Developing Historical Thinkers

Bruce A. Lesh is a former high school teacher in Baltimore County Public Schools, curriculum director at the Maryland State Department of Education, past president of the Maryland Council for the Social Studies, and vice-chair of the National Council for History Education. He has been recognized as the Organization of American Historians Teacher of the Year, and the Maryland Secondary Social Studies Teacher of the Year.

• PrefaceAcknowledgments1. "But My Kids Cannot Do This . . .": Challenging Perceptions About HistoricalInvestigationsMy Why, Part IMy Why, Part 2Professional LearningThe History Lab 2.0The Only Constant Is Change!Conclusions2:."Yes, Your Students Can Do This": Historical Investigation for All StudentsA RoadmapTeaching UpBuild ScaffoldsIn the Center Ring, Inquiry Versus Coverage and ControlMaking the Inquiry Question Accessible for AllAdapting Historical Sources: Political Cartoons and ImagesModifying a Text SourceScaffolding the ProcessConclusion3. "Is Every Day a Lab?": What Happens Between History Labs?The Twinkies of Lessons"Is Every Day a Lab?"Seriously, No Trench Foot, or Tanks, or Mustard Gas?Woven Into Every Unit"Like a Prairie Fire . . . "What Happens Between History Labs?4. "Is There an Easy Way to Develop Questions . . .?": Sorry, NoOne Stop ShoppingThe Engagement CliffThe Brain and QuestionsWhy Questions in Social Studies?Organizing the Mental BedroomTypes of QuestionsWe Learned That in October, You Mean I Was Supposed to Remember That?Unit-Wide QuestionsBuilding Lesson-Level QuestionsCoverage Demands Choices"Would You Have Your Student's Debate Slavery?"Open Versus Closed QuestionsThe People in the Past Were StupidThe Tug of War Between Relevance and AccuracyA Little Sex Appeal Goes a Long WayHistorical Categories of InquiryTypese of QuestionsIt Is Iterative and Recursive and Frustrating (but Also Exciting)!Marcus Garvey: The Evolution of a History Lab QuestionHaving Students Develop Their Own QuestionsConclusion5. "Discission Is for Classes Like Foreign Language:" Expanding Discussion in the Classroom to Deepen Student Facility With Historical ThinkingPlease, Not Another Strike!Not Going to Do ItLet's TalkIt Is Not Just Debates"I Don't Feel Comfortable"Teacher Talk Moves and HistoryBuilding Student Capacity for DiscussionScoring and FeedbackThe Pullman Strike of 1894Source-Based TestimonySetting the StageA Hearing Is Now Called to Order!Discussion and PullmanConclusions6. "My Kids Felt More Seen Today": Teaching Hard HistoriesWhy Hard Histories?Controversial Issues and Hard HistoriesHard Histories and InquiryLGBTQ+ HistoryGetting By With the Help of Some Friends!The InvestigationStructuring the InvestigationIt Wasn't Just Stonewall"No Union Is More Profound Than Marriage"What's the Big Deal?7. Avoiding the Shame of the Scantron Machine: Assessing Historical ThinkingSocial Studies AssessmentsI Took Tests; Weren't They Assessing My Historical Thinking?Instruction and Assessment DisconnectNo Dates, No Names, Then What Do I Assess?What Tools Are Available for Teachers?Formative Assessment Tools for Historical Thinking"Not Another Essay!": Exploring Alternative Summative AssessmentsConclusionConclusion: "I Don't Always Mention Those Words": The Power of PartnershipsInitiating the PartnershipThe Planning MeetingIntervisitations"I Don't Always Mention Those Words"ReferencesIndexAbout the Author

"Filled with excellent examples of model lessons and units, any social studies educator will find this book a valuable addition to their professional library."—CHOICE