1. “Transforming Teaching and Learning with Historical Thinking”
ESU 2, Fremont, Nebraska January 30, 2014

2. Introductions
Kevin Bower Associate Professor of History Director of Historical Studies Nebraska Wesleyan University Full program offered in both Omaha and Lincoln. NOTE: All contact information and web addresses used in this presentation are included in your folder!

3. Master of Arts in Historical STudies
Current Partnerships: Independence (Missouri) Public School District Lincoln Public Schools Nebraska Department of Education Omaha Public Schools Santee Community School Stanford History Education Group Walthill Public School Winnebago Public School

4. Master of Arts in Historical Studies
We have received grants from: United States Department of Education National Endowment for the Humanities Library of Congress Nebraska Humanities Council Nebraska’s Coordinating Committee for Post-Secondary Education

5. Morning Agenda and session objectives
We will take a 15 minute break at roughly 10AM.
We will break for lunch at 11:30AM.
Session objectives
By the end of the morning, we will be able to:
Explain the concept of historical thinking as a means to engage students with History.
Use close reading as a strategy allowing us to read for deeper meaning.

6. Historia A verb “knowledge acquired through investigation” “inquiry”
What is History?
Historia A verb “knowledge acquired through investigation” “inquiry”

7. What is Historical Thinking
PROCESS PRODUCT

8. We don’t teach math this way….
Blank + 11

9. …We teach it like this

10. “Show Your Work”
Math: You only get credit if you show how you got the answer. Phonics: Sound out words, build from the familiar to understand the non-familiar. Science: Start with the scientific method.

11. In every subject other than social studies
PROCESS PRODUCT

12. Historical Thinking: a working definition
Historical Thinking involves learners in the process of discovering how we know what is and is not true about the past. In short, we ask student to learn by “doing history” rather than memorizing a pre-determined set of facts.

13. Sourcing
Sourcing Before reading the document ask yourself: • Who wrote this? • Why was it written? • When was it written? • Is it believable? Why? Why not?
This slide taken directly from Joel Breakstone and Mark Smith.

14. Contextualization
Contextualization • What was the time and place in which the document was created? • What was different? What was the same? • How did the circumstances in which the document was created affect its content?
This slide taken directly from Joel Breakstone and Mark Smith.

15. Corroboration
Corroboration (cross-checking) • What do other sources say? • Do the sources agree? If not, why? • What are other possible sources? • What sources are most believable?
This slide taken directly from Joel Breakstone and Mark Smith.

16. What is Close Reading?: a social studies-centric definition
Close Reading involves the use of practices and strategies that allow students to engage more deeply with a text. For Social Studies, this means that close reading allows us to access the other skills of Historical Thinking.

17. Close Reading as “Access Skill”
Close Reading Sourcing Contextualization Corroboration Considering Multiple Perspectives

18. Pop Quiz! Please answer the following questions on a piece of paper:
On a scale of 1-5, how often do you use primary historical documents in the classroom?
On a scale of 1-5, how often does the use of these documents lead to a rich discussion with students?
In your experience, what is it the major benefit of using primary documents in the classroom?
In your experience, what is the major frustration with using primary documents in the classroom?

19. Close Reading: Where Social Studies and Reading Come Together
Close Reading involves the use of practices and strategies that allow students to engage more deeply with a text. Instead of worrying about the “reading level” of a text, we emphasize how our students access the text and draw meaning from it.

20. Welcome to Dr. Bower’s 4th period U.S. History Class
Please read document #1. Remember that we read documents with a pen or pencil in our hand. In one or two full sentences, write down the main point, or gist, of the document.

21. First Read: Teacher Tips
Remind students to read with a pencil in hand. Provide instruction on note-taking, if necessary.
Tell students they cannot ask you questions during the reading.
“Pair and Share” might help reluctant students become comfortable before a full-class discussion.
During discussion, instruct students to answer only the questions asked.

22. First Read Discussion
What is the main point of the document? What questions do you have about what the document says?

23. Second Read
I will read the document aloud. As I read, please circle or underline in red ink key words or phrases that tell you what the author values or cares about. Our framing question is “What did liberated slaves value about freedom?”

24. Second Read Discussion
Name one of the key words or phrases you marked and tell us why you think that word or phrase tells you what the author values.

25. Second Read: Teacher Tips
Using a different color of pencil, marker or pen might be helpful to students.
Keep requiring students to use text evidence when answering your questions.
This is a good time to create “teachable moments” by reminding students of the skills and prompting them to access prior knowledge from your course.

26. Third Read
Please read the document again. Remember that we read documents with a pen or pencil in our hand. Using direct evidence from the text, write a one paragraph essay answering “what did liberated former slaves value about freedom?”

27. Third Read Discussion
Please discuss your answer with your shoulder partner.

28. Third Read: Teacher Tips
The possibilities are endless. I focused on gathering a summative assessment, but other skills could be highlighted. For instance, we could add Document #2 (Sidney Andrews document) and focus on Corroboration
Elementary teachers: Think NESA-R skills.
We could easily build on this exercise by adding more documents.
We created a “historical vocabulary” that we can return to throughout the semester or school year (i.e. comparisons across time and place).

29. Ring, Ring! Back to our Real World
Go back and look at your notes. Consider how you felt after each reading. Did your understanding of this document deepen over time? If so, what allowed this to happen?

