Connect with fellow teachers in the pursuit of integrating social studies and literacy instruction in a purposeful, engaging and dynamic way.

We’ll dive into books about early Virginia and the American Revolution that will encourage a passion for history and literacy in students. Sessions include a review of each book, connections to primary sources to pair with the books, and resources to use in the classroom. 

Sessions are led by Paige Barlow, a 6th-grade teacher and Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Master Teacher.* 

Programs will be presented using Zoom and are designed to be conversational, promoting peer-to-peer learning.

All sessions will begin at 7 p.m. EST, lasting approximately 60 minutes.

Session dates and books

2025

Wednesday, September 24
"Blood on the River" by Elisa Carbone
"The 1619 Project: Born on the Water" by Hannah Jones

Thursday, November 13
"Njinga of Ndongo" by Ekiuwa Aire
"Beheld" by TaraShea Nesbit

2026

Wednesday, January 28
"Forge" by Laurie Halse Anderson
"You Wouldn't Want to Be an American Colonist!" by Jacqueline Morley

Thursday, March 12
"Colonial Voices: Hear Them Speak" by Kay Winters
"Jefferson's Sons" by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Wednesday, April 29
"Let It Begin Here! Lexington & Concord: First Battles of the American Revolution" by Dennis Brindell Fradin
"George vs. George: The American Revolution as Seen from Both Sides" by Rosalyn Schanzer

Thursday, July 16
"Independent Dames: What You Never Knew About the Women and Girls of the American Revolution" by Laurie Halse Anderson
"We the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States" by David Catrow

^{* Master Teachers are selected through a competitive application process and serve as advisors to the JYF Education team, participating in teacher professional development programming and resource creation. Programs are supported in part by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, Inc. Annual Fund, the Abbitt Family Foundation, Paulette Blankinship, the Charles S. and Millicent P. Brown Family Foundation, Audrael and John Chiricotti, Randy and Shelby Hawthorne, and Wilma and Marc Sharp.}

History in the Books Registration