CLMS Annual Conference Accelerating Student Achievement in Tough Times
Co-Sponsored by the California Teachers Association
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Friday, February 26
RTI2: A Systematic Approach for Closing the Achievement Gap Shobhana Rishi, California Department of Education Want to increase student engagement and success? Come learn what Response to Instruction and Intervention (RtI2) is and is not. This session provides information about the history, status, purpose and definitions of RtI2, and its core components for California. Discussion will focus on uses of RtI2 as a strategy for helping all students succeed on the middle school campus.
Effective Behavior Management: The Classroom Plan Noah Salzman, Salzman Associates - Tools for Schools Effective Behavior Management establishes a safe and orderly classroom environment that reduces classroom disruptions, increases instructional time, develops positive relationships and teaches students responsibility.
What Your Administrative Credential Program Didn't Teach You Jim Connolly, Hillview Middle School Administrative credential programs provide students with a strong foundation for new administrators in the theories and legal aspects of school leadership, but what happens once you actually sign the contract and get the keys to the school? Hear practicing school administrators discuss "Dealing with Angry Parents," "Interviewing Naughty Kids" and "Dealing with the Stress of the Job" -- and discover resources for answers and advice.
Test "Thinking" Strategies Linda SmithFaynessa Armand, UCLA School Management Program Examine the often-mysterious way in which students think about test questions and answer choices. Hear about an action research project that led one school to a powerful new way to increase student achievement; see how you might apply this learning in your own school. Explore the interplay of thinking, listening, speaking and test-taking. This session is not about test-taking strategies; it's about thinking strategies that support student success.
Motivating Music Students Utilizing the Middle School Concept Elizabeth Olson, La Habra City School District The defining middle school tenets support student motivation strategies such as empowering students, connecting with adults at school, differentiating instruction, and accessing exploratory, transition and advisory programs. Explore attribution theory and goal structures; see how empirical data and music education research support these concepts. Gain 11 recommendations to help music educators motivate young adolescents.
AVID: College Readiness for All Julie Elliott, AVID Center Explore how AVID's (Advancement Via Individual Determination's) system of acceleration and support prepares predominantly low-income students for college and functions as a catalyst for building a college-going culture that permeates schools and districts. Learn how to increase minority and low-income student enrollment in rigorous courses; see how AVID strategies, including Socratic Seminars and Cornell note-taking, form a foundation for success into high school.
Social Skills, Trust and Teamwork Mark Hayes, Van Nuys Middle School Activities will be shared with fellow educators that can be used in every subject and every grade level. These simple activities require little equipment and give teachers a strong foundation to use in the classroom to mold the character of their students and create a successful and positive learning environment for every child to succeed.
Shock and Awe in Your Classroom Robert Lefkowitz, Canyon Middle School It's not a war, but sometimes it feels like it is. Learn how to use technology in unusual ways to "capture" student attention. Receive a CD chock full of files you can immediately use in your classroom.
Poetry Unit: Creating an Original Work of Art Alyssa LaBrado, Cori Meichtry, Judkins Middle School Explore a unit that gets students reading, writing, listening and performing; is aligned to eighth-grade language arts state standards; and is designed to introduce students to poetry, with the result of students publishing a hardbound book of their own poetry. The unit presents poetry in an engaging way that is relevant to students' life experiences and provides teachers and students with an enjoyable way to learn about each other, different cultures, music and the past.
Responding to Failure through Teamwork and Collaboration Mark BlineOlga Pesantes-Mills, Carolyn Kula, Teresa Capalla, Vanessa McParland, Suzanne Kull, Rialto Middle School What do teachers and schools do when students fail? See how to effectively set up Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and a Response to Intervention (RTI) program, and receive the tools needed to begin PLCs and the RTI process at your school. We'll explore team building, funding sources, setting up a database, the master schedule, staff development, collaboration, lesson planning and a basic RTI structure.
A Collaborative Model: Combining RTI and Special Education Support Marianne Baraback, Nadine Rosenzweig, Hellena Postrk, Michelle Mousa, Hans Landesvatter, Joleen Cole, Valley View Middle School Sequoia and Valley View Middle Schools will share the challenges, changes and successes of restructuring their instructional programs and master schedules to fully include special education students and provide Response to Intervention support for all students within the general education program. Staff collaborate, co-teach, team and support all students in closing the achievement gap using differentiated instructional strategies. This model meets Taking Center Stage – Act II recommendations.
Educating Students for a Sustainable World Elaine Gorman, Retired, Modesto City Schools Turn today's global challenges into thought-provoking lesson plans that build students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Engage students in hands-on activities that explore timely issues including world population growth, natural resource use, climate change and social justice. Activities are aligned to life science, math and geography standards for integrated instruction. Techniques include role-playing and concept-mapping. Take home a free CD of lesson plans!
Effective Software Solutions: The Aptos Middle School Story Chuck Obeso-Bradley, Tony Payne, Assistant Principal, Aptos Middle School, San Francisco Unified SD, Pearson Digital Learning Student achievement at Aptos Middle School in San Francisco Unified School District has been steadily rising, and Aptos was recognized as one of the district's highest-achieving middle schools during the 2008-09 school year. Learn first-hand from Assistant Principal Tony Payne about the school's background and demographics, as well about the software interventions, including SuccessMaker, that are helping to boost student achievement. Time permitting, see examples of the 6-8 grade content from the SuccessMaker Program.
SPARC and Career Counseling Information for Counselors Bob Tyra, Los Angeles County Office of Education Receive an update on the statewide Support Personnel Accountability Report Card (SPARC) 2010 process, and review current career counseling information and resources! This information will help you provide a transparent, peer-reviewed support services accountability document to your school community. Participants will review SPARCs submitted from throughout the state last year and the current SPARC 2010 application and rubric. Career counseling videos, websites and print materials will be covered as well.
Engaging the Brains of Young Adolescents Marsha Robinson, California Dept. of Education Brain research and understanding the developing mind of the young adolescent will help your instruction to become more "student-learning friendly." Find out what makes them pay attention and what that has to do with the frontal lobe. We'll look at Taking Center Stage--Act II for more research!
Making the Grade @ Home: Coaching Your Teen Cloteal Thrower Herron, TEAL Group Parent Power! Learn valuable coaching tools and strategies to promote, motivate and create positive bonds with your teen. You will learn to support your teen's ideas, viewpoints and interests, and show appreciation for your teen's uniqueness. Finally, you will learn coaching and coping skills to help your teen build a sense of self-worth, confidence and self-advocacy, promoting a smooth transition to adulthood.
Response to Intervention: The Promise of Achievement for ALL Silvia DeRuvo, WestEd Implementing early, effective intervention is a top priority. The Response to Intervention (RtI) model provides all students access to achievement by including “at risk,” special education and English Language Learners within its framework. Multi-tiered RtI interventions create the structure for systematic targeted instruction that meets both academic and behavioral needs. Through research-based instruction, intervention and frequent progress monitoring, RtI allows struggling learners to receive effective intervention prior to special education referral -- and special education students to receive instruction and special education services. Participants will receive assessment tools for planning and implementing RTI.
