Teaching Difficult Histories in Difficult Times: Stories of Practice

Teaching about difficult histories is essential for social studies courses and units across grade levels. This practical resource provides stories of K–12 practitioners who have critically examined and reflected on their experiences with planning and teaching histories identified as difficult. The book is divided into four main sections and covers key topics such as genocide, slavery, immigration, war, racial violence, and terrorism. It offers expanded notions of what difficult histories can be and how they can be approached pedagogically, thoughtful pictures of practice, and examples from a wide range of educational contexts.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 11 February 2022
Publisher: Teachers' College Press

Teaching about challenging histories is a crucial component of social studies courses and units at all grade levels. This practical resource showcases narratives from K–12 educators who have critically analyzed and reflected on their experiences with planning and teaching histories that are considered difficult. These stories, featuring the perspectives of teacher educators, classroom teachers, and museum educators, offer rare insights into effective strategies for planning, teaching, and reflecting on these complex histories. The book is organized into four main sections: Centering Difficult History Content, Centering Teacher and Student Identities, Centering Local and Contemporary Contexts, and Centering Teacher Decision-making. Key topics covered include teaching about genocide, slavery, immigration, war, racial violence, and terrorism. This dynamic book emphasizes the practitioner's perspective to showcase how teachers can and do engage students in rigorous, complex, and appropriate studies of the past.

Key Features:

Expanded understanding of what difficult histories can encompass and pedagogical approaches to teaching them.

Thoughtful illustrations of best practices in teaching some of the most complex histories.

Stories of K–12 teachers and museum educators, supported by research from leading scholars in social studies education.

Examples from diverse educational contexts in the United States and other countries.

Valuable resources for teachers and teacher educators.

Weight: 456g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780807766453