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moseslh's review against another edition
4.0
This book is very much geared towards US History teachers, which worked for me, but if you teach a different history course it may be less directly relevant. Nearly all the content referenced is US History prior to the World Wars.
While there were some little things in Teaching What Really Happened that seemed a bit dated (the field of history education and technology have both changed since its publication), I loved the book overall. Next year I will be teaching US History for the first time and Loewen gave me lots of ideas, both about how to frame my course and about specific ways to present material. He is very articulate about not only the importance of teaching history, but of teaching it right, in a way that empowers students to become informed/engaged/critically-thinking citizens. I would strongly recommend this book to US history teachers.
While there were some little things in Teaching What Really Happened that seemed a bit dated (the field of history education and technology have both changed since its publication), I loved the book overall. Next year I will be teaching US History for the first time and Loewen gave me lots of ideas, both about how to frame my course and about specific ways to present material. He is very articulate about not only the importance of teaching history, but of teaching it right, in a way that empowers students to become informed/engaged/critically-thinking citizens. I would strongly recommend this book to US history teachers.
saralynnburnett's review against another edition
4.0
Great for history teachers to read and just another reason why American history textbooks push a myth instead of reality.
kbellows27's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars! Very informative- second half is really excellent.
katrinabahl's review against another edition
4.0
"Again, history textbooks—and courses centered on “learning” history textbooks—downplay critical thinking. Almost never does a textbook suggest more than one possible answer and invite students to assess evidence for each. Instead, they tell the right answers, over and over, in their sleep-inducing godlike monotone."
I will admit that I didn't get through the whole book before my copy was returned to the library, but I plan on purchasing this as well as his first book, Lies My Teacher Told Me.
I am no longer in the teaching profession, but education is incredibly important to me. As a parent I'm taking these things on myself rather than relying on our small town education system (which I love). My goal is for my boys to think critically and this book helps with that perspective.
I will admit that I didn't get through the whole book before my copy was returned to the library, but I plan on purchasing this as well as his first book, Lies My Teacher Told Me.
I am no longer in the teaching profession, but education is incredibly important to me. As a parent I'm taking these things on myself rather than relying on our small town education system (which I love). My goal is for my boys to think critically and this book helps with that perspective.
heregrim's review against another edition
5.0
Great explanations and great classroom conversations to be had and teaching ideas to be used on some of the toughest topics I teach to middle schoolers. His idea for the 30-50 main ideas I feel needs to be taught has clarified the "what" I teach during the year as there never seems to be enough time. Great book, strongly recommended.
francescaalexis's review against another edition
4.0
Like his previous work, Lies My Teacher Told Me, this is a wonderfully uncompromising look at how history is and should be taught. However, it's almost entirely focused on the US context. I wish there was a version for Canadian teachers.
dbaker's review against another edition
3.0
The first few chapters were really good, but the rest overlapped a whole lot with Lies My Teacher Told Me. Wish the two books had gotten integrated as one.
Not really many tips on how to teach - just presentation of some of the problems a topic is usually taught, and recommendation that the kids research various topics.
Not really many tips on how to teach - just presentation of some of the problems a topic is usually taught, and recommendation that the kids research various topics.
saralynnburnett's review
4.0
Great for history teachers to read and just another reason why American history textbooks push a myth instead of reality.
nerdybirdy101's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Overall, I think this was a solid four-star book for various reasons. I still find the flaw that Loewen mentions in his other work too many times because it took away from the point of this book. I also have issues with his stereotyping of teachers as women and always using the pronouns ‘her’ for a teacher. Teachers can be of any gender and using the pronoun ‘they’ would have been more inclusive. While Loewen has an understanding of racial discrimination, he needs education on gender discrimination. I do see this book particularly useful for US history teachers, but it would be nice to have tips for World History teachers as well (yes I am aware this was written targeted towards the US History curriculum but why does US History matter more than World History, shouldn’t they both get equal frameworks and tips for improvement).
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