I really enjoy teaching with mini lectures. The pace and variety of having an activity or discussion interspersed with lecture material gives students options for learning the material. One variation of this structure that I have used this semester is what I call the “object lesson.” The topic of the day’s class focuses on one…

In previous semesters I have assigned primary sources as homework with varying degrees of success.  I could rarely count on students having read the material well enough to jump feet first into discussions and their various levels of reading comprehension meant that quizzing them on the content of primary sources resulted in a lot of…

I love teaching the coming of the Civil War to survey classes.  There are so many layers to explain about why and when the war happens.  After a unit on antebellum culture, I take two class sessions to discuss the period between 1844 and 1860.  The reading assignments are balanced between political speeches (this year…

I am teaching the first half of the American history survey this semester. We have just gotten the Constitution ratified and Washington elected, but I’m already deep in thought about teaching the second half of the survey next semester.  My book list is due soon and it has got me thinking about what we assign…

I’m conducting a semester-long experiment with my upper-level American Revolution class this semester.  I have had hot water and tea bags available all semester and we have talked repeatedly about tea as an example of British identity in the American colonies.  I told them on the first day of class that I would put out…