Coordinators of Local Teaching American History Grant Sponsoring Mini Conference for Social Studies Teacher - May 16

Coordinators of a local Teaching American History (TAH) grant from the Federal Department of Education are sponsoring a mini conference for Social Studies teachers from K-12th grade. The event is scheduled for Monday, May 16 from 4-7PM at the OCM BOCES  Rodax 8 Building (6075 East Molloy Road) in Syracuse. There is no charge for the mini conference but participants must register by emailing Karen Pfanenstiel at kpfanens@ocmboces.org.

The main feature of the conference will be a keynote address by Dr. Bob Bain, Associate Professor of History at the University of Michigan and former 26-year veteran of public school teaching. His topic will be “Toward a Logic of History Teaching: Teaching History as Thinking Practice”.  OCM BOCES and SUNY Cortland are partners in this grant.

Following Dr. Bain’s lecture, teachers may enjoy refreshments from the Carnegie Café while learning about some of the projects teachers completed while part of an earlier TAH grant called The American Dream Project. The current grant completing its first year is called First Person America and it is directed by Dr. Kevin Sheets, Associate Professor of History at SUNY Cortland and Daryll Wheeler, Staff Development Specialist at OCM BOCES.

The Onondaga Historical Association & Museum, partners in the grant, will be present at this mini-conference. Mr. Scott Peal, Education Associate, will answer questions about the OHA. Teachers who might be interested in participating in the second year of the TAH grant will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn about the all-expense paid field experience to Williamsburg in October. Teachers receive a stipend for attending monthly meetings with noted historians, for completing a curricular project appropriate for their students, and for participating in book chats. Teachers also earn three graduate credit hours at SUNY Cortland as a result of the culminating Summer Institute. The number of teachers is limited to twenty-four for each year so prompt registration is important.

Unlike other grants of its kind, the project directors encourage teachers and librarians from elementary as well as middle and high schools to participate. Seldom do teachers have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of our country’s history, to immerse themselves in historical thinking, and to reflect on their practice. This makes the TAH grants unique in character and purpose. It is critical that teachers elevate the thinking of their students, encourage the questioning, debate, and discussion in order to raise student achievement and to bring about a more informed citizenry.

To register for the mini-conference, please email Karen Pfanenstiel at kpfanens@ocmboces.org.