The Teaching History Her Way Podcast

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I share a powerful classroom project in which my middle school students created a museum-style exhibit exploring slavery in the President’s House in Philadelphia, the home of George Washington during the early years of the United States. Through research, art, writing, and hands-on building, students investigated the lives of the people enslaved there.  Rather tha...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when students stop memorizing information and start connecting ideas? In this episode, I talk with Derek Schutte and T.J. Warsnak about how hexagonal thinking helps students build those connections, and why it leads to some of the most meaningful classroom discussions. If you’ve ever wanted students to move beyond memorizing information and instead start making meanin...

Send us Fan Mail Why do we teach? It’s a question educators are asked all the time, often with a mix of curiosity, disbelief, and admiration. In this solo reflection and community episode, I explore the answer that often hides just beneath the surface: hope . Teaching is one of the greatest acts of hope we can offer the world. Every day, we welcome students from all walks of life and help them lea...

Send us Fan Mail Religion is deeply embedded in history — yet many educators feel unsure about how (or whether) to teach it in the social studies classroom. In this episode of Teaching History Her Way , I am joined by educator Tim Hall to examine the role of religion in social studies education. Our conversation focuses on why religion is essential for historical understanding, common misconceptio...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Teaching History Her Way , I talk with educator Drew Fortune about how rock and roll can transform the way we teach social studies. Drew shares his background and what inspired him to explore the history of rock from an educational standpoint. He also introduces his framework, "Bob Dylan Pedagogy," and explains how Dylan’s music can help students conne...

Send us Fan Mail What can football teach us about American history? In this episode of Teaching History Her Way , I sit down with historian John Laub to explore the fascinating connections between consumerism, sports, and identity in the United States. Together, we trace how football grew from a college pastime into a cultural and commercial powerhouse, shaping and reflecting everything from telev...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you combine a passion for the Civil War with the power of technology? In this episode of Teaching History Her Way , CherylAnne talks with Jim Beeghley, founder of TeachTheCivilWar.com , about how digital tools can transform the way students explore one of the most pivotal eras in American history. Jim shares how he helps students not just learn about the Civil Wa...

Send us Fan Mail In this super special summer episode of Teaching History Her Way , CherylAnne chats with Glenn Weibe and Joe Schmidt, the authors of The Social Studies FIELD Guide: Strategies & Tools to Captivate Students, Cultivate Critical Thinking, and Create Engaged Citizens . Together, they explore the inspiration behind the book, break down the FIELD framework, and share powerful classr...

Send us Fan Mail In this deeply personal and powerful episode of Teaching History Her Way , I sit down with my friend and colleague, Amy Mai Tierney, to discuss her experience as one of the many children brought to the United States through Operation Babylift at the end of the Vietnam War. Amy Mai shares her story of growing up as a transracial adoptee, how she uses history to understand her ident...

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode of Teaching History Her Way , I’m bringing you conversations from the Kansas Social Studies Conference at the Eisenhower Library in Abilene, Kansas, where I had the honor of delivering the keynote address. I had the privilege of speaking with both veteran and preservice teachers about the ways they help students move beyond memorization to truly think like...

Send us Fan Mail Get ready for an inspiring and thought-provoking conversation! In this special episode of the Teaching History Her Way Podcast , I’m joined by an incredible panel of educators—Karalee Wong Nakatsuka, Shannon Salter, Angela Lee, and Annie Evans—to discuss teaching women's history, particularly on the local level. Students seeing history in their own communities is incredibly p...