Web 2.0: Ready or Not, Here I Come! Stacy Kline, Spurgeon Intermediate School You've heard about Web 2.0, but you're still not sure if you're ready to use it in your classroom. Learn how to create a blog as an easy-to-modify classroom forum, a “wiki” as a collaborative tool to create web-based content with colleagues and students, and an RSS feed to stay informed instantly. The Read/Write Web is perfect for your classroom -- easy to learn and free to use. Blogs, wikis, and RSS, oh my! Let's go.
Key Strategies for Team-Based Learning and Collaboration Sindy Shell, Pepperdine University Do you find your team meetings counterproductive? In collaboration meetings, group complacency often arises, plus there seems to be a status among the staff of who speaks the most and which educators make decisions. Take a look at the group dynamics of learning teams to understand the issues that may arise. Learn how to establish a team culture that allows all team members to contribute to the learning that occurs during collaborative meetings.
Developing Effective Goals, Action Plans and Classroom Mission Statements Tiasha Robinson, Curtiss Middle School Do you find it difficult to keep your students enthused, motivated and committed to their own success in your class? If you answered yes, then this session is for you! Learn how to incorporate goal setting and mission statements into your curriculum -- two activities that are proven to benefit businesses and schools alike. Involve your students in developing SMART goals and effective mission statements at the start of each semester for a classroom free of off-task behavior. You must have the buy-in of all participants for your classroom to thrive.
Closing the Achievement Gap: Just In Time Instruction Gregory Vallone, Holmes Middle School See how one school used disaggregated data to create an intervention program within the school day to meet the needs of each child in English- language arts and math. Learn how to use formative data to guide instruction and focus on individual student needs as opposed to generic re-teaching. The effectiveness of this program is exemplified by the fact that students performed at an 89% proficiency rate in algebra.
Hands-On, Full-Body Density and Buoyancy Allison Bogart, Woodrow Wallace Middle School In this session you will learn the many tips, tricks, labs, activities and experiments that I use with my eighth-grade physical science students when teaching density and buoyancy. Many of these incorporate easy to obtain and inexpensive materials. All of these activities are "hands-on" and a few of them are even "full-body."
Creating a Daily Television Show Gary Shapiro, Harden Middle School Our daily bulletin has been replaced by a daily television show! Students present an informational, educational and fun TV show that has the entire school engaged. This workshop will show you the basics of how our program is produced, what equipment is used, and how easy it would be to do the same at your school.
School DayZ: Teaching Behavior through Literacy Ronald Klemp, Retired, Los Angeles Unified School District The School DayZ process involves analyzing a school or classroom issue related to student behavior or performance, and keeping students on task and motivated as a result of the process design. Learn how to create a pre-reading anticipation guide, a vignette to prompt discussion, and a post-reading series of discussion questions to allow students to engage in critical thinking. Resources provided.
Strategies for English Learners and Struggling Learners Cynthia Thorburn, Cynthia Thorburn, Glencoe/McGraw-Hill School Education Group What instructional strategies work best for English learners (ELs) and struggling learners? Explore research-based strategies that can be modified to meet the needs of our ELs and struggling learners, including graphic organizers, cooperative learning, summarizing and note-taking. Learn the research that supports the use of these strategies and experience using each strategy with science content. Handouts provided.
Exploring Environmental Issues in Places We Live Kay Antunez de Mayolo, Calif. Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection Help your students gain the skills and knowledge to actively participate in shaping their community while gaining a "sense of place." Using Project Learning Tree lessons, you can connect students with people and places, plus teach them how to ask questions and analyze information. Help students learn about the social, economic and environment issues that affect quality of life in communities. Free curriculum provided!
RTI Highway: Understanding Carpools, Lane Changes and SIG Alerts Jennifer Varrato, Cambium Learning: Voyager Response to Intervention requires unprecedented levels of collaboration. This session will focus on the practical aspects of implementing RTI at the district and school level.
Effective Career Guidance Resources John Merris-Coots, California Career Resource Network The California Career Resource Network is a California state agency charged with creating career exploration resources for California's schools. See an overview and demonstrations of California Career Resource Network (CalCRN) resources including two free online career exploration sites and The California Career Planning Guide (CCPG). These resources can assist schools in engaging students by helping them see the relevance of their current school subjects to pursuing their own life goals. All attendees will receive a free copy of the CCPG.
Administrator Network for Student Success Joyce HinksonMarsha Robinson, California Department of Education As a middle grades administrator, where do you turn when you need answers about effective education technology to improve student achievement, or if a program you are considering implementing at your site really works? For many administrators, the answer is the California Middle Grades Partnership Network (CMGPN). Join this session to meet CMGPN participants and learn about free professional development opportunities, sharing of best practices, and benefits of this statewide learning community.
How to Teach English Learners and All Other Students Larry FedericoGordon Carlson, DataWORKS Educational Research See exactly what English learner (EL) strategies look like when implemented in the classroom. Following a strategy introduction, see the presenter teach a lesson as you role-play either a student or a coach monitoring EL practices. Learn how to accelerate EL learning by preteaching upcoming standards. When teachers incorporate EL strategies into well-designed, well-delivered lessons, all students learn more, faster.
The FLEX Experience: Student Motivation through Choice Jeff LitelJoe Malatesta, Gina Hadder, Janet Curtis, Stephanie Sharp, Carissa Pittsenberger, Park View Middle School See how one school developed a Professional Learning Communities structure that centers on motivating students and involving them in their own learning. Our FLEX program features a timely, systematic approach to intervention and enrichment within the school day. Learning targets and common assessments drive this process. Learn the steps taken to plan, design and implement this successful program that has saved over $250,000.
English Learners, Special Education and RTI: Oh My! Antoinette Gutierrez, Cindy Barris, Peter Herman, Kristen Hughes, San Gorgonio Middle School See an example of how English Language Learners and students identified as needing specialized instruction and Response to Intervention can work together within a master schedule to meet the needs of all learners using collaboration, the appropriate curriculum, and a detailed scheduling plan. Participants will be provided with an example of the master schedule and the levels of intervention.
How to Implement a Sheltered History Course Annie MunTeresa Hansen, Canyon Middle School Come learn how a 1,350-student School to Watch successfully developed and implemented separate seventh- and eighth-grade sheltered English learner History classes. You will leave with a plan to differentiate instruction in your classroom and specific lesson plans to use in your teaching.
Teen Truth: Drugs and Alcohol Michael Sarich, Teen Truth Experience an interactive, multimedia presentation that incorporates a student-created, award-winning film presented by a Teen Truth Live motivational speaker who recounts from personal experience the negative impact of drugs and alcohol. The film, "Teen Truth: Drugs & Alcohol," has won top national awards, and educators say the message directly impacts students' perceptions of drug and alcohol use.
