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."
He often accomplishes that by bridging the gap during lectures. For instance, in a lesson about World War II, Gonzales was able to show students how Adolf Hitler was able to convince people to do things they wouldn't normally do. He told the students that they were being forced to take a test, to show them how they'd react when in a desperate situation.
Gonzales however is best known for encouraging kids to learn outside the classroom. "Mr. Gonzales doesn't teach by opening a book. He teaches his students by making it real," explained Donna Hoffman a Greeley resident who came a tribute for veterans at Northridge.
Gonzales' came up with the idea, as a way to connect students 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.
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