History Matters! Teaching American History Grant emphasizes content knowledge and historical thinking in grades K – 4. The goal of the three-year grant, 2008-2011, is to create a cadre of elementary teacher leaders who were educated by leading scholars and historic institutions in traditional American history content. The teacher leaders will have a strong knowledge of traditional American history, expertise in teaching American history in grades K – 4 and the skill to incorporate non-fiction texts, specifically primary sources, into the elementary classroom to increase student engagement and achievement in American history.
The Rockwood, Parkway, Union, and Valley Park School Districts in the proximity of historic St. Louis, Missouri partnering with the Smithsonian Institution, the National Center for History in the Schools, the Missouri State Archives, several National Parks, Presidential Libraries and Museums and historians from Webster University, the University of Missouri at St. Louis and other colleges and universities from across the country to provide a three year professional development opportunity to:
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provide the content knowledge via historians, libraries, museums and nonprofit history, and humanities organizations to promote expertise in a specific focus area of traditional American history for teachers in grades K –4 (Absolute Priority)
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introduce the Standards in Historical Thinking as the foundation of student learning at all grade levels and providing the strategies to ensure the standards are utilized in the classroom
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improve student engagement and achievement in traditional American history (Competitive Preference Priority)
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ensure American History is taught as a separate subject in elementary school linked through historical thinking standards and supported by the strong content knowledge of the teachers
History Matters! Teaching American History Grant has been funded by the US Department of Education's Teaching American History Grant program in the amount of $971,000. All TAH materials on this website are available for public use at no charge.