BellaOnline Forums Family Genealogy Genealogy Class

I'm going to be sailing through uncharted territory. I've been asked to teach an eight week genealogy class. I've done lectures but not an ongoing class. When the adrenaline kicks in once I've said yes to something new, I began planning. I guess I will need some lesson plans and a list of ideas to cover in a class. Each class will be an hour long. I'm targeting newbies but you never know who will sign up. In the past I've taken beginner classes myself even though I've been doing genealogy for dozens of years.

What would you like to discuss in a genealogy class?

I've been asked to teach a class on beginning genealogy again beginning in late September. I'm looking forward to it. Fortunately, we will be back from vacation by then.

If you are new to genealogy, the first thing to do is ask yourself what do you know. What do you remember about your family?
Interview family members about their lives and what they remember about your mutual family members.
Use a lineage chart to keep track of your biological family. This is the roadmap to your family.
For each couple on the lineage charge, use a group sheet to record information about the entire family.

Remember, no two people will have the same memories about people and places. We recall what we are interested in and what stood out in an event.
Siblings have different memories and different histories.

The Library of Virginia offered a day-long conference "Straight to the Source." The staff were the speakers and discussed what they have in their collections. Topics included - African American research collections, military including registration cards, and the final topic was celebrating the 200 years of the library of Virginia. It included a tour of the exhibit of famous and not so famous people who have made an impact in Virginia.

Prior to that the local Genealogy Institute (GRIVA.org) had a zoom lecture by G. Ray Thompson, PhD - "The Seedbed of America: Eastern Shore History & Records"

Genealogists are always learning. History is so important.