Teaching American History
History Connected illuminates enduring themes and issues of American history that span both time and place. Global connections between the United States and the world are an important feature of the program. So too are connections between ideas, individuals, documents and events as they developed on the local, national, and international levels. Over the course of three years, program participants explore the connections that have shaped America. As part of the History Connected project, the Reading Public Schools work in partnership with the Department of History at Boston College, the UMass Lowell Graduate School of Education, the Tsongas Center for Industrial History, and Primary Source, a nonprofit history professional development organization based in Watertown.
Imagination, Invention, & Innovation: The Making of American History is a three-year professional development program for elementary and secondary public school teachers in Billerica, Amesbury, Chelmsford, Hamilton-Wenham, Littleton, Tewksbury, Triton Regional, and Westford. Exploring key themes in American History from the 16th century to the present day is integral to the program’s intention to enhance teachers’ knowledge of U.S. history, deepen historical thinking skills, and offer new approaches for classroom instruction of traditional American history.