Date: October 1, 2009; October 27, 2009; March 8, 2010; and April 8, 2010
Title: 3-5 Children's Literature Study Group
Description: Learn about newly published children's literature and explore possibilities for integrating these books in your instruction. This group will meet on Oct. 1, Oct. 27, March 8, and April 8. Children's librarians from AHML will present several new titles during our first meeting. If you'd like to learn about what's new in children's literature but don't want to commit to four meetings, consider coming to the first meeting only. Participants in the study can earn 14 CPDUs.
Location: Dunton - Multipurpose Room
Date: October 21, 2009; November 17, 2009; March 3, 2010; and April 21, 2010
Title: 6-8 Children's Literature Study Group
Description: Learn about newly published children's literature for the middle school level and explore possibilities for class novel ideas, cross-curricular opportunities, summer reading choices, or just to enhance your classroom library. Children's librarians from AHML will present several new titles during our first meeting. The following meetings will be dedicated to choosing and discussing our books of choice. If you'd like to learn about what's new in children's literature but don't want to commit to four meetings, consider coming to the first meeting only. Participants in the study can earn 14 CPDUs.
Location: Dunton - Kensington Room
Date: Monday, November 16, 2009
Title: Jump Start: Review the ISAT Modes of Writing/Rubrics
Description: Each year, middle school students learn and practice narrative, expository, and persuasive writing. In the spring, they are tested on narrative and persuasive writing. In order for you to effectively teach these modes, an understanding of the ISAT rubric and what assessors are looking for is helpful. In this session, we will review the rubric and examine each mode of writing using authentic artifacts - student work - as well as review lessons and activities that help promote good writing.
Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2009 (Postponed - TBA)
Title: Jump Start: Everyday Vocabulary Strategies for Every Middle School Classroom
In this workshop, participants will learn a variety of vocabulary strategies that can be used throughout any content area. The strategies are easily adaptable to both novel and Literature units. Strategies that will be introduced and reviewed include RIVET, Word Maps, Knowledge Ratings, Connect To (or Connect Two), Vocabulary Squares, Effective Use of Flashcards, and Word Sorts. There will also be strategies shared for teaching vocabulary in all the content areas.
Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Title: Jump Start: Teaching Reading Strategies
This workshop is a basic review of current research-based reading strategies and theories to support the reading component of the middle school Language Arts curriculum. The session is designed to help teachers understand the scope and sequence of the reading process in order to effectively organize and implement reading instruction at the middle school level.
Date: Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Title: Jump Start: Planning for an 80-Minute Block Schedule
This workshop explores various ways to teach students Language Arts/Reading in an 80-minute block of time. Different approaches to unit and lesson planning will be presented, as well as establishing daily/weekly routines, etc. At the end of the session, the goal is for teachers to leave with an understanding of the flexibility and freedom that a block period can offer as well as some concrete examples of planning.
Date: Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Title: Jump Start: Implementing Literature Circles at the Middle School Level
With the adoption of a new program and the introduction of a Language Arts/Reading block format, what better time to revisit or learn more about implementing literature circles? Masterful implementation of this strategy allows students to connect with literature in a different, more flexible, way; yet, there is no one, right way to conduct them. In this session, various ways that literature circles have been implemented will be presented, the ultimate goal being to engage students in literature through a smaller community of learners and peers.
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 6, 2010 from 4:15 - 5:15 PM (Dunton Multipurpose Room)
Title: Units of Study Question and Answer Session for K-2 Teachers and Support Staff
Calling all K-2 classroom teachers and support staff! Join your colleagues as they participate in a Question and Answer Session focused on the Units of Study for Primary Writing Program. This session will be facilitated by a consultant from the Chicago Literacy Group and members of the Department of Student Learning. It is designed to give staff the opportunity to pose questions about the Units of Study Program and participate in professional conversations that will work to answer those questions.