The Teaching American History Grant in Roanoke Rapids provides a multi-dimensional plan for teachers in four school districts to improve their knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of American history. In collaboration with the National Humanities Center and scholars from several universities, Roanoke Rapids Schools hosts a week-long seminar for teachers each summer that focuses on the history and literature of an era of American history.  Teachers devote the following week to writing quality unit plans using an instructional improvement system developed by another partner, SERVE.  To extend teachers' knowledge of and enthusiasm for that era, teachers spend a week continuing their study at a historic site that is rich in the content of the seminar topic. 

During the summer of 2005, teachers will study the Gilded Age using the National Humanities Center's toolbox "The Gilded and the Gritty."  The immersion week will be hosted by Dr. Ken Jackson of Columbia University and the Gilder Lehrman Institute, another partner.  Five mentors selected by the participating school districts will attend summer institutes sponsored by Gilder Lehrman and present highlights of those seminars to other teachers in the grant.  The mentors also lead the transfer of staff development programming to the classroom in support of the instructional improvement system.

©2004  Roanoke Rapids Graded School Districts