Articles

Beginning in January, Humanities Texas will conduct in-person and online teacher professional development programs on a number of exciting topics.

In-person workshops include "Teaching the Harlem Renaissance" in San Antonio (January 24) and "Teaching Landmark Supreme Court Cases" in Fort Worth (February 28) and Austin (February 29).

Webinar series include "Texas History: Cotton, Cattle, and Railroads" (Mondays, January 22–February 12), "Teaching the U.S. Constitution: Amendments, the Supreme Court, and Rights and Liberties" (Wednesdays, January 24–February 7), and "Teaching Utopian and Dystopian Literature" (March 20 and 27). One-day webinars include "Responding to Student Writing" (March 5) and "Inspiring Creative, Narrative, and Argumentative Writing with Art" in collaboration with the Smithsonian Museum of American Art (April 2).

All programs will emphasize close interaction with scholars, the examination of primary sources and texts, and the development of effective pedagogical strategies and engaging assignments and activities.

Texas History: Cotton, Cattle, and Railroads (Webinar Series)

"Texas History: Cotton, Cattle, and Railroads" will take place on Zoom from 5:00–6:30 p.m. CT on the following Mondays: January 22 and 29 and February 5 and 12. Teachers who register will receive information for each webinar in the series. Attendance for every weekly session is encouraged but not required.

This four-part webinar series will examine the transformative era of "cotton, cattle, and railroads" in Texas history, from the 1870s through the 1890s. The series will explore the demise of American Indians in the aftermath of the Civil War; the simultaneous rise of the cattle industry; the role of railroads in ending cattle drives and driving down cotton prices across the state; and how Texas farmers led one of the largest political revolts in American history during the 1890s.

The webinars will offer new assessments of the era and provide a collection of curriculum materials geared toward bringing innovative perspectives into the classroom. Workshop faculty includes Andrew Torget (University of North Texas), Jay Ferguson (Round Rock ISD), and Chassidy Olainu-Alade (Fort Bend ISD).

Teaching the Harlem Renaissance (In-Person Workshop)

"Teaching the Harlem Renaissance" will take place in San Antonio on January 24. The workshop will expand participants' understanding of the Harlem Renaissance and its expression in poetry, prose, music, and visual cultures/print media. Workshop faculty includes Michael Borshuk (Texas Tech University), Bryan Carter (University of Arizona), and Ryan Sharp (Baylor University).

Teaching the U.S. Constitution: Amendments, the Supreme Court, and Rights and Liberties (Webinar Series)

"Teaching the U.S. Constitution: Amendments, the Supreme Court, and Rights and Liberties" will take place on Zoom from 5:00–6:30 p.m. CT on the following Wednesdays: January 24 and 31 and February 7. Teachers who register will receive information for each webinar in the series. Attendance for every weekly session is encouraged but not required.

The webinars will focus on post-Civil War amendments and landmark cases that cover voting rights, fundamental rights, and equality. Presentations will explore how the Supreme Court has contributed to our understanding of what freedom entails. Workshop faculty includes Joseph F. Kobylka (Southern Methodist University), Laura Moyer (University of Louisville), and Kevin McGuire (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).

Teaching Landmark Supreme Court Cases (In-Person Workshop)

"Teaching Landmark Supreme Court Cases" will take place in Fort Worth on February 28 and Austin on February 29. The workshop will focus on milestone cases in Supreme Court history related to civil liberties, civil rights, defining federal power, and criminal procedure.

Cases to be discussed include, but are not limited to, Marbury v. Madison (1803), McCullough v. Maryland (1819), Gibbons v. Ogden (1824), Hernandez v. Texas (1954), Mapp v. Ohio (1961), Gideon v. Wainwright (1963), and United States v. Lopez (1995). Workshop faculty includes Alyx Mark (Wesleyan University), Kevin McGuire (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), and Pamela Corley and Joseph F. Kobylka (Southern Methodist University).

Responding to Student Writing (Webinar)

"Responding to Student Writing" will take place on Zoom from 5:00–6:15 p.m. CT on Wednesday, March 5. This program for social studies and English language arts teachers will provide a variety of strategies to help teachers assess and respond to student writing.

The webinar will support students' development in the skills of critical thinking, analysis, research, and writing. Terri Pantuso of Texas A&M University will lead the webinar.

Teaching Utopian and Dystopian Literature (Webinar Series)

"Teaching Utopian and Dystopian Literature" will take place on Zoom from 5:00–6:15 p.m. CT on Wednesday, March 20 and 27. Teachers who register will receive information for each webinar. Attending both sessions is encouraged but not required.

The webinars will provide multiple approaches for generating student interest in and understanding utopian and dystopian literature. Jenny C. Mann of New York University will lead the webinars.

Inspiring Creative, Narrative, and Argumentative Writing with Art (Webinar)

"Inspiring Creative, Narrative, and Argumentative Writing with Art" will take place on Zoom from 5:00–6:30 p.m. CT on April 2. This interactive session for humanities teachers will model three distinct classroom strategies exploring different styles of writing in response to artwork.

The webinar will support students' development in the skills of critical thinking, analysis, and writing. Phoebe Hillemann of the Smithsonian American Art Museum will lead the webinar.