My lessons entail working with the student on his her own work and explaining the material in a way which makes sense and allows for greater detail in the finished assignment. Understanding connections between different aspects of history is essential to learning how the past is interconnected. History does not exist in a microcosm, but rather exists across time, with events that happened hundreds of years in the past, affecting events in the present. Understanding these connections I what I strive to help students learn. If students can see connections between various event and individuals, they then can apply this knowledge in a more thoughtful and comprehensive manner.
My goal is for students to be able to come to conclusions on their own and I will facilitate this through discussion and work with the student. In conversing abut the topic and helping the student understand various connections, the student is then able to independently draw conclusions to complete his or her work. Teaching the ability to understand history is what I seek to do, as this enables greater thoughtfulness, understanding, and information recall by the student. If the the student can learn through guidance rather than simple memorization, students will appreciate what they have learned as they successfully came to the answer themselves. If this can be achieved, my goal has been achieved. I strive for others to love history in the same manner I do, and teaching so one may learn on their own, is essential to the pursuit of historical knowledge.