NHD 2009 Topic Selection

As a teacher, I am unable to compete in the National History Day contest. However, I can still provide students with a model for NHD. I will use the research I am conducting for my graduate class at Temple University. My topic of research is surfing. I chose surfing as my topic for research because this past summer I learned how to surf and now I would like to learn about the history of surfing. Particularly, I am interested in the development of surfing as a part of Hawaiian culture. How was surfing a part of Hawaiian culture? Was it merely a sport or was it something more? Furthermore, I want to investigate what happened when Europeans and Americans arrived in Hawaii in the 1700s and 1800s. How did they view surfing? How did they influence Hawaiian culture? For this research, I have taken out a number of books from the Temple University Library. I have also visited the Library Company of Philadelphia. I'll post my original annotated bibliography and bibliographic essay. I hope this will serve as a model for students to follow.

Welcome Class of 2011!

Dear students,

Welcome to our American Studies class. We have a brand new classroom for a brand new school year! I am very excited about teaching in the Constitution High School Court Room. I look forward to creating Court Room Rules and Procedures with you. This year we will focus on the preparing for next year's AP U.S. History course. It's going to be a great year!

Teacher's Curriculum Institute - San Francisco 2008

I just finished attending the TCI Summer Institute. TCI is the creator of the History Alive! curriculum, particularly the Pursuing American Ideals materials we use in our American Studies program. The institute offered me the opportunity to participate in some of the PAI lessons taught in our class. The most enlightening experience occurred during my last session on Monday. The lesson was an Experiential Exercise on the role of Labor Unions during the Progressive Era. The teachers participated in the Everybody Can Win Game. After teaching this lesson this past Spring semester - I was heartbroken when none of the groups in any of my three classes voted in the best interests of all. I felt like there was a pervasive selfishness the had infected my classes. It was a very depressing feeling. Well, the teachers from across the country at this workshop had the exact same results as my students. In no instance did all the groups work together to promote consensus and the welfare of all. Many teachers were angry and upset to see their peers act in selfish ways. A teacher on my team explained why we never voted in the interests of the whole stating, "Every time we voted for our own self interests we were rewarded. There was only one instance in which we received negative consequences. So it the benefits of acting in our own self interests always out weighed those of acting for the common good." I did not share in the frustration of my colleagues. On the contrary, I was ecstatic because I realized that the failure of my students to act in the interests of the whole was not a reflection of their negative and selfish attitudes but a result of the game. I must apologize for thinking the failure was a character flaw of my students - the character flaw is part of being human and is a function of the game.

NHD Final Reflection

NHD 2008 School Wide Competition

I think this year's NHD competition went very well. We had many obstacles to overcome including bad weather. On Friday, February 22nd the first real snow storm of the winter stuck with a vengeance. Despite the snow, sleet, and rain many students and judges arrived at school for the competition.

I think the best part of NHD is giving students the opportunity to share their hard work with an audience. I was very proud of my students. Throughout school, students were performing and presenting in classrooms as teachers and judges watched closely.


We have a strong group of entries for the city-wide competition. In less than two weeks these students will represent our school and make us proud. But let us not forget the work of the many. For almost every student put forth a strong effort. Remember there is no greater reward than the satisfaction of a job well done. So even if you did not go on to the city competition, I am sure you have learned a great deal from this experience.

NHD Update

There are less than 18 days until NHD projects are due! Once again, the time has disappeared. Students are completing their thesis statements and titles. Next week, students should begin putting their projects together.

Due Dates:
February 8 - The Final Draft of the Annotated Bibliography is due. This will count as a project grade.

February 19th - Final Projects are due.

February 21st - Dress Rehearsal.

February 22nd - NHD COMPETITION!

National History Day Thoughts and Concerns

National History Day Competition Thoughts and Concerns:

I have some thoughts about this year’s NHD competition. First, I think that our school is off to a much better start than last year. A large number of students have chosen their topic, conducted initial research, and completed an annotated bibliography. Secondly, I think that the entire school has a much better idea of what it takes to be successful at NHD. As a result, I believe that there are a few concerns that must be addressed as our school moves forward in preparing for the 2008 competition.

Major Concerns:
I am worried that students will not be able to create high quality projects for NHD if they only work on their projects during school hours.

I am worried that if our American Studies class time is dedicated to NHD preparation, students will lose out on learning the core content that is part of the Advanced Placement Exam.

I am worried that students and staff may not know how to deal with the extra stress that comes with preparing for NHD.

Suggestions:
I suggest that one class every week in American Studies is dedicated to NHD preparation.

I suggest that students and staff participate in NHD workshops during special half-day schedules modeled after the Service Learning Schedule from last year.

I suggest that Teachers have time to work with Parents to instruct them how they can help their students prepare for NHD. This will require Parents and Students to work together at home on the projects.

National History Day and American Studies

I have been thinking a lot about how to integrate National History Day into our American Studies course. So far, we have devoted Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays to American Studies curriculum and Thursdays and Fridays to National History Day. As we move forward this will need to change. We will begin studying the Antebellum period after our winter break. This will include reading Fredrick Douglas' Narrative of the Life of a Slave. I also believe it is important to develop our research and writing skills, especially as students' work independently on their NHD projects. I think we will need to devote Friday's and Humanities classes to NHD, while our class time focuses on American Studies. This is an exciting experiment and with hard work before, during, and after school - we will succeed!