Initiated in 1997, Teaching East Asia China seeks to promote and facilitate effective instruction about China in K-12 classrooms by offering professional development opportunities to teachers, as well as curriculum consultation to school districts. TEA: China offers a two-year cycle of summer programming that alternates a summer institute at the University of Colorado with a study tour to China for institute alumni. TEA: China also offers school-year workshops as part of the Colorado Consortium for Teaching East Asia (CCTEA).
China Summer Institutes
In alternating years, TEA offers one- to two-week summer institutes on topics in Chinese studies on the University of Colorado's Boulder campus, open to teachers from across the country. Participants are chosen through an application and selection process; all major costs of participation are covered by the project. In past years, institute topics have included "China's Geographic Issues and Challenges," "China in the Elementary Classroom," and "Episodes in the History of Sino-Japanese Relations."
China Study Tours
Building on its summer institutes, TEA offers study tours to China every other year. Teacher alumni of TEA summer institutes and school-year workshops are eligible to apply. Successful applicants participate in the study tours through TEA fellowships which cover all major expenses of the program. The study tour program includes a spring orientation workshop, a post-study tour workshop, and a full school-year of teacher follow-up.
See a sample itinerary of the "Images of China" 2004 Study Tour. Click here for photos of the tour.
Workshop Series
Colorado teachers can take advantage of TEA's series of Front Range workshops on China throughout the school year. Past workshop topics have included: the Chinese Cultural Revolution, the Song and Ming periods, 20th century China, minorities in China, and religions. For information about upcoming workshops, please see our
Upcoming Events page. You can also sign up for the TEA
mailing list.
China Curriculum Resource Center
TEA's China Resource Center includes videos, curriculum units, an academic library, and artifact trunks. Click on the link above for full details. Most materials are lent free of charge to teachers in the western United States; artifact trunks rent for a nominal fee. Complete and return the Resource Center Borrower's Agreement or contact us for more details.
It's Elementary
In a local service project, TEA works with student interns from the University of Colorado's East Asian Languages and Civilizations Department to offer Chinese language and culture activities to Boulder Valley School District's elementary classrooms. CU Chinese language students are available for one-day and longer assignments to classrooms, where they assist by teaching simple Chinese language, culture, and education lessons. Boulder-area teachers interested in taking part in this program can contact TEA staff member Jessica Rodd.
