Making Americans, Making America (MAMA)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is MAMA?
MAMA is the acronym for Making Americans, Making America: Community, Citizenship, and the Constitution. This is a grant sponsored program that will look at the story of America as seen through the lens of Wisconsin immigration history. The program will allow history and social studies teachers in grades 4-12 the unique opportunity for content rich professional development. MAMA is conducted in partnership with the UWEC History Department, the UWEC Center for History Teaching and Learning, the Chippewa Valley Museum, CESA 10, and a consortium of CESAs across the state.
- What is a CESA?
CESA is an acronym for a Cooperative Educational Services Agency. (http://www.wati.org/training/cesamap.html) The role of a CESA is to provide educational services to school districts in Wisconsin that they would otherwise be unable to provide. CESA's often provide for curriculum development, testing and assessment, special education, technology, and professional development. These 12 governmental agencies each have their own region and have a headquarter city.
- Which CESA's belong to the consortium for MAMA?
8 CESA's belong to the consortium for MAMA, and it is from this large portion of the state that the MAMA fellows and participating teachers will be recruited. These CESA's are:
- What is the UWEC Center for History Teaching and Learning?
The UWEC Center for History Teaching and Learning is a joint effort of the Department of History in the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Education and Human Sciences. The Center develops and coordinates programming that aligns with the K-12 standards as well as Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction rules for teacher licensing, professional development and mentoring. The Center also engages in programming to bring history to the general public.
- What is the Chippewa Valley Museum?
The Chippewa Valley Museum (CVM), a regional history museum accredited by the American Association of Museums, will provide instruction for the Making Americans, Making America Summer Institutes and coordination and instruction for particular aspects of the Regional Workshops. During the Summer Institutes and Regional Workshops, Making Americans, Making America participants will learn how CVM develops content for its historical interpretations and then experience this process through team-based research and analysis of primary sources.
During each of the three Making Americans, Making America Summer Institutes, we will offer a two-credit course introducing fellows to CVM resources that complement the content of the academic courses. History 790: Chippewa Valley Museum Practicum combines classroom presentations, field trips, work with primary sources, and project development in active learning experiences.
- From where does MAMA get its funding?
MAMA receives its funding from the US Department of Education through the auspices of the Teaching American History (TAH) Grant Program. Originally started by Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia during the 1990's, this small program has since grown to now encompass over 300 grant programs throughout all 50 states. UWEC and its partners have to date received 3 TAH grants totaling 3.5 million dollars, with the latest, MAMA, being awarded 1.5 million to provide professional development for its fellows and participants.
- What is a "MAMA Fellow?"
MAMA Fellows are the full participants in the grant, playing a role in all aspects and receiving the full benefits of the program. Seventy (70) Fellows will be selected on a competitive basis from applicants drawn across the CESA consortium area.
- What are the responsibilities of a MAMA Fellow?
MAMA Fellows will be responsible for the following:
- making a three year commitment to the program;
- participating in three Summer Institutes, one each summer of the three year program;
- creating lesson plans or modules to take material learned into the classroom;
- participating in three regional workshops each academic year of the program to further disseminate materials and content learned to teaching colleagues
- What do I receive for being a MAMA Fellow?
MAMA Fellows will receive:
- up to 15 graduate credits from courses in US history specifically designed for teachers by UWEC faculty;
- instruction on the history of the peoples of Wisconsin, including the questions of citizenship and constitutional rights;
- new or improved skills in identifying and interpreting sources and artifacts in your area of Wisconsin;
- assistance in researching and teaching aspects of these topics with resources within your region;
- assistance in developing new methods with local museums and other resources for materials that will continue after the program is over;
- an opportunity to explore with their students the history of both within the classroom and in the local community;
- share their knowledge with colleagues
- What is a "MAMA Participating Teacher?"
MAMA Participating Teachers differ from MAMA Fellows in that Participating Teachers do not make the three year time commitment or participate in the summer institutes. MAMA Participating Teachers may apply for one, two, or three years of the grant and must re-apply each year if they wish to participate. Participating Teachers are from the CESA consortium area with their main participation being as attendees of the three regional workshops the MAMA Fellows conduct each year in their particular CESA area.
- What are the responsibilities of a MAMA Participating Teacher?
