These are some of the comments received from the seventeen teachers that just completed the Pee Dee region Summer Institute, which took place on June 16-27, 2008.  This year’s group of teachers visited eight different cultural institutions ranging from a backcountry homestead at Sumter County Museum to the black water swamp at Kalmia Gardens.  Several time travelling visitors including General Thomas Sumter and Kessie, a slave from the 18th century Carolina backcountry, visited the group over the ten-day course. 

Each day, Dr. Kevin Witherspoon of Lander University led the participants through a series of lectures and book discussions focusing on American history up to 1865 while Master Teacher Wardie Sanders conducted training sessions on methods for teaching with primary source materials. 

By the last day of the Summer Institute, each participant had completed an outline of the lesson plan they intend to continue working on throughout the school year and a good number of resources to put to use in the classroom. 

Although everyone was eager to return home, there were some who were sad that the course was ending.  Many exchanged email addresses and phone numbers in the hope of helping each other throughout the school year.  From this exchange came one of the nicest comments the staff of TAHSC could hope to hear, “I will recommend the summer institute to anyone who inquires about it next year.” 

 

Farewell for now....See you in October!

 

Some things to think about until October... Who is the man you see below on the left? And what is he doing with that hammer? Who is the woman you see on the right? And where did you see her?