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Teacher Professional Development

Schedule a workshop in your school or state

Our teacher professional development features a full-day in-person workshop, individual follow-up training, and monthly group meetings throughout the school year.

Teachers at tables in a classroom

Teachers will receive lessons and strategies from our Family History Curriculum. It is aligned with the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards, and it can be adapted to meet state and local standards. Genealogy is a powerful lens for teaching history, culture, and geography, while students learn how to plan and carry out research, analyze primary sources, and make personal connections to history.  

Our professional development empowers teachers to integrate genealogy into their curriculum in a way that is respectful to the sensitive nature of family history. Each lesson can be tailored to individual students, including their age, grade, cultural heritage, and unique background.

Teacher Professional Development Includes

In-person Workshop

American Ancestors will travel to your school, district, or state to conduct a full-day in-person workshop. Teachers will receive resources and strategies to incorporate genealogy into the classroom. They will walk away with inclusive teaching strategies, inquiry-based lessons, and case studies of historical figures.

Individual Follow-up Coaching

Following the workshop, each teacher will receive individual follow-up trainings via Zoom to create a personalized plan to incorporate genealogy into their classroom.

Monthly Group Meetings

There are optional monthly group meetings throughout the school year for teachers to exchange ideas and gain insight from fellow educators.

Case Studies of Historical Figures

We will assist you in developing engaging case studies of historical figures relevant to your curriculum, with a focus on local and inclusive figures. We also offer access to our expanding library of case studies, which can serve as models and inspiration for creating your own. 

More About Teacher Professional Development

Participants  

  • Grades 4-8
  • Social Studies/History, English Language Arts, School Librarians, Any classroom teacher interested incorporating family history

Date

  • Workshops are offered on an agreed date that works best for you 

Benefits for Teachers

  • Receive inquiry-based lessons from the Family History Curriculum by American Ancestors  
  • Discover inclusive teaching strategies to make genealogy accessible for all students, regardless of their background or family configuration
  • Create a plan to integrate genealogy into your existing curriculum
  • Receive one-on-one virtual follow-up training
  • Participate in peer-to-peer interaction to exchange ideas and gain insight from fellow educators  
  • Identify and address common misconceptions that students have about genealogy
  • Bring parents and guardians onboard as collaborators as students explore their roots
  • Receive member access to AmericanAncestors.org

Benefits for Students

  • Develop research and historical thinking skills that inspire a lifelong love of learning
  • Make personal connections to history and discover your roots
  • Be at the center of historical-inquiry and shape your own learning
  • Explore real-world careers and authentic research practices used by professional genealogists
  • Experience the psychological and emotional benefits of family history research
     

Help students develop critical research and thinking skills as they explore their roots and make real-world, personal connections to history

teachers working in a group

Cost

The cost of our teacher professional development can be tailored to your specific needs, including the number of teachers, monthly group meetings, and case study research. Submit a registration for a personalized quote.

Questions? Contact Dustin Axe, Youth Genealogy Curriculum Coordinator at Dustin.Axe@nehgs.org

Registration