Teaching American History Grant

Today I wanted to share with a you a wonderful opportunity that I was given a year and a half ago.  I was chosen to be part of a grant that my school system was awarded.  The Teaching American History Grant is given out all over the United States.  I applied to be a part of this grant because, if you were like me, I didn't pay much attention in my high school history classes and felt like I needed a refresher. Our grant cohort consists of 15 elementary and middle school teachers.  We have taken 3 graduate level courses.  Two in  19th and 20th century American history and a course in Understanding By Design.  We spent last summer (and this summer) writing units for teachers in our school district on topics that we chose to focus on from each century.  We also have "field trips" that we take during the school year and summer.  Most are day trips but we also go on two 5 day excursions.  Last year's focus was Indiana in the 19th century.  We traveled to historical sites and museums throughout the southern part of the state.   This July we will be traveling to Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama to visit sites that relate to the Civil Rights Movement. 
Probably the most exciting opportunity we've had was to go listen to and meet Ruby Bridges.  I can not even begin to describe to you the feelings that I had listening to her tell her story. 

      Ruby Bridges signing her book for me!!

This experience has been a lot of work and very time consuming but I feel I am a better teacher because of it!  Thanks for listening!