Little Salley Walker Pedagogy Tools

These tools are used in a student-centric, cross-curricular, place-based survey from pre-colonial and early United States history and literature up to Modernism/the turn of the century; however, they could be applied to any Literature, History, or Humanities course. I encourage any teacher of the humanities to incorporate these methods into your current curriculum to help create a rigorous, student-driven culture of independent thought in your classroom. These methods are ideal for both brand new teachers looking to find their voice and veteran teachers who are trying to increase rigor or encourage original student thought. 

In the original course (offered in the “Full Curriculum…” Bundle), the study of historical events informs the context of multiple media of artistic expression, and students close-read both primary and secondary sources to create their own argumentative analysis of history. Through student-led Round Table Discussions, individualized research projects, close reading, and analytical writing, students attempt to answer the questions of “what does it mean to be a citizen of the US” shifting from a Euro-centric narrative answer to one that accounts for traditionally marginalized and discriminated voices. This course is chronological and shifts focus between events and literature on the national scale to the local. Using excerpts of texts, students are able to close-read and analyze highly challenging literature and primary documents. Students practice analytical writing, creative writing, close-reading, group discussions, and presentation skills to establish themselves as critical, confident, competent, independent thinkers.