Creating a Successful Full Inclusion Model Kathleen BrownKathleen Wakely, Edna Hill Middle School With the reauthorization of IDEA 2004, increasing numbers of students with disabilities are being educated in the general education classroom. In this session, you will learn valuable techniques to assist students with disabilities in accessing general education curriculum. You will walk away with many ideas on adapting the curriculum to meet the needs of your students. Learn how to create a successful full inclusion model from a general educator and an education specialist.
The Transformation of an Inner-City School: No Hay Pobrecitos en Granger! Mary Rose Peralta, Robert Bleisch, Maria Galleher, Kevin Beiser, Richard Grove, Derrick Almero, Susan Mitchell, Granger Junior High School Learn how a 2010 Schools to Watch-Taking Center Stage model middle school serving a largely Hispanic student population developed a system that raised the school-wide API more than 150 points in five years and transformed the school and community by increasing options for students, reducing the neighborhood gang presence. The elements of the system will be shared, including targeted, mandated and comprehensive after-school support; instructional routines that promote student achievement; and comprehensive use of time and resources.
Fun, Free and Easy: Great Free and Open-Source Resources Brian Bridges, California Learning Resource Network Discover fabulous, free, open source programs and Web 2.0 tools for you and your students. We'll demonstrate the cream of CLRN's free web link crop and offer prizes for audience feedback. I'll demonstrate personal favorites from our collection of open source and Web 2.0 tools, and I'll award a number of prizes for those who complete brief reviews of each resource. The current list of resources includes Cooliris, Screenr, Wordle, Evernote, Jamendo, Animoto, Capzles and Picasa.
Planning a Language Arts Intervention Matt Hernandez, Matt Berry, Clark Intermediate School Hear how a 2009 Schools to Watch-Taking Center Stage model school developed, implements and monitors a language arts intervention course called Academic Seminar. This common curriculum for students in need of academic growth to achieve proficiency in language arts incorporates standards-based instruction and teaches applied study skills. You'll walk away ready to begin planning your own academic seminar!
The FACE of Leadership Jeff Harris, Maywood Middle School Middle school administrators are expected to be social workers, instructional leaders, content specialists, business executives, personnel experts, legal experts and more -- all of which leads to a kind of professional dysfunction! By focusing on four primary areas of leadership (Facilitation, Advocacy, Communication, and Evaluation), administrators can redefine our purpose and profession. Engage in discussions about leadership and receive tools to help you implement these ideas.
Peer Mediators: Creating Safe and Accepting Environments Worldwide Pam Bodnar, Students, Marsh Junior High School See students present on ways to create a safe and accepting environment at your school and beyond. Experience how we reach out to students through our Bully Hotline program, Red Ribbon Week activities, and pen-pal letters to children in Africa. See techniques learned in our peer mediation training. We will share student-created projects focused on social justice that encourage students to make a real difference at school and in the community. Our fun, interactive session provides user-friendly ideas that you can take back to your school.
Career and College Clubs: Growth Outcomes with Future Life Plans Ahead Kevin Linell, ALL Student Loan Discover a new middle school career and college readiness program that has grow from 18 to 100 sites statewide in 18 months, despite the current tight educational budget. See statistical data that show a significant increase in career and college awareness as well as a future curriculum plan that prepares eighth-graders for high school academic planning, college choices and future success.
Developing Number Sense and Operations with Fractions Kay Emerson, Zillio Foundation Many adults say they lost their way in math when they did not really understand how to use and calculate fractions. Learn new ways to teach middle school students all about fractions: meaning, conversion, equivalency, operations and the relation of fractions to ratios and decimals. Using free Zillio 2D worksheets (combining times tables, graph paper, number lines, and spreadsheets), you will learn new ways to teach fractions for all three Response to Intervention tiers.
Teaching Expository Writing through Middle School Social Studies Barbara Loften, Personalizing the Past Meet the history content standards while building literacy and academic language skills for all students, especially English Language learners and struggling students. This step-by-step method teaches thesis, paragraph and essay development with evidence and analysis. Reading, thinking, writing and academic language development strategies are embedded in standards-based lessons. Develop lessons using primary sources; see expository essay examples.
The Real Game California 2.1: The Digital Approach Christina Rogers, K-20 California Education Technology Collaborative The Real Game California 2.1 is the digital version of the popular career development game used by many middle school and high school students throughout California. In this updated edition, students can either use an interactive online game format or an offline format to experience adult life and work roles. Through this role-playing process, students learn career self-management skills such as Access Your Allies or Follow Your Heart. For an enhanced workshop experience, bring your laptop and be open to sharing!
Using Google Earth/Maps to Manage Your Contacts and Analyze Data Johannes TroostCarol Abbott, Chris Dowell, Consultant Looking for new ways to find best practices and resources near your school? Learn how to use Google Earth/Maps to help discover education resources for professional development and data analysis.
History Alive! Reading Strategies to Support Struggling Readers Suzy Allione, TCI By the time struggling readers reach the secondary level, they often have a negative, discouraged attitude towards reading. The TCI approach features a series of instructional practices that allow students of all abilities to experience and retain key social studies concepts. Delve into the secondary-level reading process and learn how to help your students make meaning out of written content. Improve your students' reading performance and classroom success with new ideas and strategies.
Engaging and Learning with Music Tay Aston, Mt. Gleason Middle School Come experience the fun of using music in your classroom. Plan on moving, sharing and laughing! You'll learn how to get your students to connect with their learning and have fun in the process. Receive information on the value of student learning with music; learn how to positively affect your students' brains, help students retain content, and enjoy learning. Make your own work days more positive so you, too, can go home more upbeat when that final bell rings!
Nothing Wasted: Restructuring, Relating, Refining and RTI Tricia Godfrey, Todd Schieferle, Jennifer Beal, Anna Morielli, Scott Carroll, Fillmore Middle School Learn how a school struggling with climate issues and Year 5 Program Improvement status found new ways to communicate and rebuild the school from the inside out. The leadership team will share how a "tipping point" in climate and culture brought on this transformation. Starting with a curriculum audit, the staff has since overcome daunting barriers through collaborative restructuring and refining the overall program and three-tiered advisory model. Come hear what we would have done differently -- and which steps moved the school forward.
Bridges to Understanding: Supporting English Learners Faynessa ArmandLinda Smith, UCLA School Management Program Experience strategies to help students actively participate in learning when English is not their first language. Examine the processes needed to assure teaching and learning at the highest levels; explore the connection between what teachers do and how students learn. Learn effective English Language Development and Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English strategies that promote academic language development, standards-based learning, reading and writing across the content areas, higher-order thinking, and stronger staff-student ties.
How to Pass the School Leaders Licensure Assessment Tamerin Capellino, Canyon Lake Middle School Leadership is second only to classroom instruction among all school-related factors that contribute to what students learn at school. California will continue to face a shortage of qualified school administrators over the next decade. In response, the CCTC has created alternative routes to administrative certification including the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA). Gain an understanding of the requirements and certification routes in California; receive test-taking tips and materials to pass the SLLA on your first try.
