The Running Historian

Here are a few more pictures from this summer!

I thought the kitchen in the camp at Yorktown was really awesome (above).  And a few of us got to dress up while we talked about clothing and how it showed your social class (below).

Since I talked about the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute, I wanted to show you guys a couple of pictures from this past summer.  I’ll upload some more later, but these are of the dig at the site of the original Jamestown fort (above), and me looking for tobacco worms at Great Hopes Plantation (below.)  If you have any questions about the program, please let me know! 

I know Sarah and I have handed out information on numerous summer opportunities.  I have one more I want to let you guys know about.  It’s through the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute, and it’s a week in Williamsburg.  I did this workshop last year and it was awesome!  We focused on a different topic each day (Jamestown, slavery, politics, etc.)  You receive so many materials to bring back with you to use in you room.  (Books, CD’s, primary sources, maps, artifacts, and much more.)  The people that run the institute are wonderful and very helpful. 

 If you’re interested, you can apply at http://www.history.org/history/teaching/tchsti_scholarship.cfm.  Read the directions, you have to include a specific cover letter if applying for the scholarship.  (The scholarship covers food, lodging, etc.)  It really is a great workshop.  If you have any questions please let me know and I’ll be happy to tell you more about it! 

I’ve finally finished the powerpoints for USII.  The last few are too large to upload here, but I have sent them out to your lead teachers.  If you need one, please e-mail me and let me know and I’ll send it right away. 

 Sarah and I are working hard on second semester workshops.  Please check the PPS website for upcoming workshops!  Don’t forget to RSVP to Mrs. West if you’re interested. 

 I’ve been updating the portaportal here and there when time allows.  Don’t forget to check it out occasionally to see what’s new. 

I spent a few minutes this morning updating the Portaportal. I’ve added links under each grade level. John Tyler’s TRT sent me a great link on webquests and treasure hunts where you can learn to design your own, or use any of the ones created by other teachers. Sarah also found some good sites, have your students check out Social Studies For Kids under Student Links. There are also several others, so don’t forget to check periodically for new links.

Please remember if you come across a dead link to let me know so I can remove it. Thanks!

I’ve been adding links to Portaportal every once and awhile.  Don’t forget to check the site occasionally to see what’s new! 

I hope that things went smoothly and everyone had a good first day of school!  I’ll be out visiting you guys soon!

We are almost finished with New Teacher Orientation!  I’ve had a great time meeting all of our new teachers the past few days, and am looking forward to working with you this year.  I know you guys are anxious and have a ton of questions.  Most of those will be answered next week when we see you at our district wide in-services. 

I hope you picked up your curriculum guide from either Sarah or myself.  If not, we’ll get it to you next week don’t worry. 

Enjoy your last weekend before the school year really starts! 

In preparation for the coming school year, I’m working on several ideas that involve computer technology.  Like it or not, computers aren’t going away.  I know technology can be scary, but I’ve made these activities as straightforward and easy to use as possible. 

First, I’m working on organizing all the links Sarah and I have found that pertain to Social Studies.  This is an on-going project, it will change throughout the year.  But you will have access to a Portaportal webpage where all the Social Studies links are organized with a brief description, and by SOL. 

 Next, I’m working on a Historyspace project.  It will be easier to show you rather than try to explain it.  But I am very excited about this project idea. 

And lastly, I will introduce you to blogs.  Whether you use only the blogs Sarah and I have set up, or choose to set up a blog for your classroom, I hope you will find they are easy to use and manage, and are a great means of communication. 

I know I’ll see some of you in a couple of weeks, and most of you in a month.  But I’m looking forward to introducing these ideas to you. 

I am your new friendly neighborhood Social Studies Specialist.  I’ve set up this blog for you to experiment with so that you’ll hopefully become comfortable with it and use blogs in your own classroom.  I’m working closesly with your other friendly neighborhood Social Studies Specialist, Sarah Duncan, who I’m sure you are all familiar with and we have lots of great ideas for next year.   If you’d like to create your own blog, it’s easy.  Just go to edublogs.org and click on “Start here.”  You don’t have to create a blog though, to make comments on my blog.  Feel free to leave me comments, ideas, suggestions, etc., I’d love to hear from you!