When I first started teaching U.S. History, I’ll admit, my lessons on immigration felt flat. The textbook did its predictable thing: talk about Ellis Island, throw in a couple photos of immigrant families, then move on to nativism and the quota system. Done. But here’s the problem. Immigration is not just “a unit.” It’s a […]

I have a confession: I teach Unit 1 of AP Government & Politics last. Yep, you read that right.  I just can’t bring myself to start seniors off with the Constitution. It’s too dense, too dry, and honestly… too boring to kick off the year.  Can you imagine welcoming a room full of restless 17- […]

Discussion in social studies can look very different depending on the class. For some teachers, it’s the magical moment when students start bouncing ideas off one another without needing to be prompted on every sentence. For others, it’s… silence. Students avoiding eye contact, hoping not to be called on. Here’s the thing: discussion in social […]

Class starts, and everyone’s waiting to see what kind of space this is going to be. They’re hoping it’s not the kind of class that kicks off with a full-body reading of the syllabus—or makes them question why they even showed up. And hey—Sociology delivers. Because this isn’t just another class about names and dates. […]

The first day of Economics class can feel like a gamble. Some students signed up because they’re curious about the economy. Others heard it was “an easy senior elective.” A few are there by accident, mistaking it for Accounting or Personal Finance The best way to kick off an on-level or AP Economics course? Not […]

The first day of U.S. History class can be nerve-wracking. Students slump into their seats, scanning for friends, sizing you up, and hoping you don’t ask them to talk too much.  A few kids already love history.  Some barely passed it last year. And more than a few are thinking, “Why do we even need […]

I’ve started the first day of school in dozens of ways over the years. You know, the soft launch.The syllabus speech. The expectations talk. The “go-around-the-room-and-say-your-name-plus-fun-fact” icebreaker that makes teens recoil in horror. I’ve done them all. But here’s the truth: none of those approaches actually made my students care about history. And they definitely […]

Let’s be real: the first few days of Civics or AP Government are full of silent judgment. Some students are already thinking, “Ugh, this is going to be so boring.” Others are eyeing the syllabus, wondering, “Do I have to memorize all these amendments?”   And in AP classes especially, kids are thinking: “How much […]

“I already won the lottery. I was born in the U-S of A baby.” – Creed Bratton This quote from The Office is one of my favorites and I post it every year on the 4th of July. It’s funny and I love this country. Now, just because I believe America is the best, doesn’t […]