Teaching History: Why it Matters – Linda Lacour Hobar (Homeschooling Every Subject)
“Without teaching history from a biblical worldview, you're truly not teaching history as a whole. History supports a biblical worldview and gives us evidence of its truth.” ~ Linda Lacour Hobar
Join Yvette Hampton and Linda Lacour Hobar on the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast as they explore the vital role of history in homeschooling. In this enlightening episode of our Homeschooling Every Subject series, Linda, author of The Mystery of History, sheds light on why understanding the past is crucial for our children's education and offers practical insights into integrating history into your homeschooling curriculum. Discover how history reveals the fallen nature of mankind, informs our voting decisions, and is an essential part of high school education.
Linda unpacks creative and effective methods to teach history that will keep your kids engaged and excited. Learn to leverage stories, literature, activities, and timelines to make history meaningful and fun. Ideal for all homeschooling parents eager to enrich their teaching toolkit.
Topics Covered:
• The significance of teaching history in homeschooling
• Understanding the fallen nature of mankind through historical events
• How historical knowledge shapes informed voting
• High school history credit requirements and recommendations
Recommended Resources:
Stream Schoolhouse Rocked: The Homeschool Revolution for FREE Tonight!
Get your FREE Homeschool Survival Kit!
Podcast Recommendations:
Homeschooling Every Subject Series
Homeschooling Through the Years Series (Preschool to Graduation and Beyond)
Schoolhouse Rocked Series and Topic Directory
The Good, Bad, and Ugly of Homeschooling, Linda Lacour Hobar, Part 1
Thriving Through the Ugly: Homeschooling Through Difficult Times, Linda Lacour Hobar, Pt. 3
Discussion Questions:
The Nature of Man: Linda mentions that studying history helps reveal the fallen nature of mankind. Can you provide examples from history that illustrate this idea?
Understanding Importance: Why does Yvette emphasize the importance of starting history education with a Biblical perspective, beginning with Genesis?
Marxism and History: How does understanding the history of Marxism and communism help inform current political beliefs and voting practices?
Comparing Figures: Linda mentions that even historical heroes like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had flaws. Why is it important to study both the positive and negative aspects of historical figures?
Current Relevance: In what ways do historical narratives about figures like Hugo Chavez and events in Venezuela provide a contemporary warning against certain political ideologies?
Education Approach: Discuss the differences between how history might be taught in public school versus a homeschool setting that starts with a Biblical viewpoint. How might these differences impact a student’s understanding of history?
History and Utopian Promises: Why do you think Karl Marx's promise of a utopian society through communism continues to attract new believers despite historical evidence to the contrary?
Economic Systems: How does Linda differentiate between socialism and communism? Why is this distinction important for students to understand?
Curriculum Scope: Discuss Linda's preferred high school history curriculum sequence. Why does she advocate for teaching the Renaissance and Reformation before American history?
Personal Connections: Yvette mentioned she didn't appreciate history in school. What can educators do to make history more engaging and relevant for students who might find it boring or disconnected from their lives?
Time Period Focus: Linda mentions the importance of teaching history by time periods. How might this approach change the way students perceive historical events?
Event-Driven vs. People-Centered: Linda argues that teaching history by focusing on people rather than events can make it more engaging. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
Historical Context: How does placing historical events and figures within specific time periods enhance a student's understanding of history?
Biblical Perspective: Linda incorporates Biblical history and Christian perspectives into her books and teaching. How do you think this affects students' understanding of world events?
Learning Through Stories: Linda shares a story about Cleopatra and how it ties into the birth of Christ. How can teaching through storytelling make history more memorable?
Inspirational Figures: Discuss a historical figure you admire. How did learning about their life impact your understanding of their time period and inspire you personally?
Cause and Effect: What are some key cause-and-effect relationships in history that you find particularly interesting or important?
Historical Relevance: How can understanding historical figures' motivations and actions help us navigate current social and political issues?
Personal Connections: Linda mentioned her personal connection with John and Abigail Adams' letters. Have you ever felt particularly connected to a historical figure or event? How did that shape your learning experience?
Educational Methods: What are some effective methods you've experienced or employed in teaching history that align with Linda's emphasis on people and storytelling?
Understanding the Role of Stories: Linda Hobar emphasizes the importance of stories in teaching history. How do stories enhance the learning experience, especially for children of different age groups?
Expanding History with Geography: Why does Linda suggest using atlases and globes to expand historical learning? How can visual aids like these help students better understand historical events?
Activities for Retaining History: What are some activities that Linda recommends for helping students retain historical information? Which of these activities do you think would be most effective and why?
Literature's Role in History Education: Linda mentions the importance of both nonfiction and historical fiction literature. How can these types of literature complement each other when teaching history?
Timelines as a Learning Tool: Discuss the significance of using timelines in history education. How do timelines help students make connections between different historical events?
Adapting History Lessons for Different Learners: Linda talks about picking and choosing tools that fit a child's personality. How can parents and educators identify the best methods for their children or students?
Interactive Learning: How can interactive activities like skits or plays make history more engaging for children? Share any personal experiences you have with such activities.
Challenges of Teaching History: Yvette mentions that history can seem daunting to teach. What are some common challenges parents and educators face when teaching history, and how can they overcome them?
Linda's Personal Journey with History: Linda was not passionate about history as a child but grew to love it. What does her experience teach us about the potential for students to develop a love for subjects they might initially find uninteresting?
Audiobooks and Modern Learning Tools: How can audiobooks and other modern learning tools be integrated into the homeschool curriculum to enhance history education? What are the pros and cons of using these tools compared to traditional reading?
Sponsors:
Apologia is a Christ-centered, award-winning homeschool curriculum provider. Our mission is to help homeschooling students and families learn, live, and defend the Christian faith through our print and digital curriculum and online classes.
BJU Press Homeschool is dedicated to providing homeschool families with academically strong curriculum rooted in a biblical worldview. They offer a complete curriculum from preschool through 12th grade, available in both traditional textbooks and video courses. By teaching through the lens of Christ’s power, they help students view the world through the transformative story of God’s creation
CTCMath specializes in providing online video tutorials that take a multi-sensory approach to learning. Creative graphics and animation, synchronized with the friendly voice of internationally acclaimed teacher, Pat Murray, make learning math easy and effective. Start your free trial today.
The Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast is a member of the Biblical Family Network. Our mission is to support and encourage the family by providing the very best podcasts on family, discipleship, marriage, parenting, worldview, culture, and education, all from a Biblical perspective. Visit the website for more great shows, like the Thinking Dad, Culture Proof, Homeschool Insights, and Made2Homeschool.
