In W.H Auden’s words, “simply put, history is the study of questions.” However, the effective use of the Socratic approach requires craft, creativity and ingenuity to create a classroom structures where students own their own education and pursue inquiry-based learning. I strive to inspire students to develop an understanding of the complexities of a historical situation and to debate the issues surrounding an event.
In my 26 years of teaching world history, geography and international literature, I have taught in South Africa, India, Iraq, Chicago, and Seattle since 2001. Over the years, I have moved away from textbooks as the major resource for learning. I now include primary documents, classics books, and post-colonial theorists whose ideas can be debated to stimulate student involvement and create a dynamic classroom.
I have tried to make my classroom as a place that builds energy and enthusiasm. Scanning the room, you would see colorful maps and carpets of the Middle East adorning the walls, Islamic, Jewish and Christian prayer hats and beads, laminated currency from Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and pictures and essays of student work. During the first week of school, students remove their shoes at the door, and we sit on my Kurdish carpets, drink tea and eat flat bread. I share with them lessons in Mediterranean hospitality as I relate stories of Bedouin life in Jordan and of Syriac Orthodox monasteries near Mt. Ararat. My passion for teaching about this region of the world is to help my students gain an accurate picture of the diversity of the Middle East and challenge student’s misconceptions of this rich history.
In my teaching tenure, my desire to learn about the “other” has led me to more than 60 countries. To be an effective social studies teacher, I believe in the use of an interdisciplinary approach that combines History, English and Religion. I believe that a teacher who is both passionate and knowledgeable about the ideas and concept can best guide students to become better writers, thinkers and ultimately more concerned citizens. This is what I bring to the classroom!
Will complete my Ed.D course work at Seattle Pacific University’s graduate school during the summer of 2020– allowing me to enrich my story-telling ability and enhance my skills as an educator.
Shapiro, Stephanie
(She/Her) Teacher - 7th Grade English Language Arts/ELA
