The Ottawa Area ISD Gifted and Talented Affiliate is pleased to announce....
Annual Gifted Education Conference 2009 "The Rising Tide...Lifts All Ships"

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

This conference is designed to help educators better understand that what works for the gifted child in the classroom, works for all children. A rising tide of learning lifts the educational opportunities for all learners.

Keynote session :

“Gifted-The Missing Population: Understanding Gifted and How to Support Them” by Kelley E. B. Senkowski, Past President of Michigan Alliance for Gifted Education (MAGE)

A complete brochure of breakout sessions will be available soon.

Facilitated by Susan Loughrin, OAISD Arts Consultant

A moodle on-line course
Date: Friday connections
Start date; January 8, 2010
End date: April 16, 2010

Requirements:
1. Purchase The Artist’s Way from this link at AMAZON or from another location of your choice.
2. Register for this Book Study via the OAISD courseware.
3. Send your email to Susan Loughrin at sloughri@oaisd.org to be allowed access to the Moodle site.

We will begin on January 8, 2010
1. Read a chapter each week.
2. Follow the Basics- Morning Pages each day and Artist Dates.
3. Write at least once a week on this Moodle site describing one or more of the following; your thoughts, your ideas, your noticings, activities you have explored…your choice.

Our connections will begin on Friday January 8, 2010 and emails will be sent each week on Friday to update and support your journey through this book.

Remember: This course will support you on your journey while you hold yourself accountable to exploring your own inner-creative practice.

If you have questions, please contact Susan Loughrin at 1-877-702-8600, ext. 4070 or email sloughri@oaisd.org

Date: To be determined

More information will be announced soon.

October 28, 2009 and February 10, 2010

8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. each session

This workshop is designed to help teachers meet the 6th & 7th grade GLCE with engaging instructional activities. We will also explore ideas for Global Issues Capstone Projects.

Audience: 6th & 7th grade Social Studies teachers

October 28 Topics
*National Geographic Materials on teaching Europe
*Five Themes of China and a Silk Road lesson
*Two Koreas Activity
*Oil as a global issue and persuasive essay

February 10 Topics
*National Geographic resources for teaching Africa
*Islands Activity
*Cities of The World and Capstone Activity
*Population Activity
*International Organizations

Presenter: Kristi Karis, Teacher Consultant Michigan Geographic Alliance; Teacher Trainer Population Connection; Coordinator My Wonderful World and student-teacher supervisor for Hope College. Kristi has 25 years of middle school teaching experience.

Cost: $60.00 (includes materials, lunch and resources)

Credit: 1.0 SB-CEUs available pending approval

Registration Deadline: October 21, 2009

If you have questions, please contact Cathy Feyt at 1-877-702-8600, ext. 4103 or email cfeyt@oaisd.org

December 15, 2009, February 10, and April 27, 2010

8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. each session

Concerned about grammar instruction across the grades? Yearning for direction? Join a collaborative group of educators as we work together to uncover the principles of comprehensive grammar instruction. This series will blend face to face and online activities. Essential questions to be addressed include:

• What grammar should students know and be able to use at each grade level?
• What does research tell us about instructional practice in the teaching of grammar?
• What does it look like in the classroom?

Participants will walk away with:

• at least on current professional book on grammar instruction
• a scope and sequence of grammar objectives
• a collaboratively developed model for best practice grammar instruction
• an understanding of the role of grammar in literacy development through the grades.

Cost: $50 (cost includes three sessions, lunches, materials)

If you have questions, please contact Rita Reimbold at 1-877-702-8600, ext. 4114 or email rreimbol@oaisd.org

Date: January 7, 2010
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Cost: $35.00 - Lunch and materials included
Ottawa Area ISD - ESB Building
SB-CEUS pending approval

Who Should Attend?

• K-8 Classroom Teachers
  
• K-8 Music Teachers
  
• K-8 Physical Education Teachers
  
• Pre-Service and Student Teachers
  
• Parents looking for active learning strategies

An all-day workshop to explore creative movement and dance in the classroom and to discover the importance of how integrating movement education with academic curriculum.

Participants will experience:

• The elements of movement and basic dance vocabulary
  
• How to create and solve movement problems
  
• How movement can be used to enhance the teaching of other subjects
  
• Many usable lesson plans for creative dance
  
• The excitement of folk dance and its cultural connections

Dance can strengthen student learning in all subjects.

