Losing History: My Breakdown at the National Mall

Losing History: My Breakdown at the National Mall

Posted on by Michele Luck
As teachers of History, we are constantly devalued.  Students ask why they must take our courses, administrators take our class time for assemblies or testing, states push the teaching of everything but History, and in comparison to requirements in other...Read More
Recognizing Holidays in the Upper Grades Classroom

Recognizing Holidays in the Upper Grades Classroom

Posted on by Michele Luck
As the Holiday Season approaches, and with Veteran's Day on the doorstep, we are often pressured to take time out in our upper grades classrooms to teach to the event.  While this works well with some historic events, as we...Read More
It’s A Wrap! Beating the Clock to Wrap-Up Lessons

It’s A Wrap! Beating the Clock to Wrap-Up Lessons

Posted on by Michele Luck
You start off the lesson with a great attention grabber, your interactive lecture had students engaged and excited, your mini-activity successfully reinforced the key ideas of the lesson, and then...Five minutes left until the bell.  In many classes, teachers give...Read More
Seeing the Big Picture: Helping Students Visualize Multiple Perspectives

Seeing the Big Picture: Helping Students Visualize Multiple Perspectives

Posted on by Michele Luck
Teaching from a textbook or singular source can often leave the impression on our students that history is one-sided. After years of this indoctrination to history, our students are blind to the truth about history.  It becomes a battle at...Read More
Analyzing Legislation: A Political or Social Approach?

Analyzing Legislation: A Political or Social Approach?

Posted on by Michele Luck
In my first few years of teaching, I taught with a U.S. History teacher who believed every law was passed simply because Congress saw it as what should be.  He gave no credit to the social movements that encouraged the...Read More
Performing in the Classroom: Effective Role-Play for Learning

Performing in the Classroom: Effective Role-Play for Learning

Posted on by Michele Luck
"Nobody puts Baby in a corner!" "If you build it, they will come." "Show me the money!" "Life is like a box of chocolates..." "You can't handle the truth!" "I see dead people!" "Just keep swimming!" As we all grew...Read More