|
|
| News Update |
|
Click on topic below |
|
Implementing Inquiry Based Instruction in the Math Classroom |
|
| Teachers who attended this workshop learned how to turn that natural inquisitiveness of students into a positive, valuable learning experience. This workshop gave objective and specific ideas for implementing inquiry-based instruction into the math classroom. Participants created lessons that can be used in the classroom to foster inquiry-based instruction. |
| December 1. 2009 -- Heather Mullins and Jennifer Griffin, Curriculum Specialists, Hickory Public Schools presented to District-level administrators, school-level administrators, and teacher leaders on how to plan effectively for district-wide alignment and curriculum mapping using research-based strategies. A step by step process, examples, and resources were shared. Methods of facilitation and specific potential roadblocks were also addressed. |
|
Presenter Heather Mullins, Curriculum Specialist, Hickory Public Schools presented this informative workshop on November 18, 2009. Ms. Mullins cited that Wiggins (2007) defines an essential question as, “…important, vital, at the heart of the matter – the essence of the issue.” Overarching essential questions requires students to use prior knowledge, new information and individual research/experiences to formulate a response. Overarching essential questions require students to apply, evaluate, judge, and create. Participants explored how to move from “stepping-stone questions” to overarching, high-quality essential questions as well as the relationship between essential questions and clear learning targets. Teachers brought a unit outline or materials to develop materials on site. |
| November 17, 2009 - Alycen Wilson, Math Curriculum Specialist, Catawba County Schools introduced ways for teachers to keep students engaged in math instruction. New strategies were discovered to keep students active and involved, while meeting the individual needs of all students. Teachers left with ideas of how to manage small group instruction while keeping the other students engaged and on task. This was a make-and-take workshop with grade level specific activities ready for implementation. |
|
Joan Huffman, Retired Instructional Coach, Wilkes County Schools and currently a Professor at Lenoir-Rhyne University, demonstrated to teachers ways to improve their students’ comprehension skills. Participants learned comprehension strategies to make students stars in reading. Strategies included summarizing, comparing and contrasting, main ideas, learning logs, and literacy skills. |
|
Books R 4 Boys November 10, 2009. |
|||
|
Tericia Summers, Instructional Facilitator, Caldwell County Schools and Bobbi Faulkner, Draughn High School, Burke County Schools presented ways to engage and entice boys in literacy giving them choices in reading materials and their teacher choosing to embrace their home literacy practices. This workshop was designed to provide Grades 6-12, ELA teachers with surefire strategies for engaging reluctant male (and female) readers. Strategies included reading young adult novels that embrace positive male archetypes, bringing in local male role models to share reading experiences and reading to the class (firemen, policemen, local politicians, etc.), and reading multigenre novels that develop plot through chat room sessions, emails, texts, conversations, etc. ( Sharon Draper’s Romiette and Julio was used as the literary model). Other strategies included introducing the classics through alternate genres such as the graphic novel and comic books, using class blogs to foster discussion (and to augment classroom journals), using reader’s autobiographies to help students explore their lives as readers, including when (and if) they stopped liking to read, and using the learning log as a tool in the language arts classroom. Teachers were asked to bring in their most engaging literacy units, preferably those that embrace 21st century technology, to share. |
|
||
|
Literacy and
Science: Connections That Spark! |
|
Interpreting 101
- What You Need to Know Ashleigh Lassiter, Interpreter & Mentorship Coordinator, North Carolina School for the Deaf discussed the complex requirements to become a credentialed/licensed interpreter in North Carolina at this workshop held on November 6. Addressed were the various settings, expectations and opportunities available to potential interpreters (i.e. educational, community, religious, etc.). This training was not intended to teach persons how to interpret information, but rather how to take the information and needed skills to become a working professional. Topics discussed were state requirements, national certification, roles and responsibilities, ethical dilemmas, and the RID Code of Professional Conduct. Also addressed were the EIPA and NIC certifications. The course benefited persons seeking to become an interpreter, interpreter supervisors/coordinators as well as those desiring to increase their awareness of the role and responsibilities of interpreters. Upon completion, participants obtained the knowledge needed to begin or further their professional development as an interpreter. NCRID is an Approved RID CMP Sponsor for Continuing Education Activities. This Professional Studies program was offered for .5 CEUs at the selected Content Knowledge Level. |
