Summer Reading

Before I shut Teaching Montana History down for the summer, I decided to look back at what our most popular posts have been. I found the results interesting, and thought you might too. And I thought the list might be especially useful for new subscribers, who want to dig into the archives during summer break.

Teaching Montana History in Fourth Grade (April 28, 2014) is a post that I wrote in 2014, trying to imagine a fourth grade curriculum. In 2017, I revisited the topic with Teaching Montana History in Fourth of Fifth Grade, Take 2. I think this second take is better than the first, even though it hasn't gotten as many life time hits. So if you are interested in the topic, that's where I'd start--and then I'd check out "Montana Today: A Geographical Study," a new unit we created to kick off an elementary classroom's study of Montana history.

In 2016, I discovered Evidence Analysis Window Frames, a primary source analysis tool--Evidence Analysis Window Frames created by Glenn Weibe, self-described "social studies nerd, consultant, tech guy," and author of the blog History Tech. You all are obviously as enamored by them as I am, because this is my blog's second most read post of all time. 

Teaching Indian Literature and/or Literature about Indians, also from 2016, asks "Should we teach fictional books about Indians by non-Indian authors?" 

These older posts have an advantage when it comes to the numbers game--they've been around longer so more people have had a chance to read them. Here are some of the most read posts from the last year:

• IEFA Resources for Your Classroom (NENUK Tour and Other IEFA Resources) 
• Creating Timelines (Timeline JS) (This post not only talks about the tool, it also includes an illustrated timeline I created on homesteading.)

My favorites are always the posts summarizing your best lessons, which you share with me when taking the annual year-end survey (there's still time--and prizes to be won! Please take a moment to complete the survey now.) Here are last year's answers to question, "Describe (in brief) the best Montana history or IEFA lesson or project or resource you taught this year--the one you will make time for next year no matter what." 

• Best of, High School Edition 
• Best of, Middle School Edition 
• Best of, Elementary Edition 

P.S. There are still spots in "Making It Real: --A Montana Historical Society Workshop for Elementary and Middle School Teachers," June 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Helena. Participants will earn 6 OPI Renewal Units. Learn more and then register.

Get your Learning On

Looking to learn more Montana history this summer? Consider watching our lecture series, "Montana History in 9 Easy Lessons" and "Montana History in 9 More Easy Lessons." Both seasons start with the earliest history we know about through archaeological evidence (about 13,000 years ago.) Both seasons hopscotch through major topics (the fur trade, mining, ranching, homesteading, the treaty period, boarding school era, the Great Depression, the Relocation and Termination era, the Cold War) to modern times. 

We have two lectures left in "9 More Easy Lessons," which you can watch on our live-stream (or in person if you are in Helena), 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. 

• Transportation historian Jon Axline will present On the Road Again, which will look how cars and trucks in transformed Montana after World War II, on May 22. 
• Professor Emeritus Harry Fritz will explore "Montana's Triple Revolution," the formative period between 1960 to 1975, on May 29.

You can catch all past episodes--including these after they air--on our YouTube channel (and lots of other great presentations as well). For the 9 Easy Lessons series, we've arranged for you to receive an OPI Renewal Unit for each lecture by taking a simple quiz (really writing a short reflection) after watching.

Happy learning!

P.S. We are providing a free in-person PD as well, June 24 in Helena. Learn more here.P.P.S. Don't forget to take  our short end-of-the-year survey and help us improve. Need added incentive? I'm adding a prize for the 57 respondent.

Looking forward to fall: Apply for a Montana History Conference Scholarship

Save the Date! The Montana Historical Society is putting together an amazing program for the 46th Annual Montana History Conference, "Keeping Up with the Past!" The conference will be held in Helena, September 26-28. Renewal units will be available for both the Thursday educator workshop and all conference sessions. (Check here in June for more details.) We hope you’ll consider attending!

As in past years, we will be offering travel scholarships for both teachers and students.

About the scholarships: Funded by the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, the scholarships will consist of full conference registration plus a $275 travel/expense reimbursement. All teachers and students in Montana’s high schools, colleges, and universities are eligible to apply (residents of Helena and the vicinity are eligible for the conference registration scholarship but not the travel reimbursement).

Teacher recipients must attend the entire conference, including Thursday’s Educators Workshop and the Saturday sessions. Student recipients must commit to attending all day Friday and Saturday, including a Saturday tour.

Preference will be given to

• Teachers and students from Montana’s tribal colleges;
• Teachers and students from Montana’s on-reservation high schools;
• Teachers and students from Montana’s community colleges and four-year universities;
• Teachers and students from Montana’s small, rural, under-served communities.

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. September 8, 2019.  Awards will be announced the following week. Applying for a scholarship is quick and easy. Apply online.

P.S. Please don't forget to take our short online survey. Help us improve our offerings and maybe be a winner (prizes to the fifteenth, thirty-first, forty-second person to complete this survey.)

P.P.S. Don't forget: Registration is open for our upcoming workshop, Making It Real: A Workshop for Elementary and Middle School Teachers, to be held on June 24, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at the Montana Historical Society in Helena. Learn more about this workshop, and then register to attend this exciting professional development opportunity (6 OPI Renewal Units available).

Take our survey--and maybe win a prize

May 8 is the last day of school for Rapelje. Congratulations, Rapelje teachers and students. You made it!

As yet another school year winds to a close, I’d appreciate getting your feedback. I’d also like to gather information on what has worked for you in the classroom, so I can share it with other teachers next year.

Would you be willing to take a short online survey? If so, click here.

Need a little incentive? I’m offering prizes to the fifteenth, thirty-first, forty-second person to complete this survey.

P.S. Don't be confused. The survey refers to the listserv because the way the information on this blog is delivered to most people, but the Montana History and Heritage Education Listserv is the same as the Teaching Montana History Blog.

P.P.S. I'll continue posting for a little while now since most of us still have more school ahead of us--but wanted to get the survey out in order to reach everyone.