Professional Development
Each summer I try to find a few seminars around the country that will help me become a better educator. Here are a fwe of the more interesting ones that I've traveled to.
Economics for Leaders - Foundation for Teaching Economics

August 2010: Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
Economics for Leaders (EFL) represents a unique experience in economics education that brings together teachers looking to improve their teaching skills in economics. The EFL one-week program is rigorous and encompasses 50+ hours of instruction.
The goal of each EFL program is to provide teachers with lesson plans of simulations and activities, economics content instruction, and a networking opportunity with other teaching professionals. The combination of classroom instruction, question and answer sessions, small group discussion and workshops presents information in a rich and varied format, encouraging active participation. Economics professors selected nationwide for their expertise, along with skilled mentor teachers, provide content instruction and run simulations and activities that are designed to illustrate economic principles. Both new and experienced teachers will benefit from attending this program.
A feature of EFL that past participants have found especially useful is the demonstrations: the EFL staff model the activities and simulations with high school students. Attending teachers gain direct experience with the lesson plans before they leave at the end of the week.
(Foundation for Teaching Economics)
Economics for Leaders (EFL) represents a unique experience in economics education that brings together teachers looking to improve their teaching skills in economics. The EFL one-week program is rigorous and encompasses 50+ hours of instruction.
The goal of each EFL program is to provide teachers with lesson plans of simulations and activities, economics content instruction, and a networking opportunity with other teaching professionals. The combination of classroom instruction, question and answer sessions, small group discussion and workshops presents information in a rich and varied format, encouraging active participation. Economics professors selected nationwide for their expertise, along with skilled mentor teachers, provide content instruction and run simulations and activities that are designed to illustrate economic principles. Both new and experienced teachers will benefit from attending this program.
A feature of EFL that past participants have found especially useful is the demonstrations: the EFL staff model the activities and simulations with high school students. Attending teachers gain direct experience with the lesson plans before they leave at the end of the week.
(Foundation for Teaching Economics)
American Industrial Revolution - National Endowment for Humanities

July 2010: The Henry Ford, Dearborn, Michigan
This week-long program provided participants with an in depth look at the American Industrial Revolution. Though hands on analysis, guided tours, research and lectures, teachers had the opportunity to learn how the American Industrial Revolution modernized America.
This week-long program provided participants with an in depth look at the American Industrial Revolution. Though hands on analysis, guided tours, research and lectures, teachers had the opportunity to learn how the American Industrial Revolution modernized America.
Churchill and European History - Center for Teacher Excellence

April 2009: Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, Michigan
In June, 2001, Hillsdale College launched the Charles R. and Kathleen K. Hoogland Center for Teacher Excellence, a program committed to instructing teachers in the best of the liberal arts tradition for the advancement of liberty.
Building upon the mission of the Hillsdale Academy, a private co-educational K-12 school, the Center for Teacher Excellence (CTE) expands the reach of Hillsdale College's message of classical curricula and subject mastery to a nationwide audience of teachers. The CTE seeks to reinvigorate civic education with the spirit of liberty that animated America's founding.
Nearly 3,000 public, private and homeschool teachers from 41 states have participated in the seminar series in American civics education. The CTE has conducted 59 seminars in twelve states.
In June, 2001, Hillsdale College launched the Charles R. and Kathleen K. Hoogland Center for Teacher Excellence, a program committed to instructing teachers in the best of the liberal arts tradition for the advancement of liberty.
Building upon the mission of the Hillsdale Academy, a private co-educational K-12 school, the Center for Teacher Excellence (CTE) expands the reach of Hillsdale College's message of classical curricula and subject mastery to a nationwide audience of teachers. The CTE seeks to reinvigorate civic education with the spirit of liberty that animated America's founding.
Nearly 3,000 public, private and homeschool teachers from 41 states have participated in the seminar series in American civics education. The CTE has conducted 59 seminars in twelve states.
Virtual Economics 3.0

March 2009: Lenawee ISD, Adrian, Michigan
Virtual Economics is the 21st century way of helping young people understand the economic concepts we struggled to learn as high schoolers. Virtual economics is an interactive, multimedia experience that allows students to learn economics in fun, easy to understand ways. From Kindergartners to high schoolers, Virtual Economics teaches a variety of concepts to help all students master this important subject matter.
Virtual Economics is the 21st century way of helping young people understand the economic concepts we struggled to learn as high schoolers. Virtual economics is an interactive, multimedia experience that allows students to learn economics in fun, easy to understand ways. From Kindergartners to high schoolers, Virtual Economics teaches a variety of concepts to help all students master this important subject matter.
Slavery and the Civil War - Center for Teacher Excellence

November 2008: Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, Michigan
In in depth look at Abraham Lincoln, slavery and the war that tore America apart.
In in depth look at Abraham Lincoln, slavery and the war that tore America apart.