Archive for the ‘Teaching’ Category

Top iPad Apps for Social Studies Teachers

Top iPad Apps for Social Studies Teachers
I purchased my iPad in June and spent the summer playing with it and have come to the conclusion that it can revolutionize the classroom and at the very least, the student experience within the educational system. I did not anticipate such a revelation. I wanted it for simple functions such as internet ... Full story

Era of $500 Million Dollar Schools?

Era of $500 Million Dollar Schools?
I thought we were in a "Great Recession"? Well somebody please tell California that. The state that is cash poor and literally broke has unveiled a $578 million K-12 super complex that will handle 4,200. This is a shocking example of a recent trend in what are being called "Taj Mahal" ... Full story

AP United States History Scores

AP United States History Scores
As some of you know I finished last year my first stint as an A.P.U.S. teacher. Though I know I was far from perfect, I felt I did ok and really focused on the essay sections of the exam. Well, my kid's scores came back and I was very pleased. Of the 12 ... Full story

Back to Work!

I took an unannounced leave of absence to go on vacation and get away as yesterday was the first day back to school for in-services and meetings. School with kids starts next week. I finished a semester of 12 hours of graduate work the last week of July, so I had a window ... Full story

Howard Zinn in the Classroom to Provide “context” to History textbooks

Howard Zinn in the Classroom to Provide
Angelica Chavez did not care for American history when she was in high school as, "You knew America was going to win," she said. "We could do no wrong, ever," she was quoted as saying in this article. Chavez, 29, is today a history teacher and was one of 20 instructors to ... Full story

One Man’s Opinion of What Makes a Good Teacher

One Man's Opinion of What Makes a Good Teacher
I found this article today in the Chicago Tribune written a week or so ago by Cory Franklin who was motivated to write a piece on teachers when he received word that one of his favorite history teachers had passed away. The opinion piece at first led me in a completely incorrect ... Full story

Teachers For Social Justice and the US Social Forum

Teachers For Social Justice and the US Social Forum
Just following up on my last post concerning Social Justice and its impact (and potential impact) in public schools. On what is one of the more important T4SJ (teaching 4 social justice) websites (here OH AND THERE IS ONE -- AND MORE --IN CALIFORNIA HERE) is a ... Full story

The Failure of Public Schools?

The Failure of Public Schools?
I am a teacher at a public school and this new documentary I find interesting. I look forward to seeing this film when it opens in June, 2010: Full story

An Example of Social Justice Instruction

An Example of Social Justice Instruction
The following (below) is Sanchee H.S. HISTORY teacher Ron Gochez, at a La Raza Rally on the UCLA campus: Part of his rant: I want to start off by saying that the young man who spoke a little while ago was one of my students. That made me so proud, because ... Full story

AP US History Exam Coming Up!

AP US History Exam Coming Up!
Well, we made it! And I mean we as in the inclusive "all" of us. This has been the most challenging year for me as a teacher. This was my first year teaching AP US History and I loved it; great students! We finished our last unit a week ago and started reviewing. ... Full story

Teaching for Social Justice & William Ayers

Teaching for Social Justice & William Ayers
One of the leaders in Teaching for Social Justice is William Ayers, who is a Distinguished Professor of Early Childhood Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Ayers was also a member of the Weather Underground in the 1960s/70s, who participated in acts of terrorism including planting a bomb in the Pentagon. In ... Full story

History Channel’s “America: The Story of Us”

History Channel’s
The History Channel's "America: The Story of Us," began with a nice introduction by President Obama. Rolfe at Jamestown, the horrible conditions, and the exceptional nature of the survival of the early colonies. Then in an even more grand style, it reveals the Revolution and heroci struggles at battles such as The ... Full story

The Long Shadow of the Civil War

The Long Shadow of the Civil War
The recent controversy surrounding Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell when he issued a proclamation in honor of Confederate History Month that did not include a reference to slavery -- an unforgivable omission -- the fact that the Civil War is still a significant part of American history cannot be denied and indeed it still ... Full story

Discovering the Civil War Online – Live Webcast

 Discovering the Civil War Online - Live Webcast
This looks like a great event, and as most of you know. I am a student at American Public Univsersity and Dr. Woodworth is current one of my instructors. Well they have a great event coming up: Discovering the Civil War Online - Live Webcast. From their website: Have you ever ... Full story

AP US History & Howard Zinn

AP US History & Howard Zinn
I received today my A.P. United States History catalog from SocialStudies.com which was filled with books, DVDs, and other resources and guides for purchase. First off, I wish I had a budget I would order a ton of materials from this resource. But I would be remiss if I did not mention that ... Full story

History in a Pickle Jar

History in a Pickle Jar
A Time Capsule was unearthed that was buried about 1850, from the news piece: Athol (Massachusetts) Historical Society President Susannah Whipps-Lee said the time capsule — which has yet to be opened — was made from an old glass container that looked like a pickle jar with a rusted metal screw top. It ... Full story

Who Are Oliver Stone’s Hitler Historians?

Who Are Oliver Stone's Hitler Historians?
There were a slew of news stories last week that specifically mentioned that Stone worked with two unnamed historians for his up-coming documentary on Hitler and other mass murders in an attempt to give us "empathy" for them and "provide" us with historical context to their rise to power. According to hundreds ... Full story

Oliver Stone’s New Documentary: Revisionism at its Best…

Oliver Stone's New Documentary: Revisionism at its Best...
Oliver Stone is no stranger to conspiracy theories and to gross historical inaccuracies (see JFK for starters, Oswald was the lone shooter), and it looks like he is taking on yet more "misunderstood" events and people (thank God for Oilver Stone or we would all be , as he says "ignorant."); only this time his focus ... Full story

What is a Historian?

What is a Historian?
This week was the beginning of our second semester here in Colorado, and in my A.P. United States history class we changed from a block (95 min) class last semester to a skinny (45 min) class. We are up to the Progressive Movement and have found our numbers shrink from 26 to 12, due to the ... Full story

Teaching Social Justice in the Classroom?

I took the week off to get some things accomplished that I needed to, so my apologies for a lack of posting, but I have been taking daily assessments of the blogosphere and noted a few things which I will comment on now. There has been some controversy over the History Channel’s upcoming Sunday evening program, ... Full story
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