Online Educational Resources

Online Teacher Professional Development Lectures

Since the onset of the pandemic, Humanities Texas has held free online professional development institutes and webinar series for Texas teachers covering topics in U.S. history, Texas history, and English language arts. Faculty lectures from these programs are now available online, featuring content-based instruction from leading scholars in their fields and the valuable question-and-answer sessions that followed each presentation.

Founding a New Nation (2020 Online Institute)

From June 15–19, 2020, Humanities Texas held an online professional development institute for Texas teachers covering U.S. history during the founding period.

• Lindsay M. Chervinsky, "George Washington: Defining the Presidency," (June 2020)
• Lindsay M. Chervinsky, "George Washington: Defining the Presidency" Q&A, (June 2020)

• Kate Elizabeth Brown, "Alexander Hamilton and the Development of the U.S. Economic System," (June 2020)
• Kate Elizabeth Brown, "Alexander Hamilton and the Development of the U.S. Economic System" Q&A, (June 2020)

• Denver Brunsman, "Thomas Jefferson and the Rise of Political Parties," (June 2020)
• Denver Brunsman, "Thomas Jefferson and the Rise of Political Parties" Q&A, (June 2020)

• Zara Anishanslin, "American Society During the Founding Period," (June 2020)
• Zara Anishanslin, "American Society During the Founding Period" Q&A, (June 2020)

• Joseph F. Kobylka, "Establishing the Federal Judiciary," (June, 2020)
• Joseph F. Kobylka, "Establishing the Federal Judiciary" Q&A, (June 2020)

The Cold War (2020 Online Institute)

From June 22–26, 2020, Humanities Texas held an online professional development institute for Texas teachers covering the Cold War.

• Mark A. Lawrence, "Origins of the Cold War," (June 2020)
• Mark A. Lawrence, "Origins of the Cold War" Q&A, (June 2020)

• David M. Oshinsky, "The Cold War and American Society," (June 2020)
• David M. Oshinsky, "The Cold War and American Society" Q&A, (June 2020)

• Mary Ann Heiss, "War and Foreign Engagements of the Cold War," (June 2020)
• Mary Ann Heiss, "War and Foreign Engagements of the Cold War" Q&A, (June 2020)

• H. W. Brands, "Scientific and Economic Transformations During the Cold War,"             (June 2020)
• H. W. Brands, "Scientific and Economic Transformations During the Cold War" Q&A,    (June 2020)

• Jeremi Suri, "The End of the Cold War and its Legacy," (June 2020)
• Jeremi Suri, "The End of the Cold War and its Legacy" Q&A, (June 2020)

Texas as a Borderland, 1820–1835 (2020 Online Institute)

From July 6–10, 2020, Humanities Texas held an online professional development institute for Texas teachers covering Texas history during the 1820s and early 1830s.

• F. Todd Smith, "American Indians in Texas (1820–1835)," (July 2020)
• F. Todd Smith, "American Indians in Texas (1820–1835)" Q&A, (July 2020)

• Jesús F. de la Teja, "Tejanos in Texas," (July 2020)
• Jesús F. de la Teja, "Tejanos in Texas" Q&A, (July 2020)

• Gregg Cantrell, "Anglo-Americans and Texas," (July 2020)
• Gregg Cantrell, "Anglo-Americans and Texas" Q&A, (July 2020)

• Andrew Torget, "The Road to Revolution," (July 2020)
• Andrew Torget, "The Road to Revolution" Q&A, (July 2020)

Teaching the American Literary Tradition (2020 Online Institute)

From July 6–10, 2020, Humanities Texas held an online professional development institute for English language arts teachers focused on the American literary tradition.

• Sarah Ruffing Robbins, "Teaching American Literature," (July 2020)
• Sarah Ruffing Robbins, "Teaching American Literature" Q&A, (July 2020)

• Claudia Stokes, "Connecting Students to Nineteenth-Century Literature," (July 2020)
• Claudia Stokes, "Connecting Students to Nineteenth-Century Literature" Q&A, (July 2020)

• James H. Cox and Michael Soto, "American Literature of the 1920s," (July 2020)
• James H. Cox and Michael Soto, "American Literature of the 1920s" Q&A, (July 2020)

• Amy Earhart, "Teaching Texas Literature," (July 2020)
• Amy Earhart, "Teaching Texas Literature" Q&A, (July 2020)

• Andres Lopez, "Teaching Mexican American Literature," (July 2020)
• Andres Lopez, "Teaching Mexican American Literature" Q&A, (July 2020)

Teaching Literature (2020 Online Institute)

From July 13–17, 2020, Humanities Texas held an online professional development institute for English language arts teachers on teaching literature at the secondary level.

