Current Events

As a history teacher, there is nothing more important then tying the material we are learning to what is going on in the world today. One thing I started doing is Freedom Fridays. This is where the students bring in current events and lead the class in discussion. Some of our best discussions have come on these days. The students feel more relaxed, and often they bring up information from the past on their own. I also find that having them read one news article a week, and answering some basic questions really adds to some great discussions. I pick these articles based on stuff that means something to high schools, free speech, food and education usually, and then of course the odd, sensational story too. With the articles that are online, I have them use a blackboard type discussion format where they are under the protection of a code name to answer. They are able to speak freely, without worrying about what their classmates will think about their opinions. It is also good practice for the students for the future when they are commenting on online news stories. I make sure they are appropriate and that they are practicing grammar and spelling techniques that are important in the classroom. I also pose repsonse questions to them, so that they are pushed to think critically about their responses. The greatest compliment I received was from a former student who said that he still goes on and reads the articles I post for homework since they are so interesting and that is where he is getting his news from. As a teacher, I am striving for that lasting impression in all my lessons.