Lightning Jay
@lightningjay.bsky.social
Getting smarter about teaching and history at Binghamton University, SUNY.
New Article! What do high school students learn about rightwing history? Not very much. www.tandfonline.com/eprint/C7MT4...
The modern political right in United States history standards
The last decade has seen a global rise in the power of the political Right. In some countries, that has meant a shift towards centre-right traditional conservativism. In others, more radical rightw...
www.tandfonline.com
September 2, 2025 at 11:30 AM
New Article! What do high school students learn about rightwing history? Not very much. www.tandfonline.com/eprint/C7MT4...
Reposted by Lightning Jay
Good thinkers having good discussions. As we gear up for another year in the classroom, how can we make our classrooms hubs of rich discussion? #sschat #cdnhistory #historyeducation #historicalthinking #bced
New podcast!!! You can listen to @abbyreisman.bsky.social and I discuss the importance of discussions in the social studies classroom! It get meta!! visionsofed.com/2025/07/21/e...
Episode 216: Observing Classroom Discussions with Lightning Jay & Abby Reisman
In episode 216, Dan and Michael chat with Lightning Jay and Abby Reisman about their article published in Theory & Research in Social Education, “The social studies discourse instrument: Valida…
visionsofed.com
August 27, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Good thinkers having good discussions. As we gear up for another year in the classroom, how can we make our classrooms hubs of rich discussion? #sschat #cdnhistory #historyeducation #historicalthinking #bced
Should Project 2025 be required reading for high schoolers? In our new article, @abigailrd.bsky.social and I explore two ways for teachers to bring challenging texts into the classroom. www.socialstudies.org/social-educa...
Social Education September 2025
www.socialstudies.org
August 26, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Should Project 2025 be required reading for high schoolers? In our new article, @abigailrd.bsky.social and I explore two ways for teachers to bring challenging texts into the classroom. www.socialstudies.org/social-educa...
Reposted by Lightning Jay
Even as oppression descends, a democratic education campaign can uplift.
Blue states should make democracy the prevailing theme of the upcoming school year. Not just civics/social studies classes, but democracy-reinforcing lessons & experiences integrated throughout the curriculum.
Boldly educate through the crisis, don't leave children in despair, teach a better way.
Boldly educate through the crisis, don't leave children in despair, teach a better way.
August 24, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Even as oppression descends, a democratic education campaign can uplift.
New podcast!!! You can listen to @abbyreisman.bsky.social and I discuss the importance of discussions in the social studies classroom! It get meta!! visionsofed.com/2025/07/21/e...
Episode 216: Observing Classroom Discussions with Lightning Jay & Abby Reisman
In episode 216, Dan and Michael chat with Lightning Jay and Abby Reisman about their article published in Theory & Research in Social Education, “The social studies discourse instrument: Valida…
visionsofed.com
July 22, 2025 at 5:10 PM
New podcast!!! You can listen to @abbyreisman.bsky.social and I discuss the importance of discussions in the social studies classroom! It get meta!! visionsofed.com/2025/07/21/e...
New paper! Real Talk: Designing Practice-Based Teacher Education for Family Communication www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15...
www.mdpi.com
June 26, 2025 at 1:12 PM
New paper! Real Talk: Designing Practice-Based Teacher Education for Family Communication www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15...
#AERA is such an intense conference. I always come back with so many ideas. This year, I'm also coming back with an award! So grateful to the Social Studies SIG and my co-authors for the Outstanding Paper recognition.
April 30, 2025 at 1:50 PM
#AERA is such an intense conference. I always come back with so many ideas. This year, I'm also coming back with an award! So grateful to the Social Studies SIG and my co-authors for the Outstanding Paper recognition.
Reposted by Lightning Jay
School people, bad news from SCOTUS.
This case is a big deal. Yes, LGBTQ rights, but much more:
It threatens basic school functions:
1.) Children's right to get the best knowledge;
2.) Schools' ability to do basic administration.
