Jeff Henning-Smith

Jeff Henning-Smith is a Senior Lecturer in the Elementary Education and Social Studies program areas at the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota. With 11 years in the department and 13 years of prior classroom experience, he specializes in teacher education, equity-oriented pedagogy, and globalized curriculum development.

• PhD, Elementary Education, University of Minnesota
• MA, Elementary Education, University of Michigan
• BA, History and Government, Claremont McKenna College

His research focuses on social studies education, critical discourse analysis, and global justice themes in K-8 classrooms. Current projects include a multi-year curriculum initiative with the Institute of Global Studies addressing youth activism, immigration impacts, and economic networks. He teaches foundational courses like CI 1001 (Introduction to Elementary School) and CI 5211 (Introduction to Elementary Teaching), alongside advanced seminars in social studies pedagogy and edTPA preparation.

Jeff actively collaborates with Minnesota school districts to enhance elementary social studies instruction. His presentations at conferences such as NCSS, ICQI, and AERA highlight his expertise in teacher mentoring, classroom discourse, and responsive pedagogical strategies.