The most effective reading lesson I’ve taught was one I didn’t initially know I was teaching. For the past decade in my 8th grade U.S. history and civics courses, students have brought in a current events article approximately once a week. They can choose from a wide variety of articles—just not those solely focused on… Continue reading
Tag: Civics
“Social Studies Teachers May Have Some Difficult Choices to Make. These Ideas Could Help,” Education Week
Until recently, I asked students in my 8th grade U.S. history and civics classes to print out and annotate a current events article each week. They would bring in their article and discuss briefly with a partner “enough to retell the story to someone else” on the same days… Continue reading
“Changemaker Questions Spark Student Learning,” MiddleWeb
When I walked into a one-hour session at the most recent National Council for the Social Studies annual conference – a mega-gathering with ideas and fellow teachers spilling from every corner, not to mention a celebrity sighting of Constitution USA guru Peter Sagal – I didn’t expect to walk out ready to transform… Continue reading


