Northwestern California Teaching American History Program

In September 2005 the Northern Humboldt Union High School District, Humboldt State University and our national partners, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and the White House Historical Association received a third Teaching American History Grant (also known as TAH 3).  This program, like its two predecessors is open to teachers from all Humboldt County schools however, this program focuses on the primary grades and how best to integrate American history into K-8 language arts classes.

Based upon feedback from local primary teachers we realize that most teachers can’t commit to a three year project, like our first two grants offered, so TAH 3 has consisted of two one-year cohorts of 35 primary teachers (for a total of 105 teachers over three years).  Participants can earn up to thirteen semester units through HSU Extended Education during their one-year of study and a summer trip to the East Coast.  The first group completed their studies a few weeks ago and on June 23rd. will depart for the East Coast on the study trip.  If enrolled at HSU, a teacher can use up to twelve of those units as part of an MA in Education.  All participants in TAH 3 will receive a $1,000 stipend that will fully cover the cost of the units and books and still leave a small amount ($150-$200) for per diem on the summer trip. 

Basic Information: 

Length of the program:  September-May classes (usually held at Arcata High) and optional two-week summer study trip to Boston , NYC, Philadelphia and Washington DC in 2008.  Participants in the trip only pay for their food and drink on the trip—travel, lodging and admissions are covered. 

Class Schedule:  Five or Six Thursday evening ( 4:30-7:00 ) and five Saturday ( 9:00-3:00 ) class “clumps” per semester.  Usually these classes will fall every three weeks.  Participants in these classes can earn three units per semester.  Please see below for the 2007 schedule.

Thursday and Saturday classes will focus on a chronological survey of American History with a focus on history before the 20th Century. 

The Reading List:  Participants will read eleven books during the year and four or five additional books for the summer trip including:  (1) Love and Hate in Jamestown (the story of Pocahontas, John Smith, John Rolfe and the early settlement of the Chesapeake), (2) American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation (religion and the founding generation), (3) Founding Brothers (about the Revolutionary and early national eras), (4) A Brilliant Solution  (5) Revolutionary Mothers (women in the revolutionary era), (6) A Midwives Tale (the true story of a woman living and working in turn of the nineteenth century New England, (7) Roll Jordan Roll (slavery and Reconstruction), (8) Warriors Don’t Cry, (the true story of the desegregation of Central High School in Little Rock High School), (9) Little White Father (about local American Indians and their contact with European Americans—by local author Ray Raphael)(10) Walking With The Wind, (the autobiography of Civil Rights leader and now Congressman John Lewis), and (11) The Uprooted (a history of immigration and discrimination in American history.)

To help you get ahead on your reading, you will receive a copy of at least half of your books by June 15, 2006.

In-service Schedule:  At least two in-services will be held at HCOE or elsewhere each semester on Fridays and Saturdays.  To receive a fourth unit per semester, participants will need to attend at least two of these Friday or Saturday workshops to accrue at least fifteen hours of seat time and thereby earn the fourth unit.   Substitute costs to be covered by the grant.

Travel:  Money will be budgeted for approximately half of the participants to attend a regional or national history/social studies conference during the year they participate or the year following.  Substitute, travel, hotel and registration costs to be covered by the grant. 

Questions:  Call Jack Bareilles at McKinleyville High School (839-6492) for more information.  You can also e-mail Jack at jbareilles@nohum.k12.ca.us

What we need from you:  If you’re interested, PLEASE fill-out the attached survey and send it to Jack Bareilles at the jbareilles@nohum.k12.ca.us e-mail address or mail the survey to Jack at McKinleyville High School, 1300 Murray Road, McKinleyville, CA 95519.  WE NEED YOUR RESPONSES ASAP!