The History Matters Podcast

Curious. Confident. Knowledgeable about the world. A content-rich approach to teaching history supports all this and more—even in our youngest students. Yet history has all but disappeared from American elementary schools. On the the History Matters Podcast, we explore the vast untapped potential of high-quality history instruction to build knowledge, accelerate literacy, and prepare students to participate in civic life. In inspiring conversations with curriculum experts, teachers, and instructional leaders doing this work in classrooms today, this podcast explores how history can animate the minds of young people and transform literacy, all at the same time.

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The History Matters Podcast

Introducing the History Matters Podcast Season 2: Connecting History to the Classroom | History Matters Podcast

July 14, 2026 • Knowledge Matters • Season 2

0:00 | 3:00

What kinds of history instruction build content knowledge and civic awareness? Why is social studies content such a power player when it comes to literacy? How can schools make time for these critical learning opportunities?

In Season 2 of the History Matters Podcast, hosts Kyair Butts, Barbara Davidson, and Ebony McKiver explore these questions in dynamic conversations with educators, experts, and leaders working to bring rich history lessons into the classroom.

In six fast-paced episodes, “Connecting History to the Classroom” examines why strong history instruction is uniquely well-suited to support literacy and civic engagement and how schools and systems are implementing content-rich history right now. Join Kyair, Barbara, and Ebony as they bring listeners inside the classroom and the brain, with insights from literacy experts, cognitive scientists, education leaders, and curriculum writers.

This podcast is produced by Knowledge Matters on behalf of the History Matters Campaign. Follow Knowledge Matters on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter/X. Search #historymatters to join the conversation.

Production by Tressa Versteeg. Original music and sound engineering by Aidan Shea.

Kristen McQuillan

Hi. I’m Dr. Kristen McQuillan, Executive Director of Knowledge Matters, and I’m excited to share that Season 2 of the History Matters Podcast is on its way.

This season, we have three brilliant hosts: Kyair Butts, Barbara Davidson, and Ebony McKiver.

You’ll hear stories about the powerful connection between literacy and history content knowledge. Kyair, Barbara, and Ebony talk to teachers, administrators and leaders in the field about the role of knowledge and why we need coherent social studies and history instruction in every elementary school classroom.

Michelle Palmieri

Literacy is at the heart of social studies. So you can't disconnect the two ー or you shouldn't ー because reading and writing are just baked into learning about history.

Melissa Loftus

What they know about the world is going to help them comprehend what they read. Social studies is learning about the world. It's the exact knowledge, vocabulary that complex texts are going to assume that they know. So this is the place for them to learn that content.

Cindy Nebel

In order to think critically, to engage with texts, to do the good deep thinking that we want students to be able to do, it's our responsibility to provide the information that we want them to think critically about.

Amy Rosenkrans

If we connect the American Revolution to our community, to the names on the street signs, to the parks in our community, to the names on our buildings, our school buildings, kids can start making those connections. And maybe, “Oh, I go to Patterson Park and I see these cannons! And those cannons were there from the War of 1812 and the defense of Baltimore. Oh my gosh, it's right here in my neighborhood.”

Micki Marinelli

It's so easy for us to feel like it's the ELA teachers that have ownership over literacy strategies and instruction. But I think that we're seeing more and more, and that ー what's so important for us to acknowledge ー is that we're all teachers of literacy.

Anthony Fitzpatrick

Yes, history is messy. That's the best part about it! And if we want a citizenry that can debate, can work their way toward a better society that is not going to be easy, then we have to give our students the knowledge and the ability to deeply study that knowledge early. We have to respect their cognitive abilities to get there.

Kristen McQuillan

The History matters Podcast is brought to you by Knowledge Matters. Season 2 begins July 21. Subscribe now to the History Matters Podcast on your favorite podcast app, so you don’t miss an episode.