An Action Plan: Your ACE in the Hole!
Are you planning to win an ACE Award? Develop an action plan and document your chapter’s efforts using simple solutions and streamlined procedures. Participate in this workshop presented by members of the Pi Sigma Chapter at Liberty University to energize your chapter with creative ideas for programs and create an action plan to win the ACE Award. Chapter programs are highlighted in a PowerPoint presentation, and a sample action plan is provided. –Dr. Michelle Goodwin

Alpha Gamma’s Road to Success: Tips for Establishing a Scholarship Review Process
To recognize academic scholarship and a commitment to the motto “So to Teach, So to Serve, So to Live,” the Alpha Gamma Chapter at the University of Kentucky established a KDP Scholarship Review Committee. The process, developed and implemented by the student membership, was instrumental in helping chapter members receive $9,000 in scholarships during the 2005–2006 academic year. The presentation outlines the chapter’s review process and discusses emerging ideas on the process. –Jennifer Eli

Building a Legacy for Your Local Chapter
Presenters demonstrate how the Omega Epsilon Chapter at Florida Gulf Coast University created a local activity that has become a legacy. Attendees learn how to identify a local project and agency to develop an activity that involves all members of the chapter in fund-raising and community service and that can be sustained by the chapter for many years. –Dr. Elizabeth Elliott

Building a Successful Partnership: Strategies for Success
The vision, mission, and goals of a partnership between the Eta Omega Chapter at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Walnut Hill Elementary School are the focus of this session. Presenters share the positive outcomes of this two-year partnership in which a community of willing participants is making a positive impact on students in P–5 classrooms (by modeling and encouraging literacy, and by modeling active participation in school events and activities) and their family members (by modeling and mentoring leadership). –Dr. Saundra Wetig

Buy a Date, Make a Wish!
A date auction event—titled Buy a Date, Make a Wish!—is sponsored by the Alpha Mu Chapter at the University of Wyoming to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wyoming. University students volunteer to auction themselves off to fellow students, with the date going to the highest bidder. A poster presentation illustrates how this community project raises awareness for the Make-A-Wish Foundation as well as connects KDP members to civic engagement. –Laura Crowley

A Cavalcade of Chapter Programs in Literacy
Through RIF grants and campus funding, Sigma Omicron Chapter members at the University of Indianapolis have developed and produced literacy programs including Theatrical Read-Aloud, Readers’ Theater, and Dr. Seuss Day. Presenters describe how members trained participants, funded activities, and developed projects. Handouts provide information to assist other chapters in replicating these literacy programs. –Kristi Clover

A Chapter Doing Great Things
Members of the Epsilon Zeta Chapter at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania share a brief history and overview of the chapter’s time-honored commitment to excellence in academic achievement, leadership, service, and professional development. Presenters emphasize the chapter’s numerous community outreach activities and share visuals and brochures. –Jeremy Sweigart

Connecting to Children and Families: How College Students Model Learning to At-Risk Children
The Psi Omega Chapter at Thomas More College organizes an annual Spring Fling for at-risk children. The goal of this event is to involve these young children and their families in fun and exciting literacy-rich activities using both fine and gross motor skills. Presenters provide multiple samples of activities, engage attendees in discussion about planning and directing these activities, display pictures of past Spring Flings, and provide a step-by-step audiovisual of what takes place during the event. –Dr. Barbara Zahler

Engaging Intermediate Students in CSI: The Case of the Missing Class Pet
This community service project engaged intermediate level students in a hands-on, minds-on critical thinking activity: solving the “case of the missing class pet.” The project, which was based on the CSI TV show, helped students learn about criminal scene investigation, center set-ups, and required materials. Student outcomes, as well as suggestions for creating other investigative projects, will be discussed and brochures outlining programs will be provided. –Dr. Jamie Stockton

Enhancing the Professionalism and Prestige of KDP through the Elegance of Initiation
For KDP members, initiation marks the beginning of the official entrance into the most recognized and prestigious international honor society in education. The Gamma Omega Chapter at the University of Central Oklahoma upholds this long-held tradition by creating an elegant initiation ceremony that reflects the essence of the Society. This poster presentation details how the chapter has created a memorable first impression for initiates, as well as their family and friends. –Melissa Campbell

Experiencing Cambourne’s Learning Conditions through a Pen Pal Service Project
As a service project, Gamma Mu Chapter members at Buffalo State Chapter were pen pals with children from an urban school. Reflecting Cambourne’s learning conditions, the project enabled KDP members and the children to become co-learners about literacy. A PowerPoint presentation reveals how the project was executed and provides data showing learning/dispositional outcomes for the KDP members, children, teachers, and parents who were involved. –Dr. Maria Ceprano

Exploring the World through Great Books
How can you actively engage 550 elementary students in literacy activities? The Lambda Theta Chapter at Southern Illinois University–Edwardsville partnered with North Elementary School in Alton, IL, to explore the world through books. A safari to Africa, a hike in the Sonoran Desert, a swim through a coral reef, and a trek across the Arctic tundra highlighted this year’s Reading Is Fun activities. Learn the ins and outs of organizing large-scale RIF events from a chapter that does this consistently every year. –Danielle Castens

Fellowship, the Future, and Reading Fundamentals
The KDP chapter at Eastern Tennessee State University wanted to be sure their activities touched many people. Therefore, they chose projects that impacted a variety of audiences, including KDP members, middle and high-school students, and young people. To promote fellowship among KDP members—even those that had graduated and were in the classroom—summer picnics and back-to-school mixers were held. The chapter established a Future Educators of America club in a local middle and high school for students interested in exploring careers in education. For their literacy project, the chapter collected books that were age-appropriate for elementary students and, in collaboration with the local library, held read-alongs and other special events. –Representatives from the Zeta Iota Chapter

Grants: Oh the Possibilities!
Join members of Purdue University’s Eta Chapter to learn about grant resources that can help fund your chapter’s service learning activities. Presenters provide specific examples of the chapter’s grant-writing experiences and explain how other chapters can implement these ideas. Direct, hands-on experiences with the elements of grant writing are featured, including a discussion on how to develop your own grant idea. Handouts, sample funded grants, and a CD of resources are provided. –Daniel R. Dalton

Increasing Membership Involvement through Service Projects
Finding ways to get and keep members involved after the initiation ceremony is often challenging. The Gamma Omega Chapter at the University of Central Oklahoma has found that by providing numerous service learning projects each semester, membership involvement has increased tremendously. This poster presentation provides a visual representation of the impact of service projects on membership involvement. –Amy Miller

Literacy at Treehouse: An Intergenerational Community
A PowerPoint presentation highlights the Iota Iota Chapter’s work with the Treehouse Community. This unique community was built and developed to provide support to families who have adopted children from the public foster care system. The chapter at Westfield State College has made a long-term commitment of resources, both in service hours and materials, to this community and the supportive school district that educates the Treehouse children in a literacy-based effort. RIF grants from KDP also have supported this chapter’s work. –Dr. Kathleen Itterly

Making the Connection: Fellowship between Chapters
Twice a year, members from an Appalachian college chapter and a historically black college chapter meet to share fellowship, explore diversity, and compare student teaching experiences. Muskingum College’s Alpha Alpha Omega Chapter and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s Theta Tau Chapter officers and counselors share the logistics and opportunities for connecting with other chapters to strengthen members’ commitment to KDP and to expand educational horizons. A slideshow and handouts are offered, as well as an interactive question-and-answer period. –Dr. Joy Cowdery

Moving Literacy from the Classroom to the Community
The Reading Fair sponsored by the Phi Sigma Chapter at the University of Portland involves approximately 800 community members each year, including individuals from the University, Portland Public Schools, bookstores, and publishers. Chapter members share the highlights of their Reading Fair, as well as the trials and tribulations they’ve faced as the program has grown over the years. –Dr. Julie Vogel
Officer Goal Setting (link to Officer Goal Setting Part II)

Officer Goal Setting
Wondering how to build your chapter or make it stronger? Chapter officers will receive training and tools to assess their chapter and identify areas in need of improvement. From setting goals to creating action plans, chapter officers will learn useful tips that will help them in their chapter positions and in many other aspects of their life.

