Applications Are Now Open for the 2019 Library of Congress Summer Institutes and Library Media Specialist Workshop

Apply to participate in a Library of Congress Summer Teacher Institute or Library Media Specialist Multi-Day Workshop if you want:

• To learn effective strategies to incorporate primary sources into your teaching;
• To develop an activity plan using primary sources from the Library of Congress;
• An opportunity to interact with teachers from around the country and exchange ideas;
• To explore the Library’s rich collections and work with experts from around the institution; and
• To meet the education specialists who, among other things, create this blog!

These professional development opportunities are free but participants must pay for travel to Washington, D.C., and for lodging and food while attending the workshop or institute.

What did last summer’s participants have to say about the experience? Here are a few reflections offered several months after the institutes:

2018 Institute participants take a close look at primary sources

Effects on students –

• “Students seem to make more inferences with pictures, and their analysis leads to additional questions and research. These are exactly the strategies we want our students to learn.”
• “I was surprised at some of the questions that the students asked and what caught their attention. Many of the things I took for granted that they would know – they didn’t.
• “The students “owned” what they were doing, and the research led them to some interesting insights about their own lives (they don’t have to work in a glass factory instead of going to school).  Their reflections at the end of the task showed how they connected with the images.”
• “Including historical context  for students really helps them understand the nature of science and scientific understanding.”

Effects on teaching practices –

• “I learned to be more intentional in framing questions for analyzing documents.”
• “Before this institute I was afraid of primary sources but now I am finding sources and telling teachers about it.”
• “Rigorous analysis doesn’t mean just reading a difficult text. Some amazing analysis can be done with a well-chosen photograph.”
• “I wasn’t going to use primary sources with students younger than third grade… But once I tried with the younger students, it has been amazing to see what you can do on lower levels with the students.”

Week-long Summer Teacher Institutes

These five-day institutes will provide educators with tools and resources to effectively integrate primary sources into classroom teaching.

In addition, interested Summer Teacher Institute participants may earn three graduate credits from George Mason University for completing all institute and post-institute requirements (additional fees are required to obtain graduate credit). Institute dates are listed below.

• Open sessions (any subject area): July 8-12; July 29-Aug 2
• Science, Technology, and Engineering Focus: July 15-19

The Library of Congress Summer Teacher Institutes are appropriate for K-12 educators across many disciplines, including social studies, history, English language arts, science, art, music, and for any educators who feel that primary sources could be used with their curricula. Librarians and curriculum or professional development specialists are also encouraged to apply.

The deadline to send in Summer Teacher Institute applications is March 10, 2019. Additional information and the application form can be found here!

Two and ½ Day Primary Sources Workshop for Library Media Specialists

In addition to the full-week institutes, the Library is offering a 2 1/2 day hands-on workshop intended especially for school librarians or library media specialists, June 19-June 21, 2019. Sessions will run from 9 am – 5 pm on Wednesday and Thursday, and from 9 am – noon on Friday.

More details about the workshop and the application process can be found here. Don’t delay – the deadline to apply to attend this workshop is February 22, 2019.

Watch this space for one more summer workshop opportunity – coming soon!