Send us Fan Mail In this exciting episode of the Teaching History Her Way Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank, one of the founders of ArtsQ—a unique initiative launched in 2023 with a passion for bringing art, archaeology, and history to life in ways that captivate all learners. ArtsQ is all about making history accessible and fun through engaging videos and other resources designed...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I dive into teaching World War II with special guest Shane Gower, a Master Teacher at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. This summer, Shane spent a week coaching educators from across the U.S. on innovative ways to bring the history of WWII to life in the classroom. Join us as we discuss practical strategies, resources, and stories to help students e...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Thy Cavagnaro, founder of "Thanking Vietnam Veterans in Barnegat" and a Vietnamese refugee who has made Barnegat her home. Thy's inspiring story of resilience and gratitude led her to found "Thanking Vietnam Veterans in Barnegat," a movement dedicated to honoring the sacrifices of Vietnam Veterans. Join us as Thy shares her...

Send us Fan Mail Join me and Joe Schmidt, Vice President of the National Council for the Social Studies, and Bill of Rights Institute Director of Special Programs, as we delve into the enriching topic of teaching social studies through inquiry. This exciting discussion will explore the power of inquiry-based learning in unlocking the potential of our classrooms and nurturing a deeper understanding...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Teaching History Her Way, we journey beyond the classroom walls and into the treasure trove of learning that is a museum! Our guest, Leslie Hayes, Vice President for Education at the New-York Historical Society and the project director of the Women & the American Story project, joins us to discuss the powerful impact museums can have on student engagement. W...

Send us Fan Mail Trish Everett, an educational designer and self-proclaimed "good-news fairy" for social studies teachers sheds light on her role in supporting educators, particularly in civics education. With extensive experience teaching government and psychology in Florida, Trish discusses the challenges she's observed in fostering civil discourse within civics classrooms. Join u...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Teaching History Her Way Podcast, host CherylAnne Amendola engages in a thought-provoking conversation with guest April Wills.  April teaches in rural Montana at a K-12 school and the focus of the discussion revolves around the power of community collaboration in guiding inquiry. April passionately shares insights into the transformative impact that working...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Teaching History Her Way podcast we welcome Darcy Daniels. Darcy is not your typical historian—she's a dynamic storyteller who brings history to life through her immersive tours of the iconic Freedom Trail in Boston, Massachusetts. Join us as Darcy discusses the concept of "deep dives" into American history, challenging the traditional narrati...

Send us Fan Mail We delve into the idea that it's our responsibility to reinforce the foundation of civic knowledge in students. By doing so, we empower them with the skills necessary for civic action and understanding civic life. This lays the groundwork for fostering respectful conversations and bridging differences as they grow into informed and engaged adults. Our discussion also highligh...

Send us Fan Mail Join us on this episode of our podcast as we sit down with Shannon Salter, an influential figure in the field of education who currently serves on the governing consortium of Educating for American Democracy. In this interview, Shannon shares her insights on the crucial role of education in serving democracy, emphasizing the importance of both preparation and practice. Shannon bel...

Send us Fan Mail Join us in this enlightening episode as we delve into the fascinating world of history through the lens of gravestones with Hailee Attorri, a dedicated history teacher from North Central Massachusetts. For over a decade, Hailee has been passionately unraveling the secrets of the past as a teacher and curator of a captivating gravestone Instagram account, where she showcases coloni...

Send us Fan Mail In this inspiring episode, join us as we dive deep into the remarkable life of Coretta Scott King with acclaimed author and National Board educator, Alice Faye Duncan. Duncan, the creative force behind popular works like "Martin and the Mountain Top" and "Just Like a Mama," takes us on a journey through her latest masterpiece, "Coretta Scott King." Mo...

Send us Fan Mail Are you ready to embark on a fascinating journey where teaching becomes an art form, and comics take center stage in the classroom? In this episode of the Teaching History Her Way podcast, join me as I sit down with Tim Smyth, who penned the enlightening book, "Teaching with Comics." Tim shares his unique perspective on education and how comics have opened up a world of...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the Teaching History Her Way Podcast, where we explore the empowering stories and insights that shape our world. In today's episode, we had the pleasure of interviewing author Shetal Shah, who has penned a captivating book titled "Shakti Girls." This delightful book weaves together 13 compelling biographies with engaging rhymes, celebrating remarkable Ind...