This post contains affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission when you purchase them at no additional cost to you. This helps me keep this blog running.  Setting a classroom... Read More

All students need support in learning how to deconstruct an essay prompt. Whether it’s for an AP or on-level class, no matter now straightforward or complex the question, it needs... Read More

Essay writing is the one thing I felt the least prepared to teach when I become a social studies teacher. And by least, I mean not at all.  Early in... Read More

For the vast majority of us, our high school history and social studies classes involved either a lot of memorization, a lot of movies, or both. Either way, they didn’t... Read More

So, you’re interested in teaching history more thematically, but not quite ready to commit? Or you’re following a strict scope and sequence, but want to zoom out at least a... Read More

Any history teacher knows that a primary source-based course is the best way to teach the stories and lessons of the past in a way that’s both rich and intriguing. ... Read More

Analyzing primary sources actually means three separate things: reading, thinking, then writing. But we often talk about it and teach it as if it’s all a singular thing. It’s not. ... Read More

One of my favorite parts about teaching social studies is that there is inherently never a right answer.  For being a huge rule-follower in every other aspect of my life,... Read More

Asking questions seems easy enough. But after spending any time at all teaching you know it’s not. Certainly, not asking great questions anyway. It’s one of those subtle yet fundamental skills I... Read More

Primary source analysis is the cornerstone to teaching history these days. And once you have a few good analysis strategies in place, it’s easy to assume your students can seamlessly turn their... Read More