#sschat Archive
#sschat is a network of educators, resources, and ideas that started on Twitter, but has expanded to Facebook, an annual NCSS unconference, and more. Join us to chat asynchronously on Twitter or Facebook, or chat with us live on Mondays from 7-8pm EST.
Monday February 22, 2016
Mary from Colorado checking in to tonight. Women's history is everyone's history.
Hello Jackie from CT; excited for the topic; I used to teach a women's history class at my school... miss that class!
Jessica from KCMO. I teach in an online school. Excited for my first
Jennifer Morgan checking in from WI
Hey Doug, MS SS teacher from NY. Will be checking In and out tonight.
Hello, my name is Scott. I am a senior at Michigan State University studying to become a social studies teacher
Q1: How have your social studies classes incorporated teaching about gender?
Chris from Illinois. 7th grade World Geography.
A1: Essential Questions allow S's to consider how to answer from different points of view, develop empathy
Isabelle from Morgan Hill, CA. Taught 11th gr. US Hist and 12th gr. American Govt. Currently a SAHM.
A1: in AmGov an EQ is How is power distributed... lots of diff demographic groups would answer that differently challenges S's PoV
A1) Try to ensure we use sources written by/about women whenever possible for topic being studied. Ask ?s about whose POV not rep'd.
I try to look at multiple viewpoints on what we study in American history (minorities, women, men)
Joanne from Missouri. 7th world history and 11th modern global issues.
A1) Just in case this applies to anyone...EQs can be integrated easily if you use the Depth & Complexity model in the Ethics icon.
A1 Pov. Women are integral part of history. Need pov to understand and evaluate historical events and ideas. Not just suffrage unit!
What is the Ethics icon a part of? I am not familiar with it.
I'm Lisa from Texas. First time, but I've been following many of you on Twitter & feel like I know you. AP Comparative/Geography.
A1 I havent done nearly enough. In geog we talk about how the land influences people, but I only address women specifically w/ water.
A1: I’ve incorporated 4 “virtues” of Cult of Domesticity early in U.S. History & used for analysis through different times periods.
. That icon is part of the depth and complexity model created by Sandra Kaplan at USC. Probably my fave tool for analysis.
Ken from Western Oregon Univ teacher ed program. Just arriving
Q2: Do you find your students are well versed on topics related to gender given their use of social media?
Yes! Suffrage unit implies probs over; no more issues; need comprehensive integration of many PoVs throught content
A1 We discuss gender roles in a historical sense. And it comes up in current events.
A1. We start with the premise that gender is a social construction.
very interesting. What regions do you focus on?
These virtues (piety, purity, submission, domestic) provide a good lens to examine sexist expectations today https://t.co/RCKBSOwWBa
A1: I’ve incorporated 4 “virtues” of Cult of Domesticity early in U.S. History & used for analysis through different times periods.
A1: Mostly in lessons involving women specifically: Republican Mothers, 19th amendment, etc. Not nearly enough!
A2: my S's much more in tune with issues of LGBTQ community than women's issues; beginning to pay attention to pay, safety etc.
A1 By bringing in multiple POVs & issues that bring in more "voices' and make relatable to more Ss
with water? Africa and the Middle East, though I hit on it everywhere.
A2. Topics yes. 9th graders are still new to theory. Many seniors steeped in it.
that is part of the opening framework of my class as well
Hi Jill from KS hanging out tonight. Cleaning up from dinner and chatting, I'll be in and out.
Great activity is Movement Report Cards. Grade movement on how goals were or weren't accomplished
The same is true in my class
all my classes. Not just the Constructing race and gender elective
A2 unfortunately, social media often hurts girls. Too many girls measure their self worth with likes on Instagram in Jr high.
A2: S's compare primary sources, one from man, one from women, both are black... I ask: can you separate issues of race and gender?
Catherine Beecher called. She'd like a word.
My class focuses on America. Maybe there is something there with mills during 1800s
Awesome convo in class today - if president, what would you do to improve race relations? Then watched https://t.co/RvkDmAHmyq
A2: High school Ss seem to be interested in gender, but not familiar w/ anti-sexism mvmnts like , , etc.
