Denver, CO— The closest many history students get to the subject they’re learning about is their text book. That’s not the case for students at Northridge High School in Greeley. Thanks to their teacher, Kelly Gonzales, they’ve ventured further than a book… or the classroom. Through hands on experiences they’ve learned much, much more about the World Wars, Vietnam, and other historical events.
Mr. Gonzales says the key to teaching history is making past events relevant to today’s students. “As a history teacher you have to find a way to take the past and immediately plug it in to what’s going on now.”
“Mr. Gonzales doesn’t teach by opening a book. He teaches his students by making it real,” explained Donna Hoffman a Greeley resident.
Hoffman met Gonzales a few years ago, during a veterans' tribute organized by the teacher and his students. It was a way for students to connect to the history they’re learning. Every year, the teens have planned and orchestrated the amazing event—which honored more than 1,500 people. Gonzales says all of their hard work paid off. “They learned more by talking to people who had been there than anywhere else… It turned out to be a wonderful thing.”
“As I watched these students were like sponges. They could not soak up enough of the experiences of those Veterans,” Hoffman added.
Please join us in congratulating Kelly Gonzales, the September 2006 recipient of the 9Teachers Who Care award. Gonzales’ story will air on 9NEWS on Thursday September 13th during 9NEWS 6AM and Saturday September 15th during 9NEWS Saturday Morning. It will also be streamed on 9NEWS.com/9TWC.
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