Social studies teacher wants kids to think like historians

Grant Montgomery has spent 10 years teaching social studies to eighth-graders in St. Charles School District 303. He is in his first year teaching at Thompson Middle School after spending nine years at Haines Middle School.

His background includes a bachelor's degree in elementary education from North Central College and a master's degree in educational leadership from Concordia University.

He lives in St. Charles with his wife Samantha and a "very spoiled" Shih Tzu/poodle mix named Bentley.

The Daily Herald caught up with Montgomery to learn more about him and his teaching style.

Q. Why did you decide to get into teaching?

A. Throughout my years as a student, I had some really great teachers that made a positive impact on me. I am still in contact with some of my teachers. I knew that I wanted a job in which I could make a difference and have a positive impact on someone's life. As a student, I was interested in history, and I knew I wanted to share my enthusiasm and passion with my future students.

Q. Do you teach anything other than social studies?

A. This year, in addition to social studies, I also teach Exploring Entrepreneurship. During this class, we discuss how today's economy is a global economy. One of the aspects we look at is how current events impact our world from an economic standpoint. I have really enjoyed this class and I hope to continue teaching it in the future.

Q. What sort of subjects do your students study in social studies? What's your favorite unit to teach?

A. During the first quarter, we study the Constitution and government. We then focus on the immigration wave of 1880, the Industrial Revolution, the Progressive Era, World War I, the Roaring 20s, the Great Depression, World War II, the Holocaust, the Cold War, and the Civil Rights Movement.

I really enjoy World War II to the present. They relate most to the events of the World War II, the Cold War and the Civil Rights movement. Students will come to class and share stories about what their parents or grandparents experienced living during this time. These anecdotes really make the student learning authentic.

Q. Tell us about your teaching style and how you keep students engaged and interested.

A. My teaching style involves building relationships and interacting with the students. We do a lot of group work and collaboration. My goal is for the students to think like historians.

As a result, students work in groups to sift through primary and secondary documents. They discuss the relationships between these documents and the events that were happening in the world during a specific time.

The teaching of social studies has evolved significantly over the years. In the past, social studies was the memorization of dates, facts and names. Today, students and adults can search on their phone for dates, facts and names and find the answer within seconds. We have transitioned to focusing on the "why" and the "how" of the events that have shaped history.

Instead of memorizing the start date of World War II and the countries involved, we spend more time analyzing questions like "How did the Treaty of Versailles lead to the cause of World War II?" or "Why were Jewish people the scapegoat of Germany's problems leading up to World War II?"

Q. How have new initiatives like Common Core and the use of technology changed the way you teach this subject?

A. When I started teaching in 2008, my "technology" consisted of an overhead projector and a chalkboard. Students would hand write class notes in a notebook. We did have a cart of laptops that we could bring in to our room as needed. There was one cart of laptops for about 10 classrooms to share.

Ten years later, we have one-to-one technology. Every student has a Chromebook, and almost all assignments and notes are submitted electronically through Google Classroom or a similar site.

To say we have come a long way would be an understatement. One-to-one technology has enabled students to access information much more quickly. If a student has a driving question, they can instantly research the topic instead of waiting until they get home.

In addition, there are programs that will read text to students as they follow along. This has led to better comprehension of material. Our students are able to collaborate much easier with the use of Google Docs and they produce high quality presentations and videos to show mastery of their learning.

The implementation of the Common Core standards has changed the way we teach social studies. We now have a larger focus on reading and writing. As a district, we have increased the amount of evidence-based writing within the social studies curriculum. Part of the Constitution Test requires students to respond to scenario-based questions by citing a specific amendment or article and section from the U.S. Constitution.

Q. How do you unwind when you're not in the classroom?

A. Outside of the classroom, I am involved in a number of activities at Thompson Middle School. I serve as a team leader, cross-country coach, and student council adviser. I also lead the eighth-grade trip to Washington, D.C.

Outside of school, I enjoy playing golf and traveling with my wife. Some of our favorite destinations have included Huatulco and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; New York City, Sedona, Arizona; and Naples, Florida.