A2 Ss still struggle even w/ greater social media(&media) access Ss have many misconceptions. Gaining media lit skills would help
A1: suffrage and Lowell are typical. I also do a bit on homesteading women and how tough they had to be.
attempting to do more of that myself!
Think integrating the topic across history is important--not simply seeing it as women's topics or women's history month
How do we revision these lessons so they aren't units on women but they are integrated historical considerations?
A1 Victorian attitudes leading to rebellion of 20s Focus on liberation and empowerment
A2) Agree w/ social media often sends poor/inaccurate messages. Reading posts out loud slowly reveals bias.
A2 Ss always think gender issues are recent, do not know historical perspective for most part
Finding primary sources to represent woman's POV can be challenging, but worth the effort. There is a lesson in lack of sources.
I have 3rd grade daughter who is already complaining about the lack of female "voices" for her to relate to in elem school
Q3: How might we make history classes more welcoming to the framework of ?
I try to do that I thinks. Lowell is part of a larger unit on Ind. Rev. & suffrage is part of unit on reform movements
My daughter watched show about Mt. Rushmore and asked me where were the women on the mountain! mouths of babes
A2) Wonder if treatment of women on social media plays into this? Things like tech industry awards and such. May discourage some.
A2 Have any of you explored the discourse about HRC in media everywhere right now?
There's still plenty of time to join ! https://t.co/GbExEWe16q
Q3: How might we make history classes more welcoming to the framework of ?
So busy planning my lesson on race riots in Newark using docs from that I forgot about !
Lead teacher grades 6-12 Canandaigua NY.
A3) So important to create environment where Ss feel safe to express views and debate/discuss respectfully.
A3: I teach Ss 3 waves of feminism, but we then critique it by considering whose voices are missing: https://t.co/AAKUQY1vU4
A2 Great range. I had a young male student say he would never vote for HRC because countries would think her weak and attack us.
A3. Born a woman in...1860, 1890, 1920, 1950...What does that mean?
awesome! I'll have to get that for mine. They are 2 & 3
A. 4 Eventually get to Sandoval's Differential Mode of Conciousness
she loved it. Started doing her own "research" to find female "heroes" & tell people in her class
Hi Sorry I'm late. I hit some traffic on the way home. Can't complain about the 80 degree weather tho.
I start course with writing prompt: how would your life be different if you had been born the opposite sex? Spend semester examining
For ex., when showing Iron Jawed Angels on women’s suffrage (wave 1) we discuss which women are excluded. https://t.co/qFECy5Gtec
A3: I teach Ss 3 waves of feminism, but we then critique it by considering whose voices are missing: https://t.co/AAKUQY1vU4
A. 3 I use "Mary of the Desert" former prostitute who became a saint to talk about religion, class, and gender in ancient world
That is awesome!!! My daughter's all about fictional female heroes - Hermione, Annabeth Chase, etc. :)
A4 And of course, men have gender too!
I think it is about having access to the resources too- when we know it the history seems so easy to incorporate
My daughter on a Hermione kick right now. Just bought her Hogwarts rob so she could be her for school book day
Forgot it was Monday! Trying to catch up
check out the on and studies tonight
Q4: What lesser-known stories of women in history do you share with your students?
I can't wait until mine are old enough for that. Now I get the "can girls do ___?" Questions. I answer Yes.
A4 Mary Seacole. So inspiring
Yes, denial of racism, too. It is a challenge to confront it in a way that doesn't alienate S's and their P's.
A4) Peggy Shippen Arnold - Benedict's wife. Yes, THAT Benedict. I make Eggs Benedict in class that day.
Some of my favorite history classes in college were but no one should wait till college for exposure.
A3 It can be tough to get through to middle schoolers. Lower SES more likely see traditional roles.
How many people use sex and gender interchangeably? I don't? Is anybody teaching about berdache tradition in Native America?
A4 Women homesteaders/westward migration, women fighting in Civil War, voting on Wyoming before nationally
A4) Sharing article about Soviet female pilots (Night Witches) in WWII later this semester.
A5: Whenever I study any time period I am always amazed to find influential women who have been omitted from most curricula.
A4 I'm sad that I can't think of one!!! This is terrible, help!! 😢😢
A3 Mult perspectives. Bring inquiry Qs to have Ss investigate institutional climates that promote possible or perceived oppression
Elizabeth Cady Stanton is often overlooked.
