Professional Education

The Library of Congress is seeking applications from current teachers of journalism or economics for a Teacher-in-Residence position within its Learning and Innovation Office during the 2020-21 school year. The program description and application details can be found here. Applications are due on Friday, March 27, 2020. The Learning and Innovation team develops and delivers teaching materials and programs to make the Library’s unparalleled collections of primary sources visible, accessible and easy for K-12 teachers to integrate into the classroom. The Teacher-in-Residence program is designed to give an educator a unique professional development experience – a year at the Library in Washington, D.C., working with staff, contributing to K-12 education programs and materials, advising on outreach to teachers, and helping to uncover and make visible primary sources in the Library’s collections. Read More ⟶

More than two dozen summer teacher institutes are offered by federal courts across the country. Federal judges, volunteer attorneys, legal scholars and court staff create realistic courtroom experiences and offer classroom-ready resources for high school and middle school teachers who seek to deepen their understanding of the third branch. Most of these tuition-free programs range from three to five days at courthouses in almost every federal court circuit. Those that are co-sponsored with a law school or university are eligible for education credits. Go here for more information. Read More ⟶

The Center for Civic Education is implementing a multiyear grant from the U.S. Department of Education for Presidential Academies for teachers and Congressional Academies for high-need high school students. The Academies provide high-quality educational engagement in American history and civics. Fifty-one teachers and 102 students from throughout the country participate each year in the Academies Read More ⟶

With lesson plans based on the scholarly works of the Interactive Constitution and classroom-tested materials on civil dialogue, the National Constitution Center’s Classroom Exchanges provide students the opportunity to use their voice and answer constitutional questions about topics that matter in their lives. These online, real-time conversations between your class and another class across the United States build student confidence in sharing their voice and provide students the skills to disagree without being disagreeable.
In addition to providing an opportunity for your students to discuss essential constitutional issues with their peers from across the country, exchanges meet Social Studies, English, and Speaking & Listening Standards through inquiry-based learning, all while promoting SEL skills through civil dialogue techniques. Sign up for an Exchange here or email Exchange@ConstitutionCenter.org with questions about the program.
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The Library of Congress is accepting applications for its weeklong summer institutes for K-12 educators. Held at the Library of Congress in D.C., this professional development opportunity provides educators of all disciplines with resources and strategies to effectively integrate primary sources into K-12 classroom teaching. Each session will focus on pedagogy, with an emphasis on Read More ⟶

Join your colleagues at a historical site to deepen your understanding of American history. Bring the past to life through documents and discussion-based lessons with subject matter experts at a multiday colloquium sponsored by TeachingAmericanHistory.org. The seminars, which count for in-service hours, are free. Learn more here. Read More ⟶

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, in partnership with the Heinz History Center of Pittsburgh and the National Museum of American Jewish History is offering a one-week summer institute from June 21 to 26, 2020. “Becoming U.S.: The Immigrant Experience through Primary Sources” focuses on the broad themes of immigration and its complexities throughout American history, placing lessons about the past within historical and contemporary contexts. The deadline is March 1, 2020. Learn more about the institute and apply here. Read More ⟶

Since 1995, over 1,400 social studies educators from across the country have come together in Washington, D.C., for the Supreme Court Summer Institute for Teachers, a six-day teacher professional development program focused on improving teaching about the U.S. Supreme Court. The Institute is co-sponsored by the Supreme Court Historical Society. The Institute includes sessions led by Supreme Court experts, journalists, authors, and attorneys, who give social studies educators an in-depth understanding of how the Court chooses and decides cases and what it is like to argue before the Court. The Institute covers six recent cases. This exciting opportunity culminates with a visit to the Supreme Court building to hear decisions handed down and attend a private reception. Read More ⟶

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is accepting applications for its 2020 Teacher Seminars. Our inaugural Summit features 12 concurrent seminars for more than 400 teachers. Participants will also be able to attend book talks with historians and take part in networking opportunities. Read More ⟶

Join teachers from across the country and constitutional scholars from across the philosophical spectrum for a weeklong Summer Teacher Institute at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Read More ⟶