History on Tap

The National Council for Social Studies has organized several workshops this summer.  They’ll take place in a few different cities, with the closest ones to us taking place in Washington, D.C.  For more information and instructions on how to apply, visit http://members.socialstudies.org/Scripts/4Disapi.dll/4DCGI/events/ConferenceList.html?Action=Find_Events.

I’ve got information on a couple of seminars coming up, as well as a Civil War conference in the fall.

First, in April, there will be a 3 day residential seminar at Mt. Vernon.  It is a completely funded program, and will take place from April 9th thru the 11th.  (Please note that April 9th is the Friday of Spring Break.)  Participants will be housed on the estate.  I’ve included the announcement, application, and schedule.  For all other questions concerning the seminar, contact education@mountvernon.org. 

Weekend_with_GW_announcement[1]

Mt. Vernon Seminar Application

Mt. Vernon weekend schedule

This year’s Presidential Academy will be held from July 11-29 in Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and Gettysburg.  The application for this seminar is due March 15th.  We had a teacher who attended this a few years ago who had a wonderful experience, learned a lot, and brought back many many materials.  To apply, visit http://presidentialacademy.org/.

And finally there will be a one day conference on the Civil War in September, at Norfolk State University.  This is a free conference and registration is open to the public, although seating is limited.  The conference is entitled “Race, Slavery, and the Civil War:  The Tough Stuff of American History and memory.”  It will take place on September 24th, 2010, which is a Friday.  You can find a list of topics that will be covered, as well as the historians who will take part in the conference at  http://www.virginiacivilwar.org/2010conference.php.  Registration information is also available on their homepage.   

We encourage you to apply for these opportunities!  They often give away lots of materials, and you walk away with new information to add to your lessons.  Good luck!

The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia has two summer workshops this year.  The first is for teachers in grades 7-12.  It’s titled “Changing the Constitution:  Politics and Law in American Constitutional Development” and will take place from June 28-July 2.  The second workshop, “America’s Constitution and the World” is for teachers in grades K-12.  It will take place from July 26-30.  Each workshop has a stipend to help cover travel costs.  To apply visit http://www.constitutioncenter.org/ncc_edu_Summer_Workshops.aspx.  Applications are due by March 2, 2010. 

Fulbright will have a study abroad seminar to Japan this summer.  It is a fully funded program, and up to 48 teachers will be selected to participate.  For more information and to apply, visit http://www.iie.org/Website/WPreview.cfm?WID=197.  It’s open to teachers in grades K-12.  The application deadline is January 27, 2010.

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and the National Endowment for the Humanities have posted their summer seminars for 2010. 

The Gilder Lehrman seminars are a week in length, and take place at various colleges across the US and the UK.  This is not a fully funded opportunity, though youwill receive a stipend to help offset costs.  Most meals and housing are provided.  Please note that meals take place in the cafeteria, and housing is most often on campus.  For further information and a list of seminar offerings, visit http://www.gilderlehrman.org/education/seminar_overview.php.  Applications are due in February 2010. 

The NEH offers several types of summer programs.  Their seminars and institutes  last 3-6 weeks.  For more information regarding each seminar, visit http://www.neh.gov/projects/si-university.html.  Again, this is not a  fully funded program, but you do receive a stipend. 

The NEH also offers week long Landmarks of American History and Culture workshops for teachers.  You will receive a stipend of $1200 upon completion of the workshop to offset travel costs and other expenses.  There are several interesting workshops offered for next summer, including one on Lexington and Concord.  To learn more, visit http://www.neh.gov/projects/landmarks-school.html. 

Applications for the NEH seminars/institutes and the Landmarks workshops are due in March.  Good luck!

I’ve got a lot of information coming out about summer institutes for 2010!  There are a lot of good seminars, I would definitely encourage you to apply. 

The application for the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute has been posted.  Visit http://www.history.org/history/teaching/tchsti_scholarship.cfm for more information.  They have one week during the summer where they offer scholarships for teachers to attend.  The link will take you to the scholarship info page.  This is a wonderful institute, I would highly recommend it.  I attended two years ago, and I’m still getting great information and ideas from Williamsburg. 

