I teach social studies at a small public high school in Washington State. My focus over the years has been on U.S. History and Government, Global Issues, and Student Council Leadership.
With a B.A. in History and English and a M.S. in Secondary Education, I have made it my life’s work to address the urgent task of making the discipline of social studies both relevant and rigorous. In 2009, I earned my National Board Certification in Adolescent and Young Adulthood/Social Studies—History.
My teaching story starts off like that of most teachers: with nothing. No curriculum, no real firm scope and sequence calendar, no common assessments. Just some old textbooks and confusing state standards. I was so deep in survival mode, I didn’t have much time to realize how ridiculous all this isolated effort was.
Over the years, and through much experimentation and revision, I found a calling with Project-Based Learning—a curriculum structure that begins with genuine and intriguing questions and ends with authentic and meaningful products.
With this approach, the end goal isn’t students’ rote knowledge of the content, but its immediate application for them to wonder about and engage in the real world.
For example, my U.S. History students learn about the Founding Fathers’ goals for the new nation through carefully analyzing primary sources so that they are equipped to set lofty goals for themselves in a brand new school year.
In a Government unit, students study the three branches of government, not to fill in a graphic organizer, but to ask themselves how much they believe the federal government functions democratically and to interview a trusted adult on their perspectives.
It is through this kind of teaching that I have developed full-course curriculums as well as stand-alone lessons that allow students to refine their skills in critical thinking, research, and writing; preparing them for whatever awaits them beyond high school, be that college, trade school, or the job market.
This is my passion project to share my love of history, current issues, and youth leadership with you with use-tomorrow ideas and print-and-go resources! I hope it helps you not only take back your weekends but empower your own students to greatness.
When I’m not behind my computer, I love to read the latest New York Times non-fiction best sellers, run half marathons, and hike the beautiful Pacific Northwest.