• Maryse Jayasuriya, "Teaching Fiction—Text and Context," (July 2020)
• Maryse Jayasuriya, "Teaching Fiction—Text and Context" Q&A, (July 2020)

• David Kornhaber, "Teaching Drama," (July 2020)
• David Kornhaber, "Teaching Drama" Q&A, (July 2020)

• Darryl Dickson-Carr, "African American Literature: Defining American Identity,"             (July 2020)
• Darryl Dickson-Carr, "African American Literature: Defining American Identity," Q&A     (July 2020)

• Marta Krogh, "Teaching Argumentative Writing," (July 2020)
• Marta Krogh, "Teaching Argumentative Writing," Q&A (July 2020)

Teaching Texas History (2020–2021 Online Series)

In fall 2020, Humanities Texas held a weekly series of 75-minute online webinars covering critical topics in the first half of the state's seventh-grade Texas history curriculum through the outbreak of the Texas Revolution.

• F. Todd Smith, "Native Americans to 1693", (October 2020)
• F. Todd Smith, "Native Americans to 1693" Q&A, (October 2020)

• Juliana Barr, "Native Americans, 1716–1800," (October 2020)

• Jesús F. de la Teja, "Spain in Texas, 1716–1800," (October 2020)
• Jesús F. de la Teja, "Spain in Texas, 1716–1800" Q&A, (October 2020)

• Andrew Torget, "Collapse of Spanish Texas, 1800–1820," (October 2020)
• Andrew Torget, "Collapse of Spanish Texas, 1800–1820" Q&A, (October 2020)

• Andrés Tijerina, "Tejanos and Mexican Texas," (November 2020)
• Andrés Tijerina, "Tejanos and Mexican Texas" Q&A, (November 2020)

• Gregg Cantrell, "Anglos and Colonization," (November 2020)
• Gregg Cantrell, "Anglos and Colonization" Q&A, (November 2020)

• Linda English, "Road to Rebellion, 1830–1835," (November 2020)
• Linda English, "Road to Rebellion, 1830–1835" Q&A, (November 2020)

• Andrew Torget, "Connecting the Pieces for Students," (December 2020)

• Andrew Torget, "Annexation and Slavery," (February 2021)
• Andrew Torget, "Annexation and Slavery," Q&A (February 2021)

• Alice Baumgartner, "Road to the Civil War," (February 2021)
• Alice Baumgartner, "Road to the Civil War," Q&A (February 2021)

• Susannah J. Ural, "The Civil War," (March 2021)
• Susannah J. Ural, "The Civil War," Q&A (March2021)

• Ben Wright, "Reconstruction," (February 2021)
• Ben Wright, "Reconstruction," Q&A (February 2021)

• Daniel J. Gelo, "Understanding and Teaching the Red River War," (March 2021)
• Daniel J. Gelo, "Understanding and Teaching the Red River War," Q&A (March 2021)

• Gregg Cantrell, "Cotton and Populists," (March 2021)
• Gregg Cantrell, "Cotton and Populists," Q&A (March 2021)

• Deborah M. Liles, "Cattle and Railroads," (March 2021)
• Deborah M. Liles, "Cattle and Railroads," Q&A (March 2021)

• Jessica Brannon-Wranosky, "The Age of Oil and the Early Twentieth Century,"               (April 2021)
• Jessica Brannon-Wranosky, "The Age of Oil and the Early Twentieth Century," Q&A     (April 2021)

The Making of Modern America (2020-2021 Online Series)

In fall 2020, Humanities Texas held a weekly series of 75-minute online webinars for eleventh-grade U.S. history teachers, covering topics on America in the first half of the twentieth century.

