Getting Ready to Step Back in Time 150 Years

I have been preparing for our exciting new Spring Session at Teachable Moments Academy for several weeks now and though I don't want to wish the holidays away, I can't wait to get started on January 7th! We will begin the session studying the world in 1860 and move forward through the next century in our 18 week course of study. I've been reading tons of books about the Civil War as well as books about the Women's Rights Movement in the U.S. during the 19th and 20th centuries. I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I had no idea that it took more than 70 years from the time of the Convention at Seneca Falls, New York for the fine ladies in our country to be allowed the right to vote!

I also have never been so engrossed in the Civil War as I am now due to all the reading I've done. I had an 8th grade social studies teacher who was REALLY into the Civil War. He was even an extra in the epic TV drama North and South. Alas, despite his "involvement" in the time period, we NEVER read any historical fiction or did anything remotely fun in our lengthy study of the Civil War. We watched North and South which I had already watched at home with my mom. I'm sorry to say I left that class thinking I never wanted to spend another moment learning anything about the Civil War. The main lesson learned in that endeavor is that nice people (because he truly was a nice man and I feel bad even writing how bored I was) who are super hyper focused on one thing, don't always make the best teachers. I hope my children and the students who will be attending our Spring Session will be engaged and take memorable learning with them from our study of the time period.