Any help would be greatly appreciated! Most of what I've studied for my education degree has been unrelated to the history of the Texas area. Enough to pass a test, but not enough that I feel like I can really teach students anything.
Here's the curriculum for Texas history and the points I need to hit: http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter113/ch113b.html#113.19
I don't really have a good book to share but, I have been to most of the battle sites of the revolution the capitol and have gotten to experience our history close up many times. I would highly suggest if your going to teach the topic go to the sites. Go see the Alamo, Go see the San Jacinto monument, take the tour through the capitol building, head over to Jefferson and see the civil war reenactors. If your interested shoot me a pm and I can send you a huge list of sites to see and some pictures of the places I have gone.
Edit: I wasn't saying OP should take the kids I know thats unrealistic I was suggesting that OP goes and sees the sights and learn history on the ground before teaching it.
I can't help you a lot, but the politics of teaching Texas history must be an absolute minefield. Are you K-12 or college? Do you have a textbook?
Of course, most of what you will teach will be dictated by the adopted textbook and the state tests, but to get you thinking about the subject in some fun ways:
have a look at Texas History Movies, the subject in comic book form (drawn in the 1930s, cleaned up for modern eyes)
Finally, for your summer reading pleasure (seriously), I suggest Smithwick, The Evolution of a State, or, Recollections of Old Texas Days. It gives you a real human insight into several of the events you'll be teaching, and is frequently laugh-out-loud funny.
Empire of the Summer Moon by S. C. Gwynne, a Pulitzer Finalist.
While this book is foremost about the Comanche, it is also an interesting look into the settling of the Great Plains. There is a lot of history about Texas tucked in the pages.
http://texashistory.unt.edu/explore/collections/
https://faculty.unt.edu/syllabi/37583_2121_4700_001_syllabus.pdf
I'm currently at work but I took a summer course from this guy and it was fantastic. I've grown up in Texas my whole life and I learned a lot from his class. I'll try and scrounge up my old notebook that has more resources.
A few for pre-statehood Texas
Spanish Texas - Donald Chipman
Texian Illiad: a Military history of the Revolution. - Stephen Hardin
The Indians of Texas - W. W. Newcomb. Kinda old, so some things have to be taken with a grain of salt, but still has some good info. Talks about specific peoples into the 19th century.
Historic Native Peoples of Texas - William Foster. Newer and more of a big picture kind of book. Talks about the tribes interactions with each other and Spanish/French. Ends around 1720ish.
Find out what book you use and go get your teacher's edition. I'd start there and then you can supplement your knowledge on the lessons with other texts.
Edit - Also talk to your fellow teachers. They'll be able to guide you as to what lessons worked in the past and what didn't work. I've taught 5 different subjects in 9 years and I know it can be stressful. Good luck!
T.R. Fehrenbach served as head of the Texas Historic Commission from 87-91. His book, Lone Star: A History of Texas and Texans, is cited often.
Not a Historian, a bit of a bookie.
Something I have always been curious of, do other states teach state history?
When I took a class on Texas history in college, the reading included Michener's Texas and McMurtry's Lonesome Dove - both novels, technically, but Michener especially gives an expansive overview of Texas history over 400+ years.