The Big Event
Members of the Mu Chi Chapter at Texas A&M University join other students, including members of the Department of Education’s Graduate Student Association, each year in the largest student-run community service event in the nation. More than 9,000 “Aggies” came together this past year to say thank you to the residents of Bryan and College Station. For the past 26 years, Aggie students have shown their appreciation to the surrounding community by completing service projects such as yard work, window washing, and painting for area residents.
Representatives from the Mu Chi Chapter

The Mitten Tree
Mitten Tree, a tradition of the Delta Tau Chapter at Slippery Rock University, is a project that incorporates a learning experience and social awareness. Presenters share how to create a mitten tree and how to weave social issues into service projects. –Dr. Mary Vetere

Oh the Places You’ll Go!
KDP members from the Alpha Eta Chapter at Southeast Missouri State University discuss the chapter’s RIF project, in which kindergarteners from low-income schools come to campus for a field trip that includes activities about careers and a book giveaway funded by a RIF grant. This presentation includes photos and samples of the children’s writings about their field trip. Handouts describe the steps involved in organizing the project, including a timeline and activities. A video showing a news feature by a local television station is shared. –Megan Russell

Recruiting Future Teachers through the Celebration of Teaching Program
As part of the annual Celebration of Teaching Program sponsored by Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, the Kappa Rho Chapter collaboratively hosts a one-day conference with the Minority Teacher Development Program and the College of Education. This successful endeavor showcases the teaching profession and serves as a recruitment tool for higher education. In this interactive session, presenters demonstrate how to make the Celebration of Teaching Program a successful recruitment tool for chapters and universities to attract future teachers to the profession. –Lindsey Groom

Scholastic Book Fair and Kappa Delta Pi: Making the Connection Work for Your Chapter
Presenters provide an overview of how to host a successful Scholastic Book Fair as a chapter fund-raiser. The Rho Nu Chapter at Indiana University has had two successful book fairs and will have completed another just before Convocation. The session includes pictures, videos, and ideas for extending the book fair into the community. Also highlighted are ways to incorporate a service project into a book fair. –Denisha Jones

The STAR of the Class: Recruiting Teachers Early
At this session, members of the Zeta Kappa Chapter at Southeastern Louisiana University present an innovative program—STAR: Students Teaching and Reaching—to prepare high school juniors and seniors for possible careers in education. Attendees learn how the program and its unique features came into existence and participate in an interactive lesson from the curriculum called Alligator River. Handouts include directions for Alligator River and an overview of the curriculum. –Dr. Nicki Anzelmo-Skelton

Strengthening the Link
Among the best recruiters for our profession are members of the Alpha Beta Omega Chapter at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith! Using a PowerPoint presentation and handouts, presenters show the development of a mentoring program that links KDP members with students at Northside High School who have shown interest in teaching. In this mentoring program, KDP members who are preservice candidates teach elementary students on the UAFS campus while secondary students shadow them throughout the day. The interactive presentation includes creation of a paper chain of ideas. –Deebe Milford

Surviving Transitions of Counselors and Officers
How can a chapter adjust when a devoted counselor leaves the university? How can a chapter address student leadership issues when several strong students graduate? And, what can a chapter do when both of these situations occur in close succession? The Delta Beta Chapter at Kent State University highlights its honest assessment, planning, and perseverance in the face of several leadership changes. Presenters share a multi-faced approach to addressing chapter transition. Learn how this KDP chapter recreated itself to be reflective of its new leadership and membership personalities. –Dr. Martha Lash

Using Books to Keep Families Together, Even while Separated
Members of the Alpha Epsilon Chapter at Western Illinois University share details about a successful Read-to-Me program in which absent fathers were helped to maintain family ties with their children. With the assistance of chapter members, fathers tape-recorded books using read-aloud strategies designed to help them communicate with their children from afar. The children received the books and listened to their parents’ recordings. Though this program could be conducted with soldiers overseas, the chapter’s efforts involved fathers who were nonviolent prison inmates. Presenters share a short video demonstrating the procedure as well as provide handouts containing lists of books used and lessons learned. –Dr. Pamela Godt

Connecting with Students and Families of Children with Disabilities
This workshop explores how an intensive special education placement—a part of a collaboration between an institution of higher education and P–12 schools—effectively altered preservice general education teachers’ initial perceptions of children with disabilities. Presenters describe how this experience changed the preservice teachers’ thoughts about care, respect, teacher efficacy, and professional expectations for an inclusive general education classroom, and explain how similar collaborative experiences can be replicated. –Shawn DiNarda Watters

Hispanic Views of Effective Elementary School Teachers
More than 300 Hispanic students enrolled at the University of Texas–El Paso provided their thoughts regarding what makes an effective elementary school teacher. Presenters share the themes yielded from the data collected, and workshop participants have an opportunity to react to the findings and express their own views on the characteristics that are indicative of effective elementary teachers. –Dr. Don P. Schulte

Readying Preservice Teachers to Manage Behavior
Equip your preservice teachers with the behavior management skills they will need in their own classrooms. Presenters share an active approach to improving behavior management techniques in which preservice teachers research students’ behaviors in their mentor teachers’ classrooms, evaluate their mentor teachers’ behavior management plans, and create their own behavior management plan for use in the classroom. A PowerPoint presentation demonstrates actual projects from preservice teachers who created them and professors who assigned them. –Dr. LaVonne Key

Show That You Are Making a Difference!
You know that you are effective and that your students are making progress. If you were asked, could you prove it? Classroom-based research (action research) is just the ticket. Discover the basics of action research from the beginning to the final product. Presenters distinguish action research from traditional scientific research, and share some results from their own classroom research.
Additional resources: 2, 3, 4
– Dr. James Stamper

Simplified Action Research: The Essential Tool for All Teachers
How can educators improve their pedagogical practices? Through action research! Presenters define the approach, and then explain the process for formulating an action research question, conducting the research, and employing the results to improve current educational practices. Using PowerPoint slides along with relevant handouts, presenters lead participants in various activities that demonstrate the feasibility of becoming action researchers in their own school settings. –Dr. Elaine Bukowiecki

For Doctoral and Higher Education Candidates

Bridging the Gap between Teacher Candidates’ Competencies and Teacher Licensure Exam Results
Presenters address teacher licensure exams, such as the Praxis II, and the discrepancy found between candidates’ competencies and standardized exit exam results. A handout describes efforts in new policies and procedures to better prepare students for the exam and improve scores at the presenters’ institution. Suggestions are offered from a beginning teacher who recently took the exam. Participants are encouraged to share their institution’s practices and testing experiences. –Dr. Julie Ray