Here's an explainer thread: (1/)
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/u...
This case is a big deal. Yes, LGBTQ rights, but much more:
It threatens basic school functions:
1.) Children's right to get the best knowledge;
2.) Schools' ability to do basic administration.
Here's an explainer thread: (1/)
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/u...
Supreme Court Seems Set to Allow Opt-Outs From L.G.B.T.Q. Stories in Schools (Gift Article)
In a lively and sometimes heated argument, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority appeared poised to rule for parents with religious objections to storybooks with gay and transgender characters.
www.nytimes.com
April 23, 2025 at 12:06 PM
School people, bad news from SCOTUS.
This case is a big deal. Yes, LGBTQ rights, but much more:
It threatens basic school functions:
1.) Children's right to get the best knowledge;
2.) Schools' ability to do basic administration.
Here's an explainer thread: (1/)
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/u...
This case is a big deal. Yes, LGBTQ rights, but much more:
It threatens basic school functions:
1.) Children's right to get the best knowledge;
2.) Schools' ability to do basic administration.
Here's an explainer thread: (1/)
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/u...
Some great news!
The Outstanding Paper Award goes to @lightningjay.bsky.social, @abbyreisman.bsky.social, Timothy Patterson, @wendychanw.bsky.social, and Jenni Conrad for their paper "The Social Studies Discourse Instrument: Validating an Observation Tool for Classroom Discussion." 2/5
April 10, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Some great news!
Reposted by Lightning Jay
HERJ has a #CallForPapers on Shifting Practices in #HistoryEducation in Africa: Critical Perspectives and New Directions.
For more information, including how to contribute, read the full call here:
journals.uclpress.co.uk/herj/news/25/
Articles will publish #OpenAccess and without APC
For more information, including how to contribute, read the full call here:
journals.uclpress.co.uk/herj/news/25/
Articles will publish #OpenAccess and without APC
March 21, 2025 at 11:24 AM
HERJ has a #CallForPapers on Shifting Practices in #HistoryEducation in Africa: Critical Perspectives and New Directions.
For more information, including how to contribute, read the full call here:
journals.uclpress.co.uk/herj/news/25/
Articles will publish #OpenAccess and without APC
For more information, including how to contribute, read the full call here:
journals.uclpress.co.uk/herj/news/25/
Articles will publish #OpenAccess and without APC
Reposted by Lightning Jay
A little louder for the people in the back! Sourcing, close reading, and questioning without robust historical knowledge is unlikely to generate robust demonstrations of historical thinking. @lightningjay.bsky.social directing us appropriately towards "skills, practice, AND knowledge".
New Article! Better thinking about online information requires skills, practice, AND knowledge. I make the case that this new crisis highlights just how badly we need great history classes.
theconversation.com/why-history-...
theconversation.com/why-history-...
Why history instruction is critical for combating online misinformation
Critical thinking involves specific skills for assessing evidence, but background knowledge about the subject is also essential.
theconversation.com
March 20, 2025 at 9:26 PM
A little louder for the people in the back! Sourcing, close reading, and questioning without robust historical knowledge is unlikely to generate robust demonstrations of historical thinking. @lightningjay.bsky.social directing us appropriately towards "skills, practice, AND knowledge".
So smart of my alma mater to comply in advance with all the administration's demands. Can you just imagine what kind of capricious attacks on Penn's funding might have happened otherwise?
whyy.org/articles/pen...
whyy.org/articles/pen...
Trump administration freezes $175M in funding to Penn over trans athlete policies
“This is immediate proactive action to review discretionary funding streams” to the University of Pennsylvania, a senior White House official told WHYY News.
whyy.org
March 20, 2025 at 3:13 PM
So smart of my alma mater to comply in advance with all the administration's demands. Can you just imagine what kind of capricious attacks on Penn's funding might have happened otherwise?
whyy.org/articles/pen...
whyy.org/articles/pen...
