Teaching World History Through Wayfinding, Art, and Mindfulness - by Amber J Godwin (Paperback)

About the Book

Teaching World History Through Wayfinding, Art, and Mindfulness approaches world history instruction through standards-based arts- and story-telling prompts.

Book Synopsis

Teaching World History Through Wayfinding, Art, and Mindfulness approaches world history instruction through standards-based arts- and story-telling prompts.

Review Quotes

Art has been neglected as a serious element of curriculum in core content classrooms. Art has often been displayed in a vacuum of artist's stylization and is often limited in thought to paintings and sculptures. Dr. Godwin zooms out and makes art part of the larger picture of history - how all art forms are reflections of their existing climate and the message it displays. As a historian and former secondary social studies teacher, I highly recommend this book for any educator looking to expand the lens in which we teach within the social studies classroom.

Dr. Godwin's approach to mindfulness in the context of analyzing history is highly applicable to modern students. Through this framework, students better understand their own emotions while deepening their knowledge and analysis of historical events.

In her masterclass of inquiry-based instruction, Dr. Godwin examines artistic expressions from different time periods and cultures. She encourages students to critically think and explore how societies were designed and power structures solidified. One notable aspect of Dr. Godwin's concise yet impactful prose is her ability to distill complex socio-cultural histories into easily digestible and thought-provoking historical analyses. Her style allows for a wide range of readers to engage with her ideas.

Overall, Dr. Godwin's mindfulness approach and inquiry-based instruction provide students with a transformative learning experience. By cultivating emotional and cognitive awareness, developing critical thinking skills, and leveraging art as a window into history, her work offers a unique and valuable perspective that encourages students to engage deeply with the subject matter.

Godwin uses storytelling strategies, mindfulness questions, and artwork to explore various periods of world history. Each chapter includes guiding questions to focus study and promote deeper understanding; a table that asks students to record what they already know about the period; activities that expand understanding and encourage students to reflect on what they know; and mindfulness-based practices that guide study and promote further reflection. The paired artwork emphasizes trends happening around the world and supports the storytelling strategy. This text may be good for preservice teachers entering the classroom but is probably trained more on practicing teachers who may need a new way to approach their teaching. [The] overall ideas should appeal to history teachers, both novice and veteran. Recommended. Advanced undergraduates and professionals.

I constantly look for the ways in which people and places are connected, so I was excited to read Teaching World History Through Wayfinding, Art, and Mindfulness! Dr. Amber Godwin, in her text, expertly uses art, "I" statements, and global economics to situate Social Studies students within the context of world history. Dr. Godwin demonstrates exactly how one incident, one culture, or one individual connects to another. The mindfulness strategies encourage students to engage with the material on a personal level - a goal for every Social Studies classroom!

About the Author

Amber J. Godwin is an assistant professor at the College of Education at Sam Houston State University. Her research aims to develop critical thinking experiences for learners and explore interventions that enhance Social Studies education. Prior to entering higher education, she taught AP World History and served as an essay scorer for AP College Board.