Getting It Done and Moving Forward: The Dissertation
This panel discussion addresses the dissertation process, getting it finished, and moving on to the professoriate. Four scholars—one in the dissertation process, one new graduate in her first year as an assistant professor, and two others who have been assistant professors for a little longer—share advice and suggestions for finishing up the dissertation, what they learned during that process, and how the choice of their dissertation and research enhanced their job placements and has impacted their lives as new professors. –Heather Caldwell

If Life Is a Highway, How Do I Get to Professor Avenue? Some Directions for Securing a Job in Higher Education
The presenter shares the requirements, expectations, and some “hidden” passageways to professorship. A PowerPoint and accompanying handouts illustrate how to create a plan of action for securing a teaching position at the college level. Participants role-play various people involved with the selection of new faculty members to better understand the process so that they can be well-prepared for and successful in securing the position they want. –Dr. Cindy Melton

Mixed Research: Strategies for Educational Researchers
Mixed-methods research designs are increasing in popularity in educational research studies. To date, however, most studies involve a qualitative component and a separate quantitative component. In this presentation, ways in which researchers can better integrate these separate mini-studies by converting qualitative data into quantitative data for statistical analyses are examined. Participants are asked to provide research questions that might be targeted for mixed-methods research possibilities. Sample educational studies are discussed. –Dr. John R. Slate

Overcoming Obstacles in Survey Research
Presenters discuss the methodology of survey research and its challenges. The session explores the specifics of how to formulate a research idea, design a successful survey research instrument, select a panel of experts, and conduct a pilot test to check for validity and reliability of the instrument. The process is illustrated through a PowerPoint presentation that highlights the presenters’ recent research. –Dr. Linda C. McGrath

‘TAKE THIRTY’: Mentoring at the University Level
Presenters describe the TAKE THIRTY mentoring program at Winthrop University’s Richard W. Riley College of Education, in which a 30-minute topic is addressed prior to each college faculty meeting. The program’s creator explains how the idea for the program has evolved into its second year of implementation, and other program participants—two mentors and two mentees—share their experiences. The session focuses on the importance of mentoring new university faculty members and offers advice on ways to implement a similar program. –Dr. Betty Lou Land

What Makes Research Good, Anyway?
Find out what it takes to plan and implement successful research—from action research projects to dissertation work. Presenters identify the key components of beginning with effective questions and ensuring that certain elements are evident in the design of the study. Participants analyze examples of good and bad research, and leave with criteria and analytical tools to help develop their own effective research. –Dr. Donna Breault

When Two Heads Are Better Than One: Successful Collaboration in Teaching and Publishing at the College Level
Teaching and publishing in collaboration with colleagues often is encouraged in college settings. However, graduate students and novice faculty members typically receive little preparation for this mode of instruction and scholarship. Presenters, experienced in both areas, focus on the triumphs as well as the pitfalls. Real-world examples, practical suggestions, and an opportunity for participants to apply what they learn to case study scenarios are offered. –Dr. Kelli Jo Kerry-Moran

Writing for Publication
The presenter reviews the essential elements of the process of writing for publication, highlighting the distinctions between the types of educational writing and journal publication. With the help of handouts, concerns about planning, writing, and submitting manuscripts are addressed. Participants have an opportunity to raise specific questions and garner advice from this highly accomplished writer and editor of a scholarly journal. –Dr. O. L. Davis, Jr.

Paper or Computer? Improving Intern Teaching Performance
Which is a better method of gathering sufficient, accurate, measurable, and observable data that a teaching intern can internalize and use to improve his or her use of effective teaching practices—paper or computer? The presenters summarize their research and engage participants in a discussion of methods that mentors and coaches can use to increase preservice teacher competence. –Dr. Laurie M. Hawke

Teaching in the 21st Century: Plain Vanilla Just Won’t Make It!
There is a new global competitive playing field with new players representing every color of the human rainbow and new ways of communicating and collaborating. This field requires students to have the right knowledge, skills, ideas, and self-motivation to compete. So where do you, as a teacher, fit into this new global competitive playing field? How do you prepare your students? What should you do so that your students do not wind up on the bench or as spectators in the 21st century? –Dr. Raymond Meagher

The ABC’s of Classroom Management
The author The ABC’s of Classroom Management, published by KDP, summarizes some of the key ideas presented in the book. Participants view video clips of popular movies that illustrate classroom management challenges. The presenter offers both preventative strategies for classroom management and strategies that can be used when action needs to be taken to address management challenges. –Dr. Pamela Kramer

Alignment from the Perspective of a Principal
Principals are considered the instructional leaders on their campuses. As such, they evaluate the instruction of teachers based on the success of students. Using Bloom’s Taxonomy and Erikson’s Structure of Knowledge, the presenter focuses this session on the importance of the alignment of curriculum, instruction, and assessment to student success. Participants learn how to identify the level of a lesson objects and plot it on a grid to show the complexity of the objective. –Dr. Susan J. Nix

Balancing It All with Style and Grace
Whether you are a first-year teacher, teaching intern, student, or faculty member, the responsibilities are often overwhelming. “Teaching, school, KDP, family, friends, working, homework, grading papers, cleaning house, cooking dinner—how can I get it all done and still remain sane?” If this sounds familiar, then this workshop is for you. Through active participation, learn ways to balance the demands in your life and still find time to smile. –Dr. Diane Jackson

Beam ’Em Up! Exploring Reading and Writing Instruction with Handheld Computers
Take reading and writing instruction anywhere with the portable technology of handheld computers—PDAs! This session explores the power of handheld computers to make learning a portable experience. Using hands-on activities, presenters highlight the nuts and bolts of using handhelds, as well as how they work with keyboards, digital cameras, GPS devices, and wireless networks to support the acquisition of standards-based reading and writing skills. –Dr. Candace Figg

The Beginning Teacher’s Legal Toolbox
This presentation informs the beginning teacher of important legal topics and issues that confront educators in schools across the nation. Attendees learn about important federal statutes and how to avoid legal liability for discrimination, harassment, student searches, copyright infringement, and field trips, among other legal situations. The presenter offers eight tools that beginning teachers can take away and use in their schools immediately to protect themselves, their students, and their schools from legal liability. –Dr. James Rabbitt

Behavior Management in the Movies
In this session, attendees view a variety of film clips and analyze the challenges teachers face. The films also are used to facilitate discussion about what effective teaching looks like. Participants identify common behavior management challenges that can occur on the first day of school and effective teaching strategies. –Laura Craig

Brain Compatible Instruction: Addressing the Needs of a Diverse Student Population
How do you handle diversity in the classroom? If you want to develop your professional competency for helping all children succeed, this interactive PowerPoint presentation is for you. The session explores practices and brain-compatible instructional strategies that promote learning for all students. Sample activities support teachers’ efforts to meet the increasing diversity of the classroom. –Dr. Dorothy L. Baldwin

The Brain: Is It the Last Frontier of Education?
The proliferation of workshops, books, and articles addressing the brain-compatible classroom attests to the high interest in this area. Is it just another educational fad, or does neuroscience research have something to offer classroom teachers? This session explores some of the myths, applicability issues, and promise of brain research in education. Participants engage in discussion and develop a plan for further investigation of a brain topic. –Dr. Donna Gail Shaw

Childhood Mental Health Disorders
This PowerPoint presentation is intended to give workshop attendees an overview of some common childhood mental health disorders, behaviors typical with these disorders, and how teachers can best address the behaviors of the student with a mental health condition. Workshop attendees are invited to participate as different scenarios are presented and interventions are discussed. Interventions supported by theory and best practices are identified and rehearsed. –Teresa Gawrys McLeod

