History: A Cultural Approach

"One of the best professional development experiences that I've ever participated in. Simply amazing."

"The Cultural Approach to History is an amazing tool students can use to make connections and truly understand the "big picture." For years I've used something similar in my AP class without knowing what it was called. This summer during the course redesign, I'm going to rewrite my AP syllabus so that it is a class based around the CAH. It's truly a powerful way to teach and learn history."

"This is a wonderful approach to help students see the big picture when studying history. It is also an excellent way to help students organize information for high order activities such as writing."

"Cultural Approach to History is a great tool to use in the classroom to tackle complex issues."

The Cultural Approach allows students to visualize the "big picture" of historical context. It pushes them to find answers and solve problems on their own with the teacher as the facilitator and not leader.

"I have embedded this experience to be a part of me. I will help and lead my students to become inquisitive, asking questions (why and how). Also, they will become critical thinkers that will lead discussions (because now they connect)."

"After taking part in this seminar I'm excited to incorporate more opportunities for my students to express their opinions and think critically on substantive issues raised in my class."

"The seminars remind me how important it is to find different ways of communicating information so as to give the students multiple opportunities to find something from the material with which to draw connections."

"Every seminar I have attended in the cultural approach rejuvenates me."

"Learning more about using the Cultural Approach to History more effectively has made me a better teacher."

"For any teacher who wishes to gain a better insight on history to help increase student achievement, use the Cultural Approach and come to one of the seminars."

"The Cultural Approach to History is an excellent approach to teaching for the AP US curriculum. It provides an excellent framework for a thematic approach to history, which can be adapted to serve as an excellent curriculum for an AP US History class."

"It uses primary resources and helps me see all the major details."

"Last year, we didn't do Cultural Approach and Social Studies was hard for me."

"It tells you a story. You get to see how it is all connected."

"You get to hear your classmates' opinions and share your ideas."

"There's more than one right answer. As long as you can justify it, you can use it!"

"You're not just choosing an answer. You know WHY."

"We, as educators, are looking for ways to reach the "WHOLE CHILD." The cultural approach provides you with a framework to accomplish this task."

"I had never heard of the Cultural Approach before this seminar, but I walked away with such a powerful, new perspective on teaching history. I cannot wait to try this in my classroom!"

"I have found myself using the approach in everyday life."

"My students are able to see connections not only between standards, but also within the standard itself."

"Using the CAH makes learning about the past relevant and exciting for students."

"I am giving my students a lens they can forever use to look at history in a holistic manner."

"It [The Cultural Approach] takes the responsibility off of me as a teacher, and allows me to serve as a facilitator of learning."

"When students hear we are starting social studies, they get excited."

"I have always thought that history is boring, that goes all the way back to elementary school. Now I feel like there's a lot more to history than just dates and learning events by heart. You can take it so much further."

"I can see now how easily and seamlessly this approach can be used with elementary students."

"It has totally changed my outlook on teaching history in a wonderful way. I feel my sense of history and how to teach it will be richer for it. I won't look at teaching history the same again!"

"It takes it from the traditional aspect of reading it in a book … to the middle of where this history happened creating a more intimate relationship with a topic. The more senses you engage in a topic, the more the student is going to learn, understand, and apply."

"It all intertwines, that is what social studies is. The political intertwine with the religious intertwines with the economic and so on and so forth. It allows them to be able to use their experiences as a frame of reference and to bridge the gap between their lives and historical events."

"It is easier than it sounds to use, it is not as complex as it may look. It is something that you should try because once you try it you will like it and you will see you can do a better job instructing and enlightening your students."

"I took this class [Summer Seminar] for the two credits in two weeks, but I found I learned more than I have ever learned in any education class."

"The Cultural Approach definitely benefits me as a teacher, because it makes it to where I have categories to try to teach what I need to teach. It nails everything down."

"Role-playing, especially in the Cultural Approach, is a big plus to having the students learn what you are trying to get across to them."

"One benefit [of the Cultural Approach] is the lens that can be applied anywhere, which may help students tell the thematic story of history."

"The Cultural approach is a framework from which you may be able to teach your subject area. I am telling you it is a very well organized way of doing it."

"In teaching the Cultural Approach with the visits to Ma Rainey's House and the Liberty Theater, students are able to go and learn a lot about these people. You have a more personal feel other than what you have heard and read."

"I have learned more about Columbus and the surrounding area than I ever thought I had learned or knew."