A Passion for the Past: Creative Teaching of U.S. History [Paperback]

James A. Percoco (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0325000611 | ISBN-13: 978-0325000619 | Publication Date: November 6, 1998

James Percoco challenges you to venture beyond your history textbook and provide students with opportunities to experience history firsthand. He demonstrates how, using applied history, you can bring to life the people, places, and events of our nation's history, inspiring in your students a passion for the past.

Join Percoco and his students as they embark on what he calls "academic adventures." Taking advantage of the many resources in their surrounding community and beyond, Percoco's students travel to historic sites and exhibits, examine archives and other primary source documents, analyze movies and documentaries, conduct interviews, create sculptures, and much more. Throughout the book, Percoco lists numerous sources for historical information and documents, as well as practical suggestions for cultivating contacts and managing logistics.

As a result of the tangible experiences applied history offers, students come to appreciate the relevance of the past to their present and their future. As they work to make sense of the past, they will learn to question their assumptions, to think critically, and ultimately to develop their own personal yet valid understanding of our nation's history.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The real secret of the Percoco classroom magic is that unbeatable combination of a love of teaching and an all-out love of his subject.”–David McCullough

About the Author

James Percoco teaches United States and applied history at West Springfield High School in Springfield, Virginia. The recipient of numerous education awards, Percoco was named Outstanding Social Studies Teacher of the Year at the 1993 Walt Disney Company American Teacher Awards. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Council for History Education and has been an educational consultant to the National Archives, the National Gallery of Art, the National Park Service, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Heinemann (November 6, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0325000611
• ISBN-13: 978-0325000619
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #315,206 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A New Birth of Freedom, July 9, 2001

By 

Glenn Whitman (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Passion for the Past: Creative Teaching of U.S. History (Paperback)

Social Studies teacher James Percoco's book provides, in the words of Abraham Lincoln, "a new birth of freedom" for teachers, students and parents interested in reinvigorating the study of the past. I came across Percoco's book while reading an inspiring review in "The History Teacher" and no sooner than the following week did I find myself implementing many of the ideas that he created for his Applied History class. In each of the book's eight chapters readers are reassured that the study of the past does not have to be limited to overblown textbooks in lecture-oriented classes. In fact, Percoco, despite the challenges of national and state standards of learning, has created more authentic and therefore more enduring opportunities for each of his students to actively participate in the study of the past rather than reading about voiceless men and women in twenty pound textbooks. Whether it is creating historical bumper stickers, field trips to Andersonville, historical heads, or historically relevant monuments out of clay, readers of this book will immediately seek out ways to apply some of the same ideas to their own teaching style and schools. The book will also inspire readers to the fact that when the study of the past becomes meaningful to the students it also becomes fun. The book concludes with an in-depth appendix providing valuable resources for those topics Percoco addressed throughout the book. This is the first of two books (the other "Divided We Stand: Teaching About Conflict in U.S. History") by Percoco that should inspire in each reader a vision of how history can be taught to all types of students as long as it is taught with passion and meaning.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A how-to-guide for new teachers!, May 11, 2001

By 

Jennifer Shearin (Arlington, Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Passion for the Past: Creative Teaching of U.S. History (Paperback)

Percoco's book should be a required read for anyone preparing to enter the world of teaching history. As a former student of Jim Percoco at West Springfield, I can say that he honestly lives and teaches by the words that appear in his book. Now a U.S. History teacher myself (inspired by the Percoco classroom), I have used many of his ideas in my own classroom. His strategies are engaging, and the results are astounding. My students have developed a much deeper understanding of history by active and creative learning as prescribed by Percoco in his book. A Passion for the Past shows new teachers how to NOT bore your students of U.S. History. I can't wait for his next book!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blood, Sweat and Tears, August 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Passion for the Past: Creative Teaching of U.S. History (Paperback)

Being a history teacher myself for the past 15 years I was very impressed with Mr. Percocco's enthusiasm and creativity. However, I suspect his sucess is due as much to hard work and dedication as it is innovation. For example, he takes a group of students from his home on an extended field trip to Georgia to visit the Andersonville prison site, lines up expert speakers, does extensive research on the topic beforehand, organizes and monitors apprenticeships for his students, etc. I'll bet Mr. Percocco invests at least 60 hours a week on his job (not to mention his summers). Again, I applaud Mr. Percocco, but if you are a history teacher looking for quick and easy ideas be forewarned, while the ideas are great they will require a lot of effort on your part. In any case, get the book and learn from a master.