|||||||||
Presenters Heather Mullins, Curriculum Specialist, and Donna Murray, Instructional Technology Specialist, Hickory-City Schools provided participants with over forty strategies and just enough theory for application on the topics of facilitating vocabulary instruction and fostering adolescent literacy for students in grades 6-12. Technology tools, sheltered strategies, research-based literacy and vocabulary strategies were presented. Participants received copies of the strategies as well as examples of how they can be used in class. Teachers used their laptops to explore the resources presented. |
|||||||||
|
2009
Fall Leadership Conference |
|
|
October 9, 2009 - The Western North Carolina RESA invited the Northwest RESA to partner with them in sponsoring a drive-in leadership conference for administrators in both regions. With the full cooperation and participation from the Department of Public Instruction, over 150 attendees found the sessions to be very informative. Dr. June St. Clair Atkins, State Superintendent, was the luncheon speaker. At that time, Dr. Atkinson also recognized state award winners from each region. Representing the Northwest were: Robert Turner, Regional Teacher of the Year from Hickory City Schools; DeAnna Finger, Regional Principal of the Year from Catawba County Schools; and Dr. Tim Markley, Regional Superintendent of the Year from Catawba County Schools. The afternoon speaker for the general session was Dr. Ric Vandett, recently retired Superintendent from Hickory City Schools. |
|
Deanna Hanlin and Dr. Joe Sinclair, NWRESA
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bill Ross, CI/CT, M.S. Director of Communication Access Support Services, NC School for the Deaf presented this informative workshop on October 8, 2009, which focused on the improvement of visual receptive language skills among sign language interpreters/users. Many interpreters/signers for the Deaf today acquire American Sign Language (ASL) as a second language. The ability to understand sign language is critical to a comprehensive understanding of the signed message. Providing interpreters with the tools needed to identify areas of concern will aid them in building the skills needed for a quality interpretation and comprehension. Attention was given to various techniques that aid in developing greater receptive ability. Some topics addressed: contextual clues, numeric recognition, fingerspelling, regional signs, and techniques used to elicit repetition from Deaf speakers. NCRID is an Approved RID CMP Sponsor for Continuing Education Activities and participants earned .5 CEUs for this Professional Studies program at the selected Content Knowledge Level. |
| October 6, 13 & 20, 2009 - John Caldwell, NWRESA Consultant, and Principals’ Evaluation Instrument Trainer, presented this three-day training for teachers interested in becoming mentors for beginning teachers. The focus of this training was on communication, observation, reflective writing, coaching skills, and the NC Professional Teaching Standards including the evaluation process (SBE, 2008). John Caldwell, | |
Stephanie Quattrini, an artist recently moved to Concord, NC last year from New Zealand, presented an exciting workshop on October 6, 2009. Stephanie taught participants how to create a variety of buttons & embellishments. The above photos show examples of various materials used to make creative projects. Visit www.hanzoncreativity.com Participants spent the day making lots of fun and funky buttons and embellishments for pocket books, art quilts, brooches, and other craft projects and experimented with a variety of techniques and materials including polymer clay, felt, Angelina fiber and tyvek. Each participant took home a lot of goodies, going away with lots of ideas for future creative endeavors for use in the classroom. Participants also received a kit of materials. |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Presented by Lora Drum, Curriculum Specialist, Catawba County Schools | ||
|
October 1, 2009 - This session “dished up” a plateful of ideas for turning students into Verbivores (a species that lives off words.)Participants collected “recipes” to help their students become vocabulary connoisseurs and shown ways to fill students’ gigantic appetites with words, leaving them hungry for more. This session also offered opportunities for differentiating vocabulary instruction. Creative ideas and activities were shared to engage and motivate students in developing and expanding their vocabularies. Participants were provided with strategies to integrate vocabulary instruction throughout their curriculum. |
Want to Make Your Students Hungry for Words?
