The Library of Congress > Teachers > Professional Development > Summer Teacher Institute

2013 Summer Teacher Institutes

The Library of Congress is now accepting applications for its 2013 Summer Teacher Institutes in Washington, D.C. The five-day institutes will provide educators with tools and resources to effectively integrate primary sources into classroom teaching.

In the institutes, Library of Congress education specialists will instruct participants in best practices for using primary sources in the K-12 classroom, while helping them explore some of the millions of digitized primary sources available on the Library's Web site. All sessions will expose participants to a wide variety of primary sources from the Library's collections. Participants will be able to work with teachers from around the country to explore methods for effectively integrating primary sources into classroom activities.

After participating in the Summer Teacher Institutes, participants will:

  • Know how to access primary sources from the Library of Congress.
  • Become skilled at analyzing primary sources of different formats.
  • Learn various teaching strategies for using primary sources in the classroom.
  • Be able to successfully facilitate a primary source-based activity with students.
  • Gain knowledge of how to use primary sources to enable students to be engaged, think critically and construct knowledge.
  • Develop a Primary Source Activity Plan that will be implemented in the participant's instructional setting.

See complete 2012 Syllabus (Word, 101 KB)

As follow up to the Summer Teacher Institutes, participants will:

  • Continue to refine their Primary Source Activity Plan.
  • Implement a Primary Source Activity with students in their instructional setting.
  • Report to Library education staff on implementation's successes and/or challenges.
  • Have the option of completing additional work to obtain three graduate credits (for a fee) from George Mason University.

Sessions will take place on the following dates:

  • Session 1: June 10-14, 2013
  • Session 2: June 17-21, 2013
  • Session 3: July 22-26, 2013
  • Session 4: July 29-August 2, 2013
  • Session 5: August 5-9, 2013

Tuition and materials are provided at no cost to participants. Breakfast and lunch are also provided. Participants will be responsible for transportation to and from the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. and any required overnight accommodations.

Application Deadline: February 4, 2013

Apply Now