This past week, Ralph W. Steen Library faculty and staff held a workshop for the educators taking part in the Curriculum Development Team for the Preserve America Grant Project. Four teachers from East Texas were hired, and we couldn't have asked for a better group.
The workshop began on Tuesday morning and we spent a few hours in the library, going over contracts, the Google group the teachers will be using to discuss and share information, and the TIDES website. Next on the agenda was a tour of the Library's East Texas Research Center, a delicious lunch at Shelley's Bakery, a tour of the Stone Fort Museum, and finally an experiment in geocaching in downtown Nacogdoches with the guidance of the Columbia Geospatial Service Center. Despite the heat and humidity, our educators approached each new adventure with enthusiasm and high spirits!
On Wednesday, we loaded into vans and had a whirlwind tour of cemeteries and historic sites along the El Camino Real. This included stops at Caddo Mounds State Historic Site for a picnic lunch and brief tour, an exploration of Mission Dolores, and a walk though the Monroe-Cook House in Crockett. By the end of the second day, half the teachers were jotting down ideas for lesson plans. By the next morning, they were already brainstorming together through the Google group. All in all, it was a rewarding workshop and helped to renew the excitemtn for the Preserve America Grant and resources that will be made available to the coummunity.
