Teaching U.S. History Thematically: Document-Based Lessons for the Secondary Classroom

Author: Metro Rosalie

Brand: Teachers College Press

Number Of Pages: 224

Details: Product Description

This book offers the tools teachers need to get started with an innovative approach to teaching history, one that develops literacy and higher-order thinking skills, connects the past to students’ lives today, and meets most state standards (grades 7–12).
The author provides over 60 primary sources organized into seven thematic units, each structured around an essential question from U.S. history. As students analyze carefully excerpted documents—speeches by presidents and protesters, Supreme Court cases, political cartoons—they build an understanding of how diverse historical figures have approached key issues. At the same time, students learn to participate in civic debates and develop their own views on what it means to be a 21st-century American. Each unit connects to current events and dynamic classroom activities make history come alive. In addition to the documents themselves, this teaching manual provides strategies to assess student learning; mini-lectures designed to introduce documents; activities to help students process, display, and integrate their learning; guidance to help teachers create their own units; and more.
Book Features: A timely aid for secondary school teachers confronted with Common Core and other state-level quality requirements. An approach that promotes student engagement and critical thinking to replace or augment a traditional textbook. Challenges to the “master narrative” of U.S. history from figures like Sojourner Truth, Malcolm X, and Cesar Chavez, as well as traditionally recognized historical figures such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Essential questions to help students explore seven of the most important recurring themes in U.S. history. Role-plays and debates to promote interaction among students. Printable copies of the documents included in the book can be downloaded at tcpress.com.

Review

“The design and organization of Teaching U.S. History Thematically encourages educators at all levels (e.g., teacher education programs, preservice social studies education candidates, and inservice social studies teachers) to reflect upon the curriculum and its purpose and to adopt an innovative approach for high quality lessons that promote an inclusive story of all Americans throughout history. Not only is the book a thorough and comprehensive guide for teachers, it is an invaluable tool for educators looking to encourage and enhance reflective practice and promote meaningful, engaging, and inclusive teaching and learning.”
—Teachers College Record

‘Metro’s work is a useful source for those thinking of becoming social studies teachers. Rather than tell these new teachers what and how to teach, Metro’s work suggests a different approach. Some college and university professors might find the overall approach interesting if they are involved in training secondary education social studies teachers. It may help candidates think through curriculum development and lesson and unit planning.”
— H-Net
“This is an indispensable guide for any teacher looking to bring serious intellectual engagement to the history classroom.”
—Sam Wineburg, Stanford University

“Written from a practitioner’s perspective, Rosalie Metro provides a wealth of suggestions for structuring a year-long U.S. history course based on themes rather than solely on the timeline. Full of thought-provoking essential questions, engaging primary source documents, and an impressive array of classroom activities, Teaching U.S. History Thematically is the must-have resource for history teachers looking to stay relevant in our modern learning landscape.”
—Diana Laufenberg, lead teacher and executive director, Inquiry Schools, Philadelphia, PA

“Teaching U.S. History Thematically provides teachers a practical yet compelling response to problems in history education. Metro’s approach to providing historical study through themes, primary sourcing, inquiry, and current topics combines what educational researchers a

Release Date: 13-10-2017

Package Dimensions: 12x253x400