Teaching American History Grant

Last night was the showcase event for the year of learning as part of a Teaching American History (TAH) grant. This grant was sponsored by the federal government, but the funding runs out at the end of next year - yet another victim of government budget cuts. In reality, some of the money the federal government spends does go to very worthwhile projects. The TAH grants were such a thing.

Over the past year, 130 teachers in Riverside and San Bernardino counties attended at least 80 hours and some close to 150 hours of professional development (depending on their status as participating teachers or content leads).  There were several optional sessions and the requirement was to attend 75% of the sessions. This included scholar sessions, reading books and discussing historiography, field studies (Nixon & Reagan Libraries, Museum of Tolerance and the Autry Museum) learning literacy strategies and developing lessons using the latest technology.  I personally logged 92 hours because I could not attend all of the sessions, but what I did attend made me so excited about not only my subject of US History, but also about incorporating more technology into my lessons and student projects.

Many of these sessions were from 4-8 PM, after a full day of teaching. Every day as I drove the hour plus from my school to the site for the sessions I was tired. Every evening as I drove 30 minutes to my house, I found myself wide awake and eager to tell my family about what I had learned that evening.

Yesterday lessons were showcased using Prezi, Haiku, Movie Maker, iMovie and much more. We had a few principals and district personnel present, but not nearly enough. Here I am showing my excitement for technology!

In my district, there is a huge focus on student engagement. Many of the strategies that I learned this year create tremendous student engagement. After I learned about Prezi, I had my economics students create one. I could not show them how to do it as I was learning alongside them. I created one of my own and then had my US history students create one. Every single student was on task and excited about the technology. Now I have students using Prezi for other classes and impressing their teachers, who now want to learn Prezi!

As the public demands better teaching, they must realize that professional development such as the TAH program is what makes people better teachers. So instead of cutting funding to education and eliminating programs that support teacher learning, we must find a way to continue programs such as this. We will have better teachers and thus better students!

Alternate Status

These were the words I read in an email that I received today: Although we cannot offer you a place at this time, the selection committee found your application impressive, and you have been designated as an alternate.

Today is the day that teachers are notified of their application status for summer seminars through the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). I am officially an alternate for both of the seminars that I applied to. I don't know why this upsets me so much, but it does. One of the girls I met last summer posted on her Facebook that she was accepted to both of the seminars she applied to and I am jealous.

Each of the last three summers, I have been fortunate enough to attend an NEH seminar. In fact, I feel that my summers are incomplete if I don't spend at least one week at a seminar, learning something new to bring to my classroom for the following year. Fortunately there are other organizations that allow anyone who signs up - first come first serve - to attend, so I will now be looking at those.

So for those people who complain that teachers have time off during the summer, consider that many of us spend those weeks traveling and attending seminars to make us better teachers, improve our content knowledge and network with other teachers.

One of the saddest parts of this economic crisis is the loss in funding for many of the organizations and programs that are funded by the federal government. I have learned so much and am saddened by the fact that future teachers won't have these same wonderful opportunities that I have had. If cries continue to make teacher better, please realize that these programs, like the Teaching American History grant which I am currently participating in, are what makes teachers better. Find some other programs to cut, not teacher education and professional development. It is vital that these programs continue if we want better teachers in this country!