I'm Formative Assessment and So Can You Scott Munford, Fairfield Middle School In this humorous and practical session, you will learn to use formative assessments to improve student learning. Everyone who attends this session will receive 40 formative assessments to use the very next day.
Building Organizational Capacity through Conflict: Staff Intervention Model Michael Roe, Hemet Unified School District With increased economic woes and pressure on school leaders to raise achievement comes the site-level challenge of improving performance while maintaining vital relationships. Explore ways to reduce conflict from these pressures during staff and stakeholder meetings through shared leadership. Decision making, structures, roles, vision, mission and communication can be addressed through organizational assessments. Leave with the tools to lead a school-wide intervention that builds organizational capacity and sustains relationships in natural ways.
Pedometer Games and Activities Gilbert Bagaman, The San Francisco School Come learn a multitude of games and activities that are played with the use of a pedometer. Your students will love the challenges and great exercise they'll get through their participation. All the games were created by students! These ideas can be used to create fun, fitness and creativity for regular Physical Education classes or rainy day activities.
Criticize This: Art Has Meaning Jaime Shilen, Toby Johnson Middle School Teachers, students and families are often discouraged from visiting art galleries and museums because they don't understand the art's meaning, they feel like art is only for the rich or educated, or they are bored. Participate in a simple Four Step Art Appreciation Process and learn to use critical and creative thinking skills to truly experience works of art as intended by the artist. Art history shouldn't be boring; art is for everyone to enjoy! Use these skills in your classroom or to engage students on field trips.
Video Podcasting for Better Learning and Instruction Ramsey Musallam, Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory School Learn how video podcasts can increase student learning. Instructional uses include recording live lessons, using pre-recording lessons for meaningful schema development or individual pacing, and ways to scaffold information for students. The specifics of cost-effective video podcast creation methods will be emphasized; current research in cognitive psychology that supports video podcasting in education will be shared.
One School's Successful Approach to Mathematics Intervention Carol Piercy, Alta Sierra Intermediate School Discover a math intervention approach with exciting results! By incorporating mathematical problem solving, along with opportunities for students to construct and make sense of mathematics, one Schools to Watch's below-basic and far below-basic students have made great progress and gained tremendous confidence. Our students are filling in the gaps in their knowledge while learning how their foundational skills relate to skills taught in Algebra 1. Come see how mathematics intervention can produce problem solvers who conquer their math fears!
Student Engagement Strategies: Get in the Game Laurie Aboudara-Robertson, Redwood Middle School Want to walk away with simple, effective methods to seriously increase student engagement from the first bell to the last? Join this session as a 30-year middle school teacher provides engagement methods that are empowering and effective, even in this era of conformity. Find ways to channel your creativity into getting your students into the game!
Century Challenge: 100 Observations in 100 Days Greg O'Meara, Ron Hawthrone, Kevin Roche, Antelope Crossing Middle School Administrators: Experience one school's practical format for addressing the importance of daily administrative visibility and support in classrooms school-wide. Administrators will share meaningful and enjoyable strategies for elevating the priority of daily observations despite the million other issues that so often block efforts to directly support teachers.
Integrating Writing Projects in the Content Areas Matthew Rubin, Castaic Middle School Writing is a skill many students struggle with. All teachers, not just those who teach language arts, have an obligation to integrate writing into their classes. Explore three writing assignments ready for classroom use that focus on technical writing, creative writing and research-based writing. All three assignments are based on eighth-grade science standards, but could be modified for other subjects.
TCSII: California's Free Professional Development Web Portal Rina DeRose, Carol Abbott, California Department of Education The purpose of this presentation is to provide you – the middle grades professional learning community — with ways to use the content on the TCSII Web Portal to support your professional learning plans. Whether that learning occurs through inquiry as a single teacher, an administrator, a grade-level professional learning community, or as a full staff, the content on TCSII will fit your needs. Tour the many features of TCSII and discover research on continuous school improvement, practices that make a difference, and ways to make your professional growth come alive.
Building Empathy in Education: Connecting Heart and Mind Ron Rubine, Standing on Common Ground Experience a series of interactive, hands-on activities that create school cultures of empathy, altruism and personal responsibility. These strategies were tested and proven effective in the wake of 15 large-scale interracial conflicts on some of Los Angeles' most challenged urban campuses. Gain tools you can immediately use to create "change agents" out of natural leaders at your schools, as well as a packet of award-wining lessons designed to help educators integrate the cognitive and affective domains.
Saturday, February 27
Content Literacy Action Plans for RTI and PLCs Julie Adams, CLS Professional Development Solutions Want to boost student achievement, increase teacher collaboration and accountability, and implement a sustainable professional development plan at your school? Learn the elements of a Content Literacy Action Plan and why it is this plan is a necessary component of Response to Intervention and professional learning communities. This is one session you can't afford to miss -- it's the what, how and why of what really works! Presented by an international educational consultant and literacy expert who has successfully replicated this process worldwide!
Effective Behavior Management: The Leadership Team Noah Salzman, Salzman Associates - Tools for Schools The Leadership Team must function as a unit. To ensure consistency, the school must have an Effective Behavior Management plan. This presentation will guide administrators through the development of an effective school-wide plan.
RTI in Language Arts/Social Studies, Part One: Differentiated Tools and Strategies Kathy Glass, CLS Professional Development Solutions Learn how Response to Intervention (RTI) provides a roadmap for implementing differentiated instruction (DI) in the language arts or social studies classroom; explore the types of differentiation. Practical DI tools and strategies to be shared and modeled include tiered activities, engaging instructional strategies for all learners, Role-Audience-Format-Topic (RAFT), exit cards and dialectical journals. You'll leave with an inventory of ideas and strategies to use in your own classroom. Presented by the author of Lesson Design for Differentiated Instruction. Part Two is session 605.
Mastery Learning and PLCs: Keys to Success at Reyburn Intermediate School Barry Jager, Kim Buendia, Elizabeth Alfheim, Amy Chambers, Clifford Badgley, Reyburn Intermediate School The mastery learning model stresses a three-phase lesson plan approach to build an atmosphere that all students will achieve in. Explore how mastery learning has been Reyburn Middle School's key to closing the achievement gap and receiving recognition as a 2010 California Schools to Watch-Taking Center Stage model middle school. Hear about our collaborative approach to instructional leadership that uses Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to develop an environment that is conducive to student and teacher success.
The Real Deal: Primary Sources in Social Science Janet McDaniel, California State University, San Marcos History and social science come alive when students actively engage with multimedia materials they can touch, hear and analyze. Take part in a lesson that explores the Industrial Revolution through primary sources, and discuss the benefits and limitations of primary sources. This session is appropriate for beginning and intermediate social science teachers.
Ready, Set, Go! Phil Mishoe, Steve Dillon, Khrystie Shoemaker, Lynda Robinet, Jim Stevenson, Maywood Middle School Finding time and money for college and career activities is difficult at a middle school. Join one middle school GEAR UP leadership team as they share two successful, comprehensive activities -- including rubrics, supply lists, and sample forms -- that you can complete with your students on a limited budget and with minimal impact on instructional time. These activities focus on career pathways, expanding educational horizons, and helping students find the links between school, college and career.