MAMA Participating Teachers must attend the 3 regional workshops conducted by the MAMA Fellows each year in their particular CESA area. In addition, they must complete all assigned work for each of these regional workshops.
- What do I receive for being a MAMA Participating Teacher?
For each year of participation, MAMA Participating Teachers will receive three credits, with a possibility of earning up to 9 credits if they choose to participate each year of the program. In addition to the credits earned, MAMA Participating Teachers will gain valuable content knowledge, pedagogical and technical skills, and engage in the highest caliber of professional development.
- What topics will be covered at each Summer Institute, and when/where will they be held?
Each year the fellows will participate in an intensive two-week summer institute at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and the Chippewa Valley Museum. Each Institute deals with a different topic related to the History of Wisconsin's people and the History of citizenship and the constitution. The Institute dates and topics are as follows:
- June 12-23, 2006: Encounter in the Great Lakes. Native American History in Wisconsin from Pre-history to the present.
- June 11-22, 2007: European Immigrants to Wisconsin, 1825-1925
- June 16-27, 2008: 20th Century Immigrants
- What topics will be covered at each Regional Workshop, and when/where will they be held?
During the academic year, the fellows will incorporate materials from the previous summer institute into their own classes. In collaboration with the UW-Eau Claire History Department, the UW Center for History Teaching and Learning, and the Chippewa Valley Museum they will help organize and participate in three workshops for up to 50 of their colleagues within their individual CESA's. These workshops will be held at each of the CESA consortium institutions once in fall, one in winter, one in spring, with exact dates to be determined by the CESA coordinators and their corresponding MAMA Fellows. These will be weekend workshops typically encompassing three Saturdays during the school year with appropriate out of session work to be completed by Participating Teachers.
- When do I receive my credits as a either a MAMA Fellow or a MAMA Participating Teacher?
MAMA Fellows receive credits upon the completion of their three year commitment and corresponding work. For those needing documentation earlier for licensure reasons, UWEC can provide documentation of completed credits to DPI or area districts.
MAMA Participating Teachers receive their credits upon the completion of the academic year that they have enrolled along with the completion of corresponding work.
- Is MAMA compatible with PI-34?
MAMA is very compatible with current licensure requirements and with the new state mandated PI-34 regulations as put forward by DPI and the state legislature. MAMA will entail a substantial part of a Professional Development Plan (PDP) and can be used for movement between licensure categories.
- What is the cost of being a member of MAMA?
MAMA Fellows and Participating Teachers will receive between $3,000 and $20,000 worth of credits and material during their time in the program, depending on your level of participation. The grant pays MAMA Fellows for all costs including tuition, books and materials, fees, travel, lodging, food, and any miscellaneous charges that may occur.
- How do I apply to MAMA as a MAMA Fellow?
To apply for one of the fellowships in the MAMA program, please submit the following:
- your resume
- a letter of application that describes your experiences as a teacher of American History at any level between grades 4-12 and that explains how you can benefit from and contribute to MAMA
- one letter of reference
- an UWEC "Special Student" application
Send all of this to:
Dr. Jane Pederson
Graduate Studies Director-Department of History
UWEC
105 Garfield Ave., PO Box 4004
Eau Claire, WI 54702-4004 - How do I apply to MAMA as a MAMA Participating Teacher?
Contact the CESA coordinators below from your CESA area for more information. Participating Teachers must apply each year to participate at their local CESA at the beginning of each school year. Dates, locations, and times will be published for the Regional Workshops from these CESA's as well.
- Once I apply to be a MAMA Fellow, what happens next?
Once your application materials have arrived, your application will be read and filed, and shortly after this you will receive a call from the program at UWEC to schedule a phone interview. Once all phone interviews have been conducted, the Application Committee will then sort and discuss applications in order to make the final selection of 70 MAMA Fellows. You will be notified by mail of your selection outcome.
Along with your letter, if you are accepted you will receive a contract. You must, read and sign this in order to be officially admitted to MAMA. You will then be notified of Orientation to be held sometime in April, 2006.
The priority deadline for Fellow Applications is January 27th, 2006 but applications will still be accepted after that date.
- Who can I talk to for more information about MAMA?
For more information, contact a member on the TAH Grant Project Contact List.
