Repurposing the Textbook II

Hey Teeny Boppers,

      Today is Wednesday, November 30, 2011.  After reading Howard Zinn we know his feelings about "watered down historical perspectives".  However, the more you know, the stronger your voice becomes. Howard Zinn would call our textbooks a necessary evil. Even though they give you a "watered down" version of history they are chalk full of dates, places, events, people, ideas, maps, questions, and USEFUL FACTS. If a person can remember facts in a textbook it doesn't mean they are an expert in history. It means that person has a basic understanding of history and can then CREATE MEANING THEMSELVES. Memorizing facts is the beginning not everything. Our job as historians is to make our own meaning from the information and facts we remember. TEXTBOOKS ARE THE BEST TOOL FOR THAT JOB.

      When I was in middle school we always had to read a chapter: take a test.  Read a chapter: take a test.  Read a chapter...  I think you guys can see a pattern forming here.  Anyways, you are going to read a test and take a chapter.  Your task today is to READ WITH QUESTIONS IN MIND.  Here is what I mean.  We are going to look at the test first so that the questions drive our reading.  Our research will become our PURPOSE FOR READING.  The links below will take us to the textbook and the google test.  Click on them now before joining the community circle. 

Test link:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dGVYWkFsa1lOdkZwMURvQ0JPUVlkSkE6MQ#gid=0

Textbook link:
http://my.hrw.com/tabnav/controller.jsp?isbn=9780547523262

Now that you know where we will be focussing our attention in class today, lets look at page 64 of our textbooks and read a bit together.  Plus, I want to show you a cool feature and how to use it. 

Yours truly,
C
P.S. I hear and I forget.
I see and remember.
I do and I understand.
Do your best and forget the rest.
(Hear one.  See one.  Do one.  Teach one.)

Sent from my iPhone