Could you teach a fourth grader about the key history, people and sites of South Dakota? Recent “road trips” for educators offered firsthand experience to make that task easier in the next school year.
A weeklong road trip to Crazy Horse, Bear Butte and the Hot Springs Mammoth site might sound like a great family vacation - but for busloads of South Dakota teachers it was an opportunity to gain more tools for your children’s education.
Shannon Malone is director of the division of learning and instruction with the Department of Education who attended the West River trip. She said she saw this trip spark passion in her group.
“Engagement was very high all week long – even though it was an extremely long week," Malone said. "Educators walked away really appreciative that they had this opportunity, but also had a refreshed or renewed sense of why they love being a teacher and why they loved going into education in the first place.”
Further, the trips offered educators an opportunity to network with teachers outside their districts bounds. Teachers like Leslie Bogenhagen, a fourth-grade science and social studies teacher in Pierre.
“Between the history and the big emphasis on the Native American tribal history as well – that was very beneficial," Bogenhagen said. "Honestly, one of the best things was the collaboration time with the fellow teachers and being able to talk through different experiences and prospective on things.”
Bogenhagen attended the East River trip. She said there’s a real benefit to seeing, hearing, and touching these places in person.
“I have grown up in South Dakota my whole life, and I had not been to most of these places myself," Bogenhagen said. "Just for my own knowledge and having that authentic experience was tremendous. Having that experience helps me to know better to teach about it, but then anytime there’s a chance to get the kids there, that would be wonderful too.”
Bogenhagen said the destinations that stuck with her were the ones tied to the most important pieces of state and tribal history. Places like Spirit Mound, the territorial capital in Yankton, and the historic Prairie and Tribal Villages in Madison and Mitchell, respectively.
