Three District Teachers Immerse Themselves in American HistoryThree Putnam City teachers were among 27 Oklahoma teachers who walked in the footsteps of America’s patriots and British colonists during a Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute in Early American History held this summer in the restored capital city of 18th-century Virginia.
James Pratt from Arbor Grove Elementary School and Stephanie Tester and Linda Quanstrom from Coronado Heights Elementary took part in an intensive week-long institute at Colonial Williamsburg, sometimes known as the world’s largest living history museum.
While there, the three Putnam City teachers met character interpreters of 18th-century people and were immersed in early American history through hands-on activities and reenactments of historic events. The week’s lessons were built around the theme “Becoming Americans.” Participants also visited Jamestown, which is the site of the first permanent English colony in America, and spent a day at Yorktown visiting the battlefields where the Continental Army forced the British to surrender.
“I especially loved visiting Jamestown. Getting to see the original site with archeological digs going on was amazing. We also attended witch trial reenactment, which gave real insights into the misconceptions of the day,” Pratt said.
The Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute provides participants with interactive teaching techniques and skills to become mentor teachers who can assist their peers and other educators to develop active learning classrooms and make history exciting for their students. Participants share strategies to improve instruction, raise literacy levels and enhance thinking skills.
“I had a fabulous time and learned so much at Colonial Williamsburg. The experience really made history come alive for me. I learned that history is not just facts to be memorized, but something to be taught through different people's perspectives,” Quanstrom said.
This marks the 19th year that the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence has coordinated Oklahoma’s  participation in the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute. With more than 600 graduates of Colonial Williamsburg, Oklahoma is second in the nation (behind California) in the number of teacher institute participants.
Linda Quanstrom, a teacher at Coronado Heights Elementary School, visits with a Colonial Williamsburg historical character interpreter who portrays Martha Washington. Quanstrom was one of 27 Oklahoma teachers selected to attend the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute this summer.
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