Fun detail about writing in 2025. This article came out yesterday. The same day, I saw an AI slop version of my writing on a different website. An obvious "rewrite this article in worse language" prompt. Same pictures and everything.
theconversation.com/why-history-...
theconversation.com/why-history-...
Why history instruction is critical for combating online misinformation
Critical thinking involves specific skills for assessing evidence, but background knowledge about the subject is also essential.
theconversation.com
March 20, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Fun detail about writing in 2025. This article came out yesterday. The same day, I saw an AI slop version of my writing on a different website. An obvious "rewrite this article in worse language" prompt. Same pictures and everything.
theconversation.com/why-history-...
theconversation.com/why-history-...
New Article! Better thinking about online information requires skills, practice, AND knowledge. I make the case that this new crisis highlights just how badly we need great history classes.
theconversation.com/why-history-...
theconversation.com/why-history-...
Why history instruction is critical for combating online misinformation
Critical thinking involves specific skills for assessing evidence, but background knowledge about the subject is also essential.
theconversation.com
March 20, 2025 at 12:21 PM
New Article! Better thinking about online information requires skills, practice, AND knowledge. I make the case that this new crisis highlights just how badly we need great history classes.
theconversation.com/why-history-...
theconversation.com/why-history-...
Reposted by Lightning Jay
Chess masters and physicists show how expertise, not innate talent, enables flexible thinking. For evaluating online info, that means knowing #history and civics.
A scholar explains: buff.ly/gFAFTB3
@lightningjay.bsky.social, Binghamton University, SUNY #highered #psychology
A scholar explains: buff.ly/gFAFTB3
@lightningjay.bsky.social, Binghamton University, SUNY #highered #psychology
Why history instruction is critical for combating online misinformation
Critical thinking involves specific skills for assessing evidence, but background knowledge about the subject is also essential.
buff.ly
March 20, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Chess masters and physicists show how expertise, not innate talent, enables flexible thinking. For evaluating online info, that means knowing #history and civics.
A scholar explains: buff.ly/gFAFTB3
@lightningjay.bsky.social, Binghamton University, SUNY #highered #psychology
A scholar explains: buff.ly/gFAFTB3
@lightningjay.bsky.social, Binghamton University, SUNY #highered #psychology
Reposted by Lightning Jay
Dear Higher Ed:
It won't help to take away faculty control of academic departments.
It won't help to ban masks or empower campus cops.
It won't help to overhaul admissions to favor white students.
....
...
...They were always going to shoot the puppy no matter what.
www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...
It won't help to take away faculty control of academic departments.
It won't help to ban masks or empower campus cops.
It won't help to overhaul admissions to favor white students.
....
...
...They were always going to shoot the puppy no matter what.
www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...
Exclusive | Columbia Is Nearing Agreement to Give Trump What He Wants
The school faces a deadline to yield to administration demands in negotiations over federal funding.
www.wsj.com
March 19, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Dear Higher Ed:
It won't help to take away faculty control of academic departments.
It won't help to ban masks or empower campus cops.
It won't help to overhaul admissions to favor white students.
....
...
...They were always going to shoot the puppy no matter what.
www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...
It won't help to take away faculty control of academic departments.
It won't help to ban masks or empower campus cops.
It won't help to overhaul admissions to favor white students.
....
...
...They were always going to shoot the puppy no matter what.
www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...
Reposted by Lightning Jay
Why history instruction is critical for combating online misinformation
@us.theconversation.com
@lightningjay.bsky.social
theconversation.com/why-history-...
@us.theconversation.com
@lightningjay.bsky.social
theconversation.com/why-history-...
Why history instruction is critical for combating online misinformation
Critical thinking involves specific skills for assessing evidence, but background knowledge about the subject is also essential.
theconversation.com
March 19, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Why history instruction is critical for combating online misinformation
@us.theconversation.com
@lightningjay.bsky.social
theconversation.com/why-history-...
@us.theconversation.com
@lightningjay.bsky.social
theconversation.com/why-history-...