Building Student Accountability for Learning Mary Nies, Aileen Harbeck, Blake Silvers, Cat Svorinich, R.H. Dana Middle School Building student ownership of learning is a simple three-step process that positively impacts the entire school community. Improved learning, behaviors, and increased parent involvement are all outcomes of this program. Learn how to make school-wide use of student binders, portfolios for student growth, and student-led conferences part of your school's growth plan for increased student achievement.
Jump Start Your Test-Taking Strategies Michael Bennett, Patrick Henry Middle School Come and get a handful of useful test-taking strategies and materials the will help your school excel on the California Standards Tests.
Drug Abuse, Addiction and the Adolescent Brain Belinda Young, Lawrence Middle School Get an overview of "Drug Abuse Addiction and the Adolescent Brain," a curriculum module designed by the nonprofit BSCS and funded by the National Institutes of Health. This session is packed with critical thinking activities and short videos with some of our nation's leading experts in the field. Along with the standards-based health and science content, you will learn about the 5E model of instruction--engage, explore, explain, elaborate and evaluate--for your planbook. Join us and gain access to a complimentary curriculum for inquiry-based science activities to bring back to your students!
History in Five Minutes: MTV Style Rap and Role Players John Luksetich, Buena Park Junior High School In just five minutes, learn the history standards for a unit or an entire year! Become a part of history as Socrates, Cleopatra or another historical figure as you role-play attendance in "Whose Who?" Bring history into your classroom with simple simulations. Access the content through your iPod or the Internet as you rap, sing and dance to the beat of history.
Is This a School You Would Want to Attend? Dan Sackheim, California Department of Education Learn how to infuse resiliency theory and asset development into “The System” to engage and support all students. Explore daily practices and practical examples for academic content, instructional methods, rules and discipline, social and emotional development, career-technical education, alternative- and regular-school student transfers, accountability, and parents and community. You'll leave with resources and clear next steps.
Get Into the Act (GITA) Doug JannNadine McPhail, California Department of Educationi The Taking Center Stage--Act II (TCSII) Get Into the Act (GITA) series is designed to help educators access professional growth opportunities any time, any place. See how the GITA professional learning activities can be used as "jumping off points" -- a place to begin -- while you plan your own powerful staff development with a focus on closing the achievement gap at your school.
Literature and Conflict Resolution: A Two-for-One Bonus Allison Williams, Zaner-Bloser Do you spend almost as much time dealing with student conflicts as you do teaching? Do your students lack motivation? By using authentic literature that reflects social issues, reading becomes relevant. Students engaged in reading, writing and discussions of social dilemmas. Learn how to use literature to explore conflict resolution. Walk away with a list of books, an eight-step plan for instruction, and strategies for teaching conflict resolution. Turn your classroom into a positive learning environment conducive for learning.
Pre-During-Post: Cornell Notes Across the Curriculum Julie Adams, CLS Professional Development Solutions Think you know Cornell Notes? Learn from a middle school teacher the steps to this comprehensive note-taking strategy and the secrets to modifying it for your content area and the mixed-ability needs of your classes. Presented by an international content area literacy consultant and author. Handouts provided!
Instructional Strategies for English Learners Saveth Soun, CLS Professional Development Solutions Learn best practices to share with your professional learning community that will promote learning in your multiple subject, general, special education or English Language Development classroom. Walk away with ELD strategies that will empower you in teaching English learners of all levels.
School Improvement Tools from the Schools to Watch-Taking Center Stage Program Dr. Irvin Howard, California League of Middle Schools The Schools to Watch program offers free use of the Self-Study and Rating Rubric developed by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform. Attend this session to learn how to use this important tool to boost improvement at your school -- and how to apply to become a Schools to Watch-Taking Center Stage model middle school.
RTI in Language Arts/Social Studies, Part Two: Differentiated Assessments for Student Achievement Kathy Glass, CLS Professional Development Solutions This stand-alone session focuses specifically on differentiated assessments and addresses the guiding question, How do teachers formulate differentiated assessments that allow students to demonstrate knowledge in a way that highlights student achievement? You'll leave with an inventory of differentiated ideas and products to use or adapt in your own language arts or social studies classroom. Presented by the author of Lesson Design for Differentiated Instruction.
Don't Just Get Them to Write, Teach Them How! Karen Maguire, Ecole KLO Middle School Teaching writing can be overwhelming. Where do you begin? Which skills are important? Simply "getting" students to write does not develop the expertise they need: specific skills must be taught. Discover a practical approach to teaching students how to improve their writing, one skill at a time. You will be guided through an eight-week writing unit that includes lesson plans, organizers and rubrics for formative and summative evaluation. Quality assessment practices will be demonstrated, including using exemplars, giving descriptive feedback, and marking with rubrics.
Innovative Leadership Ideas for the Community and Classroom Cheryl Gagne, Ecole KLO Middle School A successful leadership program has courageous and collaborative leaders. Gain ideas on how to develop a strong student leadership program at the middle school level and how those leaders can have a positive impact in the community. Collaborative rubrics and assessment tools will be presented with practical activities. You will leave with several ideas that can be immediately incorporated into your classroom teaching. Wear comfortable clothing, as for middle school students, movement is necessary.
It's Not What You Say, It's How You Say It Natasha Boyd, Elk Grove Unified School District Get the edge you've been looking for! An estimated 95% of all communication is based on nonverbal cues, yet we tend to focus on the 5% that is verbal. This introduction to pragmatics will help you improve communication and understanding by learning to recognize top pragmatic culprits and principles. Avoid misunderstandings; find out which pragmatic behaviors are appropriate for classroom, casual and professional interactions. Students learn through modeled behavior. When we use and teach appropriate communication behaviors, we give our students a valuable life skill.
Millikan Middle School: Deconstructing a Distinguished School John PlevackMark Doan, Millikan Middle School Join a Schools to Watch-Taking Center Stage model middle school for a multimedia presentation in which you will experience the multi-dimensional curricular dynamics of a traditional middle school. Emphasis will be placed on budgeting in an age of uncertainity while maintaining and expanding programs integral to a school's framework.
What Got Us Here, Won't Get Us There! Edwin Javius, EDEquity, Inc. Improving the quality of instruction is key to closing the achievement gap! Learn how to integrate the principles of equity to help all teachers at your site reach all students through powerful, rigorous instruction. See how one school uses the constructs of Taking Center Stage-Act II to deepen teacher collaboration on critical examinations of practice in their equity professional learning community. A framework will be provided to demonstrate how districts and schools nationwide integrate educational equity with instructional practices. Leave with a template and key reflective questions!
Brainstorms: Creative Play to Promote Divergent Thinking Rebecca Barbetti, Michelle Townsley, Rio del Valle Middle School Relationships are important for middle school students. Capitalize on students' desire for interaction through promoting teamwork and critical thinking. By presenting challenges for students to tackle in teams, you will help develop a community that fosters social, emotional and academic success for young adolescents. Students of all academic levels and athletic abilities can demonstrate their unique skills, express themselves in new ways, and exhibit leadership potential.
