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Teaching U.S. History Beyond the Textbook: Six Investigative Strategies, Grades 5-12
Aligned with national standards, these strategies and sample lessons turn learners into history detectives as they solve historical mysteries, prepare arguments for famous cases, and more.
160 pages, Paperback
First published November 11, 2008
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May 31, 2021
I purchased this book to help me do exactly what the title suggests, to move my teaching beyond the textbook. This past school year (2020-2021) was my first year teaching high school social studies courses and due to the sudden shut downs and the vast percentage of virtual students in addition to my not-so-smooth transition from English to history teacher, I found myself very dependent on our course textbooks. Unfortunately I was locked to book materials and to what I could record through screen cast software. We could do no group work due to Covid-19.
So I wanted to feel excited about teaching again. I lost that excitement this year and I know my students suffered for my personal lack of excitement.
This book gives six fun ideas to build historical thinking skills and to get students to buy into the research and reading processes. History doesn't have to be boring. It doesn't have to be your stereotypical coach showing John Wayne's WWII movies on the rare days the textbook isn't used. All the methods in this book encourage the teacher to create a classroom that works more like a forensics laboratory than a silent library for textbook perusal.
Not all of these methods will work for every classroom, but there are so many examples and ideas that you'll find something amazing for your classroom. More importantly, this book will leave you excited to learn more yourself and to create activities that will help that excitement translate from you to your students.
If you've lost your excitement for teaching this year, don't fear. You can find it again. Maybe this book can help you in that endeavor like it did me.
I give this book five stars.
So I wanted to feel excited about teaching again. I lost that excitement this year and I know my students suffered for my personal lack of excitement.
This book gives six fun ideas to build historical thinking skills and to get students to buy into the research and reading processes. History doesn't have to be boring. It doesn't have to be your stereotypical coach showing John Wayne's WWII movies on the rare days the textbook isn't used. All the methods in this book encourage the teacher to create a classroom that works more like a forensics laboratory than a silent library for textbook perusal.
Not all of these methods will work for every classroom, but there are so many examples and ideas that you'll find something amazing for your classroom. More importantly, this book will leave you excited to learn more yourself and to create activities that will help that excitement translate from you to your students.
If you've lost your excitement for teaching this year, don't fear. You can find it again. Maybe this book can help you in that endeavor like it did me.
I give this book five stars.
Displaying 1 of 1 review