How do you get A Level History students to read?

Thanks to Sally Burnham, History teacher and Lead Practitioner, Lincolnshire, and member of Secondary Committee for this blogpost drawn from her experience of a Covid change that has been worth keeping. How do you get A Level History students to read? This was an age old problem for me. I know how important it is for students to be reading historians’ work both to deepen … Continue reading How do you get A Level History students to read?

Active history to make history memorable and accessible

This blogpost accompanies the launch of a new webpage on the HA website. The ‘knowledge turn’ of recent years has been very welcome in many ways. There is inspiring work and success in evidence across the country in relation to developing coherent curricula. There are wonderful examples of historical enquiry and the use of historical narratives weaving disciplinary and substantive knowledge effectively. And yet, there … Continue reading Active history to make history memorable and accessible

Rethinking the historical significance of Napoleon – the case for an interdisciplinary approach

In this blogpost Gemma Hargraves, Deputy Headteacher at The Crypt School, Gloucester, shares some thoughts about how to use an interdisciplinary approach to engage students with historical significance and to encourage them to develop informed and robust opinions about the past. Napoleon’s life and legacy is taught at various curriculum stages. For example sometimes it is taught in a year 8 scheme of work on … Continue reading Rethinking the historical significance of Napoleon – the case for an interdisciplinary approach

Literacy and Oracy in History – a new HA CPD guide

As we near the end of the long autumn term, subject leaders may be starting to think about preparation for INSET time at the start of January. The HA is here to help with a range of CPD guides that SLs can use to structure learning together as a department. You can find the currently available guides here. The most recent guide focuses on literacy … Continue reading Literacy and Oracy in History – a new HA CPD guide

Time to bring back oracy!

Thanks to Ruth Lingard (@YorkClio), Head of History at Millthorpe School in York for this blogpost. Ruth is laying down a challenge to us all to refocus on oracy. Our primary colleagues do this in history. Our colleagues in independent schools do this in history. How might we be short-changing our students if oracy is not at the heart of all historical learning in schools? … Continue reading Time to bring back oracy!

Early Career History Teacher: experience beyond the classroom

This is another blogpost primarily for colleagues at the start of their history teaching careers. Caitlyn Palmer, history PGCE student at the University of York, shares her experience of taking on a project beyond the classroom and how it has supported her developing professional practice. As a History PGCE student training with the University of York, there are certain things that I expected I would … Continue reading Early Career History Teacher: experience beyond the classroom

1381 HATF: it’s good to talk!

Thanks to David Ingledew (@ingledew_j) for this blogpost reflecting on the powerful way that a HATF enables history teachers and teacher educators to learn from academic historians. On my way home from the Historical Association’s People of 1381 Teacher Fellowship programme residential at Mansfield College, Oxford, I was reminded of the mid-1990s advert for BT fronted by Oscar nominated actor Bob Hoskins. In a series … Continue reading 1381 HATF: it’s good to talk!

What could Lemov’s ideas for Remote Learning look like in History?

Thanks to Alex Fairlamb (@lamb_heart_tea), member of HA Secondary Committee and  coordinator of TMHI, for sharing her work with Lemov’s ideas in the history classroom. You might have come to this post through hearing her on Teachers Talk Radio too! (Apologies – to load Alex’s lovely tables in time, they are screenshoted and the links given underneath – Ed!) Doug Lemov’s ‘Teaching in the Online Classroom’ … Continue reading What could Lemov’s ideas for Remote Learning look like in History?

Using popular music for learning and teaching LGBT+ history

Thanks to David Ingledew (@Ingledew_j), Principal Lecturer in Education (History), University of Hertfordshire for putting together this music collection to help teachers teach LGBT+ history in LGBT+ history month or anytime. David gives us a short back story to 15 key tracks, provides a 40-track playlist and points us to the key Teaching History articles to read for ideas about how to use music in … Continue reading Using popular music for learning and teaching LGBT+ history

Decision making games to enthuse and nurture oracy

Thanks to Guy Bowles, Head of History and Stephen Perrin, (Acting) Assistant Head, from Upton Court Grammar School in Slough (@UcgsHistory) for this blogpost. Lots of colleagues are wrestling with effective ways to implement intended learning and student oracy remains a key focus. Guy and Stephen share with us how they are using decision making games and share some resource here too. Our best teaching … Continue reading Decision making games to enthuse and nurture oracy