Not Another History Teacher

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My goal is to help her students fall in love with history and technology. Learning about history can be an amazing catalyst for changing our society and teaching empathy to our students. I believe that technology reaches students in a way that other mediums can not. It ignites a fire, a desire to learn, and gives them the ability to express themselves in meaningful ways.

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Meet The Author

My name is Melissa and I am a 12th grade Social Studies teacher in Cold Spring, New York. I currently teach 12th grade Government & Economics, Sociology, and AP Government and Politics. I have been teaching for 13 years in both New York and Pennsylvania. I grew up in Boonton, New Jersey and earned a Bachelors Degree in Social Studies Education at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York. While teaching full-time in both Geneva, NY and Trumansburg, NY I earned my Master's Degree in Inclusive … read more about About Me

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How do you set up a safer zoom meeting?

https://youtu.be/WbzgapfqWbk Ten Tips I use when I use video chat: Always use the waiting room feature!!! To only allow students to enter who you know. I also only let them use their names! Set up reoccurring meetings with the same URL to make it easier for you and your studentsUse a password for extra security if you want itPlay with zoom first with a friend. Make sure you know how to chat, kick a kid out, instantly mute, stop the video, and end a meeting fast if … [Read more...] about How do you set up a safer zoom meeting?

How I use Padlet in the classroom?

Padlet is an application to create an online post-it note- bulletin board that you can use to display information and collaborate together for any topic. Easily create an account and build a display board. Students can add images, links, videos, columns, and more. You can always add to it late. Settings allow you to make your wall completely open for public contributions, completely private, moderated and edited by you before students comment. Free accounts allow you … [Read more...] about How I use Padlet in the classroom?

AP US Government Instagram Review

I hope you are holding up well during this crazy time. I am making a daily goal to workout every day, do a craft, and outdoor time with my kids. I just created a review Instagram for my AP US Government and Politics classes. If you want to have your students follow, I am going to post daily review questions, information, multiple-choice practice, political cartoons, and so much more. Encourage your kids to follow, comment, and respond. Please feel free to jump in so … [Read more...] about AP US Government Instagram Review

Free Remote Learning Ideas!

Here is a list of my top 3 tools for teaching remotely. My biggest tip is to find something that works for you and make your life easier with one of these tools! Edpuzzle- Easily create beautiful interactive video lessons for your students you can integrate right into your LMS. It is an incredible-easy-to-use video platform that helps teachers save time, boost classroom engagement and improve student learning through video lessons. EDpuzzle also collects data as … [Read more...] about Free Remote Learning Ideas!

Get outside the classroom in Sociology

I love teaching my sociology class because it is such a fun and interactive class to be apart of! I have a very supportive school district that allows me to be creative and inventive in the classroom. My class gets to participate in a bunch of interactive projects and trips. Here are some of my favorite field trips and activities. What have you done with your class as a field trip or activity? Elementary Buddies Every month my class partners with a 4th-grade … [Read more...] about Get outside the classroom in Sociology

Civil Liberties Documentary Project

I love ending the year with my final civil liberties documentary project. My student's last assignment for AP U.S. Government is a Civil Liberties documentary assignment. My students need to trace the history of minority groups in this country as well as the fight for equal rights, getting as close to modern-day as possible. This is a wonderful way to end any government course and connect history to so many modern-day issues. Introduce the project I introduce the … [Read more...] about Civil Liberties Documentary Project

That’s too Political!

"I am not teaching about the impeachment inquiry. It's too political." These were words that came from an AP U.S. Government and Politics teacher on a listserve that I am on. I was shocked when I heard those words! My instant reply was, of course, I am teaching my students about the impeachment inquiry! Where else would they learn about it, if not in government class? I am a huge believer that we should not only be educating our students with content but teaching … [Read more...] about That’s too Political!

Mommy, I ‘m sick!

I don't know about you but I am sick of calling out sick! Between the stomach bug, mysterious baby rashes, flu, and teething fevers; sickness has hit my family. I have missed so many school days that I am about to run out of sick days. No idea what will happen if I need more days! My students are spreading sicknesses like wildfires between the flu and stomach bug. How are you making out with sickness in your family and school? ​​I use these amazing videos as … [Read more...] about Mommy, I ‘m sick!

Teaching the U.S. Homefront during World War II

Engage your students as you get them up and moving with these US Homefront stations! Your students will analyze the US homefront during WWII and think critically about them as they move from station-to-station. Don't miss out on one of my best sellers that will surely help your students in your US History classes! ♦How it works♦ ✅Print the stations out (I recommend printing each station out on a different color) … [Read more...] about Teaching the U.S. Homefront during World War II

Play Games in class

I always play Kahoot, Quizlet Live, and Socrative as games before a test but this week I did something different. I gave a test using Socrative and by the end of the period, my class knew their grade before they walked out of the class! Socrative is amazing for test review games but I use it for my tests. My students can scroll through questions at their own pace and when they hit submit they get their grade. All I have to grade is the short answer responses. My grading time … [Read more...] about Play Games in class

Political Party Webquest

Engage your students with this interactive political -party webquest for AP or regular Government which leads them to think about and evaluate their own political beliefs! Students will consider which party's beliefs they share, and ultimately decide which party they will register with. This activity is adaptable, hands-on, thorough, and engaging! First, I have my students take four quizzes to help them discover which party they align with best! They write their … [Read more...] about Political Party Webquest

How I register my students to vote?

Every year when I teach my government class my students are super excited to learn about voting in America. I teach them about the voting process and how important it is to our democracy through this voting lesson. I can't think of a better way to get them civically engaged than to teach my students about the importance of voting, reasons why people do and do not cast their ballots, why low voter turnout is a problem, and how voting is essential to our democracy. … [Read more...] about How I register my students to vote?