This class is hosted on Outschool, with availability at the following times:

• Mondays and Wednesdays at 4:30pm Eastern, starting on August 26
• Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1:00pm Eastern, starting on August 27
• Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30pm Eastern, starting on August 27

Fulfill your US history credit and dive into historical analysis with a look at the history of the United States through the questions and themes that emerge time and time again. 

What is Thematic History?

US History is often taught as a series of events connected by arbitrarily created time periods. While this aids memorization of facts, it does not give students the chance to see history in its bigger context. Learning about history thematically allows students to see how a concept or problem (or solution) develops over time, and how different groups of people manage similar issues. Students can see their own life, and their own society, in the context of the scope of the history. Thematic history also allows current events to be part of the conversation, which helps them apply their historic knowledge to what is going on around them. Thematic history gives students the opportunity to practice critical thinking and drawing conclusions, often around issues presented from multiple viewpoints.

Students will be provided with weekly assignments (reading, watching, listening, non-graded writing) to do in advance of class meetings. They can expect 1-3 hours of work each week. This work will inform class discussions and projects and is necessary for a student to get the most out of the experience. In class, students will take part in lectures, discussions, and projects intended to apply the information they took in before class. Students will receive feedback on their work regularly, and can be provided with grades if needed.

The themes/questions for part 1 of the class include the following:

• Who has the power in the US? Is it the state governments or the federal governments? How do we know? How has the interpretation of power changed over time?
• What role should the US play in the world? Our Constitution says very little about foreign policy or foreign affairs so how has our role in the world changed over time, and why?
• What does it mean to be an American citizen? Is it about what you do? Is it about what you believe? Is it about how you look or where you are born? Does it come with expectations or priviledges? How has our answer to these questions changed over time, and why?

What parents and students are saying:

  - "My sons ages 15 and 17 both loved this class. Mrs. Kennedy is a master at running discussions and getting her students to contribute. She would send wonderful supplementary material every week to accompany the lesson. Mrs. Kennedy nurtured a love of history in both of my kids. We wish would would have found her sooner. Absolutely recommend."

  - "My daughter was dreading having to take US Hist, and then we found this class, and suddenly US Hist is her favorite subject! Darby Kennedy has been an amazing, inspiring, WONDERFUL teacher/guide getting teens to engage and think critically and make connections..."

  - My teen wasn't thrilled about taking history but she really enjoyed Darby's class.  My teen said Darby was engaging, asked great questions and engaged the kids to participate.  I appreciated the outlines sent ahead of class along with detailed list of what needed to be done prior to class."

I completed 70 class hours of training, under the direction of The Orton-Gillingham Academy of Practitioners and Educators in order to provide specialized instruction to my own children.

Additionally, I completed professional education units through the Georgia Educational Training Agency including the following:

• Early Literacy: Phonological / Phonemic Awareness
• Focus on Phonics: Decoding and Encoding
• Learning Disabilities that Interfere with Reading and Written Expression
• Understanding Dyslexia

I am the primary homeschooling parent to two twice-exceptional students (one who is now in college) and have experience modifying curriculum. Additionally, I have worked in-person with students with ADHD, Auditory Processing Disorder, and Autism.