Stories, Songs, Paintings, and Prose: Using Literature and Media to Integrate English and Social Studies
Comments from actual workshop participants:
"I absolutely plan to incorporate the ideas presented at this workshop in the future. It will help our 5th graders become more independent learners."
"Andrea, you were great! Thank you for introducing us to so many great online resources. I'd love to have another seminar with you!"
"I can use all of this information in all curricular areas, not just social studies and ELA."
Research has shown that interdisciplinary instruction enhances motivation and increases retention. Why not capitalize on this instructional practice by engaging in rich explorations of historical periods using multiple interdisciplinary resources? The presenters will demonstrate techniques and strategies incorporating art, music, film, and a wide variety of literary genre that bring historical periods to life. Resources and strategies will be differentiated. Participants will have an opportunity to click into current technology resources that appeal to the 'net generation of learners including databases and Web 2.0 tools.
The workshop will be customized for any one of the selected historical periods listed below. Additional historical periods are available upon request.
- Ancient Civilizations
- Medieval World
- Renaissance and Exploration
- Pre-Columbian Cultures and Civilizations in the Americas
- Age of Revolutions: American Revolution or French Revolution
- Early Colonial Life
- United States Civil War
- Immigration
- World War I
- World War II and/or the Holocaust
- Communist China
- The Cold War and the Nuclear Age
- 20th Century Human Rights
- 1989
Audience: Grades 7 – 12 social studies, English, special education teachers
Recommendation: Maximum of 35 participants
Time Frame: 3 hours
Note: Access to computers and the Internet required.
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E-Tools: Tips, Tricks, and Resources for Teaching the Internet Generation
Overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information available on the internet? Interested in incorporating online resources into your classroom, but lack the time to investigate? This workshop presents a wide variety of Internet tools available for use in educational settings to support teaching and learning. These online Web 2.0 tools are free and can be utilized by teachers and students in a safe and secure manner. Participants will have the opportunity to use the online tools.
The online resources presented in this workshop will allow teachers and students to:
- interact and collaborate in groups
- individuals will share documents, text, images, and links and create polls and blogs
- connect students to other classrooms and learners locally, nationally, and internationally; communicate and collaborate with foreign students
- create stunning presentations beyond a simple slideshow
- engage students in learning through the use of multimedia tools
- produce interactive timelines that integrate video, audio, images, text, and links
- enhance the study of content specific vocabulary in a modern version of flashcards
- create own set of flashcards or use pre-made sets; self tests and review games generated from flashcards in one easy click
- design and construct audio-visual podcasts
- build word clouds or computer generated representations of written works to help analyze books, essays, speeches, or blogs
Audience: Grade 7 – 12 educators and paraeducators
Recommendation: Maximum of 30 participants
Time Frame: 3 hours
Note: Access to computers and the Internet required
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As school districts tighten their financial belts, teachers are often expected to do more with fewer resources available to them. Many regular education teachers face the task of meeting the needs of a diverse student population. How can teachers handle the challenges of teaching to special education students or English language learners in a regular education classroom?
This workshop presents a four-step process in which teachers acquire, apply, assess, and adjust information about all student learners to better enhance their own teaching practices and student learning. Throughout the presentation, models of effective strategies will be shared.
Audience: New secondary education teachers
Recommendation: Maximum of 30 participants
Time Frame: 3 hours
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Assessment: the Beginning, the Middle and the End
Comments from actual workshop participants:
From an art teacher: "Excellent subject. . . I was able to re-evaluate/change/improve/begin current curriculum as it relates to rubric assessments. The workshop was very good and the workshop was organized, timely, informative, and relevant."
From a family & consumer science teacher: "Andrea and Christina worked together well as a team. They took a good read of the audience and talked at our awareness level. There were good handouts and the examples were helpful."
From a P.E. teacher: "I will be able to develop clearer rubrics for better student understanding. The presenters were helpful and knowledgeable on the subject. They walked around the room assisting as needed. The handouts were informative."
From a foreign language teacher: "The workshop was very effective, well-organized, and applicable."
From an art teacher: "It was nice to have a workshop that actually pertained to me and my content area. It was fun and highly informative. 4 out of 4. I will be renovating my projects to make sure all levels are clear and concise in my rubrics."
From another art teacher: "I was completely engaged in this presentation and am looking forward to going over current assessment strategies I am currently using in my classroom. I can develop more detailed rubrics to my existing general rubrics. I will also use the exit ticket instructional strategy in a way that works with my students."
With the renewed push for using assessment data to inform instruction, teachers must incorporate varied assessment devices and rubrics in all instructional programs. Participants will review three types of assessment: pre-assessment, formative and summative assessments and will learn the distinctions between informal and formal assessment as they relate to their classrooms. Facilitators will demonstrate how to create a generic rubric with tips on how to customize it for a particular subject, performance, or assignment. Models of rubrics will be available.
Participants are encouraged to bring a task that demonstrates student learning of a specific skill or knowledge from their content area.
Audience: Non-core teachers ( music, art, physical education, technology, family and consumer science, etc.)
Recommendation: Maximum of 30 participants
Time Frame: 2 hours
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