JMM Insights: Reflections on the 2021 Summer Teachers Institute
This week’s edition of JMM Insights comes from School Program Coordinator Marisa Shultz.
Each year, the Baltimore Jewish Council and the Jewish Museum of Maryland present two professional development opportunities for educators on the best practices of Holocaust Education. The chief goal of these Teachers Institutes is to increase educators’ effectiveness in teaching about the Holocaust by providing accurate historical context and information as well as educational resources, primary sources, pedagogical tools, and lesson plans. We strive to create a community of teacher-learners who support each other in this work and in the development of lesson plans and student activities for their classrooms.
So many connections and applications to what I do everyday in the classroom… I feel as if I was on a journey with friends — and we ended our time together feeling restored and excited to engage our learners.
– Summer Teachers Institute 2021 Participant
I am pleased and proud to share that last week we hosted a powerful and meaningful three days of study, fellowship, and reflection at the Summer Teachers Institute 2021 with 33 participating teachers from around the state of Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region.
This year’s theme was American Discrimination During the Holocaust Era. We endeavored to explore the difficult and traumatic histories of bias, prejudice, discrimination, and outright hatred aimed at marginalized communities in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s. The aim was to contextualize America’s involvement in the Second World War and liberation in Europe, to bring attention to historically simultaneous events that are often neglected in classrooms, and to help teachers guide their students in making informed, nuanced, and sensitive historical connections that are based in critical thinking.
Every speaker was excellent, and I feel so grateful to have stumbled upon this professional development opportunity that was truly life-changing and will deeply affect my pedagogical practices.
– Summer Teachers Institute 2021 Participant
With this rationale and these goals, we were thrilled and deeply grateful to partner with the Institute for Islamic Christian and Jewish Studies, the Japanese American National Museum, the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia at Ferris State University, the National WWII Museum, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum on this professional development. Under the guidance of these expert museums and cultural institutions, our teachers explored both the legal and societal aspects of Jim Crow Era racism, the forced deportation of Mexican Americans during the Mexican ‘Repatriation,’ the internment of Japanese Americans in concentration and internment camps across the country, and the foothold antisemitic conspiracy theories gained during this time period.
The meaningful connection was appreciating all the different types of primary sources being offered to share about this time in history. Each experience was unique, gave relevance to the issue, and it helped to give a better understanding of the events that unfolded at that time.
– Summer Teachers Institute 2021 Participant
Teachers also explored the best practices of teaching these difficult, complex, and traumatic histories in their classrooms. As an institution, we strove to model these techniques in our community space with each presentation and tool we provided the teachers. They received guidance and advice from our expert presenters on implementing lesson plans, utilizing primary sources, and approaching these histories in their classrooms.
I’m wowed by the pedagogical resources. Many of these ideas overlap with our emphasis on socioemotional learning, but these resources make the planning a lot more concrete and achievable.
– Summer Teachers Institute 2021 Participant
I’m deeply pleased to share that after an intense and meaningful three days the majority of our participating teachers are feeling more confident in teaching these difficult and traumatic histories in their classrooms. 95% of teachers who responded to our feedback survey either strongly agreed or agreed with the statement “I am feeling more confident in writing lesson plans on these histories after attending the Summer Teachers Institute 2021.”
I’m deeply pleased to share that after an intense and meaningful three days the majority of our participating teachers are feeling more confident in teaching these difficult and traumatic histories in their classrooms. 95% of teachers who responded to our feedback survey either strongly agreed or agreed with the statement “I am feeling more confident in writing lesson plans on these histories after attending the Summer Teachers Institute 2021.”
I know for a fact, I’m a better, more enlightened individual for having had this opportunity.
– Summer Teachers Institute 2021 Participant
The Summer Teachers Institute is an incredible opportunity for the Museum, the Baltimore Jewish Council, and our partner organizations to work with teachers to foster and deepen Holocaust Education in local schools and beyond. We are deeply grateful for this opportunity and thankful for our participating teachers, our partner organizations, and all who helped make this Institute a reality over the past sixteen years. This program is possible due to the generous support of Judy and Jerry Macks, and the Joan and Joseph Klein, Jr. Foundation.
Upcoming Program:
Shofar Blowing Competition
Sunday, August 29th at 10:00 AM Eastern
B’nai Israel will be holding a shofar blowing competition to select the Baal Tekiah for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services.
To register for the competition in advance write to office@jewishdowntown.org.
Reminder: Executive Director Sol Davis is holding weekly office hours to meet you! Make an appointment for a virtual visit and share your thoughts, ideas, and aspirations for JMM.
Click to schedule an appointment now!
Esther’s Place Online:
Rosh Hashanah Bundle
Ahead of Rosh Hashanah, check out this month’s shop bundle available exclusively through Esther’s Place online.
Remember – JMM members can receive their 10% discount by adding promo code Member at checkout.