The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum will offer professional development opportunities for educators when it opens to the public in 2013. In the meantime, the education program has partnered with Region 10 and the school districts to offer training programs and workshops and to ensure educators receive credit for their participation.
Descriptions of training programs and workshops offered by the education program follow. There are also answers to Frequently Asked Questions.
Available Training Programs
Education specialist Heather Nice discusses how to use primary sources to teach students about the role of First Ladies. The teachers' workshop was held in conjunction with "America's First Ladies: An Enduring Vision" conference on March 5, 2012 at SMU in Dallas, Texas.
Courtesy George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum.
Please note: all training requests should allow for a minimum presentation time of 75 minutes preferably. Participants should be provided internet access for exploring resources.
Using Primary Sources and Projects to Teach the First Ladies as Leaders of Change
Although only three are mentioned in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), First Ladies have played a significant role in American history: shaping public policy, humanitarian efforts, and international diplomacy. Participants will learn how to incorporate the First Ladies into existing TEKS utilizing the interactive modules created by the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. Additional resources, primary source analysis strategies, cross-curricular topics, and existing service learning projects tied to initiatives of the First Ladies will be also highlighted.
We Don't Just Document What Happened Here! Using National Archives Records to Build Historical Thinking and Teach World Events
Using primary source analysis methods with the records of the National Archives and the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, explore how to effectively incorporate documents created by the United States government into teaching world events while facilitating learner-led inquiry and higher-level thinking. Participants will leave with information on resources, new analysis techniques, and project ideas.
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Resource Workshops
Director of Education and Scholarship Programs of the White House Historical Association John Riley speaks to educators attending the teachers' workshop held in conjunction with "America's First Ladies: An Enduring Vision" conference on March 5, 2012 at SMU in Dallas, Texas.
Courtesy George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum.
Workshops offer educators the ability to receive more in-depth instruction on using the records and resources available through the National Archives and the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. There are no set themes for workshops; however, any of the above training programs can be experienced as a workshop.
Please note: all workshop requests should allow for a minimum presentation time of 2 hours preferably. Participants should be provided internet access for exploring resources.
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Training FAQs
What is the cost for a training or workshop?
Please contact the education program if you have questions.
Where are the training and workshop programs held?
All programs will need to be held on school campuses as there is not classroom space in the Library and Museum's temporary facility.
Can available trainings be modified to meet the specific needs of our campus/district?
Absolutely! The education program has worked with campuses and districts to incorporate topics into the training programs, such as vertical alignment, scaffolding, using documents in writing prompts, etc. If interested in incorporating a topic into a program, please contact the education program.
A training program requests 75 minutes for presentation time, but we have a one hour block. Can we still request it?
Yes. We will work with you to determine how best to shorten the presentation in order to receive the same quality instruction. Due to the experimental nature of workshops, it is requested that the minimum time be provided.
Why is there not a preferred subject or grade level by each training program?
Most training programs can be modified to address the needs of all teachers, including the primary, secondary, and university levels. Additionally, the content can be modified to include curricular instruction beyond the social studies classroom.
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