|
|
Michelle Capen, Math Investigations Kindergarten Instructor The Mountain Valley Partnership Project has begun its final year of Math Investigations instruction for hundreds of participants from Alleghany, Ashe, Elkin City, Hickory City, Wilkes and Yadkin County Schools. Deanna Hanlin, Director of the 3-year MVP grant, says that the primary goal of the project is to increase student achievement in elementary mathematics as measured by End-of-Grade tests, increase teacher mathematics content knowledge, and develop a sustainable partnership with the mathematics departments higher education, seven school districts, and the Northwest Regional Education Service Alliance in Wilkesboro, NC. Investigations in Number, Data and Space will be implemented during the project as a standards-based curriculum to enhance the ability of elementary teachers to understand and use the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. Professional development will also be provided to administrators to develop instructional leadership in mathematics, understand the role of teacher learning and observing in a standards-based mathematics classroom. |
||
Lora Drum, Presenter |
||
|
September 24, 2009 - “ALL ABOARD!” Lora Drum, Title I/ESL/Language Arts Curriculum Specialist for Catawba County Schools, took her participants on a fast-paced ride through a literacy adventure. This hands-on workshop offered participants multiple strategies for differentiating instruction designed to excite and motivate students in reading, writing and vocabulary development. Participants created many make-and-take samples to use in their classrooms. |
|
Angela Garcia, ESL Teacher, NBCT, St. Stephens HS, Catawba County Schools, gave an information session that began with an overview of the WIDA standards and the WIDA Standards Resource Guide. This document is a valuable resource as educators begin to incorporate the standards into daily classroom activity. Participants gained an understanding of the meaning of the standards as applied to educating English language learners in North Carolina. A copy of the WIDA Consortium Resource Guide was provided for each participant. Participants also worked in grade-level cluster groups and practiced using the standards to create learning objectives for ELLs and discussed ways to bring the standards into their classroom practices. |
|
July 6-10, 2009 |
|||
|
July 6-10, 2009 - The Integrated Math 5-day training
provided an overview of the Core-Plus Mathematics
curriculum with sessions modeling classroom instruction and providing
hands-on experience with the materials. Discussions included assessment strategies, facilitation of collaborative-learning groups,
and program implementation and participants experienced using
graphing calculators and CPMP-Tools software with the curriculum.
Instructors also shared pacing guides correlated to the NCSCS for
Integrated Math. A student text and single manipulative kit was also
provided to all participants. |
|
||
|
July 22-23, July 28, & August 4, 2009 |
Essential 21st Century Leadership Skills for Assistant Principals |
||
|
|
This four-day leadership training featured three outstanding educators in North Carolina, Linda Suggs, Ric Vandett and John Caldwell. Mrs. Suggs has served as the Legislative Director for the NC Department of Public Instruction and also served as Human Resources Director for Wake County Schools. Dr. Vandett has served in many important administrative roles and most recently has served as Superintendent of the Hickory City School System. John Caldwell has served as a NWRESA Consultant and is a trainer for the Principals’ Executive Evaluation, the NC Teacher Evaluation Process and is a mentor trainer. Among the topics discussed: How to work with politics at the local and state levels, working with School Boards, the importance of contacting legislators and elected officials, why spending time looking for the right person to hire; how to find good applicants; and essential administrative skills necessary for success. Also discussed, what do 21st Century skills look like in the classroom using mathematics as a framework? A special reference was made to the new NC Teacher Evaluation Process. |
||
Quiltbooking workshop
|
Participants of the popular “Art and Mathematics of Quiltmaking” workshops requested an encore! So, for all of our artist and mathematicians, NWRESA offered “Quiltbooking,” integrating the arts of scrapbooking and quiltmaking. Participants received an 8x8 coverset and materials to make 6 quilt/picture pages. They also learned to make templates for the blocks to be made of fabric by adding Ľ inch seam allowances. Lots of precision measurement was needed as these art forms were combined. Participants brought their creativity and some photos - while being supplied with other needed materials for an enjoyable day of skills application. |
|
|
|
||
|
|
A distinguished panel of North Carolina School Superintendents including Dr. Marty Hemric, Watauga County Schools, Dr. Ric Vandett, Hickory City Schools, Dr. Don Martin, Winston Salem School Superintendent along with Dr. Joe Sinclair, NWRESA Executive Director, addressed a large group of Principals with questions concerning the budget crisis during the recent Principals Council meeting. |
NWRESA Consultant Dee Hanlin and co-presenter Sheree Sloop |
|
| Art and Mathematics teachers participated in an
encore of the popular “Art and Mathematics of Quiltmaking” workshop.
