Category: Teaching Practice

Articles focused on teaching practice and instructional strategies for social studies education, with ideas that often apply across disciplines. Topics include lesson design, student engagement, assessment strategies, and classroom management—helping educators refine their craft and create meaningful learning experiences grounded in history and civic understanding.

Feedback with DBQs

Student feedback from teachers is critical for student growth.

Assessing and reflecting on Document-Based Questions (DBQs) is a crucial step in the learning process. After students complete a DBQ, encourage them to take time to reflect on their experience. Start by asking them to identify what they found challenging. Did they struggle with analyzing the documents, understanding the historical context, or constructing their arguments?... Continue Reading →

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Connecting DBQs

Old parchment; symbolizing students using primary source texts to complete their DBQ.

Connecting DBQs to the curriculum is essential for creating a cohesive and engaging learning experience. By selecting documents that align with your current unit of study, you can enhance the relevance and depth of students' understanding. For example, when teaching about the American Revolution, incorporating primary sources such as letters from soldiers, excerpts from the... Continue Reading →

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Teach Students How To Use AI

A microchip with AI written on it, symbolizing the future.

Last week we looked at getting started with artificial intelligence, or AI. This week I want to show you something that’ll seem shocking. I want to show you how to teach students to use AI. I know it seems counterintuitive to teach students how to use something that many are already using to write papers,... Continue Reading →

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Make AI Your Ally

A robotic finger and human finger pointing at each other, symbolizing the collaboration between AI and humanity.

“You just can't differentiate between a robot and the very best of humans.” Isaac Asimov penned these words in I, Robot over seven decades ago. Today, it seems like we’re increasingly moving towards that reality. Whether it’s an ad to write an entire book using AI or students using AI to complete homework for students,... Continue Reading →

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Collaboration is Key

As educators, we recognize the profound impact collaborative learning can have on student success. Encouraging students to work in pairs or small groups to discuss and analyze documents is an invaluable strategy in the social studies classroom. This approach not only enhances individual understanding but also fosters a richer learning environment where diverse perspectives can... Continue Reading →

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What if?

I don’t know about you, but there’s been times in my life where I’ve wondered ‘what if.’ What if we didn’t choose the house we’re in? What if we had taken this job instead of that one? History can be the same way. How would history be different if the Americans lost the war of... Continue Reading →

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