Conducting an Effective Job Search
Teacher candidates learn how to conduct an effective job search. Basics, such as supply and demand and what school districts look for in teacher candidates, are discussed. A PowerPoint presentation covers résumé development, preparing a letter of application, and compiling a portfolio. A mock interview is conducted, and candidates are given insight into what they should do before, during, and after an interview. –Joseph Erne

Culturally Responsive Teaching in Your Classroom
This presentation provides background on the need within our diverse schools for more culturally responsive instruction, and for acceptance by teachers of various ways of “knowing and showing.” Participants learn how to create lessons by using curriculum standards, the CREDE standards of effective pedagogy, and a framework of culturally responsive teaching practices. The session offers an overview of culturally responsive instruction, methods and strategies for this type of instruction, and small and whole group discussions on classroom implementation through a workshop atmosphere. –Nancy Hulan

Dancing with the Dragon: How Great Teachers Maintain Their Joy of Teaching in an Age of Accountability
This presentation suggests positive ways that teachers can cope with the No Child Left Behind pressure. Some teachers have given in or given up, others have become angry or bitter, but there are great teachers who have learned to Dance with the Dragon—finding ways to teach what is required while maintaining their creativity and joy. Presenters share handouts and lesson activities appropriate for all levels. –Dr. Jan Richards

The Definitive Guide to Getting a Teaching Job
With a dynamic PowerPoint presentation and attendee role-plays, this session connects participants to all aspects of getting a job: preparation of the paperwork, the job search, and interviewing. Participants learn what employers really want to see on résumés, how online job searches can win interviews, and how to answer questions with a behavior-based approach that demonstrates past experience and knowledge of teaching. A must-attend session for every job seeker. –Dr. Mary Clement

Developing Competence in Using Mixed-Language Ability
English language learners are increasing in number in American schools, and these diverse learners can pose unique challenges for beginning teachers. In this interactive session, participants role-play to learn several cooperative learning and hands-on strategies that build English language proficiency at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Detailed handouts explain the strategies, and additional resources for teaching English language learners are provided on a CD. –Dr. Nathan Bond

Developing Professional Educators
While the teacher work sample is currently used in only a small number of universities, it is a growing trend among education departments for documenting the professional skills of practicing teachers. After viewing a video and a PowerPoint presentation, participants analyze the seven components of a teacher work sample, which Longwood University requires of its practicing teachers. Participants also create a brief sample of their own that incorporates the elements discussed in this workshop. –Joshua Herring

Differentiating Instruction: Meeting the Needs of 21st Century Students
How can educators bring back the excitement of the learning process into elementary, middle, and secondary classrooms? This presentation focuses on how differentiation affects teachers and students at any grade level. Principles that guide a differentiated classroom, varied instructional strategies that motivate and inspire student participation, and authentic assessment strategies are shared. Also provided are examples, ideas, and strategies to differentiate your curriculum by content, process, and product. –Dr. Saundra Wetig

Do We Really Have to Include Him in Our Community of Learners?
Creating a cohesive community is easy when everyone gets along. But what happens when someone in the classroom obviously doesn’t fit in? This workshop introduces attendees to identified characteristics necessary for a community of learners. Through a variety of activities, participants learn proven strategies to use in their classrooms to create a cohesive climate conducive to learning, including even the hardest to reach students. –Dr. Kathy A. Brown

Education of Students in Transition
This informational session provides an overview of issues related to the education of transitional students who live in homeless, migrant, or other living contexts. The unique aspects of the social context of transitional students are explored through a PowerPoint presentation as well as a short interactive role play component to provide a culturally relevant experience for attendees. –Dr. Charles Ervin

E-Portfolios: A Preservice Teacher’s Tale
Many colleges of education now are requiring preservice teachers to document their growth and knowledge through electronic portfolios as the preferred method. The use of this technology tool can be challenging, but exhilarating. This presentation examines the construction and concepts used to build an exemplary e-portfolio. Included in this session are suggestions for various types of portfolios for elementary, secondary, and music majors in education. Practical tips are shared via handouts. –Dr. Bernadette Kelley

Evoking Cultural Currency
Explore simple methods for eliciting affective attention and expression about value-oriented topics from diverse student populations. In this interactive session, presenters guide attendees in the creation of international historic cut-paper to identify visual customs in international populations and create visual representations of qualitative concepts to articulate big ideas and, thereby, enhance cognitive ability. Handouts of multicultural resources and national visual arts standards are provided. –Suzie Chelsea

Get In! Adopt! Adapt! How Technology Affects Teaching Practices Today
This workshop explores how teachers can take advantage of online curriculum and assessment resources, such as NYLearns.org, while applying these tools to their own instruction. Throughout the workshop, participants have the opportunity to think-pair-share, while interacting with a PowerPoint presentation, discussion groups, and brainstorming on how to implement technology and further improve instruction. –Dr. Joseph Madigan

Hardwiring a New Language: Schema Building for Second-Language Learners
Second-language learners have built-in schemas from their native language that are rich with experience. Teachers need to find a means to build corresponding schemas for the new language that capitalize on the pre-existing one, thus maximizing learning. This session presents teachers with the best strategies for schema building in language learning through the use of samples, instructional handouts, and relevant practice. –Dr. Leticia De Leon

How Do You Manage to Teach?
Management vs. discipline: Whose responsibility is each, and what are the principles and systems that need to be in place so that meaningful instruction can take place? A philosophical overview and rationale are presented with authentic classroom examples and visual models. Participants engage in smaller breakout groups to apply the principles and systems to their own instructional contents and settings. –Dr. Beth Clark-Thomas

How to Improve Your Interpersonal Communication Skills
Successful teachers are effective communicators not only in the classroom, but also in their interpersonal relationships with peers, supervisors, and parents. In this workshop, participants first complete a communication preferences questionnaire and plot their responses using the Johari Window to identify their communication style. Then they evaluate, analyze, and identify their interpersonal communication skills. In doing this, participants not only see themselves as others see them, but also see where improvement is needed. –Dr. Mary Aspedon

iMovie as Reflective Practice in e-Portfolio
Reflective writing is a cornerstone of portfolio assessment. The use of video (iMovie) enhances the reflection process to provide a rich and authentic display of teaching competencies and technological skills. This presentation provides an example of a video essay that demonstrates the ability to plan and implement accommodations for students identified as having special needs. –Meagan Ebare

Instructional Approaches Using Elaboration and Visualization
Cognitive theory suggests that novice learners have difficulty processing and learning new concepts at the same time because of the limited capacity of working memory. This workshop explores teacher-directed instructional strategies that benefit students’ learning by helping students store information efficiently through elaboration and visualization. Presenters demonstrate strategies that can be used in classrooms, provide hands-on materials and experiences, and discuss how using these strategies will influence learning. –Dr. Gayle Mullen

Integrate the Arts in Grief Support
The facilitators of this session have personally experienced the loss of spouses, organized community grief support groups, worked with school counselors, and conducted national conference workshops on grief support. They discuss with participants the application of the arts in grief therapy, specifically the importance of encouraging students to draw, compose, create, and perform to express their emotions. Handouts document how public schools and agencies have used the arts to recover from grief, including death, divorce, and natural disasters. –Dr. Vince McGrath