All artists and mathematicians we not disappointed as NWRESA
Consultant Dee Hanlin and co-presenter Sheree Sloop offered the art
of “Quiltbooking,” integrating the arts of scrapbooking and
quiltmaking.
Participants received an 8x8 coverset and materials to make 6 quilt/picture pages and also learned to make templates for the blocks to be made of fabric by adding Ľ inch seam allowances. Lots of precision measurement is needed as we combine these art forms. |
|
Carol Sutherland, K-5 Language Arts Consultant, NCDPI |
||||
|
Carolyn Southerland, K-5 Language Arts Consultant, NCDPI, presented an informative workshop entitled "Comprehension "What?" which allowed teachers to gather important and unique ways to help students comprehend written text. This technical assistance session included ways to motivate students to read and become independent life long readers. Good literature selections were discussed and correlated to strategies that students use when learning to comprehend text. Participants learned good strategies to help students with comprehension and also have fun with “Make and Take” activities. |
|
Principals' Evaluation Training |
Dr. June Atkinson, NC State School Superintendent |
|
| North Carolina State School Superintendent, Dr. June Atkinson, recently attended the Northwest RESA Superintendent's Council meeting and responded to many questions superintendents had regarding how the stimulus money may be used for education within their school districts. Retiring Hickory City Schools' superintendent, Ric Vandett, was also honored with a surprise birthday cake for his 64th birthday. | ||
|
|
|
Karen Lowe addresses Math Investigations Content
Groups on how to pursue grant opportunities. |
|||
| Dr. Betty Long from Appalachian State University, along with co-presenters Tina Higgins, Wilkes County Instructional Coach, and Cynthia Townsend, have conducted 6 sessions for teachers participating in the Math Investigations Content groups. The Green and Yellow content groups are made up of 30 teachers randomly selected from Grades 3-5 who are already participating in the Mountain Valley Partnership Project. The content group sessions focus on how the training connects from one grade level to another. |
|
|
Dr. Cliff Mansfield, retired chemist and teacher with WS Forsyth County Schools, presented an informative workshop on March 19, 2009. Cliff is a long-time weather buff, and recent attendee at the National Weather Service Training School. Participants explored activities available from the American Meteorological Society and NOAA for teaching weather and left this training with fun, hands-on exercises to promote interest and understanding of the weather. |
|
Patricia Chalmers and Phyllis Blue, DPI Language Arts Consultants, addressed content area teachers in Grades 5-9 as well as Literacy Coaches and Administrators, during their Writing Across the Curriculum workshop held February 19, 2009. NWRESA hosted the regional workshop sponsored by the NC Department of Public Instruction. The workshop was designed to help teachers in all content areas, grades 5-9, with learning how to incorporate writing into their teaching of the SCOS. Strategies were provided to encourage students to develop as writers. Teachers were given a document that guided through the development of the writing process in all disciplines. |
|
||
|
Patricia Chalmers and Phyllis Blue |
During the final Curriculum and Instructions Directors meeting for the current school term, Northwest RESA bid farewell to Directors Marsha Woodard, Gail Ford, and Susan Pollpeter, all of whom are retiring. |
|
||
|
|
| LULU - We Miss You! | |
 |
 |
Ric Vandett, David Burleson, and Jim Benfield, Superintendents
|
||
|
Leadership Summit for Aspiring Superintendents and System Level Administrators |
||
|
The two-day summit was held for educators aspiring to hold district-level positions. The purpose of the summit was to gain practical knowledge and experience not taught in graduate school programs. Panels of superintendents and other administrators were featured discussing such the following topics:
|
|
|
Stephen Martin, Director of Elementary Education for Caldwell
County Schools, recently expressed his appreciation to
NWRESA consultant, Deanna Hanlin:
Dee: I wanted to take a moment
and share with you a comment I heard today while visiting with a
5th grade teacher who attended your workshop in October. She
said that before the workshop, she had recently taught
quadrilaterals to her students. Many did not "get it." She came
back to school and told the class to scrap their recent work and
they were starting over. She used the "quad squad" and the
students all did wonderfully. She said it "clicked" with them
all and it was great! She teaches at Hudson Elementary School.
