Reaching All StudentsThrough
Reflection and Inquiry
(Best Practices in the Teaching of Writing)

When: October 4, 2008

Where: Bartlett Hall, University of Massachusetts/Amherst

Registration: $25 fee (includes coffee and luncheon).
Registration Deadline (with payment in full): September 15. Note: Fee is non-refundable, but registration may be transferred to another person.
Register on-line (in Comment box, note workshop preferences).

Schedule:

8:30 - Coffee & registration
8:45 - A & B workshop sessions
12:00 - Luncheon, Pat Hunter Award, & unveiling of new mission statement
1:30 - Family Literacy Workshop,Writing Work shop, Summer Institute Reunion
3:00 - Closing & 5 PDP certificate pickup

A Workshop Sessions:

A1: Universal Design for Learning. E, M.
In this workshop, participants will learn the fundamental philosophy of UDL. Participants will generate and share a variety of ways to implement Universal Design for Learning in the classroom, and will reflect on how they are already using UDL.
Alicia Chin-Gibbons teaches integrated preschool at Crocker Farm School in Amherst.


A2: Creative Nonfiction: Bridging the Genre Gap & Helping Students Expand Writing Repertoires. E/M
Research shows that multi-genre writing provides unique opportunities for diverse student populations to strengthen their literacy skills, accelerate learning, and enhance retention. This workshop demonstrates ways to use the popular and familiar genre of creative nonfiction to broaden students writing and reading comfort zones across the curriculum.
Barbara Cooper is a librarian at Wildwood Elementary School.

A3: Teaching About Bias and Encouraging Active Citizenship. E/M/H
The subjective nature of the media and our history textbooks is not easy to detect, especially in today’s world. This workshop explores the issues of bias, its definitions, various forms, and whether taking on a neutral or objective stance is more advantageous or even possible in the history classroom. With particular attention on today’s media, students are more likely to be actively engaged in their learning when they see the lack of objectivity in the news.
Tricia Lea teaches 11th and 12th grade philosophy, media studies, and U.S. History at the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts School in South Hadley.

A4: Strategies for English Language Learners. E/M/H
This workshop will help to inform educators of the challenges that English Language Learners face by giving a brief background of bilingualism in the world, followed by the definitions and basic examples of Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills and Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency. Through language activities, participants will experience what ELL students go through in a classroom when their language is not spoken. Teachers will learn strategies and engage in activities that are not only beneficial in helping ELL students learn, but are beneficial to all students.
Maryanne Stefanelli is an ELL teacher at Forest Park Middle School in Springfield.

B Workshop Sessions:

B1: Teaching About Puerto Rico. E/M/H
How much do you know about this part of the United States? In this interactive workshop, participants will get some tools and resources to teach about Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans. In particular, we will explore and discuss stereotypes and how to combat and effectively discuss stereotypes about Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans. We will wrap up this session with some reflection and writing.
Alicia Lopez is a French and Spanish teacher at Amherst Regional Middle School, and a student in the LLC Master’s program at UMass.

B2: Motivating Students to Write Using Prompted Journal Entries. E/M
Middle School Students can be motivated to write if they are provided with writing prompts that give them an opportunity to show what they know. Participants will consider how to develop writing topics that speak to the interests and passions of ten to thirteen year olds. They will also learn about a model for using prompted journal writing for teaching students how to develop an effective essay.
Alice Goodwin-Brown has been teaching at the Crocker Farm School in Amherst for almost twenty years. She has specialized in fifth grade, and especially enjoys teaching writing.

B3: Found Poetry. E/M/H
Do your students groan when poetry’s mentioned? Fear not! Learn a great technique for inspiring students to write their own poetry and model revision process. In this workshop, participants will practice creating and revising “Found” poetry, examine student models, and discuss various practical applications for this technique.
Krysta Anderson teaches English Language Arts at Michael E. Smith Middle School in South Hadley.

B4: Using Visual Aids as a Pathway to Better Writing, Reading, and Understanding. E/M/H
In this session, participants will experience a variety of strategies for using visual aids in the classroom. Explore how using visual aids can greatly improve reading comprehension and writing ability. Participants will leave armed with the tools needed to integrate strategies into classroom practice.
Wendy Rich teaches English at JFK Middle School in the Boston area.

C Workshop Sessions:

C1: Family Literacy: Families with Power E/M/H
This workshop shares the story of Familias Con Poder/Families With Power, a family empowerment collaboration between low income families of color and teachers, in which families take direct action to address the opportunity gap. Programs include Neighborhood Reading Parties, a Family Writing Project and Popular Education Workshops. This workshop will encourage participants to rethink assumptions about family involvement and consider the role of teacher-activists in supporting the grass roots activism of parents and guardians.
Mary Cowhey teaches first and second grade at Jackson Middle School in Northampton. Before teaching, she worked as a community organizer for fourteen years. She has won numerous awards for her teaching, and is the author of the book, Black Ants and Buddhists: Thinking Critically and Teaching Differently in the Primary Grades.

C2: Writers Workshop
Enjoy some personal writing time. Activities will include writing prompts, and time to share and respond.

C3: Summer Institute Reunion
For Summer Institute Alumni only.

Register on-line(in Comment box, note workshop preferences).