Got History? Effective Practices

A Workshop for teachers in grades 2-8

Kevin Simpson, 2007

Purpose

• Engage in effective history teaching strategies using Civil Rights as a model unit

• Affirm Believe

Create Discover Explore

Fun

Kevin Simpson, 2007

Session Outcomes

• Explore• Discuss• Analyze

effective history practices

Kevin Simpson, 2007

Warm Up Activity

On a note card, record your most memorable event in history?

Share at your tables and introduce yourself.

Kevin Simpson, 2007

Relevant Research

http://www.nche.net/docs/BAHC.pdf

Used with permission

Kevin Simpson, 2007

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

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

Historytelling: Who am I?

Kevin Simpson, 2007

Thurgood Marshall

Kevin Simpson, 2007

Why Storytelling?

• Gaining Verbal Skills• Imagination• Passing on Wisdom

(Retrieved September 18, 2005 from http://www.storyarts.org/classroom/index.html)

Kevin Simpson, 2007

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

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

Kevin Simpson, 2007

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

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

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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

Visual aids have been found to improve learning by up to 400%

The Power of Using Visual Aids

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Burmark, Lynell. Visual Literacy: Learn to See, See to Learn. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2002.

With out With

Kevin Simpson, 2007

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

Kevin Simpson, 2007

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

Civil Rights Fact

Supreme Court prohibits segregation of recreation facilities like playgrounds.

1955

Kevin Simpson, 2007

What makes history hard for students?

VocabularyMaking Connections and Word Sorts

Kevin Simpson, 2007

“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

Civil RightsMaking Connections

integration segregation

protest

busing schools

Supreme Court

Kevin Simpson, 2007

Word SortsBrown v. Board

of Educationintegration schools

busing Supreme Court protest

Thurgood Marshall

NAACP Massive Resistance

Kevin Simpson, 2007

Personal Data – Woodlawn ESGrade 4

Virginia History Assessment Data2002-2003 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

What happened?

Kevin Simpson, 2007

Personal Data – Woodlawn ESGrade 4 Virginia

History Assessment DataDuring year two teachers met each month for sustained, ongoing professional development inhistory with curriculum expert.

In addition to analyzing the previous year’s data andmodel lessons the following practices were explored: Storytelling Using

images

Teaching vocabulary

Kevin Simpson, 2007

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

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

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

“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

Kevin SimpsonFairfax County Public Schools

nupem7@hotmail.com703.992.4789