Historian on Duty

10/05/2026

Local history is not just dusty artifacts and old dates in a textbook, it is literally the blueprint for how our towns look, grow, and vibe today. 🏛️✨

Ever wonder why your town’s main street is laid out the way it is, or why certain local traditions never die? In my latest blog post, "Why Local History Matters: How the Past Dictates Modern Town Identity," we break down how local history shapes modern community identity, local pride, and future planning. 🗺️🔍

Click the link in bio to read the full post and discover the stories hidden in your own backyard! ⬇️

09/21/2026

Claim: Social studies teachers deserve a gold medal.
Evidence: You explained why "because TikTok said so" is not a valid historical source for the fourth time today.
Reasoning: You are still standing, smiling, and ready to turn those wild hot takes into rock solid arguments. 🏆

If getting students to connect evidence to a claim feels like teaching algebra to a goldfish, my latest post is for you. Learn how to teach the CER framework in history class without losing your mind! 🧠💡

Discover how to teach the CER framework in social studies using low-stakes scaffolding, primary source analysis, and honest classroom strategies that turn passive readers into critical thinkers.

09/07/2026

Restoring historic ruins isn't just about rocks and mortar, it is a total ethical minefield. Are we preserving history for future generations, or are we just creating expensive, glorified historical fan fiction? 🧭✨

We are diving deep into the messy, controversial debate over whether we should rebuild ancient sites or let them crumble with dignity.

Check out the latest post to decide where you stand on the spectrum between historical preservationist and chaos enthusiast 📜

What’s your take? Should a ruin stay a ruin, or do you love a good architectural glow-up? Drop your thoughts below 👇

08/10/2026

Ditch the syllabus read-aloud this year! 📜❌

We have all been there: Day 1 arrives, and the temptation to read through a multi-page syllabus word-for-word is strong. But if we want students excited about history from the minute they walk in, we need to swap the rules checklist for actual historical thinking on day one. 🔍💡

In my latest blog post, I am sharing 5 fun, low-prep first-week history activities that get students collaborating, analyzing sources, and thinking like historians without a boring syllabus review in sight.

Click the link below to check out the ideas and grab some fresh inspiration for your classroom! ⬇️

There is a specific kind of internal exhaustion that hits on the first week of school. You are standing at the front of your classroom with a lukewarm mug of coffee in one hand, staring out at twen…

08/09/2026

It's National Book Lovers Day! 📖❤
How many books have you read this year already?

08/06/2026

On August 6, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law, marking one of the most consequential pieces of civil rights legislation in United States history.

Passed to enforce the 15th Amendment, the Act outlawed discriminatory voting practices—such as literacy tests and poll taxes—that had systematically disenfranchised Black Americans for generations. Its passage was the direct result of tireless grassroots organizing and courageous activism, including the marches from Selma to Montgomery led by figures like John Lewis and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

As historians and educators, reflecting on this anniversary reminds us that access to the ballot box has never been a static guarantee in American history—it is an ongoing story documented through primary sources, legal battles, and civic action. 📜🖋️🗳️

08/05/2026

08/04/2026

I'm just a girl 🎀 Standing in front of historical archives 📖
Asking them to make sense.