‘How to Read Like a Historian’ - Strategies to Improve Reading in the History Classroom (PP)

The act of reading is extremely complex but because it is processed by our brains in a millisecond, we sometimes take it for granted as a simple act. Reading fluency is foundational for successful teaching across all subjects. However, ‘reading like a historian’ poses significant problems for our students. When reading historically informative text, we must consider what vocabulary and background knowledge a students will need to access the text. Additionally, students need to be able to apply an analytical perspective to the text.

This webinar will provide teachers with practical strategies to help students understand a wide range of historical texts with technical vocabulary & high density of facts by guiding them to identify patterns & structures of the text. Additionally, Lee will share multiple templates of guided readings to be used in both JC and LC classrooms with explicit exemplars of each completed by students.

Bio of Presenter: Lee O'Donnell

Lee O’Donnell is a teacher of Geography & History at Woodbrook College in Wicklow. Geography/History Methodology Lecturer at University College Dublin. LC History content creator for Exam Revision. Host of the Leaving Certificate revision podcast ‘Skin in the Game’.