Jazz Up Your Classroom—From State Teachers of the Year
National State Teachers of the Year share their best practices that result in student learning. Experiences from award-winning teachers (Pre-K–12) enhance the repertoire of teaching/learning strategies for all who attend. Come prepared for an action-packed clinic. And walk away enriched and prepared for Monday morning. –Art Peekel

Kids Just Gotta Have Fun! Making PowerPoint Presentations Interactive
Tired of the same old PowerPoint presentation format? Want to actively engage students? See how easy and fun it is for you (and your students) to create presentations that are interactive (no programming knowledge required!). During this presentation, participants help design an interactive PowerPoint presentation. Attendees receive handouts galore, including step-by-step instructions. –Dr. Jan Ray

Let’s Work It Out: The Bridge to Conflict Resolution
The presenter visually demonstrates sample techniques from “Let’s Work It Out,” a conflict resolution program. Participants in this session learn ways to help their students gain skills to manage conflict in school and life. Attendees share problems they face in the classroom, as well as experience and learn to apply the concepts and strategies presented in the workshop. –Dr. Lila Swell

LGBT Parents and the Schools
How many children live in lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) households? The American Academy of Pediatrics estimates 1–9 million children. Many of these children were conceived in previous “straight” marriages, but a growing number of couples have children conceived through artificial insemination, surrogacy, or adoption; and these children are now entering school. How can schools improve their interactions with gay and lesbian parents? Information and activities regarding these issues are presented followed by group discussion. –Dr. Allan Cook, Counselor

Listening to the Voices of Parents
Research shows that communication between teachers and parents is vital to a student’s ability to succeed in his or her education. Through the use of PowerPoint, handouts, and a variety of hands-on activities, attendees leave enhanced by a variety of communication techniques for listening more confidently to the voices of parents. –Linda Clark

The Motivational Theory
This session presents practical and positive reinforcement techniques that are basic to successful teaching by identifying and accepting students’ positive behavior. Attendees consider typical situations through group discussions and receive materials specifically designed to respond to student behavior concerns from the elementary to high school level. –Dr. Blossom Nissman

Patchwork Possibilities: Exploring Cultural Heritage through Quilts
Presenters engage attendees in this interactive, multidimensional session, using quilts to explore heritage with K–12 students. Participants construct several quilt samples to use with K–12 students as they explore cultural heritage through a PowerPoint presentation, artifacts, dramatization, and participation. Handouts include patterns, directions, lesson plans, and references. –Dr. Diane Jackson

Perceptions and Possibilities for Working with Students and Families in an Urban Setting
The presentation is based on the work of eight colleges concerned with issues of equity in urban schools. Workshop participants examine their perceptions about urban students and their families, particularly those living in poverty. Case studies, personal stories, and the impact of social norming on perceptions are used to illustrate how to prepare teachers to identify their negative perceptions while building a positive foundation for interacting with students and their families. –Dr. Elizabeth Kosky

Preparing for the Future from Voices of the Past
This interactive workshop helps participants prepare for some of the many surprises that arise during the first year of teaching. The lead presenters are involved in a five-year longitudinal study tracking teacher education graduates from their university, in which 165 first-year teachers provided firsthand insight into the challenges and realities of first-year teaching. Presenters share their findings and provide practical resources to help ensure a successful entrance into the teaching profession. –Dr. Kathy A. Brown

Preparing for the Unexpected
Classroom emergencies happen without warning. By partnering with the American Red Cross, teachers, schools, and families can be prepared for the unexpected. Through the use of a PowerPoint presentation, discussion, handouts, and role playing, participants gain confidence in knowing what to do in an emergency. This session is meant to answer frequently asked questions in anticipation of completing a first aid or CPR course. –Rebecca Weliver

Rainbow of Reading: Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Reading Rainbow
Join Indiana in celebrating the 25th anniversary of the PBS television series Reading Rainbow, whose goal is to create lifelong readers. Discover the many classroom connections to the various episodes, as well as ways you can celebrate this television series with your KDP chapter and state reading associations. A PowerPoint presentation, handout of ideas, and supporting books are shared. –Dr. Nancy Steffel

Résumé Writing: Tips for Success
What should an educator’s résumé include? Presenters assist teacher candidates in writing a résumé that outlines individual skills and experiences and that best meets the intended audience—human resources personnel and administrators. Attendees explore what they must know about their future employers and the position for which they are applying. With the competition for teaching positions incredibly high, candidates must learn how to write an effective résumé that will pass into the ‘consider file’ and past the ‘reject file.’ –Dr. Saundra Wetig

The Significance of Introspection and the Teaching of Multicultural Texts
Before using culturally inclusive materials in classrooms, multiculturalists often suggest that educators become introspective as they evaluate teaching practices. In this session, presenters look inward to reflect on how their own beliefs, feelings, and pedagogies are altered as they explore issues around selecting and teaching multicultural texts in grades K–college. Attendees discuss and evaluate multicultural literature to build a balanced, culturally inclusive library in the classroom. –Anna Cajiga

Student Teachers’ Beliefs about Classroom Management
This session addresses the effects of classroom management and teaching style on the classroom decisions of student teachers. Participants evaluate their own teaching management styles by completing two Likert-scale inventories and then comparing their responses to the responses of 70 student teachers in the presenters’ study. Interpretations are made regarding which inventory answers proved most helpful to the student teachers in the study. –Dr. Virginia Goulding Johnson

Surviving Your First Year of Teaching
Planning, instruction, and management are closely intertwined. This dynamic can be a big challenge for a new teacher. Proactive strategies must be implemented to prevent discipline problems, while encouraging students to solve problems in socially acceptable ways and manage their own behavior. This session identifies strategies that communicate respect, responsibility, and accountability for both the new teacher and the students. –Dr. Billie J. Enz

Taking the Guesswork out of Being Hired
As part of the effort to raise student achievement, schools increasingly are using research-based protocols to select new teachers. Learn what the research says about effective teaching and how this relates to a successful interview. A PowerPoint presentation is used to introduce three protocols: Teacher Quality Index, Haberman, and Teacher-Perceiver. Live interview segments are conducted using excerpts from the protocols. –Dr. Tom Gannon

Teaching the Reluctant Learner
This workshop presents several strategies for engaging reluctant learners at elementary, middle, and high school levels. Participants receive materials that outline the strategies so that they can begin implementation immediately. Discussion includes how to identify the reluctant learner and how to adapt strategies for subject, grade level, and student abilities. –Francine Canin

To Teach or Not to Teach in an Unhealthy Environment!
Does the environment in which you teach create a health issue? Learn how one school rebuilt internally and externally, how money was raised, and how community and institution involvement was encouraged. Videos and handouts demonstrate how each floor within the school was examined and each teacher was challenged to look at what was needed to promote a healthier learning atmosphere. –Ms. Charisse Willis

Transforming Your Classroom to Fully Engage Students
Based on Eric Jensen’s Environments for Learning, this session uses PowerPoint and discussion to help you create classroom spaces that act as a silent teaching assistant. Learn how students are impacted by ergonomics, peripherals, hydration, temperature, lighting, and seating. Complement your teaching skill with Jensen’s brain-compatible strategies that support learning and boost motivation and achievement. –Dr. Thomas Gannon

Wear Your Emotions on Your Sleeve!
Presenters share a new idea, developed with a busy teacher in mind, on how to bring emotion back into the classroom while cutting down on conventional behavior management. This interactive session—including soap operas, skits, and music—offers ideas on how to deal with conflict resolution and how to approach emotions within a multitude of student personalities. –Alexis Hershkowitz

