Grantee: Fargo Public Schools, District #1, Fargo, ND
Project Name: Fargo Public Schools - Teaching History Project
Project Director: Nancy H. Murphy (701) 446-1047
Number of Teachers Served: 75
Number of School Districts Served: 2
Number of Students Served: No information available
The Fargo Public Schools and West Fargo Public Schools will collaborate with North Dakota State University, Valley City State University, the North Dakota Historical Society, and the Institute for Regional Studies to offer this professional development program to history/social studies teachers in grades 6, 8, 9, and 11. In addition to a high failure rate of students in history classes and high student drop-out rate, an estimated 30% of the district's history and social studies teacher do not meet the state's definition of "highly qualified." The project seeks to increase participants' knowledge of American history and primary sources, improve pedagogical skills, and give teachers an opportunity to develop curricular units, classroom materials, and assessment tools. Teachers completing the project will offer professional development programs to fellow history teachers. The training method follows the Joyce and Showers model for professional development, and includes summer institutes, monthly meetings, and ongoing coaching. Content addresses: Women in America; American Frontier and West; America's Changing Identity Viewed Through Documents; Key Episodes in American Political and Social History; and America in the Western Hemisphere: Turning Points in History.