Toolbox

Invitation

Dear Colleagues:

We are very excited to be able to offer you what we feel is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enhance your U.S. history content knowledge to improve student achievement. MCCSC has been awarded a 3-year Teaching American History (TAH) grant. We are offering you an opportunity to participate in the professional development opportunities this grant project provides. Any teacher who teaches U.S. history within his or her social studies discipline is welcome to apply. We hope that you will consider participating in this dynamic learning opportunity.

The MCCSC TAH project, the History Educators’ Project: Teaching American History through the Lens of Indiana, will comprise several professional development activities each year of the three-year plan. A complete listing of the project activities for 2009-2010 is provided at the end of this invitation. The first activity is a retreat to be held October 30th – Nov 1st at New Harmony, Indiana. This is our only overnight trip this year, but we see it as a way to pamper you just a bit with lovely rooms at the New Harmony Inn, a delightful dinner, and an unbelievable tour catered to your interests. Several renowned historians will be traveling with us and enriching our knowledge of history about our region as well as our country. All expenses will be paid as part of the grant.

Teachers who participate in the TAH project must commit to attending a minimum of 75% of the activities and also to writing and implementing three lessons during year one. These lesson plans will be written after each of our excursions and/or book talks and can be developed and implemented to enhance your curricular area. The first year activities include trips to New Harmony, Indiana, the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis, and the Wylie House in Bloomington. Along with the trips, Indiana University historians will present lectures focusing on different time periods throughout U.S. history. Participating teachers will receive a $700.00 dollar stipend, to be paid after attending and participating in the final first year event – a spring conference in May.

To apply, please complete the streamlined online application process at www.tahindiana.org by September 1, 2009. Teachers who are accepted into the project must attend an orientation meeting to be held on September 21s from 12:30-4:30 p.m. at the Monroe County History Center. Participants will be given professional leave for this half-day meeting. We understand that you are busy professionals and we fully intend to make the most of our meetings. We will only be accepting 30 applicants this year, so please apply early. Our hope is that you will be acquiring new knowledge and at the same time bonding with your professional colleagues. Dr. J. T. Coopman has given full consent to your participation and he and your building principal will support you. We understand that teachers are the backbone of the school system and we would like this chance to honor your efforts. The MCCSC along with Indiana University School of Education and the College of Arts and Sciences History Department, Agency for Instructional Technology, and the Monroe County Historical Society are committed to this professional development opportunity.

Please go to the website and complete the application form. We will notify you after September 1st concerning your status with the TAH project. If you have questions prior to submitting your application, feel free to contact either Pat Wilson at pwilson@mccsc.edu /812-339-7145 or Connie Ables at connie@tahindiana.org.

Thank you so much for your time. We look forward to hearing from you.

Teaching American History Project Team