When I told people I wanted to be a history teacher, the first question I was asked was “Why history?” To this, I have always answered “Because history is the glue that connects all subjects.” History is much more than some single narrative meant to be recited. It is organic and all encompassing. History is art, culture, math science; it is the development of civilizations and the prideful folly of humanity. It is comedic, dramatic, and tragic. In my eyes, history has always been this, a series of stories that all connect both to each other and to the modern world. This is why I prefer a thematic approach to the subject, to show these greater complexities like a connected anthology rather than that single, cramped narrative.

This style is suited to more active student learning rather than the traditional lecture style of history. I prefer student interactive activities in which students can take a more active role in their education through projects and activities rather than exclusively tests and papers. Using formative assessments as a tool to guide as well as measure learning is an integral part of this process. More than just presenting them with narratives, giving them the tools to construct their own understanding of said narratives. Providing tools like primary and secondary sources will develop student understanding and ultimately present them with the skills of evaluating sources they find, be it in class or outside of class.

As a history teacher, I want my students to be aware of the history that surrounds them, even if that does lead to the discussion of controversial topics. Not only will this give students a better understanding of the world happening around them, but it will also help them connect to the historic content by exploring the development of these issues. History is connected past to present. It is by ignoring the present that we promote apathy and do a disservice to our students. Students are exposed to news constantly in their day to day lives. Whether it be social media, television or any other medium they will be exposed to it and my classroom will be a safe place to discuss it. Because of this, every week students will view articles from NLP (News Literacy Project) to explore concepts of bias, confronting misinformation and evaluating contemporary news sources.

This goes beyond contemporary issues. History has many hard, but necessary topics to cover. Slavery, genocide, war, plague and so many other horrible things have happened, but it is important to be honest about them with students but present it in a way that they can handle. I am a strong proponent of organizing curriculum to best serve my students and make the classroom a safe space for my students to discuss these topics. There is a temptation to avoid any type of controversy, but no matter what the students will be exposed to them eventually. I believe that through fostering a relationship with my students, giving them a voice and openly discussing these topics with them, we can make that safe environment to approach these topics with care and inquiry.

Ultimately, I do see how my goals are ambitious, but I want to hold myself to these high standards so I can grow to them. I want to share my passion for history with my students in ways that will meet their needs. I want to learn how to accommodate individual students to watch them all grow. With time, I will meet my goals and set higher ones. History is more than a subject in school, it is what shaped our way of life. Even though centuries pass, the touch of time long past remains in our society. I want to bring these ideas, these stories, and these skills to my students. That critical thinking, that willingness and drive to learn will serve them well in all of their classes, and all of their future endeavors.

A printable copy of my teaching statement can be found below.