TCR Academy: Summer Seminar for History Teachers
What is TCR Academy?
The purpose of the TCR Academy is to give history and social studies teachers the same experience that we have given history students in the TCR History Camps since 2014. That is, they come to work on a history paper on a topic of their choice. In the Academy, teachers will not learn to evaluate papers, or to teach writing, or to help students with history papers. They will come to work on a history paper of their own.
The rationale of the TCR Academy is that if teachers work hard on a history paper, and find the satisfaction that gives, they will be more likely to encourage their own students to have that experience. The TCR Academy, then, is not Teacher Training, in the sense of telling them how to be better teachers, but rather the practice of historical scholarship, to guide them through serious academic work of their own in history, which some have not done recently.
As a by-product of their research and writing, teachers may be able to do a more exciting job of teaching that topic if it comes up—but that is a possible by-product, not the main purpose of the TCR Academy. TCR Academy is a new kind of teacher training…treating teachers as actual students of history, capable of writing a serious history research paper. We have done it well for more than a thousand history students from 17 countries, and the TCR Academy is ambitious to do the same thing (and nothing else) for teachers.
Academy Structure
Schedule: Late June – Mid-August (10 weeks)
Meeting Time: One evening per week (Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday TBD), 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM ET
Format: Live Zoom sessions
Each week, participants will work through the essential steps of crafting a compelling history paper:
Choosing a meaningful topic
Conducting primary & secondary source research
Developing a clear perspective.
Structuring arguments with historical evidence
Writing and refining a solid draft
Why Join TCR Academy?
Reignite Your Passion for an area of History – Immerse yourself in historical inquiry and scholarly writing.
Strengthen Your Research & Writing Skills – Experience the same rigorous process we offer students at TCR History Camps.
Inspire Your Students – Gain a deeper appreciation for research, making you a stronger advocate for historical scholarship in your classroom.
Become a TCR History Camp Instructor – Successful TCR Academy participants may be invited to join our team and mentor students in future history camps.
TCR Academy is not traditional teacher training—it’s an intellectual challenge that sees teachers as scholars, capable of producing serious historical work. If you’re ready to engage in the same research process as your students and rediscover the excitement of historical inquiry, we invite you to join us.