What Girls Need: An Examination of Services that Support and Empower Girls
Presenters provide an overview of services and supports available for girls in school settings and suggest what more could be done. Participants are invited to share experiences, critique present supports, and ponder the “what ifs” of future possible solutions to girls’ issues. Handouts include information from the presenters’ research study of a large urban district as well as a synopsis of the American Psychological Association’s Task Force on Adolescent Girls: Strengths and Stresses (2006). –Dr. Virginia Goulding Johnson

What Have You Done to Change the World Today? Using Technology to Fast Track Invaluable Resources around the World
From sending lesson plans and educational PowerPoint presentations to teachers in Africa to using technology to collect school supplies for Iraqi children, the service projects led by these presenters use technology to help children. This interactive session explores how students can use technological formats such as e-mail, blogs, CDs, Web sites, and more to impact children on a global scale. Attendees receive handouts including links to free resources, as well as step-by-step information and ideas. –Lisa Phillips

For Beginning Teachers, Elementary

15 Ways to Close the Reading Achievement Gap
Children do not come to school equally prepared for reading instruction. Through explicit lessons in phonemic awareness and word recognition, teachers can help close the achievement gap that manifests itself in later years. In this interactive presentation, participants practice quick, easy strategies to help close the reading achievement gap. Attendees also explore examples provided in handouts, a PowerPoint featuring key points, and pictures of the strategies used in a classroom. –Ms. Caitlin Tarmann

C4: Creating a Caring Community in Your Curriculum
This session explores how educators can bring the community into the classroom and take learners into the community. Presenters share a PowerPoint presentation, guide discussion, lead brainstorming, share a hands-on tree activity, and provide handouts containing ideas and additional resources. Attendees consider examples of previous successful community projects completed by students at one university. –Dr. Anthony Conte

Cinderella, Cendrillon, and Prince Cinders: The Many Faces of Fairy Tales
Folk and fairy tales from around the world provide many unique opportunities to foster learning in the elementary classroom. Traditional literature can enhance multicultural awareness, target a wide range of reading/writing strategies, and offer exciting reading experiences to young students. Participants receive a bibliography of recommended literature (such as folk tales and fairy tales) and participate in a variety of cross-curricular activities. –Dr. Linda Reven

Connect to DIBELS to Increase K–6 Reading Achievement
Presenters demonstrate how to measure early literacy development using the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) system and the Tungsten E2 handheld. A PowerPoint presentation provides the history behind the funding for the project, the training of faculty members and candidates, and snapshots of various reports generated from an online database. This session showcases the special relationship between teacher preparation programs and their professional development schools. –Dr. Sandra Orr

Connecting Visual Arts within the Elementary Curriculum
When art-making connects with other content areas within the elementary classroom, it becomes a powerful learning tool. This session presents a variety of integrated art experiences designed to give elementary teachers and their students meaningful teaching and learning connections with social studies, math, science, and language arts, with attention to national and state standards. Slides of student examples, interactive activities, and handouts of sample lessons develop participants’ connecting skills. –Dr. Phoebe Levine

Creating and Implementing Function-based Interventions to Classroom Behavior Problems
Effectively addressing problem behaviors in the classroom continues to be a challenge for teachers. Evaluating the environmental factors that elicit and maintain these behaviors and designing interventions based on those evaluations are referred to as Functional Behavior Assessments/ Behavior Intervention Plans (FBA/BIPs). This interactive, case-study session uses handouts, including a blank FBA/BIP, PowerPoint slides, role-plays, and a series of QuickTime video clips to allow attendees to discuss and collaboratively complete their own FBA/BIPs. –Dr. Peter Alter

Cultural Curriculum Standards
The focus of this session is on empowering teachers to foster students’ understanding and appreciation for the big ideas in a curriculum area that motivate learning. Presenters share examples of cultural social studies trade books and demonstrate how to use them to get students to discover big ideas and make connections. This interactive presentation shows how to develop the art of teaching so that students experience the joy of learning. –Dr. Saundra DiPento

Dare to Differentiate!
This session provides teachers with information and hands-on exercises that demonstrate how to teach using differentiated instruction. Presenters examine several different instructional strategies that encourage participants to incorporate differentiation into the daily curriculum. Attendees receive a handout and samples to facilitate implementing differentiation practices, including assessment rubrics. Each attendee designs at least two differentiated lessons during this session. –Dr. Liz Kearney

Every Classroom a Stage: Integrating Creative Drama into Elementary and Middle School
Creative dramatics is a process-oriented approach to the dramatic arts, appropriate for all content areas and well-suited to elementary and middle school. This approach may include dramatic play, story enactment, visualization, theater games, pantomime, puppetry, and role-play. This interactive session provides participants with the opportunity to try various creative drama techniques that can be used immediately in the classroom. Examples are cross-curricular, and prior experience with drama is not necessary. –Dr. Kelli Jo Kerry-Moran

Family, School, and Community: Building a Network of Support
This session focuses on establishing a nurturing environment that fosters relationships between the school, family, and community. These relationships form the foundation for all learning that will occur throughout the course of the school year. Teachers must set up a network of support to foster the social, emotional, and cognitive growth of students. Participants are introduced to various methods of building networks of human connection through the use of visual arts. –Dr. Jeanne Peloso

Formative Assessment for Student Learning
Formative assessment is a powerful tool for teachers to facilitate learning and to empower students to become active learners. Learn about formative assessment strategies that help a teacher know how well students are meeting learning targets. Presenters demonstrate how various educators have used formative assessment effectively in their classrooms to improve student achievement through strategies such as instructional interventions, intense reading instruction, and one-on-one tutoring. –Dr. John Somers

Hard Hats Required: Elementary Students Using Integrated Computer Technology
Today’s students are not from Generation X; they are from Generation.com. Traditional, book-bound educators face tremendous challenges when dealing with students navigating through primary sources of information that are foreign to them. This session focuses on connecting technology to achieve educational goals and initiating the use of computers in the classroom. Dialogue, video, and magic are used to show how computers can be integrated in the classroom. –Thomas Jackson

Inclusion or Intrusion?
This presentation highlights information obtained from research conducted on inclusive education. The presenter’s study sought to determine the thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions that general education teachers have about inclusion and to ascertain whether they had received the appropriate quantity and quality of professional development to prepare them for their role in the inclusion system. Discussion of best practices and a question-and-answer session follow a brief PowerPoint presentation that outlines findings. –Allegra M. McGrew

Integrating Theme-based Science Literature
No Child Left Behind is beginning to measure student progress in science. This presentation provides a combination of lecture, discussion, and modeling the integration of literature into an elementary inquiry-based science program. Use of literature as a discrepant activity, as a support vehicle for science instruction, and as a tool for student research is demonstrated. A list of resources, including literature related to the Pennsylvania science standards, is distributed. –Dr. Phyllis Miller

John Dewey and the Underpinning of the 5-E Model for Teaching Science
The 5-E model for teaching science is considered to be one of the most effective constructivist approaches for science teachers. However, using this model effectively requires teachers to understand the philosophical and pedagogical ideas underlying the model and use them to guide their teaching. This workshop explores the philosophical ideas of John Dewey that underlie the understanding of the 5-E model, and presenters illustrate them by engaging participants in hands-on science activities. –Dr. John McBride

