Category Archives: Teaching

Teaching Counterfactuals and Historical Contingency

Posted on December 10, 2010 by admin

I did not get a chance to post anything on December 7 in honor of Pearl Harbor, but every class I had that day it was a point of discussion. From simple discourse on how something like that (a massive … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, Historians, Teaching | 2 Comments

Teaching the 1980s

Posted on December 8, 2010 by admin

In my regular (Non-AP) United States history class we are in the final two weeks of the quarter and have hit the 1980s. As I have mentioned recently, I use documentaries and docudramas whenever I feel they will be helpful. … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, Memory, Politics, Teaching | Leave a comment

AP US History and Public Schools

Posted on November 30, 2010 by admin

Last year our school district had to cut $11 million dollars, this meant pay cuts and freezes, and jobs. This year we have been informed that due to loss of tax revenue we will have to see another $10 million … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, Teaching | 3 Comments

Is the Teaching of Military History Vanishing in High Schools?

Posted on November 22, 2010 by admin

Ed Hooper wrote recently in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that public schools and universities have lost the military aspects of American History. That our recognizing of our nation’s military heroes is waining. This process, according to Mr. Hooper, has led to … Continue reading →

Posted in American Exceptionalism, American History, Teaching | 4 Comments

Professional Learning Communities

Posted on November 10, 2010 by admin

Our school district is one of many that has over the course of the last few years instituted PLC’s, or Profressional Learning Communities. The philosophy is centered around educators coming together in their areas of expertise and working together on … Continue reading →

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America the Story of US by the History Channel

Posted on October 13, 2010 by admin

America The Story of Us is a series (12 hours) of docudramas that aired over six days on the History Channel last year. The national educational initiative covers the 400 years of American history. I asked for and received a … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, Books & Reviews, Teaching | Leave a comment

Qualities of a High School History Teacher

Posted on September 29, 2010 by admin

Here are the results of a study/survey that asked students to rate their United States History instructor. Patience was mentioned 85 times by these same students; kindness, 80 times; clearness, 35; sense of humor, 32; understanding of students, 24; firmness, … Continue reading →

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Today’s Tea Party Isn’t Quite Like 1773′s?

Posted on September 28, 2010 by admin

I would generally agree with this pretty fair article by NPR, Today’s Tea Party Isn’t Quite Like 1773′s. The current Tea Party movement is not protesting the lack of representation like their 1773 counterparts who had no representation at all. … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, American Revolution, Historians, Memory, Teaching | 1 Comment

Civil War History Camp for Kids

Posted on September 28, 2010 by admin

Recently Elementary students in Virginia attendede the The Cedar Creek Battlefield Kids’ Civil War History Camp to learn about the daily lives of Civil War soldeirs, the battlefield, and some Civil War history. John Ortman brought his son to the … Continue reading →

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President Barack Obama’s annual back-to-school talk

Posted on September 14, 2010 by admin

Presidents have regularly addressed students annually for as long as I can remember. However, I don’t actually remember watching one or being forced to. But nonetheless, as a teacher I was told by my administration that today I had to … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, News & Notes, Presidents, Teaching | Leave a comment