A4: Mary Chafee Abell. A homesteader in western KS who wrote letters to her family. Heartbreaking.
Q4 sadly not known more but Ida B. Wells is a favorite to share...also Elizabeth Eckford - Little Rock https://t.co/XIvKrPVvMo
A. 4 I'm a huge Catherine Beecher fan. Students are surprised she used to be better known than sister Harriet. And Deborah Sampson
Love talking about Hatshepsut in Egypt and Fu Hao in China.
A4 . Chiming in late! LOVE teaching about black female civil right leaders-- in Boston, Melnea Cass is tops: https://t.co/wrIN1D9oH1
And Daisy Bates who worked with the Little Rock 9.
My goal is to empower those who feel cowed by the dismissive view, not change the view; dignify the quite voices
A5: Recently, I found Mabel Walker Willebrandt’s story a fascinating aspect of ' Prohibition: https://t.co/WHvWTiUW3I
writing new curriculum for women's studies - research topic - comics and pop culture as artifacts of change https://t.co/KwwpNTQ127
A. 4 Of course, the MInkins family for intersectionality. And various slave narratives. .
Ida B. Wells is one of my favorites too
A5) Eleanor Roosevelt is sometimes taught in connect w/ UN but her whole life story is so fascinating.
Male S said Bernie was cool & Hillary is old. Asked him to find their ages and reflect... Girls were amused
I'm with you tonight, . I'm realizing how much more I need to include gender and women's studies in my classes.
What beyond adding voices and stories?
I like to compare Beecher & Susan B. Anthony’s education debates to Booker T. Washington & W.E.B. DuBois’. https://t.co/h9aaWR9CgO
A. 4 I'm a huge Catherine Beecher fan. Students are surprised she used to be better known than sister Harriet. And Deborah Sampson
We talked the other day about the way men and women are remembered differently. Carry A. Nation was crazy and John Brown a hero
a4 In ancient world, there are some medieval plays of early Christian martyrs that are fun. Lives of Saints.
A4 Margaret Knight. I've had some female Ss really like her & research how her inventions helped change/shape society
I like to stress that early suffragists found their voices via abolition movement.
I can and will do better with this! My students deserve to know these women who made history! https://t.co/htL6K25qJh
I'm with you tonight, . I'm realizing how much more I need to include gender and women's studies in my classes.
A4 Hedy Lamar's life as an inventor often surprise those who know her only as a 40s movie star.
Just finished superb biography of Penelope Fitzgerald, winner of Booker Prize. A woman can become a famous writer after age 60!
Q5: What activities do you use in your classroom to celebrate women’s history month?
In India, I use Sita from the Ramayana.
A5) Rosalind Franklin who was instrumental in Watson & Crick's DNA research but didn't share in Nobel Prize. https://t.co/QaXdyvjzaF
and that movement abandoned the women!!!
https://t.co/S2nrfmHHJE - Worcester The site of the first National Woman’s Rights Convention in 1850, and home to Abby Kelley Foster
Have you read Nectar in a Sieve? When I was in NY, knew some Ts who used it for world history.
Wasn't counting Ida B. Wells as lesser known!
A4 The women of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union (ILGWU) were labor history badasses https://t.co/KpsK7vYVe5
A4: So much to discuss with Henrietta Lacks... her story, and immortal life, is gaining traction; thanks to
A5 I really don't set aside for the month - am I wrong? Always a tough question - would rather integrate whole year
Yes! And Barbara McClintock is another often forgotten biologist.
could use some ideas for USHist2.. Vietnam era, any suggestions??
A5 Usually infuse videos, articles, profiles on classes site. Spark online convos.
How would S's react if you gave them a story and removed gender identifiers, discuss, then tell them it is a woman...
That book was really gripping on a few levels. Just read it within the last few months.
A5: I teach at Texas Woman’s University so I always try to place extra emphasis on women’s history & our institution's history! :)
I did a research paper on her in college. Omg! What a woman. Read her autobiography.
RT https://t.co/QIBQEV7SHm DebChad5 And Daisy Bates who worked with the Little Rock 9.
And Daisy Bates who worked with the Little Rock 9.
Great idea! I may try this!
