Teaching WWII with Heart: A Conversation
with Tim, a 7th Grade Educator

When my granddaughter Izzy casually mentioned to her 7th grade social studies teacher that her grandfather was writing a book, she had no idea what would come of it. Months later, that teacher—Tim—would hold the published copy of Jack’s Story in his hands and discover not just a story, but a legacy that helped shape his approach to teaching World War II to middle school students.

In this recorded conversation, Tim reflects on the power of primary sources, the emotional impact of Jack’s letters, and the ways in which his own students have connected to World War II in the classroom. It’s an honest, moving look at what happens when personal memory and historical education intersect—and how stories from the past can still reach across generations.

From Izzy to Jack’s Story: A Personal Discovery

Tim first heard about the book through my granddaughter Izzy during a casual school day exchange. At the time, he was simply her enthusiastic, history-loving teacher. He didn’t realize the depth of the story she had just introduced him to. Months later, Izzy surprised him at a basketball game with a copy of the finished book. He read it within a week.

“It felt like a love story until the world exploded,” he told me. He was struck not only by the courage of Jack’s wartime experience but by the humanity of it—the emotional restraint in the letters, the censorship, the longing for home.

Teaching World War II and the Holocaust in Middle School

Tim currently teaches 7th grade social studies in Raleigh, NC, and he shared how deeply he believes in helping students engage with WWII not as distant history, but as something painfully real. In our conversation, he explained how he shows them images of Auschwitz, Kristallnacht, and primary source documents to give them context.

“They get it,” he said. “At some point during the Holocaust unit, it clicks—they realize this actually happened. The reactions on their faces are unforgettable.”

This year, he dedicated an entire week just to the Holocaust. He said the students responded with maturity, curiosity, and often, deep emotion. It was clear that part of his teaching success comes from knowing when to push and when to protect—guiding 12- and 13-year-olds through some of the darkest chapters of modern history with care and clarity.

A Silent Generation and a New Conversation

Tim shared something that mirrored my own experience: That silence—so common among veterans of WWII, Korea, and beyond—was something we explored in a recent reflection on why so many never spoke about the war. the silence surrounding wartime memory. His grandfather, a Korean War veteran, has never spoken about his service. And like many of us who came after, Tim is now wondering how to ask the questions he was always afraid to voice.

We talked about how I didn’t even begin to understand my father’s experience until I found his letters, years after he passed. It was only then that the full scope of his story—his leadership, the trauma, the moments of humor, and the deep love for his family—began to emerge.

The Power of Empathy in Storytelling

As Tim read Jack’s Story, he kept coming back to the feeling of vulnerability in the writing. “I felt like I was right there with him,” he said. “I just wanted him to be safe. I wanted him to go home.”

It was that sense of emotional connection—beyond dates and battles—that left a lasting impression on Tim. He told me his students are more engaged when they understand that these were real people making impossible choices in impossible circumstances. That’s where empathy becomes the bridge.

“At the end of the day, it felt like a roller coaster of emotions,” he said. “It started as a love story and ended with a deeper respect for what these men carried with them long after the war.”

Final Reflections

Conversations like this remind me why we tell these stories. Not just for history books, but for teachers like Tim. For students searching for meaning. And for families still holding pieces of untold memories.

As Jack’s Story continues to reach new readers, I’m especially grateful for educators like Tim who create space in the classroom for young people to wrestle with history—and to understand that what happened then still matters now.

If you’re an educator, a veteran, or someone whose family has a similar story, I’d love to hear from you. Send a message or leave a comment—we’re just getting started sharing the stories that connect us all.

You can watch our full video conversation with Tim on our YouTube channel as part of the Stories Worth Remembering series.