So, I am taking a break from lesson planning and watching the Super Bowl where a ton has been made this week about Petyon Manning's use of the word "Omaha" as he changes plays at the line. For the record, when I was coaching football our quarterbacks used the same audible, but there were some interesting stories this week. One about how the city of Omaha was using Manning's audibles in their commercials, and how Omaha steaks was donating money for each time Peyton used the world Omaha. Others- complained about how annoying the word Omaha was and how they were sick of hearing it. At half-time....Peyton's not playing to hot.
So- in honor of the word Omaha, I would like to take a look at two of the words that annoy when teaching social studies. I am going to apologize in advance if I offend anybody (current and former colleagues a like)...or whoever actually reads this thing- I only know of one person that actually does!
Number 1: The use of the word "Chapter." This has bugged for for a long time.....since I was in high school. When you are studying a topic: Greece, Rome, Civil War, Africa, etc a teacher goes "We are studying chapter 6" or 7 or 8 or whatever. I had a teacher in highschool- A student would ask..."what are we studying," or "What will a quiz/test be on" the answer was: "chapter 6" Hey- that's fine in English, if you are studying a book or a piece of literature....study all the chapters you want. I guess....I've never thought of history as "just a book." I had the pleasure of having a Frosh History teacher who did not teach with a History book. To me, this is what history should be: A study of various sources: secondary, primary, video, text, etc. It should also include some historiography, writing, argument development....not just a chapter in a book.
Number 2: The world "Packet." This word made me cringe in high school. A "packet" designed the right way can be quite useful....but what I always received (and came accustomed to see on the copy machine at previous places I've taught) is a collection of worksheets. Just a whole bunch of worksheets. I notice now when ever I hand out a document or something that is more than one page long it becomes a "packet" with that same tone I had in High school.
Anyway- there it is...my two most hated words in the teaching of social studies. Peyton..best of luck...you might need a little more Omaha tonight....I gotta cheer for the Seahawks...just more Badgers than the Broncos have. Go Red!
