tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549779060176586454.comments2024-03-09T06:07:31.532-06:00U.S. History Ideas for TeachersLauren S. Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16355227108619230366noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549779060176586454.post-5564282875527292022021-04-08T10:19:13.136-05:002021-04-08T10:19:13.136-05:00Your posts are so insightful. I find myself thinki...Your posts are so insightful. I find myself thinking, teaching and struggling with the same ideas in this blog. Thank you so much.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12685675012427455879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549779060176586454.post-46853020826695257372020-09-13T15:41:26.913-05:002020-09-13T15:41:26.913-05:00Hi, Siobhan. I never did. Perhaps a next summer pr...Hi, Siobhan. I never did. Perhaps a next summer project. In the meantime, I sent you an email with some stuff that might help in the meantime. Hope you're doing well with remote learning/hybrid/or whatever your school is doing!Lauren Brownhttp://ushistoryideas.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549779060176586454.post-78553705253367403372020-09-11T14:17:16.891-05:002020-09-11T14:17:16.891-05:00Lauren, did you ever post an old syllabus from the...Lauren, did you ever post an old syllabus from the "second half"? Siobhanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01572822372168329053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549779060176586454.post-8014697329240097142020-06-29T11:01:25.723-05:002020-06-29T11:01:25.723-05:00Thanks, Siobhan! Good to hear from you and hope yo...Thanks, Siobhan! Good to hear from you and hope you are well and still teaching!Lauren S. Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16355227108619230366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549779060176586454.post-15632737544172937822020-06-25T11:47:39.903-05:002020-06-25T11:47:39.903-05:00Grateful you're blogging here again!!Grateful you're blogging here again!!Siobhanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01572822372168329053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549779060176586454.post-7669990066636710282019-11-06T18:28:43.195-06:002019-11-06T18:28:43.195-06:00Thank you. Great lesson. Will use it for this unit...Thank you. Great lesson. Will use it for this unit.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03307856790002762048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549779060176586454.post-28521417988724854712019-10-13T08:06:41.838-05:002019-10-13T08:06:41.838-05:00Dear Mrs Schreiber Brown, Thank you so much for yo...Dear Mrs Schreiber Brown, Thank you so much for your generosity to share your material and your insight. I really appreciate it. Due to your information I have been able to make a booklet for my ELS learners. Thank you. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549779060176586454.post-26255786243999258452018-10-22T20:42:25.391-05:002018-10-22T20:42:25.391-05:00Glad to hear it!Glad to hear it!Lauren S. Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16355227108619230366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549779060176586454.post-11966193299325961712018-10-19T07:55:39.385-05:002018-10-19T07:55:39.385-05:00This really helps keep me on track. Thanks.This really helps keep me on track. Thanks.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02393844939872951856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549779060176586454.post-28704295251914552062018-04-10T13:48:33.825-05:002018-04-10T13:48:33.825-05:00Thank you so much for this post/blog! I am a stude...Thank you so much for this post/blog! I am a student-teacher and am always pondering the do's/don'ts of teaching different eras! I appreciate the experienced perspective on this material, as well as the resources you suggest!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06664982140345962141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549779060176586454.post-32203693593381502782018-03-18T13:44:29.884-05:002018-03-18T13:44:29.884-05:00This is fantastic. I'm planning to use this t...This is fantastic. I'm planning to use this tomorrow. Will also sort Market Economy cards into cause and effect. Will look at other posts!Mrs. Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00983126709228643674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549779060176586454.post-77872362339426549732018-03-07T20:08:42.048-06:002018-03-07T20:08:42.048-06:00Thank you for replying with what sounds like an en...Thank you for replying with what sounds like an engaging experience for your students. Lauren S. Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16355227108619230366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549779060176586454.post-9074484369622323132018-03-07T10:19:10.577-06:002018-03-07T10:19:10.577-06:00Thanks for so much to think about! One book I can ...Thanks for so much to think about! One book I can suggest that my middle schoolers loved is Woodsrunner by Gary Paulsen. It is set during the Revolution and is a great read! I read roughly a chapter a day (times 6 periods) for about 3 weeks while we studied the events leading up to and during the war. They loved it and complained every day when I stopped reading! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12519239563072032981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549779060176586454.post-4635925354243006042017-10-09T20:28:22.744-05:002017-10-09T20:28:22.744-05:00Thanks so much for your comment. I would agree wit...Thanks so much for your comment. I would agree with you--these are content-driven questions. (Though they are questions that historians have different interpretations about). I, too, see this as a matter of semantics. Yes, many educators employ the term "essential questions" to refer to a question like, "To what extent does/should politics influence government?" But I admit, frankly, that deciding whether something is an essential question, or an "enduring understanding" or a "focus question" tires me. The word "essential" also just means "really important." And all of the questions above are important to an understanding of this period in history.<br />The motto for my blog--high standards that meet any standard--betrays my similar frustration with standards. When I plan lessons and units, I most concerned that my lessons help students answer the biggest essential question of all: why do we have to know this stuff? Why does it matter? How did it impact the history of this country?Lauren S. Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16355227108619230366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549779060176586454.post-78921316221041577802017-10-07T11:54:58.560-05:002017-10-07T11:54:58.560-05:00It is a matter of semantics but the questions that...It is a matter of semantics but the questions that you call essential questions are focus questions not essentail questions because they aren't interpretive, open to varied analysis and opinion that can be supported through evidence. Rather your questions have answers driven by content not thinkingPrincipal Brian Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17544148960912244350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549779060176586454.post-59405844383931382102017-07-14T09:00:51.990-05:002017-07-14T09:00:51.990-05:00Thank you so much! Glad you like the blog.Thank you so much! Glad you like the blog.Lauren S. Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16355227108619230366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549779060176586454.post-82751250791581170042017-07-14T06:30:02.855-05:002017-07-14T06:30:02.855-05:00I've missed your postings. Happy to wake up to...I've missed your postings. Happy to wake up to it in my inbox. <br />CT US history teacherjenniferbkleinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14222566578878327306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549779060176586454.post-42582695480947663972017-07-13T14:20:46.937-05:002017-07-13T14:20:46.937-05:00Thanks, Scott. Read your article about teaching vo...Thanks, Scott. Read your article about teaching vocabulary and the importance of reading to students that you linked to above. Very helpful. And it motivated me to look for excerpts to give to students from one of the books I am reading this summer: Nature's Metropolis: Chicago and the Great West by William Cronon. In fact, one of the things I'm doing this summer is going through all my lessons and noting where I can substitute reading for some of the lecturing. So thank you for this timely reminder!Lauren S. Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16355227108619230366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549779060176586454.post-25372073336003552662017-07-12T18:47:36.181-05:002017-07-12T18:47:36.181-05:00Hi Lauren,
Here's a few of my faves to add to...Hi Lauren,<br /><br />Here's a few of my faves to add to your list... Sorry for including some World History, but I can't help myself. US History needs more World History.<br />40 Autumns by Nina Willner (Cold War East Germany)<br />Hellhound on His Trail: The Electrifying Account of the Largest Manhunt in American History by Hampton Sides(MLK's Assassination)<br />October: The Story of the Russian Revolution by China Mieville <br />The Great Influenza by John Barry (WWI, great history of US medical education)<br /><br />Wide reading about history is the greatest activity we can provide for our students.<br />https://historyrewriter.com/2015/05/20/teaching-vocabulary-to-older-students/<br /><br />Keep up the good work.Scott Petrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14441504009216414502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549779060176586454.post-39868488776092165782017-03-29T14:59:30.385-05:002017-03-29T14:59:30.385-05:00Thanks for your generosity! I teach American Hist...Thanks for your generosity! I teach American History to adults who've finished the ESL program and are working toward an American high school equivalent degree. I love making stuff and enjoy others' well made materials. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549779060176586454.post-54733114541934780152017-02-18T16:17:16.497-06:002017-02-18T16:17:16.497-06:00Thanks for the feedback. I hope it worked out well...Thanks for the feedback. I hope it worked out well with your students. Lauren S. Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16355227108619230366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549779060176586454.post-23850814904200260052017-02-13T09:16:21.086-06:002017-02-13T09:16:21.086-06:00Thanks for this. Exactly what I was looking for to...Thanks for this. Exactly what I was looking for to use tomorrow in my AP US class. Steve Lazarhttp://www.stephenlazar.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549779060176586454.post-23450152797177969542016-11-25T09:26:34.051-06:002016-11-25T09:26:34.051-06:00This comment has been hidden from the blog.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02990897399892131611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549779060176586454.post-9144358037799531632016-11-25T09:25:08.634-06:002016-11-25T09:25:08.634-06:00Nice ideas, i would try to provide it on my lesson...Nice ideas, i would try to provide it on my lessons, thank you. You can this <a href="http://ehomeworkservice.com/" rel="nofollow">important site</a> very helpful, many articles and essays. I hope it would be interesting for you!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02990897399892131611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549779060176586454.post-83730303884030072742016-08-14T17:32:16.544-05:002016-08-14T17:32:16.544-05:00You are correct that Mission US cannot be used on ...You are correct that Mission US cannot be used on iPads. In addition to iPads, our school has a few carts of Macbooks--enough for a whole class. So my students used the Macs for that. I remember, at the time, reading that Mission US was designing a version that could be used on iPads, but I don't know if they have done that yet. Additionally, many (but not all) of my students also have other computers at home, and some did finish work at home or played additional games. (At least a handful loved the game so much that they played it multiple times and played the other games about Indian removal, slavery and immigration as well!) It is tricky when planning class time for such activities to account for students who are absent and/or don't finish during class. I did offer time before/after school and during lunch, but that isn't always feasible for teachers or students. Thanks for reading the blog!Lauren S. Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16355227108619230366noreply@blogger.com