Got History? Effective Practices

1. Got History? Effective Practices A Workshop for teachers in grades 2-8

2. Purpose • Engage in effective history teaching strategies using Civil Rights as a model unit • Affirm Believe Create Discover Explore Fun Kevin Simpson, 2007

3. Session Outcomes • Explore • Discuss • Analyze effective history practices Kevin Simpson, 2007

4. Warm Up Activity On a note card, record your most memorable event in history? Share at your tables and introduce yourself. Kevin Simpson, 2007

5. Relevant Research http://www.nche.net/docs/BAHC.pdf Used with permission Kevin Simpson, 2007

6. The Bradley Commission on History in Schools, 1987-88 The first national group created to focus on concerns in the teaching of history in classrooms. Two main goals: explore K-12 history teaching and make recommendations to all stakeholders. (Retrieved November 13, 2006 from http://www.nche.net/docs/BAHC.pdf) Kevin Simpson, 2007

7. Research and experts in the field say history education should… • demonstrate the interdependence of history and the social sciences, by teaching the concepts of the latter in dramatic historical context. • offer many chances for active learning, inquiry and the development of critical, historical habits of the mind. • be taught by a wide diversity of pedagogical methods, of the teacher's own choice and design. (Retrieved September 5, 2005 from http://www.nche.net/docs/about.html) Kevin Simpson, 2007

8. Historytelling: Who am I? Kevin Simpson, 2007

9. Thurgood Marshall Kevin Simpson, 2007

10. Why Storytelling? • Gaining Verbal Skills • Imagination • Passing on Wisdom (Retrieved September 18, 2005 from http://www.storyarts.org/classroom/index.html) Kevin Simpson, 2007

11. Socratic Seminar “In a Socratic Seminar, participants seek deeper understanding of complex ideas in the text through rigorously thoughtful dialogue, rather than by memorizing bits of information.” (as cited by Murphy, Jeanne. “Professional Development: Socratic Seminars.” Retrieved September 4, 2005 from http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/schools/wjhs/depts/socialst/ams/Skill) • Getting started • A seminar of our own Kevin Simpson, 2007

12. (Retrieved September 24, 2006 from http://www.howardcc.edu/diversity/images/bvboe.jpg) Kevin Simpson, 2007

13. Benefits of Socratic Seminar • Enhances students’ knowledge and research base • Creates a community of inquiry • Develops strategies for critical thinking • Quality time to engage in in-depth discussions (Retrieved September 18, 2005 from http://www.greece.k12.ny.us/instruction/ela/SocraticSeminars/ faqsabout.htm) Kevin Simpson, 2007

14. Civil Rights Fact Congress passes the Voting Rights Act of 1965, making it easier for Southern blacks to register to vote. Literacy tests, poll taxes, and other such requirements that were used to restrict black voting are made illegal. August 10, 1965 Kevin Simpson, 2007

15. Photo Reenactment Reenact a historic photo from the Civil Rights Era “The chance to learn from primary sources catches students’ interest, they experience the excitement of participating in detective work, and they discover that they already have the skills and knowledge to learn from these items.” (Retrieved October 1, 2006 http://www.indiana.edu/~mathers/edu/top2_text.pdf) Kevin Simpson, 2007

16. With out With Visual aids have been found to improve learning by up to 400% Burmark, Lynell. Visual Literacy: Learn to See, See to Learn. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2002. Kevin Simpson, 2007

17. (Retrieved September 24, 2006 from http://www.howardcc.edu/diversity/images/bvboe.jpg) Kevin Simpson, 2007

18. Teacher Share Give one, Take three • Record the idea you brought to this session on how you make history come alive for your students. • Share your idea and record three ideas from colleagues. Kevin Simpson, 2007

19. Civil Rights Fact Supreme Court prohibits segregation of recreation facilities like playgrounds. 1955 Kevin Simpson, 2007

20. What makes history hard for students? Vocabulary Making Connections and Word Sorts Kevin Simpson, 2007

21. “The single most important factor in reading comprehension is vocabulary meaning.” Davis, F.B. 1968. (as cited in Turner, Thomas N. 1999. Essentials of elementary social studies. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon, 81. “Vocabulary is also very important to reading comprehension. Readers cannot understand what they are reading without knowing what most of the words mean.” (Retrieved September 20, 2005 from www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading/explore/vocabulary.htm) Kevin Simpson, 2007

22. Civil Rights Making Connections integration segregation protest busing schools Supreme Court Kevin Simpson, 2007

23. Word Sorts Kevin Simpson, 2007

24. 2002-2003 Academic Year 55 students tested 3 (or 5.5 %) students passed advanced 21 (or 38.2%) students passed proficient 31 (or 56.4%) students failed 2003-2004 Academic Year 55 students tested 31 (or 56.4 %) students passed advanced 20 (or 36.4%) students passed proficient 4 (or 7.3%) students failed Personal Data – Woodlawn ESGrade 4 Virginia History Assessment Data What happened? Kevin Simpson, 2007

25. Personal Data – Woodlawn ESGrade 4 Virginia History Assessment Data During year two teachers met each month for sustained, ongoing professional development in history with curriculum expert. In addition to analyzing the previous year’s data and model lessons the following practices were explored: Storytelling Using images Teaching vocabulary Kevin Simpson, 2007

26. Civil Rights Fact U.S. Congress passes Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibiting discrimination in public places, schools, lodging, federal programs and employment. Kevin Simpson, 2007

27. Mind Map “Mind maps were developed …. as a way of helping students make notes that used only key words and images. Mind maps ….are much quicker to make, and because of their visual quality much easier to remember and review.” (Retrieved September 4, 2005 from http:petersussell.com/mindmaps/mindmap.html) • Student examples Kevin Simpson, 2007

28. Table Talk At your table discuss the information presented. Use the starters below…. • I’ll try.... • I think.... • I wonder.... • In my classroom.... • My colleagues…. Kevin Simpson, 2007

29. “History is the memory of things said and done.” (as cited by Szasz, Ferenc. Quotes About History. Retrieved April 4, 2005 from http://hnn.us/articles/1328.html) • Questions • Comments • Reflections Kevin Simpson, 2007

30. Kevin Simpson Fairfax County Public Schools nupem7@hotmail.com 703.992.4789 Kevin Simpson, 2007