My Country, Our History is an introduction to Canadian history for middle and secondary school students, and for students in adult education programs. Especially written for classes where some or all of the learners are recent arrivals in Canada, or are returning to school as adults, it assumes no prior knowledge of Canadian history. Themes in Canadian history are presented sequentially, using a chronological approach and drawing parallels with knowledge that the students may already have of similar concepts in different contexts. The language in the text is also sequenced; the opening chapters are short and simply written, using simple sentences with very little embedding or subordination. As students work through the text, more complex sentence patterns are introduced and reinforced. Pre-reading questions are provided to guide the reader, and comprehension and extension questions are included after each major section of the text to promote discussion and stimulate writing. Important vocabulary is highlighted in the text, and new words and sentence patterns are recycled in subsequent chapters.

a simple 224-page introduction to Canadian history from 1867 to the present day
profusely illustrated with hundreds of black and white photographs, as well as scores of maps and photographs in full colour
the first chapter introduces Canada and its people, the final chapter on civics explains the rights, privileges, and obligations enjoyed by Canadian citizens
clear and easily understood charts and graphs
statistical material is straightforward and informative
written at a simple reading level, with a spiral progression in difficulty from start to finish
high interest writing style is simple, lively and direct, engaging even the most reluctant reader
brief profiles of prominent Canadian men and women – “Canadians Who Make A Difference” – and numerous imaginative case studies

My Country, Our History, while providing a highly readable history of our country for the student struggling with reading difficulties, will be especially helpful to teachers of the following groups: adult ESL classes, in-school ESL classes, citizenship classes, and classes containing less advantaged learners.