Thursday Afternoon Workshops
Thursday, November 7, 2013
2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
CW121
Making Exceptional Podcasts, Videos, Digital Stories, & More
Erik Palmer
Podcasts, videos, digital slideshows/stories, and Skype are examples of 21st century communication tools being used in schools (as the Common Core requires). Unfortunately, the products often showcase mediocre or poor speaking skills. This session introduces a number of tools and sites, but, importantly, also demonstrates ways to ensure that the communication is effective. Ways to update current speaking activities will be shown, and rubrics for evaluating digital presentations will be provided.
CW122
Planning for Instruction with a Student Centered Schedule
Barbara A. Kalina, Elliot Y. Merenbloom
Middle school teachers can provide active student learning within interdisciplinary team schedules based on 45-, 60-, 70-, 80-, or 90-minute class periods. In each of these instructional settings, teachers can apply research-based strategies that focus on a sequence of incremental engagements congruent with conceptual lens, target learning, and essential questions. Participants will create a student-centered lesson plan suitable for variable length time periods.
CW123
Forming Fluid and Functional Formative Assessments
Nimisha Patel, David Herick
This workshop is an introduction to learning progressions and formative assessments. Workshop attendees will be engaged in various activities that explore formative assessments—how to utilize them and how to the use the results to make effective instructional changes. Activities will include: brainstorming assessment points, creating a formative assessment timeline, planning a formative assessment within a unit, and participating in formative assessments activities
CW124
Phenomenal Physics for Young People!
John Hunt
You will have a "blast" doing sixteen science grabbers. Using discrepant events, you will get students immersed in learning science concepts needed to succeed on state tests. Have fun doing these counterintuitive/STEM grabbers, learning the content, and making connections to the real world. The cue cards are yours to keep. Remember, "If you are not having fun teaching, then your students are not having fun learning." Join us, and let's have fun learning together.
CW125
Classroom Climate Change for the Common Core
Allen Seed
Implementing the Common Core Standards requires teachers to develop deep conceptual learners capable of applying concepts to real life. Teachers must facilitate a deeper understanding of their content and promote more active, higher level learning. To do this successfully, student disruptions need to be kept to a minimum while developing a classroom climate that encourages collaboration and discussion. This workshop will provide techniques and tools you can use in your classroom tomorrow.
CW126
If You Don't F.E.E.D. the Students, They S.T.A.R.V.E.
Neila Connors
Neila will share innovative strategies to F.E.E.D. (Fuel, Empower and Engage Daily) students so they do not S.T.A.R.V.E. (Stop Trying and Reject Valuable Education). She will address the importance of POSITIVE attitudes, climate, discipline, motivation, advocacy, teaming, and compassion to ensure success for all students. Participants will be encouraged to share their belief systems and ways to deal effectively with middle grades' students in all situations as well as in the learning process.
CW127
Improving the Effectiveness of Collaborative Teaching: What Makes Inclusion Work
David A. Shepard, Kelly Shepard Profitt
Working together in an inclusion class is a GREAT experience, right? Schools across the country are moving in this direction, but is it the best answer? Inclusion as a practice is only as good as the teachers who work together and use it. Come examine and learn many ideas to more successfully and efficiently, implement this delivery model. This session will examine teacher roles, planning, shared responsibilities, active teaching strategies, and differentiation practices that help all students.