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The Teaching American History Grant funded by the United States
Department of Education and awarded to the Los Angeles County
Office of Education brings together Southern California teachers,
university scholars, and museum education staff for the purpose
of improving the teaching of United States history. As a result,
teachers are equipped to provide students a firm understanding
of national identity, constitutional heritage, and civic rights and
responsibilities as identified in the History-Social Science Framework for California Public Schools.
"American History for 21st Century Citizens: A Southern California
Consortium" addresses several critical issues surrounding
American history education in Southern California. Teacher
participant fellows gain history content knowledge, important
educational leadership skills, and engaging strategies designed
to raise the academic achievement of students in under-performing
schools throughout Southern California.
The project was developed as a three-year enterprise in collaboration
with the National Center for History in the Schools, the National
Council for History Education, and the Los Angeles County Office of
Education. It has been endorsed by National History Day, Colonial
Williamsburg Foundation, Southern California Comprehensive
Assistance Center, Regions 9, 10, and 11 of the California Professional Development Consortia serving all of Southern
California, California Department of Education, California Council for
the Humanities, and the California Curriculum Instructional Steering Committee.
During the three-year period of the program, the Consortium
addresses 17th and 18th century American History in year one,
19th century American History in year two, and 20th century American
History in year three. Each year the program consists of a 9-10 day
institute in Pasadena consisting of historical content presentations
by historical scholars and instructional strategy sessions designed
to improve classroom pedagogy. Teachers then participate in field
study visiting historical sites across the country. Year One elementary
teachers visit Colonial Williamsburg and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Year Two middle school teachers visit Baltimore, Maryland, Harper's
Ferry, Antietem and Gettysburg battlegrounds, and Washington D.C.
Year Three high school teachers visit Chicago, Memphis, Montgomery,
and Atlanta.
Each teacher participant is responsible for creating a standards-
based instructional unit based on the "backwards mapping" design
format and a "project" that is a historical narrative, live character
interpretation, or virtual museum. Teachers' products are posted to
this web site and are shared at the annual American History
Convocation sponsored by the Los Angeles County Office of Education. |
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