Pre-Reading for 477

For today's class period, we were asked to read two articles...

1. What does it Mean to Think Historically...and How Do You Teach it? Bruce A. VanSledright

2. Historical Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts Sam Wineburg


For article #1, I am really interested in the title. I wonder if I, as a history major do I have the capacity to think historically? Am I going to be able to teach it to my students? I noticed that the article was only four pages long, and published in 2004. (Last time we went through articles in class, I discovered that I didn't check when they were written...so now, I am making a conscious effort to make sure that I always check...). I hope that this article can provide some insight, and help me become a better teacher, as that is why I'm here!

For article #2, the title grabbed me, just as a plate of chocolate chip cookies might. I think that if I found this article laying around somewhere that I would be compelled to read it. It seems longer, which means more information or more running on about the same thing. We shall see, and I hope it is the former and not the latter. It was written in 1999, so it is almost ten years old. Sometimes I think that ten years is a long time ago, and other times I feel like it is just yesterday. I am hoping that this article will share with me how to help kids think historically, because if I am doing it right, then it is difficult to learn, and hard to practice too. Wineburg's bio is also interesting - he seems like a really smart guy.


I am looking forward to class today. I think I am so lucky to have gotten my capstone messed up, as I am really enjoying taking this class. I love all the other students in there, and the fact that it is really small. When class is over I feel like no time has passed by, and I always feel like I leave the room knowing more than I did when I entered. Hooray!!