Dorchester 2 School Board Honored for TAH Partnership
The January meeting for the Dorchester 2 School Board of Trustees had much business to conduct. But a special moment occurred when the board got to hear about the positive experiences of Dorchester 2 teachers with the TAH project. TAH Assistant Director Don Stewart addressed the board on the history and structure of the project, telling them how the grant was awarded and its basic aims. Don told the board how the TAH project is the result of an innovative collaboration among 5 school districts and several key historical institutions. Because of this collaboration, the 2002 Summer Institutes provided a unique experience for teachers.
Social studies coordinator Becky Dingle then invited the teachers themselves to speak briefly about their experiences with the TAH project. Six of the participating teachers were present, and each spoke of A-ha moments that took place since the institutes. Robin Boehler of Knightsville Elementary held up an old light fixture and told how she used oil lamps and had her students write from quill pens about the historic period they were studying. Robin learned this creative activity during the summer institutes and said it turned on the light for her about doing more immersive activities during the day. Margaret Wehman of Newington Elementary told the board how the institute helped her better understand the complex history of Reconstruction. Because of the institute, Margaret rebuilt this period mentally from newfound content knowledge. Chris Frazier of Oakbrook Elementary held up an old World War II catalogue that she bought at a yard sale and would never have looked at twice before the summer institute. She told how a lesson on sweater making found in the catalogue was going to become the basis for study the home front during the WWII unit for her schools fifth graders. Denise Hurley of Windsor Hill Elementary said the institute helped her connect the current issues of terrorism and war with the historical content provided by Dr. Larry Nelson. She realized how the whole concept and the parts of the concept of war fit together. The light came on, and she felt empowered as a teacher. Dee Prillaman of Newington Elementary told how the project helped her teaching the stories of immigration and citizenship through integrating even more literature, primary sources, and simulated activities. Rene Jones of Spann Elementary talked about the power of using the inquiry method, particularly during a lesson on the Roanoke settlement or Lost Colony. By allowing her students to play detective, Rene was besieged by students ideas. Renes students had all turned into Sherlock Holmes using their new founded deductive reasoning abilities.
Afterwards, Becky presented Dorchester 2 teachers and TAH staff with a symbolic American flag composed of bricks. Becky told the group how this flag symbolized the strength of the project and the experiences of the teachers while using the analogy that a complete picture cannot be drawn without all the parts that comprise it, just like our great country. The whole is never complete without the sum of all its parts. Throughout the summer institute, each teacher participant gained the solid content foundation represented by each brick to build a strong social studies program that motivates and excites students about history. Board members thanked Becky for the presentation and praised her efforts as social studies coordinator for Dorchester 2.