So You Think You Can Dance? Linda Nelson, Oak Crest Middle School Learn easy management techniques for large classes in dance instruction in regular physical education classes. Historical perspective and relevance to seventh- and eighth-grade social science will be provided. Some volunteers will be needed to fill in as students for instructional purposes only. The teaching of dance can be fun and easy!
PLAs for PLCs! Ellen Ringer, Nadine McPhail, California Department of Education Professional learning activities (PLAs) for the California Department of Education's 12 Recommendations for Middle-Grades Success are offered as a FREE resource to support professional learning communities. The PLAs include framing questions, thought-provoking suggestions, and ways to adapt ready-to-use modules to save you time while planning professional development. Explore the cost effectiveness of utilizing PLAs that can be customized to best fit your own local professional development needs.
Enabling 21st-Century Science Education Jeff Arrigotti, PASCO Scientific Join us for this workshop and learn how to prepare your students for the future: 21st-century science education using 21st-century science methods and tools. Deliver authentic science experiences by combining standards-based content and relevant professional development with innovations in modern, electronic measurement.
They All Can Get It: Nonfiction Comprehension Strategies Robert Wortman, University of Arizona Teachers and reading coaches: All students benefit from direct instruction in the comprehension strategies recommended by the National Reading Panel. Discover practical, easy-to-implement strategies our neediest students can use with nonfiction texts and textbooks. Learn how direct instruction in comprehension strategies for Before-During-and After reading, connected with the use of simple graphic organizers, supports all readers in their understanding of nonfiction texts. Particular emphasis will be placed on second language learners and struggling readers.
Where to Start: Leading an Underperforming School Stephanie Anello, Antioch Middle School If you are a principal at a Program Improvement (PI) school, knowing what to do, when to do it, and how to do it is a challenge. Hear from a principal who dramatically improved student achievement, public perception, school climate and teacher efficacy at a Year 4 PI school within three years. Learn how to address the adult behaviors that interfere with school improvement such as resistance to change, lack of trust, and lack of knowledge; leave with tools to address these areas and guide necessary conversations with those who interfere with school improvement.
E-Folios: Authentic Assessment for 21st-Century Learners Ashley Ragoonaden, John Morrone, KLO Middle School E-portfolios have roots in online learning environments, however, the e-portfolio assessment strategy also has powerful applications in regular K-12 classrooms. Let's reinvent the traditional student portfolio as an authentic, 21st-century assessment strategy. Come develop a conceptual understanding of portfolio assessment, view samples of e-portfolios, and explore related technologies. PowerPoint will be used to package these unique e-portfolios.
Six Weeks to Better Decision Making Jeremy Luginbill, Lori King, Clark Intermediate School Explore the Transition Program -- a comprehensive, self-contained strategy used at one Schools to Watch site that gives students who are behaviorally, socially or academically at risk of referral to alternative education the chance to make a U-turn. The Transition Program is performance-based and centers on developing good character, self-motivation and decision making skills in participating students.
Celebrate With Your Students: CSTs Are Here! Diego LopezJaime Peterson, Debra Benish, Dean Syrengelas, Frank Wright Middle School Our presentation is intended to discuss and share how our school prepares for California Standards Test week. It will include a description of all the activities we use to get students ready and motivated to do their best.
Math + Language Development = Success2 Suzanne Damm, Gilroy Unified School District Engage in fun activities that offer students rich experiences to think and communicate mathematically. We will explore the development of academic language through vocabulary development, mental math, math talks, and writing in math. Menu math (Fulton and Lombard) will serve as a catalyst for our discussion. We will also explore ways to support English learners in mathematics.
Creating Curriculum-Rich Videos for the Classroom Kendia Herrington, Alta Sierra Intermediate Come to this presentation to learn how to make a video for your classroom. See examples of science and math videos currently used in middle and high school classrooms. At the end of this session, you will walk away knowing how to make your own videos.
Free Interactive Resources for Teachers, Students and Parents Shelia Diaz, John Muir Middle School Do you try to reach all of your students, but it sometimes seems impossible when you have to compete with MTV and video games for their attention? Learn how to grab and keep student attention using Verizon Thinkfinity's standards-based online resources in and beyond your K-12 classroom. Gain free access to thousands of resources for all content areas, including standards-based lesson plans, interactive maps and comic strips.
Integrating Videoconferencing into the Classroom and Curriculum Richard Mellott, Roosevelt Middle School Learn how to use videoconferencing to deliver valuable insights from guest speakers of all varieties and subjects to your classroom. From math to English-language arts, social studies and the sciences, learn how to access no-cost to low-cost applications that will help all students, including those with disabilities, engage in learning and explore their career interests. (Presenter requires Internet Access to present workshop.)
Building an Effective School Leadership Team Cindy Freeman, Mira Loma Middle School Teacher leaders and site administrators: Hear practical advice on how to build and operate an effective school leadership team. Receive a school strategic framework and governance plan to use with your leadership team to guide decision making, facilitate leadership meetings, and provide a structural framework for the important work school leaders need to accomplish. Improve leadership capacity and decision making at your school!
Sequences and Their Sums Jose Flores, Young Oak Kim Academy Discover an exciting, standards-based, alternative middle-grades unit that teaches the concepts of slope, y-intercept, finding values of (x,y), writing linear equations, and graphing linear equations without using algebraic language, properties or rules. Learn how to write the formula (linear equation) from patterns and sequences, plus find the "0 number" (y-intercept) and several other algebra properties without talking about them.
Build Human Body Systems for Science and Health Douglas Cortese, High School & Middle School Anatomy Association This hands-on anatomy class is great for science and health teachers. Come build different body systems in clay and attach them to skeletal models. Why dissect when you can build? We will cover the skeletal, muscular, cardiovascular and reproductive systems -- plus label bones, build clay muscles and organs, and run veins and arteries on skeletons. Take a kinesthetic approach to science and health education.
Encouraging Proportional Thinking for All Students Patricia Rogers, R.J. Fisher Middle School The attainment of proportional reasoning is considered a milestone in our middle school students' cognitive development, but being a proportional thinker should mean more than being able to apply the cross-product algorithm. Discover new, meaningful ways to assist your students in developing this important understanding. Experience several instructional activities and receive a comprehensive handout of tasks that highlight the multiplicative nature of these relationships. Enhance your classroom practice!
Algebra Tiles In Action: Engaging All Learners Cathy BrewKathleen Davies, Rincon Valley Middle School Algebra is a gatekeeper course. The expectation that all algebra students must succeed means teachers must develop a repertoire of strategies to reach and engage all learners. Join two dynamic National Board Certified middle school math teachers to learn how hands-on activities foster student understanding of nequalities and complex equations. Leave with a unit of lesson plans and tile resources you can use in the classroom on Monday morning. Cathy Brew is a CLMS 2010 Educator of the Year.