Just Ducky: A Partnership Event
Have you ever wondered how ducks walk or where they migrate in the wintertime? To present elementary students with a fun and interactive way to learn about science and ducks, a group of elementary education field students created a literature-driven day of educational experiences that their students will never forget. The Duck Days program offered an interactive, hands-on experience that tied to topics across the curriculum and provided answers to questions about the theme of the day—ducks! Presenters share planning tips and interactive activities and games, as well as discuss their partnership with a local school district, university class, and teaching candidates. Waddle in and have some fun! –Dr. Deborah Farrer

Making It through Your First Real Interview
Presenters walk you through the interview process including what to wear, what questions to be prepared to answer, and what questions to ask the interviewer. Attendees receive a handout including a list of popular interview questions. Walk out of this session with the confidence and preparation you need for a great interview. –Jamie Kelley

Managing the Classroom Environment: Tips and Strategies for Success
This interactive forum presents research-based strategies designed to enhance beginning teachers’ skills in classroom management. Presenters provide specific tips and opportunities for participants to discuss the various successes and struggles experienced as part of the learning process associated with beginning a career in teaching. Participants leave the presentation with handouts outlining a variety of techniques to try in their classroom and a list of resources. –Dr. Michael Putman
PowerPoint presentation

The Many Colors of Us
Combating prejudice and stereotypes is an important topic in our society today. Early immersion with issues surrounding race and ethnicity is critical to the prevention of a generation filled with hate and ignorance. Attend this lively and colorful session and appreciate your true color as well as those of your neighbors. Discover how to apply this concept in your own elementary classroom with hands-on activities.
book list
–Alissa Gunst

May We Have a Word with You? Improving Vocabulary Instruction
In this interactive session, participants examine various strategies to help children become fascinated with the world of words and their power. Participants learn research-based instructional strategies that promote a lifelong interest in words and reading using both literary and content area texts. Throughout this workshop, attendees have opportunities to work in partnerships as they build their ever-expanding competencies as teachers. –Dr. Kathleen Itterly

A National Study on the Elements of Effective Field Trips
The co-researchers involved with the field trip study present a brief literature review of elements for successful field trips. They present the nature, purpose, data collection method, and results of their national study. Session participants compare the results of the study with their own experiences in field trips and leave with handouts on how to conduct effective field trips. –Dr. Martha Nabors

Piloting Project Participation: Soaring Parachutes and Sensational Portrait Puzzles
This interactive session demonstrates effective means of grouping students, enlisting a project-based approach to learning, and using Socratic questioning to stimulate group discussion prior to and after the project work. Participants learn about and engage in two stimulating hands-on activities—a science-based parachute project and an art/math-based portrait puzzle project—that they can apply with their own diverse groups of students in their classes. A booklet of other interactive group activities that enlist all of the content/multiple intelligence areas is provided. –Dr. Susan Trostle Brand

Podcasting and Elementary Social Studies Instruction
All teachers need to be competent with the latest instructional technologies. This workshop focuses on instructional possibilities related to podcast-supported elementary social studies instruction. During the session, participants create and post a podcast, practice technical skills important for podcast production, and learn about free resources for creating and hosting podcasts. –Dr. Brian Lanahan

Recipes for Community Building in the Classroom
This hands-on workshop focuses on the development of positive classroom management. Workshop activities include positive conflict resolution, dealing with emotional and behavioral problems, and fostering a positive social environment to ensure a classroom appropriate for several diverse populations and backgrounds. Community-building recipe cards stating the essential ingredients necessary for success are packaged to take to any classroom across the country. –Amanda Bell

Selecting the Good Mentor
Formal mentoring programs are becoming the norm in the induction process for new teachers. Identifying good mentors becomes significant given that few teachers have formal mentor training. Using role-plays and teaching dilemmas, participants identify the essentials of maximizing mentoring opportunities and expectations. Audiovisuals and handouts facilitate discussion of collegiality, collaboration, and continuous professional development. –Dr. John Light
reference I, reference II

Six ‘Brain’ Storms for Classroom Teachers
In the wake of the brain decade, 21st century teaching and learning must be guided by neuroscience and effective brain-based classroom strategies. This session highlights six simple brain compatible strategies that can be used in classrooms for more effective teaching and learning. Really! Participants practice strategies (caution: this may include singing and dancing), discuss case studies, and create a simple booklet of ideas for their own classroom. Materials and sources for further research are provided. –Dr. Paula Greene

Social Literacies: Strategies, Exercises, and Routines
Novice teachers often are challenged to devise various strategies, exercises, and routines that are instrumental in establishing a classroom environment where all students are successful learners. In this workshop, presenters describe, model, and lead participants in effective strategies, exercises, and routines that facilitate discussion, classroom management, and academic/social success. Videotapes of the presenters’ elementary school and college classrooms, PowerPoint, and relevant handouts are interwoven into this interactive workshop. –Dr. Elaine Bukowiecki

Surviving Your First Year
You finally have your dream teaching position! After 4+ years of college, you would think that you were more than ready to go. Unfortunately, many teachers leave after the first year or two because no one told them the reality of being a first-year teacher. Get tips and ideas from two second-year teachers about surviving their first year of teaching in two very different school systems and how you too can survive among the chaos. –Ryan Cassidy

A Teaching Life
Through a series of monologues (Vagina Monologues–style) about living your professional life as a teacher, this session honor the experiences and commitment of career teachers. Presenters, including a narrator, portray four composite characters taken from oral history interviews of 12 retired teachers from a variety of geographic areas and types of communities. The monologues present teachers’ perspectives on the changing classroom, what sustained them through their careers, and the future of teaching. –Dr. Rick Breault

Using Children’s Literature and Film to Explore Diversity and Social Justice
This workshop examines issues of diversity and social justice from the perspective of elementary school children. The presenter examines techniques for using film, children’s literature, and community interaction workshops to explore these issues while building community. Participants engage in activities from films and trade books that build community. –Dr. Helene Silverman

Using Technology to Support Dyslexic Students
Integrating technology can effectively motivate and actively engage students who are dyslexic by supporting teaching across the four major elementary content areas. Based on field experience at a school for dyslexic children, presenters share their successful techniques and strategies for students with language processing deficits. The session features a PowerPoint presentation, group discussion, educational software, and interactive participation. –Dr. Clotile Galbraith

T4+: Top Ten New Teacher Tips and More
The first year of teaching is always a huge adjustment—a life adjustment. There are certain things that college just can’t prepare you for; you just have to live it to learn it! The presenter’s Top Ten List addresses some important tips on how to happily survive and enjoy your first year of teaching. Leave the session with a bag of tools to empower you in your own classroom to make your first year a success for both you and your students. –Megan McLaughlin-Corey

Taking the Misery Out of Math: Challenging Teachers to Make Math Fun!
A continuing action research study with preservice and in-service teachers looks at how to combat math phobias and avoidance in early childhood teaching using motivational theory. Students in undergraduate and graduate classes (sponsored by a PRISM grant to help in-service teachers become highly qualified) were surveyed. Most students had average to poor previous experiences in mathematics classes. This session takes a post-survey look at how courses helped change attitudes toward mathematics. Come and get motivated to do math! figurative numbers–Dr. Peggy Moch

Teaching in an Urban Environment: From Confusion to Success
An overview of pedagogical issues in urban environments frames this presentation on teaching in city classrooms. Beginning, experienced, and expert teachers, along with a student teacher, offer perspectives on their experiences through personal narratives. Discussion is supported with data collected from surveys and interviews. A bibliography, as well as effective techniques and instructional strategies developed through experience, mentoring, and reflection, is provided. The workshop concludes with a group discussion. –Elizabeth Mattia

