US History; US Government; Psychology

I love to teach for Oak Meadow students and have been teaching World History, US History, US Government and Psychology for 15 years. Each family and each student is unique and the more we get to know one another the deeper the learning process. It is a very enjoyable experience! I am also a Licensed Psychotherapist. I have raised and home schooled two children of my own. Jennifer, my daughter is now 34 and my son John is 35 years old. I encourage each student to use his or her own original approach and gradually developing perspective or overview of each subject. Often doing their own individual research on the internet or in the library, when added to active discussion of current events with parents, can greatly enhance the enjoyment students get from the text reading and the lessons in the courses I teach. These kinds of experiences beyond the text reading can give a unique and very interesting context for the specific text information called for in the lesson questions and actually provide for the student that thread of continuity that promotes greater depth of understanding of whichever subject or historical period that is being studied.

This is also true of government since not only are the actual mechanics of how the government works in this country covered but the philosophy of democracy is available both in the text and through any individual research and home discussion the student provides for him or herself.

Teaching Psychology integrates itself easily with the Social Sciences in that the more we understand ourselves the easier it is to understand history and even many of the principles behind how our government was created. For example one parallel might be between the teenager’s need to gradually gain independence through increasing self-responsibility and the Declaration of Independence written when America separated from Great Britain.

The goal in these courses is not only practical application of specific text information to precise questions, but also to have the freedom to express this information in a context or overview of that particular subject or time period in history with originality including personal opinions. In fact learning how to back up one’s opinions with actual concrete examples from history or in the case of psychology it would be using the principles presented in any particular lesson integrated into one’s personal experience. Using examples from currents events, especially these days, is always interesting.

Another important goal is to make the material one’s own. This process deepens as the student’s connection and rapport with the teacher evolves throughout the year. Each student is free to be as familiar or as formal as they choose with their teacher. The student’s learning style, learning level and desire for personal or impersonal communicating is respected and used in the form the feedback letters take. I am always available for questions.