Gibbs Smith Education: A Legacy of Inspiring Minds and Shaping Social Studies

Gibbs Smith Education stands as a prominent publisher committed to providing students, educators, and communities with resources that go beyond traditional learning. With a rich history spanning several decades, the company has established itself as a leading provider of customized social studies programs aligned with state standards.

A Foundation Built on Independence and Vision

Founded in 1969 by Gibbs M. Smith and his wife Catherine, the publishing house began its journey in a humble one-room sculptor's studio in Santa Barbara, California. Gibbs Smith utilized $12,000 earned from working on the film version of his master's dissertation on labor activist Joe Hill to finance his publishing venture. In 1973, the company relocated to Layton, Utah, where an old barn was converted into offices, a testament to the company's resourcefulness and commitment to its roots. The Gibbs Smith Publisher office is still in that barn, although it has had major renovations and now houses a staff of 20.

From its inception, Gibbs Smith has been driven by a desire to try new things and expand its editorial vision. The company's early titles were supplementary history college textbooks, and after moving to Utah, they published Utah's Heritage, the first in what would become a complete series of state history books for fourth- to seventh-grade students. This marked the beginning of Smith's textbook division, providing a solid revenue source for the company.

Expanding Horizons: From Regional to International

Gibbs Smith has evolved from a regional publisher to one with an international flavor. The company's catalog includes a diverse range of titles, from children's books like the BabyLit series to cookbooks, home reference books, and the LoveLit gift line. The BabyLit series, which presents classic titles reinterpreted as colorful board books for two- to three-year olds, was launched two years ago. The successful series now has 15 titles. and the next two books, Frankenstein and The Wizard of Oz, will be published this fall.

The company also distributes the Lil' Libros line of bilingual board books, further demonstrating its commitment to diversity and inclusivity. In 2012, Gibbs Smith debuted a line of gift products that celebrates reading. It includes several BabyLit classics buttons and dolls, I Love Books magnets, Keep Calm and Read On notebooks, and literary-themed tote bags. The company has recently started customizing totes for booksellers, and Dan Moench, marketing director for the press, said that about a half-dozen stores have placed orders.

Read also: Using Gibbs' Cycle for Reflection

A Commitment to Education and Social Studies

Gibbs Smith Education, a division of Gibbs Smith, Publisher, is dedicated to providing high-quality social studies resources for students of all ages. The company's programs are aligned with state and national social studies learning standards, ensuring that students receive a comprehensive and relevant education.

The company's social studies programs cover a wide range of topics, including U.S. history, world history, geography, and diversity studies. Gibbs Smith Education strives to present the events of history accurately and objectively, acknowledging the challenges faced by different groups of Americans and showcasing the changing perspectives and cultures that have shaped the nation.

The K-3 Social Studies Foundations Series

Recognizing the constraints faced by educators, Gibbs Smith Education has developed the new K-3 Social Studies Foundations Series, designed to engage students and provide them with a solid foundation in social studies concepts.

MOVEMENT - Themes in African and Black American Studies

As part of its commitment to diversity and inclusivity, Gibbs Smith Education publishes Movement: Themes in African and Black American Studies, 2e. This book, written and reviewed by Black scholars and experts, examines the cultural, social, political, and economic contributions of Black Americans.

Digital Resources and Accessibility

Gibbs Smith Education embraces technology to enhance the learning experience. The Gibbs Smith Education app allows users to read and access their favorite titles, even when offline. In addition, the app provides access to Experience State History, a portal to the digital experience of the program. Enrich your classroom experience with our digital content platform offering seamless access to Gibbs Smith Education programs with advanced study features. Utilize personalized annotations, embedded content links, text-to-speech, and more. The house is a bit more bullish on apps. It released its first one, Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed, in 2010. “Since then we’ve published over a dozen apps,” said Farmer. “A couple of them are based on Matthew Kenney’s Everyday Raw series. These and Julia M. Usher’s Ultimate Cookies include cooking videos as well as recipes and helpful tips.” There are also apps for Lewis and Clark and Trail of Tears, two titles in the Gibbs Smith Education group. “They present historical information and primary sources to children with maps, infographics, and other engaging features,” Farmer said. The press will continue to develop apps. “Our investments in [them] are strategic, based on content that consumers want in mobile and interactive format.”

Inquiry-Based Learning

Each chapter provides an inquiry-based approach that focuses student learning through a “Big” or “Essential” question. The question is drawn from state-specific standards or standards from the C3 Framework for Social Studies and is supported by Key Ideas, Learning Goals, and Key Terms in each chapter. Activities throughout the text and curriculum are scaffolded and designed to build upon each other and to gain skills, as well as content knowledge. Every page of the text is designed to engage readers, featuring a variety of maps, images, graphs, charts, primary, and secondary sources that are grade-level appropriate. Many of the features found in the text provide opportunities to examine multiple perspectives for analysis and evaluation throughout, including the ability to express, clarify, justify, interpret, and represent their ideas and to respond to peer and teacher feedback orally and/or in written form. Students frequently engage meaningfully with complex texts and are able to see themselves in the content. Captions included with the visual features in the text include open-ended questions for students to consider, discuss, and debate. After each lesson, students can check their understanding of the content and concepts they have studied. The assessment includes basic recall questions as well as critical thinking questions that are scaffolded to the Chapter Assessments. These activities emphasize the skills historians use to understand and interpret history. Students employ historical-thinking skills to build understanding as well as make connections with historical concepts. Each chapter includes at least one primary source activity.

Navigating Controversies and Curriculum Debates

Gibbs Smith Education has faced challenges in recent years as curriculum decisions have become increasingly politicized. In one instance, the school board in Mesa County Valley District 51 in Colorado rejected "The Colorado Story," a fourth-grade social studies curriculum published by Gibbs Smith Education. Some board members felt its mention of the Black Lives Matter movement was not age-appropriate and that it portrayed historical figures such as Christopher Columbus in a negative light.

Despite these challenges, Gibbs Smith Education remains committed to providing accurate and objective historical information, encouraging students to explore complex issues and form their own conclusions.

Employee-Owned and Committed to Social Responsibility

At Gibbs Smith, the employees are the foundation. As a 100% employee-owned, certified B Corp, every book is the result of collective creativity, dedication, and belief in the power of stories. The company is committed to social responsibility and sustainable practices. As a certified B Corp, Gibbs Smith strives to do good in the world, purchasing carbon offsets for its publishing operations and ensuring that its business practices are ethical and environmentally friendly.

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