Beyond the Textbook: Teaching History Using Documents and Primary Sources

by David Kobrin

Beyond the Textbook is a chronicle of what happened when several "interesting ideas" about teaching and learning history were put to the test in Providence, Rhode Island, public schools. Here, diverse mainstream students used documents and primary sources to actually construct history, acting as historians and drawing their own conclusions about the past. Instead of offering a single model for teachers to copy, Beyond the Textbook presents nuanced illustrations of what "student historian theory" looks like in action. Included are accounts of actual classroom lessons; discussion topics; sample handouts and primary sources; and excerpts from students' writings. There are also frank recollections of the brainstorming, collaborative teaching, curriculum development, and evaluation that Kobrin and his colleagues did--as well as feedback from their students. Though Kobrin's case studies reflect the experiences of history and social studies classes in grades seven through twelve, the issues raised will resonate with all How much do textbooks dictate the curriculum? What is needed to involve students in their school work? How are higher-level thinking skills mastered? How do professional teachers continue to develop their skills? Beyond the Textbook does not offer facile, open and-shut answers. Rather, it opens various windows revealing the possibilities.

Genres: Education, Teaching

98 pages, Paperback

First published May 6, 1996

Reviews

[Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of a teacher PD activity last Spring. This book is brief (93 pages), but its inclusion of primary sources was valuable, and I have incorporated it into some introductory material for my National History Day program. Under Essential Enterprise, I especially appreciated giving students the freedom to evaluate sources and weigh their historical biases. It is an interesting comparison of similar information in an Old Testament script and considering how readers of the Bible, Talmud, and Koran might look at a similar story.

[Toyin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprising book; one where the "Introduction" is part of the book and offers insights into things that I was not prepared for. But it gave me a lot of insight not just as me being a teacher of history, but of me Being A Teacher and Myself

[Doni · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not sufficiently critical nor diverse. Only covers material from the pilgrims to explorers of the Louisiana Purchase. Only potentially helpful thing was to list a few databases.

[Shannon Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is another review where I feel like I might not be reviewing fairly. Yes this is an amazing concept, but I teach 6th grade so it seems a little bit of a difficult premise for my students and schedule.

Having said that, I do think I could modify the idea of constructing history for discovery a little to fit my classroom so I am glad I read it.

[Soxfan3376 · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you need reasons and ideas to transform your history classes from facts and dates to fascinating discovery, read this!