She has already shared with her fellow 4th and 3rd grade
teachers at HES about how meaningful, practical, and useful the
activities were that you taught at the 5th grade session. She
encouraged them to go to the upcoming sessions as well. |
|
NWRESA has one of the most active regional Principals Advisory Councils in North Carolina. The council meets on a monthly basis during the regular school year. |
||
Distinguished panel of Superintendents address Principals Advisory Council
|
Dr. Sinclair welcomes Priscilla Maynor, DPI Roundtable Advisory DPI Roundtable Advisory Panel Meets at NWRESA |
| 2008-09 Leadership Academy for Practicing “Building-Level” Administrators Begins | |
|
.
Dr. Sinclair welcomes Presenter Cathy Tomon, Principal at Broadcreek Middle, Carteret County
|
|
|
Dr. Joe Sinclair has assembled an expert panel
consisting of Linda Suggs, Cathy Tomon, Deborah Jones, Hank Hurd,
Steve Moree, and various panels of NWRESA Superintendents to assist
principals in meeting the following mandate: Topics will include: Interviewing Skills for Administrators, Nurturing Your Employees, Politics in Education, The Principal’s Role in Teacher Retention, Effective Resource Management, Instructional Leadership and Monitoring, and Data Driven Decision Making. Participants will also have related reading and one page summary to be submitted before November 20th. The Academy will consist of seven sessions and will conclude in March, 2009 |
Cathy Marlow, Presenter (Curriculum Coach and NBCT, Caldwell County) |
|
|
"Spelling,
Phonics, and Word Sorts, Oh My!" |
| “Middle School Science Behind CSI: The Case of the Missing Champion” | |
Dottie Hayes, Presenter, CSI workshop
|
|
|
October 2, 2008 - This unique hands-on workshop used a case study of a crime scene to explore the science behind various forensic techniques. The Case of the Missing Champion provided a crime scene and clues to the disappearance of a championship dog. Forensic techniques of fingerprint analysis, blood spatter patterns, hair and fur microscopic analysis, and chemical analysis of ink types and drug types were used to solve the case.
