A Note on Links: When reading back posts, please be aware that links have a short half-life. You can find working links to all of the MHS resources on our Educator Resources Page.

Tuesday, June 8, 2021

"Teaching Students to Ask Their Own Primary Source Questions" Online Course

 Only last week, I said farewell for the summer--but then the folks at the Right Question Institute emailed me about this free opportunity that is too good not to share. I've been advocating teaching students how to ask questions for a long time now--and am thrilled that developing questions is one of the skills included in our new state social studies standards (SS.K12.1).  

The Right Question Institute can help you help your students master this essential skill. And they are doing it with primary sources! And it's free! And, if you email me a copy of your certificate at the end of the course, I'll be happy to issue a certificate for 12 OPI Renewal Units. 

Here's the Right Question's promo and link to registration:   

When studying primary sources, questions can act as both a magnifying glass and a telescope: They help us to see more clearly what is in front of us and then inspire us to look beyond. Learning how to ask questions is an essential skill that can transform the way students approach primary source learning. Join us for “Teaching Students to Ask Their Own Primary Source Questions”: a new, free online course developed in collaboration with, and made possible by, the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) program.  

This self-paced, four-week online course demonstrates how to combine the Question Formulation Technique with the primary source artifacts and teacher resources available at the Library of Congress to design and implement more effective, student-centered, inquiry-based primary source learning. Participants walk away with a peer reviewed lesson plan, a new community of educators, and pathways to extend their learning. The course opens week to week and requires approximately 12-16 hours of work total, or three to four hours of work per week. 

P.S. We still haven't awarded that final prize to the forty-eighth person to take the survey. Maybe it has your name on it! 

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

See you next fall, if not before

Teaching Montana History is going on hiatus for summer break--unless something time sensitive comes along that is so good I can't bear not to share it. 

If you are changing schools, please re-subscribe using your new address! We'd hate to lose touch. 

If your travels bring you to Helena this summer, please stop in and say "hello." And of course, don't hesitate to contact me if I can help you as you prepare for your classes next fall: mkohl@mt.gov

Do know that there's still time to complete our annual survey and to share your favorite lesson. (Need more incentive? The prize for the forty-eighth person to complete the survey is still waiting to be claimed.)  

Whether through the survey, an email, or if your vacation takes you through Helena, I look forward to hearing from you. 

P.S. Missing the Teaching Montana History already? Browse back posts. Use the labels on the right-hand side to browse general areas (IEFA) or the search bar to search by keywords (primary sources). And if you have time this summer, consider taking some online professional development to learn more about Montana history and teaching resources while earning OPI Renewal Units.