U.S. History thru the Eyes of the American Girl Dolls: Samantha's Manners and Mischief

 I have been teaching 20 plus years in various capacities. I have taught k-12 here in the U.S. as well as in Central America. I homeschool my own children with experiential learning including extensive travel to different countries, immersing in different cultures, as an integral part of our curriculum. I also have taught for National University's Education department for the past 15 years. I teach in the teaching credential program. Among the many classes that I have taught, The Diverse Classroom and Multicultural Education are among them. 

In my background as an educator and in developing social studies curriculum, I have collaborated with many educators on how to cover these history topics. I have also attended workshops and trainings in the experiences of marginalized groups that have provided me with an understanding of these groups experiences and the historical context for American discriminatory action and thoughts. I am here to provide a historical outlook and provide insight into what was happening in history, but am not here to provide an in depth look at discrimination or the experiences of marginalized groups. 

The books may seem to portray generalizations about a certain people. We must remember each family and even each individual person in a certain place or of a certain culture are different. These books are a representation of a certain part of a culture and time period. We will learn that it is often beneficial to put forth an effort to understand one another and show mercy toward others. Whether people are of a different age, race, or shape, we can exercise to be kind.