I think that a better approach to history would be topical-make a statement and dig out examples from history that support or do not support the statement. Given that history is a study of sequential events, I do not object to teaching it in sequential order. However, objective learning and lasting impression can only be achieved if thousands of data points are aggregated within a meaningful set of statements much as is done with Spelling, Physics, Mathematics. Spelling is a particularly useful analogy because the core of English Spelling is a bunch of rules which are clearly violated once the language is enriched by the invasion of foreign words (i.e borrowings from other phonetic schemes) i.e. the rules are useful base and the exceptions are not really exceptions once you understand their origin; above and beyond that there are indeed exceptions. What I suggest, and will try to implement, with my very limited knowledge of history, is a sequential study of history with overlooking topics list (increasing, refined) which we will discuss in the context of the period we are studying.
History as propaganda was clear to me as a first grader, even if not by these terms. In history class I knew what answer to give even if I did not like it or believe it. This is called memorization, not learning. I do not have the intention of forcing my kids to follow my path.
But you think that communist Bulgaria was the only place that selectively taught history? Look no further than your beloved United States of America and ask yourself: in which history book was the repatriation of Mexicans in the 1930s discussed? In no book?! Why? Because it violates the 'founding principles of the founding fathers' which call into question the intention and protection the federal government will provide to certain groups. Read this book. While I think the books is about 100 pages too long, it's worthwhile the few hours reading it would consume. Then think about your liberties when the government is in trouble.
I finished! Oh, this is a fabulous story! It is a sequence of improbable events. It is a very tender story set during a very difficult time of US history. This is the story of a ten year old black boy who grew up surrounded by his mother's love for six years and then was tossed from home to orphanage to home for four years until he finally decided to embark on a journey to find his father. It's a lonely and scary journey but running away from an unhappy four years, the boy immediately meets with good fortune and luck leads him to a destination that is his mother's youth home and to the people from which she had run away. This provides a beautiful closure to the story. As a parent you know how dangerous the journey any child left alone takes-the railroad, the road, the orphanage, the foster home-they are all equally dangerous. You cheer for the boy and you also fear for him, but his strength, his resilience keep you holding the book and reading page after page-I read the book full of gratitude, humility, love, compassion, joy, sadness. A simple boy, a non-educated boy, shares in the simplest possible way the most fundamental feelings one can ever hold in his soul. I recommend this book for children 10+. If you read the afterword, which I also recommend, you cannot but forever remember the author's request to the reader-Go Talk to your mom and dad, grandpa and grandma. Learn their stories, they will keep them and you immortal. I couldn't agree more. I love and used to love to hear over and over the stories my grandmother used to tell me. My grandfather was a teacher and while he read tons of stories to me, he never, ever told me anything about himself. This boy's mom read him tons of stories and the touch, the voice that he held in his memory helped him carry on. Do read this book.
This book, on the other hand is 1)accessible, 2)informative, 3)appropriate and 4)interesting. I love it. In my daughter's elementary school, fifth-graders are given an assignment to choose a Newbery book, read it and either produce a project inspired by it or simply report on it.
This is a book that falls into the domain of this assignment. Most books in the pre-defined category do not. They are either too advanced or the topics to advanced for a fifth-grader.
About the book:it is short. It is told from the perspective of a little girl, 8 years old. It is about a very dark area of human history-unfortunately, while this particular historic moment is given a name, there are plenty analogous moments in the world today which are not. This makes this novel so much more relevant. We are not part of the past but the past repeats itself, humankind is not learning, it is not improving. Sadly, but it is a message worth reiterating. I give it five stars and recommend it to higher elementary school students.
This is the second book written by Kate DiCamillo that I have enjoyed, the series about Mercy Watson being the only other one.
'Because of Winn-Dixie' is a very well written book. It contains the right amount of time and space dedicated to each episode. The plot is fabulous-simple, sentimental and not intrusive. Perfect timing which is not typical of DiCamillo's work. This is a perfect book to assign to children to read because the language is simple and the plot is rich and offers plenty opportunities for reflection. I recommend it highly as a read-aloud to 4th graders and as self-read to 5th graders and above. Also, we must not to forget that it is recommended that first graders are occasionally assigned readings below their reading level as these are beneficial for the development of other 'undeveloped' academic skills and for building confidence. I think this should hold true for all grade levels and this book is a perfect tool to use with 7th graders and above.
I also think that some good read-alouds need to be self-read at the appropriate reading level and even re-read at a higher reading level because at each age and reading level the comprehension and the topics of discussion improve.
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