MUST READ: ‘Dark Money’ Uncovers Hidden History of Koch Brothers, Funders of Bill of Rights Institute: https://t.co/M7thHVXTe6
How do you help Ss discover various reasons women have been left out of traditional narrative?
I like the idea of students rewriting a section of the textbk where they include women. Or even rewrite history & recognize
Wish I could stay longer. Love this topic! Have to take daughter to ballet
O'Brien has a feminist in his Vietnam short story collection The Things They Carried
A3 Clips from Jean Kilbourne´s work Killing Me Softly. Great discussion starter on media exploitation https://t.co/eXz7XcBr8E
is it EXTRA emphasis or what it should be?
A5 Every month is women's history month.
a reason I love Coetzee's Disgrace; my S's debate if Melanie is white or black... very different story either way
I use your book, it's great!
There's nothing to suggest she's feminist. "The Sweetheart..." does get at gender essentialism though.
Impt to show Ss how sexism is prevalent not just in history, but today — even in adoption of textbooks/standards.
Lynda Van Devanter's Home Before Morning - may be able to use some excerpts about Vietnam War nurses.
She becomes one with the jungle and is stronger than her bf. Doesn't that imply gender neutral?
Q6: What have your students taught you about , 's history or identity?
So true, . My 11th and 12th gr. students tend to think sexism is no longer an issue.
Love the support in this group, sharing so many great resources!!
A6 Never assume what Ss know and don't know or what their notions of these issue are.
As a modern involved father, I tell my Ss that it is actually the men who are being insulted https://t.co/98MZO04PSh
A6: Ss experiences & interests related to gender offer a rich point of departure for lessons. Impt to integrate their experiences.
A6 Ss formed a club to talk about feminism, etc. They were so empowered it was amazing to hear discussion
I use this https://t.co/LaMAim0Nak to have them synthesize historical and literary texts around gender, class, race
A6 My students tend to be out in front on trans identity issues. I'm still in Butlerian social constructionism.
A6 Did not realize how important until I had 2 daughters. They LOVE learning about "famous" female athletes & historical figures.
A5 I prefer to address gender issues in historical context. Otherwise it sounds like preaching. It should be an everyday thing.
Ravitch's 2014 piece re: Bill of Rights Institute, Koch Brothers' Hidden Role in Civics a MUST READ https://t.co/KrnaiWNqKx
No way. She adapts to her new surroundings and doesn't need to rely on a man for anything.
A6 a student wrote my favorite research paper ever - on how invention of the bicycle improved women's rights - fascinating
Q7:Anyone use 19th cent. activists such as Lucy Stone or Ida Wells as examples of activists from ?
Yes! One of the teacher-led workshops: "where in the world are the women?"
A7: I use Grimkes, Mott, Douglass, Truth as activists
A7 Highlight Susan B Anthony's and other suffragists roles in Abolitionist movement
Hatshepsut never fails to captivate even 6th graders!
Wonder what's in the history teacher journal on women, can't get link from my phone but I may check their too
A7: Helen Keller’s commitment to economic justice could be considered intersectional, no?
Although I have to be careful about her strap-on beard. All of a sudden that's a laugh line .
You want intersecitonal? I give you Bayard freakin Rustin.
Q8: Any suggestions on Wikipedia pages for women that could use editing?
Yes! Link to register on website. This is our 2nd History Teachers' Symposium--mix of scholars and teachers.
A7 interesting topic came up - women who cross dressed to fight as men - just to fight or identity issues as well?
Great student project to edit wiki pages
Great question to introduce presentism into the conversation.
otherwise you start making the Phyllis Schlafly is the real feminist arguments
Ha! Images of her "cross-dressing" are very effective, followed by effort to erase all traces of her image.
Q9: What are your favorite stories to share with your students?
Love Laurel Thatcher Ulrich Goodwives; have students map lives of women in first chapter; illustrate domestic spheres
See the Berdache tradition in Native America. Cross-gender performances while not common, were not unusual either.
Yes DM me with your email and we will add you to our list, I'll send flyer. So glad to have you!
A9: I find Iron Jawed Angels as such a rich (but not complete) entry into suffrage. Students find the film very engaging.
Thanks all for a great tonight on women's history and gender studies!
