Oral history is a marvelous force for empowering young people with a love of history. But educators today may wonder how they might use it to inspire their students while still teaching the necessary curriculum and meeting standards. In Dialogue with the Past Glenn Whitman addresses these concerns from his own rich experience and that of many other teachers and students. He helps readers understand the background and methodology of oral history, guides them in creating and conducting an oral history project in the classroom, and directly addresses the issue of meeting standards. Peppered with useful tips, examples from students and teachers, and reproducible forms, along with a comprehensive bibliography, this book will be a vital and inspirational tool for anyone working with secondary students. Visit the authors' web page

"Glenn Whitman provided a comprehensive, thorough, and current overview of the field of learning and teaching oral history. . . . The book has become just what the author intended it to be: 'An all-encompassing resource to aid [teachers] in the integration of oral history programs.'" - Noha Newsletter

"Whitman, an experienced teacher, has written a clear, practical, and readable book that lays out why teachers should use oral history and how they might integrate methods into their middle- and secondary-level history classes. Whitman provides a step-by-step guide for readers to implement their own versions of what he terms his American Century Project. . . . This is an excellent, much welcomed resource to help teachers and teacher educators elevate oral history to its rightful place in the center of history pedagogy. Summing up: Highly recommended." - CHOICE

"Teachers hoping to foster students' understanding of how history is shaped and provide a firsthand experience of how historians work will find a comprehensive guidebook in Dialogue with the Past." - National Genealogical Society Quarterly