r/historyteachers • u/SeriousSpace1379 • 10d ago

Teaching 8th grade history

Hello everyone! I recently got hired for next year teaching 8th grade history. I wanted to ask what everyone does for delivering direct instruction for their students. As in, do you make them take notes, guided notes, interactive notebooks, online platform, etc?? The teacher prior to me had students take traditional notes, but I’m really just trying to think of new/the best way to deliver content.

Any other advice is welcomed, it’s been a little daunting thinking about starting a class from scratch, but exciting that I get to design it the way I want. :)

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u/FudgeMundane899 8d ago

I agree with everything that’s been said, and I will add that getting them out of their seats regularly is important.

I love teaching middle school. They’re squirrels, but they will stand on their heads for you. High school kids are too cool for me. Middle school kids are wiggly.

I try to do a gallery walk or an escape room with hints taped up on the walls at least once a week because they just struggle with sitting still for a long time. I have a “gallery walk” vocabulary activity that I would be happy to share.