History Workshop: Reconstructing the Past with Elementary Students

History Workshop is the first book to describe a process approach to history teaching that builds on children's natural curiosity about the past. Karen Jorgensen bases her work on the sociolinguistic premise that history learning is a language-thinking process in which children create historical meaning as they interact with others. In her book, she describes how children understand history and how she adapts the writing workshop approach to create a studio environment that encourages students to discover and rethink theories as they talk, read, write, and draw.

History Workshop is filled with insights about how children develop historical literacy and how teachers can support this process in the classroom.

KAREN JORGENSEN has taught reading and writing at the elementary and middle school levels for the past fifteen years. Karen is the author of History Workshop: Reconstructing the Past with Elementary Students and The Whole Story: Crafting Fiction in the Upper Elementary Grades, both published by Heinemann. Recently retired, she writes, offers online courses, and conducts institutes and workshops for teachers.