The Countdown Begins

Welcome Bloggees:

One month to go until my trip to the Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and Boston on June 18-26.  I am so fortunate to be part of a US History grant provided by San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools - TAH (Teach American History) Roots of American Freedom.  This trip is a culmination of a journey that really began in October, 2010 with 40 other teachers as a cohort group and professional learning community that came together to glean expert instruction, teaching strategies and enhanced content for students in Social Studies and U.S. History.  Through renowned scholars and book discussions using historical novels and literature provided by the grant, we have added to our historical expertise and knowledge in an attempt to share the wealth with students and fellow teachers.

A central focus during the project has been technology.  I just created and narrated a digital documentary on Adobe Premiere software entitled, Women of the American Revolution.  The documentary was designed for 5th grade students and chronicles the contributions of Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, Mercy Otis Warren, Phillis Wheatley, and Molly Pitcher.  The documentary will be showcased and premiered on Wednesday, May 18 at Etiwanda Gardens as part of the TAH Digital Documentary Showcase.

I will continue my role as a Content Lead in the project during the 2011-2012 school year as the grant continues under the auspices of SAH (Scholars of American History).  A special thank you to the Gilder Lehrman Institute for providing history kits which include a wide selection of primary source documents to be utilized in the classroom.

This trip will bring me full circle on a journey that began when I was 17 years old in 1973.  In April of my senior year I traveled with fellow students and teachers from my high school on the American Heritage Tour.  We traveled to Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, and New York City.  I look forward to traveling again to many of the same historical sites with a perspective shaped and molded by 40 years of life's insights.

Please join me as I share my blog and pictures.  The journey begins June 18.