What makes a good history teacher?

Question

I am a student who is studying to become a middle school and high school history teacher. I am aiming this question to students of all ages. I know that history isn't for everyone but what would make it interesting and fun?

I'm a hands on, laid back kind of person and I really want as many of my students as possible to enjoy my class and take something away from it.

Thanks for all your help.

I'd also love any advice from current or past teachers who have found techniques or things that work for them.

Answer 1

from what I recall when I was at school - a good HISTORY teacher is the one who knows what does perfectly ,and the main thing - never imposes his/ her/ views upon their students, because everyone should have freedom of mind and speech not only in Constitution but in the classroom as well.

I was unlucky with history teacher at school but in the University it was great! so, I'm lucky to compare.

Answer 2

Passion. The main reason I lost interest in most of high school was that my teachers simply didn't give a hoot. In VCE I had an amazingly passionate history teacher, and her passion for the subject was contagious. She made history real, engaging, and actually amusing, and fostered my love for the subject.

Try keeping students engaged with interesting facts/trivia, particularly disturbing things. Eg- during the French Revolution it became fashionable for women to wear guillotine earrings, or in WW2 the hair from Holocaust victims was used to make shoes for German submariners.

Hope this helps at least a bit. I should work on my tips, I'm applying to do teaching at the end of the year (after three years of history at uni)

Answer 3

i'm in tenth grade and have only enjoyed two history classes so far. what i enjoyed about those two teachers was that they enjoyed history themselves. they would tell us about interesting historical stories and went above and beyond regurgitating the textbook.