History in the Present Tense : Engaging Students Through Inquiry and Action

Rating:
Summary: Teaching history made fun, accessible and relevant
Review: In "History in the Present Tense," Doug Selwyn and Jan Maher - both accomplished writers and educators - have produced a completely accessible, practical, insightful and FUN book about how to engage students in making, recording and analyzing history.

Their original lessons emphasize multiple perspectives and authentic tasks, and challenge young people to think critically about real world issues.
Thoughtful questions, suggested resources and sample handouts are included. The lessons have been field tested by teachers (like me), enabling readers to gain from the experiences and modifications of teachers in a variety of settings.

As a middle school history teacher, I was most impressed by the authors' ability to incorporate what it means to think and work like a historian: the role of lenses in viewing events, the importance of corroborating evidence, the privileging of some accounts over others, and the roles of the media and textbooks in influencing our interpretations of events.

This book is a "must-have" for novice and experienced teachers who seek to learn and teach history in hands-on, relevant and stimulating ways... from investigative reporting to policy making to documentary production.