Why Do I Have to Learn This Stuff? Michael Gangitano, Lee Middle School Are your students constantly asking, "Why do I have to learn this? Why do I have to take this class? How is this going to help me?" Many students fail to see the relevance of their education, and the pressure of high stakes testing only exacerbates this problem. Discover the Real Game California, an innovative career awareness resource for middle school students that will answer students' questions about relevancy and provide them with hands-on experiential learning that is standards based and tied to real-life applications.
Math with the Rubik's Cube Tony Alteparmakian, Foothill High School Attendees will discuss how to use the Rubik's Cube to involve students in hands-on math lessons involving fractions, surface area, volume, solving equations and even advanced permutations. A free Rubik's Cube and solutions guide will be provided to the first 35 participants!
ZAP/AP: School-wide Programs to Increase Student Achievement Jeff OsbornBritt Petersen, Jan Engberg, Windemere Ranch Middle School Students not completing homework? Interventions not working? Learn how we developed and implemented a school-wide program to support achievement for all students within the regular school day. ZAP & AP will guarantee increased homework completion, appropriate and timely intervention, and other benefits for your site.
3D Folio: Assessment for Design, Differentiation and Diversity Jason Elder, Constable Neil Bruce Middle School Based on the tenets of Universal Design, a 3D Folio is a technology-based instrument created to respond to the specific learning needs of the modern student using the 3D approach – design, differentiation and diversity. View the layout of a 3D Folio, the Roadmap tracking system, and an assessment grade book. Using practices associated with assessment for learning, of learning and as learning, the 3D approach allows students to take control of their learning by giving them the tools to collect, organize and present evidence.
Choices: Success with Unmotivated and At-Risk Students Kimberly WinnKristin Hawks, Anaheim Union High School District Every student presents a unique and complex challenge, however the unmotivated and at-risk student is often the most difficult to reach. Explore proven, research-based classroom management strategies that were developed for these students yet are successful with all students. Learn the “Choices/Consequences Discipline and Reinforcement System” which can easily be adapted to fit your classroom and teaching style. Leave with ready-to-use strategies that will enable you to create a focused learning environment each and every day.
Come Home to Mistletoe: Building an Environment Where All Can Succeed Shelle Peterson, Teachers, Mistletoe School How can any school staff with limited resources and economically-disadvantaged students build a self-sustaining environment of success? Explore a principle-based approach in which every student has a place and can reach personal and academic achievement through collective responsibility. Take away practical strategies for initiating immediate, positive change.
Classroom Walk-Throughs: A Catalyst for School Improvement Bobby BlattBarry Tambara, UCLA School Management Program Experience a powerful process for discovering meaningful data about student learning and using that data to inform decisions about instructional practice. In this non-evaluative, non-judgmental protocol, teachers observe students at work in their classrooms and debrief their observations in order to identify patterns of successful learning. View video clips of schools using the protocol; explore the research and rationale; and practice the process by “walking through” virtual classrooms.
Great Books Foundation Roundtable Series for Middle Schools Sara Borzcik, The Great Books Foundation It's not just a middle school language arts program; it's more. Great Books Roundtable is an innovative new middle school program that combines the proven Great Books Shared Inquiry™ method of learning with high-quality literature. Participate in a Roundtable classroom-style demonstration featuring Great Books Shared Inquiry, learn how to transform your classroom into a vibrant, student-centered learning environment, and receive free sample units.
Connecting the Dots to Student Achievement and Safety Mary Riedel, Janie Lawrence, Pacific Grove Middle School The "Dot Program" is an innovative, no-cost way for schools to build teacher-to-student connections, enhance academic achievement, reduce discipline issues, establish strong home-school relations, and encourage school spirit. Learn how your school or district can adopt this program.
Mission Impossible! Achieving Better Student Behavior Ira Freeman, Catherine Freeman, Cuesta College If you are looking for encouragement, empowerment and excellence in the classroom, this session is for you! Get back instructional time lost to discipline problems. Come to this session to learn the proper tools for becoming a classroom of change that is teacher facilitated and student centered. You will receive invaluable strategies for successfully managing your classroom.
Guiding the Model Minority: Issues and Creative Solutions! Bhavna Narula, Terman Middle School ‘The Model Minority' brings a set of cultural paradigms to the education of its children. Join a discussion on the educational experiences of Asian students and ways to empower these students with tools that address their cultural-educational conflict. Learn creative, data-driven strategies that have proven effective with Asian students and families. This solution-focused session will help you address the needs of your diverse student body.
Algebra Success through Songs, Video and Games Vinod Lobo, Learning Upgrade LLC Algebra and pre-algebra teachers are using music and animation to make challenging concepts understandable. Find out how you can transform your math classes using interactive whole-class lessons, data projectors and whiteboards; learn how to improve grades and California Standards Test scores through individual online student courses. Receive a free course to use in your classroom. Join us for algebra, music and fun!
Sunday, February 28
Flipping through History Darlene Pope, Jefferson Middle School Discover how to access a wider range of multiple intelligences through the strategic creation of authentic assessments that address the strengths of the visual, kinesthetic, verbal-linguistic and mathematical-logical learners. Learn how strategically-designed tasks can help students develop the critical thinking skills they need to access rigorous content.
Exposure and Experience is Education Kristin Risberg, Phaebra Croft, Curtiss Middle School Get take-home strategies for instruction and management that cost absolutely nothing! Your students will benefit when you bring your lessons to life and teach culturally relevant practices. Leave this session with ideas and resources that will directly improve time on task and mastery of the state standards. We will share the tools we use in the classroom and provide a snapshot of what these effective strategies look like in the classroom.
Leadership and Change in the Middle School Chris Leakas, R.O. Gibson Middle School Administrators: Join Dr. Leakas to examine the change process and strategies that improve teacher instruction and student achievement. The importance of creating, mapping out and communicating your vision -- as well as addressing teacher concerns about change -- will be covered. Participants will collaborate with one another to determine strategies for addressing teachers concerns and implementing change.
“Trick” Your Students into Learning Michelle Townsley, Rio del Valle Middle School Why do math tricks work? By having students solve the mystery behind the tricks, teachers can engage students' brains and capitalize on their desire for interaction by promoting discussion and critical thinking. Initiate curiosity in your students; watch them build basic math skills and develop conceptual understanding as they use patterns to discover mathematical secrets.
Hug 'Em or Hang 'Em: What to Do with Noncompliant Students? Mary Briggins, Orange County Public Schools Be careful which approach you use in your classroom! There are drawbacks to both the authoritarian and permissive styles of classroom management. The authoritarian teacher response is typically to "hang," or punish, the student for noncompliant behavior, often leading to resistant and rebellious behavior. The permissive teacher believes that giving big warm hugs will cure every child's ills, yet ignoring misbehavior can lead to chaos and disrespect. Explore proven classroom management strategies that incorporate caring, student choice and student responsibility.