TEAM Spirit: Together Everyone Achieves More
TEAM Spirit is a group of individuals who partner each year with community agencies to plan educational experiences. Developing leadership skills, building relationships, and strengthening the impact of individuals, TEAM Spirit is committed to fostering literacy while having fun. Attendees participate in a creative hands-on exploration of books that highlight TEAM Spirit endeavors and walk away with a wealth of ideas to take to their classroom. –Tracey Cavaco

Tips and Tricks to Ensure Science Understanding
How do we know what students have learned in science? What do they really understand? Using video clips and various scenarios for teaching science, this workshop immerses teachers in an environment that probes and invites them to examine the science concepts students have learned. Participants examine their own teaching practices through participation in a jigsaw discussion. Instructional design resources are shared to aid teachers in preparing, implementing, and assessing student learning in science. –Dr. Susan Wagner

Using Learning-Style Responsive Resources to Differentiate Instruction
Several key elements affect how young learners process, internalize, and retain concepts taught in the elementary and middle-level classroom. Following a PowerPoint presentation, participants reflect on the way they themselves learn best and then begin to examine their teaching styles to analyze the effectiveness of their current pedagogical strategies through an interactive group discovery activity. Strategies for success in differentiating instruction using learning-style responsive instructional methods and ideas for getting started are shared and explored. –Dr. Jennifer Lauria

Using Story Maps to Increase Comprehension and Writing Ability
Discover how university instructors and elementary teachers can work together to enhance the learning experience of student teachers in the areas of reading comprehension and narrative writing through the use of story maps and reflective practice. In this interactive session, presenters demonstrate how story maps are used to teach elementary students the structure of narrative stories, resulting in increased comprehension and improved original compositions. Participants construct a story map and compose an original story. –Dr. Pamela Browning

Visual Art: Weaving In and Out of a Standards-based Curriculum
Art is a universal language that can play a significant role in the learning process, whether it stands alone or is integrated across the curriculum. Weaving art in and out of the curriculum allows students opportunities to demonstrate different ways of thinking and express content knowledge. Participants in this hands-on workshop explore brain-compatible ideas and walk away with a palette of colorful ideas to implement in the classroom. –Dr. Laurie DeRosa

We Know Character Counts, But How Do We Teach It?
This interactive presentation about character education explores the results of a study of National Board Certified primary teachers across Illinois. Teaching character education is a necessity. However, how to effectively implement character education remains a mystery to many. This practical session presents easy ways to effectively influence students’ character in the primary grades. An extensive handout provides practical ideas and resources regarding what the research says about why character counts. –Dr. Diana Brannon

Welcome to America! 10 Essential Teaching Qualities for Introducing ELLs to Your Classroom
This workshop is designed to help preservice teachers, novice teachers, and seasoned teachers to better understand the special needs of second language learners. Attendees participate in a variety of interactive literacy learning activities, and handouts provide a list of all activities presented and more. –Dr. Judy Fiene

What Does Elsa Think About Rubrics? A College Student’s Perspective
In this workshop, beginning teachers have an opportunity to explore criteria for determining exemplary teaching. Participants view a video clip, consider a rubric for making this assessment, and discuss the indicators of performance. Elsa, an Elementary Education/Spanish major and undergraduate student at The College of New Jersey, weighs in with her constructive criticism of the use of rubrics to evaluate teaching performance. –Dr. Anthony Conte

For Beginning Teachers, Elementary and Middle School

Content Knowledge: Don’t Leave Home without It
Elementary and middle school majors often are more confident about their teaching methodology than about their subject matter knowledge. Today’s emphasis on testing and student success makes command of curriculum crucial for new teachers. The presenters have been studying the Core Knowledge curriculum and have found it a hopeful response to this need. Participants receive samples of this curriculum and discuss differences in instructional planning based on solid and specific versus weak and general content. –Dr. Stephen Fortgang

Cultivating Parent-Child Collaboration Concerning Mathematical Learning
In this informative session, presenters share findings from an investigation into the extent that pre–K through 8th-grade parents collaborate with their children on mathematical tasks. A descriptive report on a field-tested mathematics initiative designed with conditions to cultivate productive collaboration between parents and their children also is presented. Participants view a PowerPoint presentation, receive detailed descriptions and assessment data, engage in hands-on activities specific to the presented initiative, and take part in reflective conversation. –Dr. Regina Mistretta

For Beginning Teachers, Middle School

Character Development 101
Want to incorporate a character education program in your class and at your school? Using hands-on activities, the presenter explains the advantages of this type of program and discusses how participants can get one started at their own school. Handouts with sample lessons and ideas are provided. –Samantha Webster

Conquering the Chapter Book Challenge
Most classrooms are comprised of students with myriad reading abilities. For some students, the idea of completing a chapter book can be a daunting task. This session offers differentiation strategies to help all students read—and finish—a chapter book. The presenter highlights research from John and Johnson, Vygotsky, and Slavin, as well as testimonials from teachers currently using their techniques. Participants actively engage in this instructional strategy that allows learners at all levels to succeed with chapter books. –Dr. Madeline Kovarik

Dare to See the Best
“Do whatever it takes” drives one school in its efforts to move students to the next level. In just one year, this high-performing school closed the special education gap from 12 percent to 3 percent, and is now 2nd in the state among 350 middle schools. Discover how teachers in this school promote culture and climate awareness through mentoring, supporting, encouraging, and believing in students to bring out their best. Their commitment to rigor, relevance, and relationships with students, teachers, and parents is demonstrated through a video clip featuring students. –Ms. Diane Hatchett

Dragons, Knights, and Castles: Fairytales Meet Math in the 21st Century
Explore the new world of math through literature. Make your lessons motivational with differentiated instruction. In this PowerPoint-driven session, attendees discover the realm of books available to incorporate into the math curriculum. Participants take part in several math activities and take away handouts that provide an extensive array of resources, including activities, books, and Web sites. –April Flood

Effectively Using Differentiation in a Middle School Language Arts Classroom
Finding ways to reach all learners is a challenge in any classroom. Participants learn ways to reach students at all middle school reading and writing levels through differentiation techniques such as pre-assessment, flexible grouping, varied instructional and management strategies, and assessments. Classroom activities are shared while group activities and discussion provide a realistic view of using differentiation to teach literacy.
Additional resources: Prejudice, TCR, Unit, and WebQuest
–Melissa Pierczynski

The Perfect Person
Attendees at this interactive, fun presentation define their “ideal best friend” through a process of evaluating imaginary people based on ethnicity, age, hobbies, religion, education, disability, personality traits, and family structure. The exercise leaves participants with an understanding of their personal biases, values, and feelings regarding multicultural issues and diversity. –Dr. Rea Kirk
Adult Version
Student Version

School Culture and Climate
How do culture and climate influence student behavior and achievement? And how can classroom teachers create a culture and climate of learning? Based on their observation of low socioeconomic status students, presenters demonstrate how to assess a student’s desire for learning through questions and apply appropriate strategies to enhance the student’s success. The aspects of contextual teaching, essential questions, behavioral changes, implementation strategies, and assessments are presented through instructional technology and handouts. –Dr. Michael Griggs

For Beginning Teachers, Middle School and Secondary

Learning to Read Mathematics, Reading to Learn Mathematics
In this interactive session, participants engage in hands-on activities that illustrate strategies such as building and activating background knowledge, becoming sensitive to the subtleties of text, coping with information overload,