Bring History to Life

It's not easy being a history textbook publisher. Just when you think you've created the perfect new edition—so up-to-date!—another major world event occurs that makes your history book seem like, well, history. Pretty frustrating for the textbook publisher, right? Right—but even more frustrating for teachers, tutors, and students. History textbooks can be problematic in a number of ways, including in their omissions. A book may have an all-too-brief chapter on African-American history and civil rights, or it may portray a controversial war (such as Vietnam or the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan) in a one-dimensional way that doesn't address all of the issues. As a parent-tutor, how can you help your child gain a better understanding of our world's living history? Let's look at a few key ways.

History Lesson #1: History Is Happening Right Now. The big, global story of today—whether it be swine flu's pandemic levels or the election protests in Iran—is the history-book entry of tomorrow. By encouraging your child to stay on top of the news, you are helping her build a strong contextual foundation for her history studies. (Plus, informed, news-conscious kids grow into socially aware adults!) Discuss the day's events with her, asking questions such as, "What do you think will happen next? Does this remind you of anything else that has happened in history?" While some high school students may have no problem reading The New York Times or The Economist, younger students (and striving readers) need a more kid-friendly source of current-event information. Best bets include Time for Kids, Scholastic News Online, and the excellent Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition.

History Lesson #2: Go Straight to the Source. Many history textbooks are expertly written, but even the best textbook is no substitute for reading the words of someone who lived that history. Primary sources—historical documents that provide first-hand insights into eras and events—are a great way to really understand the "what"s, "where"s, "why"s, "when"s, and "how"s of history. Primary documents include Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail, Anne Frank's Diary of a Young Girl, and the United States Constitution. Letters and journals provide stellar insight into the individual's perspective, while documents and certificates give us a glimpse into how society functioned in an earlier time. In addition to being invaluable history aids, primary sources can also be great literacy tools, because they allow you to ask questions like: "What was the author's purpose in writing this? How do you think that the time period affected the author's outlook?"

History Lesson #3: Take It to the 'Net. With global events unfolding so quickly, what better way to follow history-in-the-making than on the Internet? This provides the perfect opportunity to teach your child the meaning of "reliable source"—there are plenty of places on the Internet with less-than-reliable information! Kids interested in current events will want to check out such reliable, well-researched sites as Science News for Kids, CNN's Student News, and Our Little Earth.

If your child needs help with History and you need to find a tutor, you can start your research here!