617-353-3924
  • Program Social Studies Education

Dr. Rob Martinelle is a senior lecturer in social studies education at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. He teaches both foundational courses and social studies method courses to undergraduate and graduate students, while his research focuses on reflective teaching, social studies teacher preparation, and the self-study of teacher education practices (S-STEP).

Previously, Dr. Martinelle worked as a secondary history teacher in several Boston Public Schools, where he also mentored beginning history teachers as a curriculum coach and supervising practitioner.

Pronouns: he/him

Recent News

  • Leading an Antiracist Classroom
  • When Schools Require the Teaching of “Opposing” Viewpoints
  • Study Explores Impact of Massachusetts Social Studies Materials
  • Junior Celebration Awards Celebrate Students, Faculty, and Staff

Education

EdD, Curriculum & Teaching, Boston University

EdM, Secondary Education, University of Massachusetts Boston

BA, American Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston

Courses

ED 200 Introduction to Justice-Based Education

ED 503 Analyzing Foundations of Teaching

CT 534 A Practical Approach to Classroom Management

SO 566 Teaching Critical Historical Inquiry 5-12

SO 571 Curriculum and Methods for History and Social Science Education 5-12

SO 578 Teaching Media Literacy

SO 509/510 Student-Teaching Seminar: History and Social Sciences 5-12

SO 930 Doctoral Seminar on The Nature of Social Studies Education

SO 933 Doctoral Seminar on History Education

Selected Publications

Martell, C., Martinelle, R., Chalmers-Curren, J.P. (in press). Barriers and pathways to enacting justice-oriented social studies: A longitudinal study of novice teachers in urban contexts. Urban Education. https://doi.org/10.1177/00420859231170638 

Martinelle, R. (2023). Havens for Acceptance, Faith, and Affirmation: The Spiritual Dimension of Reflection in Teaching for Democracy. In M. Lin & T. Lucey (Eds.), Rekindling embers of the soul: An examination of spirituality issues relating to teacher education (pp. 143-167). Information Age Publishing.

Martinelle, R., Martell, C. C. & Chalmers-Curren, J. P. (in press). Teaching for Transformative Citizenship: A Study of Preservice Social Studies Teachers’ Developing Beliefs and Practices. Education, Citizenship, and Social Justice. https://doi.org/10.1177/17461979221115796

Martell, C., Martinelle, R., Chalmers-Curren, J.P. (2022). “We Need to Teach School Differently”: Learning to Teach Social Studies for Justice. The Journal of Social Studies Research. 46(4), 345-361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssr.2021.10.002

Martinelle, R. (2020). Using video-stimulated recall to understand the reflections of ambitious social studies teachers. The Journal of Social Studies Research. 44(3), 307-322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssr.2020.03.001

Martinelle, R. (2018). Video-stimulated recall: Aiding teacher practice. Educational Leadership. 76(3), 55.

Selected Presentations

Martinelle, R. & Martell, C. (2023). More than a “background idea”: A self-study of justice-oriented practices in social studies teacher education [Paper Session]. AERA Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL.

Martell, C., Martinelle, R., Chalmers-Curren, J., (2022). Barriers and pathways to becoming a justice-oriented social studies teacher [Paper Session].  AERA Annual Meeting San Diego, CA.

Martinelle, R., Martell, C., & Chalmers, J. (2021). A Longitudinal Study of Beginning Teachers’ Beliefs and Practices Related to Multicultural Democratic Citizenship. CUFA National Council for the Social Studies.  Minneapolis, MN.

Martinelle, R., Funk, L., Nerlino, E., & Foye, B. (2021). Toward a culturally competent pedagogy of teacher education: Tensions in teaching international pre-service teachers [Roundtable Session].  AERA Annual Meeting Orlando, FL.

Martell, C., Chalmers-Curren, J., & Martinelle, R. (2021) A Longitudinal Study of Beginning Social Studies Teachers and Critical Historical Inquiry [Roundtable Session].  AERA Annual Meeting Orlando, FL.

Affiliations
Faculty
Research Interests
Social Studies Education Teaching & Learning

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