Reposted by Lightning Jay
Young-earth creationism: social-studies edition.
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/u...
Oklahoma Proposes Teaching 2020 Election ‘Discrepancies’ in U.S. History (Gift Article)
The Oklahoma Board of Education recently approved a new, more conservative social studies agenda that has irked even some Republicans.
www.nytimes.com
March 14, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Young-earth creationism: social-studies edition.
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/u...
Reposted by Lightning Jay
Here’s the second op-ed!. www.newsweek.com/its-2025say-...
“…today's rhetoric proposes that a substandard education is a small cost for maintaining racism, homophobia, trans violence, and antiblackness.”
“…today's rhetoric proposes that a substandard education is a small cost for maintaining racism, homophobia, trans violence, and antiblackness.”
It's 2025—Say No To Historic Racist Goals in U.S. Education | Opinion
Schools must be a place where students can question, debate, and think critically about the world around them. But the White House's K-12 executive order pushes the education system in the opposite di...
www.newsweek.com
February 20, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Here’s the second op-ed!. www.newsweek.com/its-2025say-...
“…today's rhetoric proposes that a substandard education is a small cost for maintaining racism, homophobia, trans violence, and antiblackness.”
“…today's rhetoric proposes that a substandard education is a small cost for maintaining racism, homophobia, trans violence, and antiblackness.”
Reposted by Lightning Jay
Trump's ed orders are a dumpster fire.
But the real looming school-tastrophe is different: SCOTUS agreed to decide about a religious public school.
It's confusing, so here's a weekend thread of explainers.
First: @drprestongreen.bsky.social lays out the case: (1/4)
today.uconn.edu/2025/01/make...
But the real looming school-tastrophe is different: SCOTUS agreed to decide about a religious public school.
It's confusing, so here's a weekend thread of explainers.
First: @drprestongreen.bsky.social lays out the case: (1/4)
today.uconn.edu/2025/01/make...
Makeup of Charter School Governing Board Could Impact Whether They Offer Religious Education - UConn Today
Charter schools were codified into law with the intent of defining them as public institutions, says UConn's Preston Green, therefore secular and unabl ...
today.uconn.edu
February 1, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Trump's ed orders are a dumpster fire.
But the real looming school-tastrophe is different: SCOTUS agreed to decide about a religious public school.
It's confusing, so here's a weekend thread of explainers.
First: @drprestongreen.bsky.social lays out the case: (1/4)
today.uconn.edu/2025/01/make...
But the real looming school-tastrophe is different: SCOTUS agreed to decide about a religious public school.
It's confusing, so here's a weekend thread of explainers.
First: @drprestongreen.bsky.social lays out the case: (1/4)
today.uconn.edu/2025/01/make...
New Paper! The first validated observation tool for social studies classroom discussions! Introducing the SSDI (social studies discourse instrument) www.tandfonline.com/eprint/ETANM...
The social studies discourse instrument: Validating an observation tool for classroom discussions
This article introduces the Social Studies Discourse Instrument (SSDI), a novel observation tool for capturing whole-class discussions in social studies. This tool assesses three domains of classro...
www.tandfonline.com
January 31, 2025 at 8:47 PM
New Paper! The first validated observation tool for social studies classroom discussions! Introducing the SSDI (social studies discourse instrument) www.tandfonline.com/eprint/ETANM...
I got a couple quotes in this Fortune piece. It's not easy being a young person today, but I'm not sure growing up has ever been easy. For the profs, employers, and parents, let's be generous. fortune.com/2025/01/23/g...
Professors teaching Gen Z say they're more anxious than millennials and have already given up on the American Dream
Gen Z really are different from their millennial predecessors professors say. But employers are party to blame for their lack of pizzazz.
fortune.com
January 23, 2025 at 4:20 PM
I got a couple quotes in this Fortune piece. It's not easy being a young person today, but I'm not sure growing up has ever been easy. For the profs, employers, and parents, let's be generous. fortune.com/2025/01/23/g...