Historian on Duty

07/22/2025

I spend a lot of time in my classroom... like a lot. My normal work week is 40 hours but sometimes I'm there longer. So I make sure my classroom is warm, comfy, and inviting- not just for me but also for my students. I also like to make sure I'm prepared for whatever comes my way throughout the year....

I spend a lot of time in my classroom… like a lot. My normal work week is 40 hours but sometimes I’m there longer. So I make sure my classroom is warm, comfy, and inviting- not just for…

05/17/2025

Our annual Spring Tour for HOPS is off and running! Come check out the beautiful houses and gardens downtown

05/06/2025

As the school year winds down, keeping students engaged in class can be a challenge. However, the final weeks of school offer a valuable opportunity to reinforce learning, encourage creativity, and reflect on the year. Here are some effective strategies to maintain student engagement and make the most of the end of the academic year.

As the school year winds down, keeping students engaged in class can be a challenge. However, the final weeks of school offer a valuable opportunity to reinforce learning, encourage creativity, and…

05/01/2025

May 1st, or May Day, has a rich history rooted in both seasonal celebrations and labor rights. Traditionally, it marked the arrival of spring with Maypole dances and festivals. In the late 19th century, it became International Workers’ Day, honoring the fight for fair wages and better working conditions. Today, May Day is both a celebration of renewal and a symbol of solidarity.

May 1st, or May Day, has a rich history rooted in both seasonal celebrations and labor rights. Traditionally, it marked the arrival of spring with Maypole dances and festivals. In the late 19th cen…

04/23/2025

📖It's World Book Day!📖
What are you reading this week?

Pictured: Interrupted Reading by French artist Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot

04/22/2025

This Day in History: April 22, 1970 Earth Day 🌳
This pivotal moment in the environmental movement, saw an estimated 20 million Americans participate in rallies, marches, and teach-ins to advocate for a cleaner, healthier planet 🌎
Earth Day was organized by U.S. Senator Ga***rd Nelson, who chose a date that fell between spring break and final exams, maximizing student participation.
The event aimed to raise public awareness about environmental issues, particularly air and water pollution, and to galvanize action for environmental protection.
It spurred a dramatic rise in public concern about environmental issues and led to a political climate that helped establish the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Earth Day has grown into a global event, observed by a billion people in nearly 200 countries each year, continuing to raise awareness and promote environmental stewardship.

04/21/2025

The fight for civil rights in America extends far beyond the 1960s. From Indigenous sovereignty movements to LGBTQ+ activism, diverse communities have long fought for justice and equality. Exploring these movements reveals a broader, more complex history—one that continues to shape the nation today.

The fight for civil rights in America extends far beyond the 1960s. From Indigenous sovereignty movements to LGBTQ+ activism, diverse communities have long fought for justice and equality. Explorin…

04/18/2025

Staying on top of everything—research, writing, content creation, and life—can get overwhelming fast. But this month, I’m leaning on three key things to keep me focused ➡
✨ How do you stay organized? Drop your best tip below! ⬇️

04/14/2025

This Day in History: 160 years ago, on April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was tragically assassinated while attending a play at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. The nation was stunned by the loss of a leader who had navigated the country through its Civil War and worked to reunite a divided nation.

Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth, a well-known actor and Confederate sympathizer. Booth, determined to strike at the heart of the Union, believed killing Lincoln would help the South's cause, even though the Confederacy had already been defeated.

After the assassination, Booth fled the scene, beginning a dramatic 12-day manhunt that took authorities through several states. The search ended on April 26, 1865, when Booth was found hiding in a barn in Virginia. The barn was set on fire in an attempt to flush him out, and Booth was fatally shot by Union soldiers. Four of his co-conspirators were hanged and the other four were imprisoned.

The assassination of Lincoln not only marked a dark chapter in American history but also set in motion a new era of leadership under Vice President Andrew Johnson, amid a nation struggling to heal from its Civil War wounds.
President Johnson would go on to become the first president to face impeachment charges. But that's a story for another day.

04/11/2025

Front view of the city Hall of A Coruña, also called Municipal Palace, Galicia, Spain. The modernist building is located in the María Pita Square in the center of the city and was built between 1908 and 1912 following a design of Pedro Ramiro Mariño. It was inaugurated in 1927 by the king Alfonso XIII. The 4 statues in the third floor represent the 4 provinces of Galicia (A Coruña, Lugo, Orense and Pontevedra) and over them, in the middle, is the coat of arms of the city. The 2 dames flanking it symbolize Peace and Industry and Work and Wisdom.

04/08/2025

Teaching is a demanding profession that requires juggling lesson planning, grading, meetings, student needs, and administrative tasks—all while staying organized and effective. With so many moving parts, keeping track of daily work can be challenging. One powerful tool that can help teachers, and other professionals, stay on top of their responsibilities is a work log.

Teaching is a demanding profession that requires juggling lesson planning, grading, meetings, student needs, and administrative tasks—all while staying organized and effective. With so many moving …

04/07/2025

Looking for something to read?
Check out Empire of the Summer Moon. This is a gripping historical account of the rise and fall of the Comanche empire, with a particular focus on Quanah Parker, the last great Comanche chief. The book blends vivid storytelling with in-depth historical research, detailing the Comanches' dominance on the Southern Plains, their brutal conflicts with settlers, and their eventual downfall due to U.S. expansion and military campaigns.