• Jeremi Suri, "America and World War I," (October 2020)
• Jeremi Suri, "America and World War I" Q&A, (October 2020)

• David M. Oshinsky, "The 1918–1919 Influenza Empidemic and Health in Modern America," (October 2020)
• David M. Oshinsky, "The 1918–1919 Influenza Empidemic and Health in Modern America" Q&A, (October 2020)

• Lizabeth Cohen, "The Great Depression," (October 2020)
• Lizabeth Cohen, "The Great Depression" Q&A, (October 2020)

• Meg Jacobs, "FDR and the New Deal," (November 2020)
• Meg Jacobs, "FDR and the New Deal" Q&A, (November 2020)

• Robert M. Citino, "World War II: Strategy and Turning Points," (November 2020)
• Robert M. Citino, "World War II: Strategy and Turning Points" Q&A, (November 2020)

• Peniel E. Joseph, "The Early Civil Rights Movement," (December 2020)
• Peniel E. Joseph, "The Early Civil Rights Movement" Q&A, (December 2020)

• Charles Flanagan, "Teaching the Cold War with Resources from the National Archives," (December 2020)
• Charles Flanagan, "Teaching the Cold War with Resources from the National Archives" Q&A, (December 2020)

• Mark Atwood Lawrence, "Origins of the Cold War," (February 2021)
• Mark Atwood Lawrence, "Origins of the Cold War" Q&A, (February 2021)

• William Hitchcock, "The Eisenhower Presidency," (February 2021)
• William Hitchcock, "The Eisenhower Presidency," Q&A (February 2021)

• Martin J. Sherwin, "The Cuban Missile Crisis," (March 2021)

• Monica Perales, "Latinx Civil Rights Movement following World War II,"                         (February 2021)
• Monica Perales, "Latinx Civil Rights Movement following World War II," Q&A         (February 2021)

• William P. Jones, "Civil Rights, LBJ, and the Great Society," (March 2021)
• William P. Jones, "Civil Rights, LBJ, and the Great Society," Q&A (March 2021)

• Lien-Hang T. Nguyen, "The Vietnam War," (March 2021)
• Lien-Hang T. Nguyen, "The Vietnam War," Q&A (March 2021)

• David Greenberg, "Nixon and Watergate," (March 2021)
• David Greenberg, "Nixon and Watergate" Q&A, (March 2021)

Shaping the American Republic (2020-2021 Online Series)

In fall 2020, Humanities Texas held a weekly series of 75-minute online webinars for eighth-grade U.S. history teachers, covering topics on the Early American Republic and the Constitution.

• Denver Brunsman, "Articles of Confederation," (October 2020)
• Denver Brunsman, "Articles of Confederation" Q&A, (October 2020)

• Lorri Glover, "The Constitutional Convention," (October 2020)
• Lorri Glover, "The Constitutional Convention" Q&A, (October 2020)

• Charles Flanagan, "The Bill of Rights," (October 2020)
• Charles Flanagan, "The Bill of Rights" Q&A, (October 2020)

• Christopher Bonner, "Defining Early American Citizenship," (October 2020)
• Christopher Bonner, "Defining Early American Citizenship" Q&A, (October 2020)

• Lindsay M. Chervinsky, "George Washington's Presidency," (November 2020)
• Lindsay M. Chervinsky, "George Washington's Presidency" Q&A, (November 2020)

• Juliana Barr, "Native Americans in the Early American Republic," (November 2020)
• Juliana Barr, "Native Americans in the Early American Republic" Q&A, (November 2020)

• Joseph F. Kobylka, "The Marshall Court," (December 2020)
• Joseph F. Kobylka, "The Marshall Court" Q&A (December 2020)

• Caitlin Fitz, "Foreign Relations in the Early American Republic," (December 2020)
• Caitlin Fitz, "Foreign Relations in the Early American Republic" Q&A, (December 2020)

• Gene Smith, "The War of 1812," (January 2021)
• Gene Smith, "The War of 1812," Q&A (January 2021)

• Denver Brunsman, "The Roots of American Industrialization," (February 2021)
• Denver Brunsman, "The Roots of American Industrialization," Q&A (February 2021)

• Brian Luskey, "The Age of Jackson," (February 2021)
• Brian Luskey, "The Age of Jackson," Q&A (February 2021)

• Andrew R. Graybill, "Manifest Destiny and the U.S.-Mexico War," (March 2021)
• Andrew R. Graybill, "Manifest Destiny and the U.S.-Mexico War," Q&A (March 2021)

• Michelle Kuhl, "Abolition and Women's Rights before the Civil War," (February 2021)
• Michelle Kuhl, "Abolition and Women's Rights before the Civil War," Q&A (February 2021)

• Christopher Bonner, "Production and Power in Slave Societies," (March 2021)
• Christopher Bonner, "Production and Power in Slave Societies," Q&A (March 2021)

• Andrew Torget, "Causes of the Civil War," (March 2021)
• Andrew Torget, "Causes of the Civil War," Q&A (March 2021)

• Sarah Purcell, "Turning Points of the Civil War," (March 2021)
• Sarah Purcell, "Turning Points of the Civil War," Q&A (March 2021)

• Kidada Williams, "Reconstruction: The Overthrown and Unfinished Revolution,"                 (April 2021)
• Kidada Williams, "Reconstruction: The Overthrown and Unfinished Revolution," Q&A (April 2021)

Teaching and Understanding Literature (2020-2021 Online Series)

In fall 2020, Humanities Texas held a weekly series of 75-minute online webinars for English language arts teachers, providing resources and strategies that help students to become better readers of fiction, poetry, and expository prose.