About the Presenter: In her ten years at the Berrien ISD, Arts Education Consultant, Elizabeth Andrews has provided extensive arts opportunities for students and teachers in the area. Liz holds a B.A.in Elementary Education and a M.A. in Dance and Physical Education. She is a successful grant writer and exceptional arts advocate. Liz has much teaching experience and in 1997, received the Michigan Dance Educator of the Year Award. In addition to teaching and choreographing for The Citadel Dance Center in Benton Harbor, she is an adjunct faculty member at Western Michigan University and Ferris State University teaching Dance For Elementary Teachers.

If you have questions, please contact Susan Loughrin at 1-877-702-8600, ext. 4070 or email sloughri@oaisd.org

Date: Begins on October 2, 2009.

Join us for the ArtsEd Wreck This Journal book study!

When you think of making a mess… what feelings come up for you? What does it mean to create? Do you ever wish to destroy something? How does that make you feel? What thoughts come to the surface?

These are just the questions to begin to ask yourself when you decide to join in this session. Wreck This Journal will take you on a journey to discover what it means to you to wreck, destroy, rip, tear…make a mess! Are you interested in joining us on this journey? Then jump right in and get ready to share!

Each week, beginning October 2, there will be a reminder post on this blog. We will explore the journal throughout the week. You can begin the journal on any page and go at your own pace. Then, you can post your thoughts, pictures, ideas, fears as comments on this blog or you can create a new post!

To register, you will be added to the Wreck This Journal member list. This will allow you access to this blog, so that you can create posts, if you wish.

Details:

• *Purchase Wreck This Journal
• *Register: Send name and email to sloughri@oaisd.org to become an active participant (you will have access to post on this blog)
• *Take a look and get to know your
• *Dates of postings by Susan Loughrin (facilitator): October 2, 9, 16, 23
• *Final phone contact October 30 (details to follow!)

Ways to participate:

• *Comment on this blog
• *Add a post to this blog
  
  If you have questions, please contact Susan Loughrin at 1-877-702-8600, ext. 4070 or email sloughri@oaisd.org

December 9, 2009
8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

For Gr. K-6 Educators

Participants will learn why the Read Naturally strategy is so effective and see how the strategies of teacher modeling, repeated reading, and progress monitoring can be successfully implemented to improve student reading achievement. Teachers and administrators will see the value of the included graphs and reports, which help schools, keep track of fluency progress as well as comprehension.

Audience: Project leadership teams consisting of Reading Specialists, Literacy Interventionists, Title I teachers, classroom teachers, school psychologists, and principals

Presenter: Kay Forster

If you have questions, please contact Sara Gortsema at 1-877-702-8600, ext. 4120or email sgortsem@oaisd.org

October 9, November 19, 2009, February 5, and April 20, 2010

8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. each session

What is Reading Workshop? How does it work? What does it take? What are the benefits and drawbacks for student learning? How can educators, including principals and curriculum directors, ensure all students are learning?

Join us in the Reading Workshop Study Group to uncover answers to these questions and more. Unit design, assessment, interventions, and materials will be addressed in a professional learning community format. Participants will develop processes and procedures to establish Reading Workshop classrooms as well as analyze model units to inform instructional practice.

Audience: Classroom and Special Education Teachers Grades K-8, Reading Specialists, Literacy Coaches, and Building Administrators

Cost: $75 (cost includes three sessions, lunches, materials)

If you have questions, please contact Rita Reimbold at 1-877-702-8600, ext. 4114 or email rreimbol@oaisd.org

NOTE: DATE HAS CHANGED FROM OCTOBER 13 TO DECEMBER 15
December 15, 2009
9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

For Gr. 4-12 Educators

REWARDS is a 20-25 lesson supplemental reading program designed to teach intermediate and secondary students a flexible strategy for decoding longer, multi-syllabic words and to increase oral and silent fluency. It is recommended for use with students in grades 4-12 general and special education, who have mastered basic decoding skills, but are not accurate or fluent readers in grade level material.

