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Posted by: Danna Bell
Cheryl Davis is a technology specialist and coordinates professional development for teachers in the Acalanes Union High School District. She is also a TPS Teacher-Mentor.
Posted in: Interviews with Experts, Teaching Strategies, Teaching Tools
Posted by: Cheryl Lederle
This activity features three photographs taken by Lewis Hine as part of his work as an investigative photographer for the National Child Labor Committee. Hine had a specific objective when labeling his photos and the titles are ideal for this activity, but the strategies would work with many other primary sources.
Posted in: Teaching Strategies
Posted by: Cheryl Lederle
We have explored using primary source items to develop research questions, and to strengthen analysis through sourcing and contextualizing. Next, we explore the value of using primary sources from the Library of Congress to guide students to evaluate sources and use evidence.
Posted in: Teaching Strategies
Posted by: Cheryl Lederle
In a recent Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) workshop, gathered to learn about the power of teaching with primary sources, a teacher was concerned that she needed to “change everything” to address anchor standards for reading. As we discussed ideas for using primary sources in the classroom (already a good sign, right?), we realized that some small activities, such as close attention to reading a title, can be very powerful.
Posted in: Teaching Strategies
Posted by: Cheryl Lederle
One way to engage students with what they're reading, without turning an extra-curricular club into a class, is to introduce Library of Congress primary and secondary sources related to a particular book, a particular author, or to reading in general.
Posted in: Teaching Strategies
Posted by: Danna Bell
We engage our students in learning, and then we hope that their learning continues to spread, influencing others around them. Many times, we don’t see the effect of our influence until years later. In my role as a literacy coach, staff developer, and writing project teacher consultant, and because I don’t have students of my own, I always feel that my job is to drop pebbles and stand back as the professionals I work with create unpredictable and beautiful ripples.
Posted in: Teaching Strategies, Women's History
Posted by: Stephen Wesson
Once a student has used primary source items to develop research questions, as in our previous post in this series, a next step is to begin delving deeply into primary and secondary sources to seek answers.
Posted in: Teaching Strategies
Posted by: Danna Bell
The Library of Congress Summer Institute taught me a new and surprising lesson about what primary sources offer to any curriculum, including my AP Psychology classes.
Posted in: Primary Source Highlights, Teaching Strategies
Posted by: Cheryl Lederle
Primary sources from the Library of Congress are powerful tools for engaging students and fostering natural curiosity. You can help students learn to harness that curiosity in ways that will focus and direct research.
Posted in: Teaching Strategies