During my time as Teacher in Residence, I've had the joys of working with specialists and experts to expand my own knowledge and discover new ways to introduce primary sources into my classroom. I've also had the frustrations inherent in any research that forced me to reshape and refocus my question for any number of reasons. All these experiences helped me to rediscover my love for primary sources, enhance my own research and critical thinking skills, and - more importantly - remind me what it’s like to be a student, searching for the right answer, but discovering more questions.
Many historians consider the defeat of the Nazis at Stalingrad the turning point in World War II, yet this battle is given little attention in most U.S. classrooms. Typically, lessons focus on the major American experiences like Pearl Harbor, D-day, and the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan.
In the January/February 2018 issue of Social Education, the journal of the National Council for the Social Studies, our “Sources and Strategies” article features an image of a Maya miniature flask. The flask, like much of the Maya civilization, remains somewhat mysterious but can offer insights into daily life in Central America.