The Goethe Institute will also hold their two week study tours to Germany next summer.  Social Studies teachers in grades 1-12 are eligible to apply.  The application is due in February, and can be found at http://www.goethe.de/ins/us/lp/prj/top/txl/enindex.htm. 

And finally, the Institute of International Education and the Toyota International Teacher Program will have a two week seminar in Costa Rica in 2010.  Information and the application can be found at http://www.toyota4education.com/pmwiki.php?n=Main.WelcomeToTheToyotaInternationalTeacherProgramWiki?from=Main.HomePage.  The Institute of International Education was one of the partners for the trip to South Korea that I attended in 2008.  I would also highly recommend them. 

Please take a minute to glance over the information, they are great opportunities and if you decide to apply good luck!

Just a few things that may be interesting…there are several announcements, take a second to scroll through them all.

1.  Old Dominion University Center for Economic Education

 NEW REGISTRATION PROCEDURE:  REGISTER ONLINE at the Virginia Council on Economic Education’s workshop page http://www.vcee.org/workshop/home and search by SPONSORING CENTER (ODU) for more information and to register for the workshops.  *If you do not immediately receive a confirmation email then your registration did not go through. Try again, or email Ruth Cookson ASAP.

 Focus: Understanding Economics in US History: Grades 6-12

Thursday, October 29, 2009 4:30pm – 7:30pm

Virginia Beach Higher Education Center

        Help your students to not just understand “what happened” but “why it happened” using active- learning lessons from the Council on Economic Education.  These 39 lessons, ranging from early Native Americans property rights to the economic problems faced in the 1970’s, use a unique mystery-solving approach to teach U.S. History to your high school and middle school students. Lessons are correlated to the Virginia Standards of Learning. Each participant will receive the curriculum guide Focus: Understanding Economics in US History – a $50.00 value – FREE.  Registration is limited to 25 teachers. This program made possible with support from the CEE with funding from the U.S. Dept of Education Office on Innovation and Improvement and the Virginia Bankers Association Education Foundation.  USI.1, USI.5, USI.6, USI.7, USI.8, USII.1, USII. 4, USII.6, USII.9, VUS.1, VUS.2, VUS.3, VUS.6, VUS.8, VUS.9, VUS.10, VUS.15

 Economic Skills You Can’t Live Without! Decision-Making & Cost-Benefit Analysis: Grades 6-12 

Monday, December 7, 2009   4:30pm – 6:30pm

Virginia Beach Higher Education Center

        Teachers will leave this session understanding how economics really is a “life skill” rather than a dismal science! Kudos to the Virginia Board of Education for adding these essential skills to the revised 2008 History & Social Science SOL and the draft of the new Economics and Personal Finance course. This workshop will prepare teachers for these new skills by demonstrating various decision-making models as they apply to everyday life. Then teachers will practice those skills by applying them to specific SOLs using decision grids, cost/benefit analysis, and the economic way of thinking.  Teachers will receive all lessons.

 What Every Student Should Experience: Stock Market Game™ Grade Levels: 4-12

Coming in January 2010     FULL DAY WORKSHOP!
New and veteran SMG teachers are invited to attend this day-long workshop.  Ask questions from an investing expert from the business world who will share the technical and practical information you will need to play this game in your classroom. Correlated to the SOL in math, business/marketing, social studies, and technology, it has been proven time and time again that teachers can in fact fit the game into their already-packed teaching schedules. Teachers will have an opportunity to practice navigating the SMG website and will gain access to a wealth of online curriculum materials designed to make playing the game almost effortless. Contact Ruth Cookson  rcookson@odu.edu  if interested.

 Free  Online Stock Market Game workshops from the Virginia Council on Economic Education!!

Learn how to play the SMG from the comfort of your own home or classroom computer!   These free webinars only take an hour and will give you a good start on how the game is played and how to incorporate the SMG into your existing curriculum.    All you need is internet access and a separate phone line to participate.  It’s fun, free, easy, and convenient!    Go to http://www.vcee.org/SMG_Teacher_Workshops   to register.

