• What research did you need to complete in order to understand these texts? 

     One thing I researched is the difference between Muslim and Moslem.  I had heard both terms before, and the “Battle of Yarmuk” text uses the word Moslem.  Apparently, the words have synonymous meanings in English; these are just two different spellings for the same word.  However, in Arabic the words have very different meanings.  Muslim means “one who gives himself to God” and Moslem means “one who is evil and unjust”.( https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/). That is an important distinction to make.

• How would you make these texts relevant to your classroom? 

     To make these texts relevant in my classroom, I would read the texts aloud while students visualize and draw what they imagine to be happening.  Then, I would supplement the text with a video or a storybook showing the same scenes.  Because the texts are somewhat dry and straightforward, pairing them with another resource might help to grab the students’ attention.

• What information would you share with your students when you presented these texts? 

     Providing a map of the area from the past and the present would help students to visualize where this was happening.  I would have students study the area, and also consider the terrain and climate.

• Discuss how you would contextualize these readings for your students in a larger unit that you teach on medieval history.  

     The best way to contextualize this would be to share some informational videos about the setting, both time and place.  Then, students could also research topics of interest to them, including what life was like, family dynamics, education, activities people engaged in, etc. Coupled with the map activity mentioned above, this would help students to grasp some of the history in order to understand the texts better.