• Coleman Hutchison, "Teaching Close Reading and Analysis with the Close Reading Interpretive Tool," (October 2020)
• Coleman Hutchison, "Teaching Close Reading and Analysis with the Close Reading Interpretive Tool" Q&A, (October 2020)

• Susan Schorn, "Understanding Students as Writers," (October 2020)
• Susan Schorn, "Understanding Students as Writers" Q&A, (October 2020)

• Regina Mills, "Author's Purpose and Craft: Langston Hughes," (October 2020)
• Regina Mills, "Author's Purpose and Craft: Langston Hughes" Q&A, (October 2020)

• Betty Sue Flowers, "Teaching and Understanding Poetry," (October 2020)
• Betty Sue Flowers, "Teaching and Understanding Poetry" Q&A, (October 2020)

• Robert S. Levine, "Author's Purpose and Craft: Frederick Douglass," (November 2020)
• Robert S. Levine, "Author's Purpose and Craft: Frederick Douglass" Q&A, (November 2020)

• Emmy Pérez, "Teaching and Understanding Poetry," (November 2020)
• Emmy Pérez, "Teaching and Understanding Poetry" Q&A, (November 2020)

• Patricia M. García, "Author's Purpose and Craft: Sandra Cisneros," (December 2020)
• Patricia M. García, "Author's Purpose and Craft: Sandra Cisneros" Q&A, (December 2020)

• Amy Earhart, "Developing Engaging Writing Assignments," (December 2020)
• Amy Earhart, "Developing Engaging Writing Assignments" Q&A, (December 2020)

• Sarah Ruffing Robbins, "Graphic Narratives," (February 2021)
• Sarah Ruffing Robbins, "Graphic Narratives," Q&A (February 2021)

• Jenny Mann, "Utopian and Dystopian Literature," (March 2021)
• Jenny Mann, "Utopian and Dystopian Literature," Q&A (March 2021)

• Naomi Shihab Nye, "Walking Through an Open Door: Encouraging Creative Reading and Writing with Young People," (March 2021)
• Naomi Shihab Nye, "Walking Through an Open Door: Encouraging Creative Reading and Writing with Young People," Q&A (March 2021)

• Norma E. Cantú, "Latinx Literature," (March 2021)

• Brandon Manning, "Black Literatures," (April 2021)
• Brandon Manning, "Black Literatures," Q&A (April 2021)

Teaching African American History (2020 Fall Online Workshops)

In fall 2020, Humanities Texas held professional development webinars for secondary-level social studies teachers focused on helping students better understand African American history.

• Daina Ramey Berry, Anthony L. Brown, and Keffrelyn D. Brown, "Citizenship, Slavery, and the U.S. Constitution," (October 2020)
• Daina Ramey Berry, Anthony L. Brown, and Keffrelyn D. Brown, "Citizenship, Slavery, and the U.S. Constitution" Q&A, (October 2020)

• Daina Ramey Berry, Anthony L. Brown, and Keffrelyn D. Brown, "Race and Reform in the 1920s," (November 2020)
• Daina Ramey Berry, Anthony L. Brown, and Keffrelyn D. Brown, "Race and Reform in the 1920s" Q&A, (November 2020)

• Daina Ramey Berry, Anthony L. Brown, and Keffrelyn D. Brown, "Teaching Slavery in the Early Republic," (November 2020)
• Daina Ramey Berry, Anthony L. Brown, and Keffrelyn D. Brown, "Teaching Slavery in the Early Republic" Q&A, (November 2020)

• Andrea Holman and Collette Chapman-Hilliard, "The Difference Black History Knowledge Can Make," (December 2020)
• Andrea Holman and Collette Chapman-Hilliard, "The Difference Black History Knowledge Can Make" Q&A, (December 2020)

• Daina Ramey Berry, Anthony L. Brown, and Keffrelyn D. Brown, "African Americans and World War II," (December 2020)