 Introduction to the Stock Market Game Program

Thu,  Jan 14, 2010 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM repeating 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM 

 Tour the Stock Market Game Teacher Support Center

Thu,  Jan 21, 2010 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM  repeating 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM  

 Tour the Stock Market Game Team Portfolio 

Thu,  Jan 28, 2010 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM  repeating  7:00 PM – 8:00 PM  

2.   Copy of the Declaration of Independence coming to VA Beach!  For more info, check out http://hamptonroads.com/2009/10/va-beach-showcase-declaration-independence.

3.  Supreme Court Summer Institute

Street Law, Inc. and the Supreme Court Historical Society will sponsor the annual Supreme Court Summer Institute, June 17-22, 2010. The institute is open to secondary level social studies teachers & supervisors, who will spend five stimulating days on Capitol Hill and inside the Supreme Court learning about the Court, its past and current cases, and how to teach about them from top Supreme Court litigators & educators. We will also be in the Court to hear the Justices announce the final decisions of the term and attend a private reception at the Court.  Interested educators can apply online (under the “Registration Info” tab), at http://www.streetlaw.org/en/CalendarEvent.31.aspx and the application deadline is March 15, 2010.

4.  From the Gilder Lehrman Institute, an on-line exhibit about John Brown.

150 years ago, on October 16, 1859, John Brown and a band of followers, black and white, attacked the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. The raid was part of a larger plan to destroy the slave system by freeing and arming slaves, and it was one of the sparks that ignited the Civil War.

To see highlights from John Brown: The Abolitionist and His Legacy, an exhibition of documents and artifacts from the Gilder Lehrman Collection on display at the New-York Historical Society from September 15, 2009 to March 25, 2010, click here:  http://www.gilderlehrman.org/collection/online/johnbrown/

Ok, I’ve been keeping an eye out for the 2010 Fulbright applications.  I was told they would be posted around August 10th, but never saw an updated webpage.  So I emailed the US Fulbright Commission and asked for info.  They sent me a link, http://e-grants.ed.gov/egWelcome.asp that takes you directly to the page to sign in/up for the 2010 application.  Once you sign up you can access the application, everything is submitted electronically, everything you need to complete the application is there. 

The elementary seminars will take place in India, Mexico, and Hungary & the Czech Republic.  Secondary seminars will take place in Brazil, Egypt, and Senegal. 

Applications are due in early October, and it is a lengthy process.  I would get started right away as not to rush through.  Good luck to those of you who decide to apply!

Fulbright Elementary Seminar Descriptions

Fulbright Secondary seminar descriptions

The applications for the Fulbright summer seminars hasn’t been updated yet, but the website is http://www.ed.gov/programs/iegpssap/sapfacts.html.  The applications should be up sometime soon, and the 45 day window will close in early to mid September.  (Last year they were due on September 12.)  So keep an eye out for the 2010 seminars.  It was a great trip, and they really take care of you.

Just a quick note-during our orientation today, our Fulbright Program Officer for the DOE mentioned the trips that are tentatively scheduled for next year.  They include:  Brazil, Hungary & Czech Republic, Mexico, China, Senegal, India & Nepal, Morroco & Spain, Indonesia, and the UAE, Kuwait, & Quatar.  I don’t know which trips will be geared towards elementary and secondary, but that’s what is tentatively being planned.

She also said the applications will be available in August, and there is a 45 day window to complete the application.  So if you’re interested, begin checking the Fulbright site in August.

Sarah and I just wanted to thank everyone for all of the hard work you’ve put in this year, and to wish everyone a happy summer vacation!  We look forward to working with you again next year (although we are in no rush for next year to get here!)

If you’re doing any traveling over the summer, or attending any summer institutes or workshops, we’d love to hear about them.  If you have photos or a blog you’d like us to link, please send it to Lisa or leave it in the comments section and I’ll post it. 

I’ll be traveling in Poland for 4 weeks this summer on a Fulbright scholarship, and will once again maintain a blog.  I’ll be traveling throughout the country and there are some interesting places I’ll be visiting, including Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps.  I have decided to maintain a separate blog this year however, rather than post my adventures on the school blog.  (This allows me a little more freedom in what I can post.)  If you’re interested, that address is http://lisapennington.wordpress.com.  I hope to have frequent posts and pictures and please leave me comments!  It’s always nice to hear from people back home. I fly out to Warsaw on June 20th, and will return July 20th.

Again, enjoy your summer break, it’s almost here!  Thanks again for everything!