Advisories Bobby BlattBobby Blatt, UCLA School Management Program Interested in starting an advisory program or enriching one already in place? Explore the role of advisories in creating a more personalized and student-focused school culture; learn the processes and structures of effective advisory groups; investigate the four dimensions of an advisory program (purpose, organization, assessment and leadership); engage in a virtual classroom simulation; and explore curriculum and lesson plans that support students academically and personally.
Increase Student Engagment and Check for Understanding Effectively Kristi Britton, Blaker-Kinser Junior High School Are you tired of “I don't know” responses from many students and "I do know" responses from the same, few students? Do you want strategies to gauge whether students “get it” and are ready to move on to the next part of your lesson? If you answered yes, this workshop is for you! Learn ways to increase student engagement and effectively check for understanding. You'll walk away with tips, tricks and tools to utilize wait time, random selection, whiteboards, think/pair/share, think/write/pair/share, and group responses.
Solutions to Disruptive Middle School Behavior Emma HendersonChristy Armendariz, Mulholland Middle School All students must be included and encouraged in the regular middle-grades classroom, but inclusion brings new behavior challenges. Discover proven, effective techniques that minimize disruptions and are not usually taught to regular education teachers. Come learn these techniques, share your ideas, and participate in a question-and-answer activity.
Mind-Sets: How They Impact Student Learning Chandra Guckeen, Melanie Dopson, Toby Johnson Middle School As teachers, we often praise students' ability by telling them they are smart instead of recognizing their efforts, which can actually jeopardize student success. Learn how to shift your practice to move students from a fixed mind-set to a growth mind-set so you can motivate students academically, help them improve in school, and help them fulfill their goals. When teachers shift their practice toward using mind-sets, students are treated fairly and respectfully.
Warnings, Warnings, Warnings: How Many Is Enough? Mark Muranyi, Rising Stars Academy Academics and discipline go hand in hand; educators often lose five to nine weekly hours of precious instructional time to low-level discipline challenges. You can be the best content instructor, but without the ability to control the classroom, your lessons remain undelivered. Learn how to avoid the "debate bait," eliminate warnings and multiple requests, increase academics, decrease discipline challenges, gain parent support, and empower all educators. Educators have reported a 70% success rate using these strategies. Change your classroom and campus climate!
Sixth-Grade Science Standards: Model-Making and Evaluation Donald Litton, Lawrence Middle School Need a great Plate Tectonics model for your students? How about a low-cost but effective way to make and understand a topo map? Or a flour-dough topography model? These are just a few of the projects you will do in this make-and-take session. Rubric templates and evaluation ideas will be available. Great for Limited English Proficient students!
History through Project-Based Learning M. Craig Singer, Westside Leadership Magnet This presentation is designed for the history teacher who is tired of dry research reports and is looking for a new twist to captivate student interest in history. Experience unique ways to approach the history curriculum through various projects; learn how to modify a project for use at various grade levels and for different units of study. All participants will leave with a CD containing all the projects presented and more!
Organization of a Science Notebook Chitralekha Dasgupta, Sylvandale Middle School Organization is key for all students. In this workshop, you will get ideas on how to instruct students to properly maintain a science notebook in class. A grading rubric and step-by-step instructions will be provided.
Critical Friends Groups: Strengthening Your Learning Community Linda SmithBarbara Linsley, UCLA School Management Program Explore research-based processes that teacher teams can use to collaboratively examine student work, foster continuous professional development, and improve student academic achievement. Using protocols for looking at student work, educators engage in conversations that lead to examining instructional practice, planning next steps, and improving student learning. View a video of a Critical Friends Group in action, examine student work using a protocol, and experience the power of protocols in creating a professional, student-focused, learning community.
Using Moodle to Extend Your Classroom Chris Koble, Chris Koble, Brentwood School This session will explore the the open-source course management system Moodle and the ways it can be used to extend student collaboration, sharing and learning outside the the traditional confines of the classroom.
Content Reading Success: The Target Teaching Plan Mimi MillerNancy Veatch (Evergreen Middle School,Cottonwood CA), California State University, Chico Meet a sixth-grade teacher who, year after year, sees student learning and standardized test scores soar when she uses a “Target Teaching Plan” to teach content area reading. Experience the teaching process in dual roles as a student (reading text, engaging in strategies to develop fluency, vocabulary and comprehension) and a reflective teacher (pair, small group, and whole group discussion). Walk away with a CD loaded with a template of the Target Teaching Plan and a “How-To” guide to help you seamlessly integrate reading instruction in content lessons.
Nutrition 101: How to Teach Nutrition Education Tracy Witmer, Judson Sickler, Dairy Council of California Have you always wanted to teach healthy choices to your students, but weren't sure how? Our teacher training certification program will make you feel comfortable and confident in teaching nutrition to students. We will explain why nutrition education is important and give you the opportunity to order free nutrition education programs. Leave with the necessary tools and certificate to begin teaching nutrition education. With childhood obesity rates continuing to rise, you can make a difference to your students' health!
Fox, Owl, Ostrich, Sheep or Shark? Five Styles for Handling Conflict Deborah Thorne, Kids First Conflict Resolution and Training Services In this high energy and often humorous workshop, participants will learn the five styles of handling conflict. They will uncover their personal style for handling conflict as well as tips to manage the styles of others. Participants will also be taught the causes of conflict and strategies for resolving it.
Absolutes? Absolutely! Draw a Line in the Sand Ami Holder, Lagunitas School District The backbone of any good discipline plan includes not accepting certain behaviors, ever. But what are the absolutes, who makes them, and how do you ensure they work?Learn five new strategies that will transform your teaching style through effectively creating classroom management absolutes. Examine what you do and why you do it, learn how to keep your cool, and discover how to eliminate multiple warnings and repeated requests by implementing powerful and effective solutions to discipline problems!
Thinking Outside the Box: Dealing with Parents Dian Tabb, Winston Churchill Middle School Learn how to deal with parents, including those who are emotional, angry, wise, helpful or difficult. Hear about insights, mistakes you don't want to repeat, and success stories. Laugh with your colleagues while you learn.
Street Smart to School Smart Ayele Shakur, Gary Bracy, Boston Learning Center Lack of motivation is the number one reason students quit school. Discover methods that have helped hundreds of students go from F's to A's in as little as nine weeks. Explore 10 strategies for boosting academic motivation in the middle, best practices for increasing parent engagement to support student achievement, and a Harvard-validated, school-based model that motivates youth at risk of dropping out by overcoming their negative paradigms about school, showing them how they learn best, and teaching them honor roll-worthy strategies.
Teachers Talk Too Much Kelly Baker, Waite Middle School Want students to be more engaged? Want students to think more critically? Let Socratic Seminars be your guide. Based on the book Socratic Circles by Matt Copeland, the technique of the Socratic Seminar can be used to engage students in a rich conversation about what they are learning. Learn about facilitating, grading and preparing for a Socratic Circle -- and engage in the practice of Socratic Circle.
A Kid Like Me Linda Nimer, Wawona Middle School In this session, you will get an overview of modern Germany and how this overview can be taught to students with disabilities. Learn about how things have changed in Germany and what life is like there now. |