Sessions
Thursday | March 29, 2007 |
|
|---|---|
| 1:00 - 4:30 P.M. | In-depth Preconference Sessions |
Friday | March 30 |
|
| 9:00 - 10:15 A.M. | Session A |
| 9:00 - 11:45 A.M. | Session AB |
| 10:30 - 11:45 A.M. | Session B |
| 1:45 - 3:00 P.M. | Session C |
Saturday | March 31 |
|
| 8:30 - 9:45 A.M. | Session D |
| 8:30 - 11:15 A.M. | Session DE |
| 10:00 - 11:15 A.M. | Session E |
Preconference Sessions — Thursday | March 29
PC Sessions are from 1:00 - 4:30 P.M.
PC1
Effective Teaching Strategies
Victor McGuire, Author and Founder of the National Association for Beginning Teachers
In this preconference workshop, Dr. J. Victor McGuire will share dozens of highly effective tools and strategies that will empower each participant to be more effective both in their work as mentors and in their own classroom. These proven strategies help beginning teachers bring additional fun and creativity into their classroom, while becoming less stressed in their teaching practice. You will leave the workshop with more pep in your step, full of practical, innovative ideas to help transform the classroom environment.
Along with being one of this year’s conference keynoters, Dr. McGuire is a 20-year veteran of the education field. His teaching experiences range from Middle School/High School teacher, coupled with extensive experience as a University Professor. As a Fulbright Hayes Scholar, Dr. McGuire uses his global education experiences to enhance the over 20 keynote speeches he presents each year. He has authored and published numerous books on education, and is the editor of a practitioner-based magazine entitled, Inspire, the Magazine for the Beginning Teacher and Beyond.
Dr. McGuire recently founded the nonprofit, non-political organization, the National Association for Beginning Teachers (NABT), which offers support to pre-service and beginning teachers. Dr. McGuire holds a Ph.D. in Education from Colorado State University.
PC2
Mentoring Matters: Developing Learning Focused Relationships
Lynn Sawyer, Training Associate, Sawyer Educational Consulting, MiraVia (Mentoring Matters and Data Driven Dialogue) & Center for Cognitive Coaching
This session is an overview of Mentoring Matters (a four-day seminar), which explores the important relationship between mentor teachers and the novices they support. From the work of Laura Lipton and Bruce Wellman, Mentoring Matters offers practical tools, specific templates, and technical tips for educators who help others in increasing the effectiveness of their practice, including program improvement support providers, lead teachers, and mentor teachers. Participants will explore the intentions of a learning-focused relationship and discuss methods for balancing support with challenge.
They will be introduced to a continuum of interaction, from consulting (sharing expertise and providing technical assistance) to collaboration (shared planning and problem solving) to coaching (a non-judgmental interaction that supports reflection and develops professional capacity).
PC3
Effectively Teaching Special Populations
Jim Huckeba, Director, Special Services, Hesperia USD
In December 2005, federal regulations will require districts to establish response-to-intervention (RTI) plans within state guidelines. For the past eight years, Hesperia USD has seen a dramatic decrease in the number of students being identified as special education students, while at the same time seeing improved academic achievement for all students. Named by CALSTAT and the Schwab Foundation as a model school district for collaboration between regular and special ed, Hesperia has hosted 100 school district visits from all around the country. In this workshop, learn to apply an RTI model in which all students are evaluated and research-based strategies are used to address the needs of all students, regardless of their labels.
PC4
Cognitive Strategies and Conversation: Powerful Tools for Leading and Learning
Susan Clayton, Senior Consultant, Authentic Education, Teacher, Counselor, Sumona Consulting; Sue Elliott, Coordinator & Co-chair New Teacher Induction, Teacher, Counselor, School District #45, West Vancouver, BC
Cognitive strategies that include a variety of conversation formats quickly engage student and adult participants in the learning process. In this interactive workshop, learn how these strategies and conversation formats transfer to supporting and guiding new teachers and staff development activities. The content and processes in this workshop will provide the opportunity to enhance your communication skills for coaching and mentoring. You will be able to use the skills, formats, and strategies in your leadership role of helping colleagues to grow professionally.
PC5
Identifying Cultural Bias and Its Effect on Instruction
Marisol Rexach, Curriculum Specialist, BTSA Induction, Santa Ana District Office; Sylvia Immanuel, Program Specialist, Santa Ana BTSA Induction Office, Santa Ana USD
Adapted from the UCLA E Pluribus Unum Trainer of Trainers Project, this workshop addresses BTSA Induction Standard 17.
The first portion of the workshop focuses on identifying the biases we each have. Through a series of activities, participants have the opportunity to take a deeper look at their individual values and beliefs through personal reflection and group activities. Group interaction provides participants with contrasting viewpoints that result in a deeper understanding of the diversity that exists and possibly challenges our own perspectives. Approaches to multicultural reform are presented and discussed.
The second portion of the workshop calls for participants to review current data related to educational achievement and its relationship to race and socioeconomic status. Participants analyze the information in order to recognize common trends. This allows participants to make the connection between personal bias and how our biases affect instruction, which, in turn, can affect student achievement. The three main paradigms of diversity and James Banks’ goals of multi-cultural education are discussed.
PC6
Mindfully Resolving Conflicts: Facilitation for Diversity Issues
Lee Mun Wah, Diversity Trainer/Film Director, StirFry Seminars and Consulting
How do we begin a conversation with people culturally different from ourselves? What if they get angry or hurt? Explore how to develop authentic and meaningful relationships, even in conflict or misunderstanding. This professional development workshop uses role-play and training vignettes to address issues such as racism and cultural differences. Participants will learn to de-escalate a conflict within minutes, replacing adversarial/defensive statements with mindful and culturally receptive responses.
