| Grants: Foundations of Freedom
FOUNDATIONS OF FREEDOM I, II, III
Teaching American History (TAH)
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| History
should be the most exciting subject there is because it is
the saga of human beings. Students should be stirred by the
feelings and emotions of the ages. |
| ~James
Robertson, Civil War Historian |
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Newport News Public Schools has received three grant awards through
the U.S.
Department of Education Teaching American History (TAH) program.
These awards have funded the program known within NNPS as Foundations
of Freedom (FoF). Each award covered a three year period.
Foundations of Freedom I (awarded in 2002) focused on the improvement
of history instruction at the elementary level. Foundations of Freedom
II (awarded in 2004) focused on instruction at the middle school
level and FoF III (awarded in 2006) is currently focusing on the
instruction at the high school level.
Project Goals
The goal for the entire Foundations of Freedom Program has been
to improve history instruction in the schools.
The program seeks to ensure the delivery of high quality U.S. history
education through increased teacher knowledge about American history
and enhanced instructional skills. As a result, student achievement
on U. S. history SOLs and other assessments will increase for all
students while the achievement gap that exists among diverse groups
of students will decrease.
Project Activities
Teachers are offered opportunities to participate in various workshops
and colloquia presented by recognized experts in American History
at both the national and local levels.
They are supported by the program in efforts to attend conferences
and obtain resources to improve the delivery of their content.
Specific activities include:
- Cohort field trips during the school year
- National Council for History Education (NCHE) two-day Colloquia
- Distinguished Lecturer Series by the Organization of American
Historians
- Virginia Historical Society two-day Workshops
- Virginia War Museum two-day Academies
- Bill of Rights Institute Workshops
- Teachers’ Curriculum Institute Summer Workshops
- Graduate Level Courses in U.S. History
- Museum Outreach Programs
Project Staff
Sybil
Young
Project Director, (757) 591-4902
Roberta
Paterson
Secretary, (757) 597-2853
John Quarstein
Project Historian
Renita Williams
Secondary Social Studies Supervisor, (757) 591-4571
Dr. Zhongtang Ren
Program for Research and Evaluation in Public Schools,
Old Dominion University
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Project Steering Committee Members:
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