30. Morning Closure (reminders)
Close Reading is the access point to the other skills of Historical Thinking.
We must help students develop a toolbox of skills.
When using close reading, we should:
a. Provide a direct task for each reading.
b. Remind students to read with a pencil in hand.
c. Consistently require students to use text evidence in answering questions.
d. Consistently prompt students to access prior knowledge and corroborate with other resources (“the textbook is a good servant but a bad master….”)

31. Morning Closure (Session Objectives)
We will reconvene at 12:45PM. Please be ready to review our session objectives.
Session objectives
By the end of the morning we will be able to:
Explain the concept of historical thinking as a means to engage students with History.
Use close reading as a strategy allowing us to read for deeper meaning.
If you have a moment, please go to the SHEG website and create your own account.

32. Welcome Back!
We will take a 15 minute break at roughly 2:00PM. At 3:15PM, we will have time for Q&A and a quick plug for some upcoming activities involving the Historical Studies program. We will end our day at 3:30PM. Please go to and log in using: Username: Fremont Password: JohnCFremont1813

33. Review of morning objectives
Session objectives
By the end of the morning we will be able to:
Explain the concept of historical thinking as a means to engage students with History.
Use close reading as a strategy allowing us to read for deeper meaning.

34. Afternoon Session Objectives
By the end of today, we will:
Understand the parts of a Historical Thinking lesson.
Be ready and able (and excited) to try a Historical Thinking lesson in the classroom.

35. Parts of Speech Historical Thinking
Please take a look at the “stone tablets.” Note that we typically teach Historical Thinking through an Inquiry Based Teaching Model. There are other options, but we will not have time to review them today. If you are interested, check out the SHEG website, and look at “Structured Academic Controversy” and “Opening up the Textbook” lessons.

36. Creating and Teaching a Historical Thinking LEsson
Frame the Inquiry.
Consider Perspectives, Gather Resources (and build knowledge)

37. Creating and Teaching a Historical Thinking LEsson
Frame the Inquiry.
Consider Perspectives, Gather Resources (and build knowledge)
Apply the Skills (chosen to meet your objective).
Note: This is where a multiple reading strategy (like this morning) could apply.

38. Creating and Teaching a Historical Thinking LEsson
Frame the Inquiry.
Consider Perspectives, Gather Resources (and build knowledge)
Apply the Skills (chosen to meet your objective).
Drawing Conclusions (students drawing conclusions, that is)
NOTE: This is another opportunity to use creative strategies. Lots of graphic organizers and cooperative learning strategies (Kagan, History Alive!, etc.) can be adapted to fit this phase.

39. Creating and Teaching a Historical Thinking LEsson
Frame the Inquiry.
Consider Perspectives, Gather Resources (and build knowledge).
Apply the Skills (chosen to meet your objective).
Drawing Conclusions (students drawing conclusions, that is).
Demonstrating Historical Understanding.
NOTE: This is where summative assessment comes into play. It doesn’t always have to be a test. There are, of course, many ways to demonstrate understanding.

40. Putting it All Together
Please take a fresh copy of the document we used this morning (Jordan Anderson’s letter to his former master). In a group of 3-4 people, please edit the document to between words. You may guesstimate on the word count. Elementary teachers: I have a new document for you that might be age appropriate for your students. Make decisions about what your students will need to read to grasp the “gist” of the document.

41. Putting it All Together
With the same group, decide which skill or skills you would like to teach with this document: Sourcing Contextualization Corroboration

42. Putting it All Together
In your same group, please write 3 questions you would ask students that will prompt them to access the skill or skills you wish to teach. Be certain that you are asking “text dependent questions.”

43. Looking toward tomorrow…
Let’s explore some existing lesson plans. Are there impediments that would prevent you from attempting a Historical Thinking lesson in the near future? If so, what can we do today that will help overcome those challenges?

44. The Problem of Finding Useable Documents
Resources for Finding Documents Library of Congress, loc.gov National Archives, archives.gov

45. Library of Congress resources
American Memory collection features the most “polished” collections. It can be difficult to navigate and lacks consistency in how documents are presented. The Library is in the process of addressing some of the problems with loc.gov.

46. National Archives resources
The National Archives has added teaching resources in recent years. Docsteach.org is a terrific resource for teachers. If teachers register with the site they can access lessons created by other teachers and can create their own lessons “in the cloud.” This could allow us to share across an ESU or between ESU’s.

47. Finished Lesson Plans
The best locations are: Stanford History Education Group Historical Thinking Matters Contact me and I will share what we have. Please let me know specific information regarding your grade level and the topic you are interested in covering.

48. A Brief Plug for Our Program….
The Master of Arts in Historical Studies program will begin a new cohort in June and August. Tuition is $275/credit hour with no additional fees. The program is 33 hours and can be completed in 2 years. Please contact me for more information Our Omaha site is only about minutes from this building. Classes meet one night per week during the school year, from 6:30-9:00PM. And you can park within a few feet of the door!

49. Summer Workshops
We will host two identical summer workshops this summer in Lincoln. The workshops are two days long and focus on “Reading and Thinking Like a Historian.” $210 if you register before March 1. Breakfast and Lunch provided. Overnight housing available. Group rates available if you wish to put together a gang from the same ESU or school. June or June

50. Building Professional Development
We are happy to schedule professional development sessions in your building ranging from 60 minutes to a full day!

51. Thank you For Participating!
Thank you for your time and participation. If you have questions, comments or whatever, please contact me at I will be traveling next week, so please forgive any slow reply on my part.