Goals, Objectives, and Expected Outcomes

This grant will provide participating teachers with historical knowledge on the Colonial, Civil War and Cold War eras and with the ability to think like historians, thus enhancing their ability to effectively engage their students in learning traditional American History.

We have three main goals with related objectives for this project:

• Goal 1: to bring historical content knowledge and relevant pedagogical research to teachers in the participating school divisions.
  Objectives: Participants will develop an increased content knowledge of the above eras and implement new and improved practices in their classroom.

• Goal 2: to create a sustainable cohort of American History specialists who will serve as local resources for teachers of the region.
  Objectives: Cohort teachers will provide American History workshops especially for new/struggling teachers and be educational leaders for American History.

• Goal 3: and to increase pupil knowledge and improve achievement in the area of traditional American History.
  Objectives: Students in cohort classrooms will improve their State scores and be more interested and engaged in traditional American History.

Miscellaneous Information

• Number of teachers served annually: 350
• Number of teachers served over life of grant: 1,000
• Teaching level of teachers served: There will be an emphasis on teachers of grades 5-6, but History Teachers throughout the grade levels of partnering 16 school divisions will be served by the grant.
• LEA: Norton City Schools in partnership with the Southwest Virginia Public Education Consortium (which includes 15 other LEAs in Southwest Virginia).
• Major Partners: The University of Virginia (5 Departments), Virginia Historical Society, E-Learning Systems WebLessons
• Content and Professional Development Format: We will trian three cohorts of fifteen teachers who will take graduate-credit classes and participate in workshops. Ultimately, all forty-five teachers will cycle through the program, taking part in the annual history conference, taking classes and attending workshops in all three areas, as well as participating in at least one field experience. Each teacher will, by the end of the grant, be a realiable, trusted expert in traditional American history and in effective methods for teaching it.

• Annual Leadership Conference
• Date: Oct 08, 2008 to Oct 09, 2008
• Time: Varies
• Location: Bristol Holiday Inn

• SVPEC Executive Team Meeting
• Date: Oct 23, 2008 to Oct 23, 2008
• Time: 10:30 AM to 12 Noon
• Location: SW VA Higher Education Center