Dakota Writing Project

The Dakota Writing Project held its first ever Holocaust Institute for teachers July 26-31, 2009, in Old Main on the University of South Dakota campus. The DWP Holocaust Institute focused on helping K-12 teachers to teach the Jewish Holocaust and Native genocides. During this intensive institute, teachers read articles and books, viewed films, did research in I.D. Weeks Library, wrote, developed unit plans, exchanged ideas, and talked with visitors, including the adult child of a Holocaust survivor. 

The teachers who attended the DWP Holocaust Institute are Carrie Crisman (Chester Area Schools); Jennifer Goettertz (Gayville-Volin School); Kerri Kirschenmann (Dell Rapids Public School); Mary Ann Koenig (South Central School; formerly Bonesteel-Fairfax); Shelly Lewis (Dakota Valley); Barb Perk (SDHSC Alternative School); Karen Rahn (Rutland Public School); Kathy Valnes (Lower Brule Tribal Schools); and Meghan Wounded Head (Hamlin Public School).

 Leading the Institute were DWP teacher-consultants Professor Jan Hausmann (Mount Marty College); Sue Morrell (Wagner Community School); and Jason Murray (University of South Dakota.

Each teacher took home a trunk and a "starter set" of books and other resources on the Jewish Holocaust and Native genocides, with the intention being that the teachers will continue to fill their trunks with additional resources. The teachers are also developing a "virtual trunk"--an online wiki of resources that they can use for teaching these subjects. The wiki, which the teachers are currently developing, is available at http://virtualtrunk.pbworks.com/.

 The work of the Holocaust Institute will continue through the fall, as the teachers discuss online their Institute reflections and unit plans, do additional readings, and perform other activities that support their teaching of the Jewish Holocaust and Native genocides. In November, they will meet in person to discuss their classroom work on these topics and share the contents of their trunks.

The Holocaust Educators Network paid for the trunks the participants received, along with several books. They also provided a DVD from the Memorial Library, Summer Seminar II:Reading, Writing, and Teaching the Holocaust.