Audience: Project leadership teams consisting of Reading Specialists, Literacy Interventionists, Title I teachers, classroom teachers, school psychologists, and principals

Presenter: Terri Metcalf

If you have questions, please contact Sara Gortsema at 1-877-702-8600, ext. 4120 or email sgortsem@oaisd.org

Dates: November 2-5th Grade
November 3-8th Grade
November 4-High School

Registration information, please go to: http://www.tah.muskegonisd.org

For more information about the Teaching American History project, please call John Johnson, West Shore Consortium for Dynamic History Instruction, 231-767-7284.

October 14, 2009
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Cost: $30.00 (Includes lunch)
K - 12 Educators

SB-CEU´S Pending Approval

Presenter: Jeannette LoVetri
Director of Somatric Voice-Work™

Somatic Voicework™ The LoVetri Method is a body-based method of vocal training which draws from many disciplines. It is based upon voice science and medicine as well as traditional classical vocal training, complementary modalities such as yoga, movement, dance, acting, and speech training, and various bodywork approaches. The LoVetri Method is meant to unselfconsciously draw the mind of the singer into the physical process of making sound.

Jeannette LoVetri is in demand as one of the world´s top specialists in training singers for contemporary commercial music (CCM) of all styles. Her expertise has been recognized worldwide through invitations for lectures at national and international symposia, seminars, and professional congresses, and for master classes at universities and conservatories.

The morning will begin with an overview of Somatic Voicework™ The LoVetri Method what it is and why Jeannette created it.

The afternoon session will be set up as a "master-class".   Participants will be chosen in advance to sing as a part of the session.

When registering, participants may indicate if they wish to sing and prepare 16 bars of a favorite song, genres ranging from theater/pop/folk/country or classical/art song/oratorio.  Sheet music (bound in some way, not loose papers) in the appropriate key should be brought in for the accompanist.  The song excerpt should be memorized. An accompanist will be on-site.

If you have questions, please contact Susan Loughrin at 1-877-702-8600, ext. 4070 or email sloughri@oaisd.org

February 22, 2010
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Who should attend? K-6 classroom educators
Ottawa Area ISD - ESB Building
Cost: $30.00 includes lunch
SB-CEU´S pending approval

Staging Classroom Life Using Drama Techniques to Enhance Curriculum and Enrich Social Skills:

AM – the morning will focus on drama activities for the K-6 classroom
Through a series of low-risk drama activities, games, and lessons, this workshop will help prepare teachers to utilize dynamic classroom techniques for elementary school curriculum, particularly English language arts.  Hands-on activities and reflection will show how drama work can fulfill curricular objectives and simultaneously teach students about co-operation, empathy, and teamwork.   

PM – the afternoon will support lesson planning
Time will be spent in the PM integrating the newly learned drama activities from the morning session into participant’s curriculum and lesson plans.

About the presenter:
Dr. Allison Manville Metz, BA, MFA, Ph.D After completing an MFA in Drama and Theatre for Youth from the University of Texas – Austin, “Alli” Metz earned her Ph.D. in Theatre Research from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.  Alli has worked as an artist-educator and arts administrator for a variety of organizations, including after school programs, an avant-garde theatre company, a bilingual theatre company, and children’s museums.  She was the 2004 Winifred Ward Scholar, which is a single, national scholarship awarded by the American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE) that recognizes contributions to the field of Creative Drama.  Currently, Alli is a Visiting Professor at GVSU – Allendale, while also serving as AATE’s Applied Theatre Network Chair and General Awards Chair for 2010

If you have questions, please contact Susan Loughrin at 1-877-702-8600, ext. 4070 or email sloughri@oaisd.org

November 17, 2009, January 12, and March 18, 2010

8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. each session

Concerned about writing instruction? Looking for ways to engage students as writers? Here is an opportunity to research and explore best practice, reflect on personal beliefs, discuss curriculum, and collaborate with other interested educators. Together, we will investigate current literature and practice, align with state expectations and develop models of instruction to support student development as writers through intentional instruction. This series will blend face to face and online activities.

Essential questions to be addressed:

• What are the essential components of quality writing instruction? What does it look like in an effective classroom?
• What is the difference between teaching the writing and teaching the writer?
• How can I work more effectively with individual writers?
• How can I assess writing effectively and still have a life?

Cost: $50 (cost includes three sessions, lunches, materials)

If you have questions, please contact Rita Reimbold at 1-877-702-8600, ext. 4114 or email rreimbol@oaisd.org