|
| “Integration of Mathematics and Science: Developing Student Understanding of Important Measurement Concepts” | |
Tim Hawig, Presenter
|
|
|
October 1, 2008 - Tim Hawig, Presenter and teacher from Hickory City Schools, conducted this workshop that demonstrated how measurement, as a curriculum strand, is common to both the NC mathematics and science curricula and serves as an ideal strand for integration of content. In his workshop, he introduced student-appropriate activities to unpack important measurement concepts, develop measurement vocabulary and definitions; and consider issues of accuracy and precision of measurements. Special attention was given to building on students’ everyday experiences with given attributes (e.g., mass and weight). |
| Mountain Valley Partnership Begins Year 2 of Math Investigations Training | |
Deanna Hanlin, Director of MVP project, Julie Little - Grade 3 Instructor for Math Investigations
|
|
Brenda Lewis, Grade 5 Math Investigations Instructor, CVCC
|
|
| The Mountain Valley Partnership Project kicked off its second year of Math Investigations instruction for hundreds of participants from Alleghany, Ashe, Catawba, Elkin City, Hickory City, Wilkes and Yadkin County Schools. Deanna Hanlin, Director of the 3-year MVP grant, says that the primary goal of the project is to increase student achievement in elementary mathematics as measured by End-of-Grade tests, increase teacher mathematics content knowledge, and develop a sustainable partnership with the mathematics departments higher education, seven school districts, and the Northwest Regional Education Service Alliance in Wilkesboro, NC. Investigations in Number, Data and Space will be implemented during the project as a standards-based curriculum to enhance the ability of elementary teachers to understand and use the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. Professional development will also be provided to administrators to develop instructional leadership in mathematics, understand the role of teacher learning and observing in a standards-based mathematics classroom. |
| NC Principals' Evaluation Instrument and Process Training | |
John Caldwell, NWRESA consultant, NC Evaluation Instrument trainer
|
|
|
September 19, 2008 - NC Principal's Evaluation Trainer John Caldwell conducted an additional session for principals in September. The session was to present the North Carolina School Executive Standards which were developed as a guide for principals and assistant principals as they continually reflect upon and improve their effectiveness as leaders throughout all of the stages of their careers. These standards are to serve as an important tool for principals and assistant principals as they consider their growth and development as executives leading schools in the 21st century.
|
Mindy Essic, Art Teacher & Presenter |
|
|
July 31, 2008- Mindy Essic, Art Teacher, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, returned to present the popular Visual Journaling workshop on July 31, 2008. Participants who may aspiring to be an artist were introduced to the scope of visual journaling, a way for artists, non-artists, students, teachers or anyone to combine both visual and written elements for creative processing. Ms. Essic pointed out that both Leonardo da Vinci and Frida Kahlo were visual journalists and kept sketches and notes as a way to record, plan, reflect, explore and create. She demonstrated how the same creative process can be used across the curriculum with math, science, art, social studies, literacy, or just to sketch and journal for fun. Teachers were shown ways to incorporate visual journaling by sharing their own journals and explorations with various art materials. Participants learned to use collage, drawing, painting, writing, mixed media, printmaking and related tools to embellish their journals. Poetry, guided imagery and “getting started with a sketchbook,” were a few topics that were explored. As Ms. Essic concluded, "Anyone can visually journal through written and visual personal expression." |
| Northwest RESA Hosts Executive Evaluation Training Sessions | ||
School Executives gather at NWRESA for training |
NWRESA welcomed hundreds of principals to Wilkesboro for the Executive Evaluation Training during June and July 2008. The training was mandated by the Department of Public Instruction and to meet the new NC Standards required for School Executives. In addition to the summer sessions, NWRESA consultant John Caldwell will present a two-day session (a repeat of the summer training for superintendents/evaluators and principals), on September 18 and 19, 2008 at the Holiday Inn express in Wilkesboro. This training will review the seven standards and the evaluation process for the new instrument. |
|
|
North Carolina Standards
for School Executives As Approved by the State Board of Education December 7, 2006
Public education’s changed mission dictates the need for a new type of
school leader – an executive instead of an administrator. No longer are
school leaders just maintaining the status quo by managing complex
operations, but just like their colleagues in business, they must be
able to create schools as organizations that can learn and change
quickly if they are to improve performance. Schools need executives who
are adept at creating systems for change and at building relationships
with and across staff that not only tap into the collective knowledge
and insight they possess but powerful relationships that also stir their
passions for their work with children. Out of these relationships the
executive must create among staff a common shared understanding for the
purpose of the work of the school, its values that direct its action,
and commitment and ownership of a set of beliefs and goals that focus
everyone’s decision making. The staff’s common understanding of the
school’s identity empowers them to seek and build powerful alliances and
partnerships with students, parents and community stakeholders in order
to enhance their ability to produce increased student achievement. The
successful work of the new executive will only be realized in the
creation of a culture in which leadership is distributed and encouraged
with teachers, which consists of open, honest communication, which is
focused on the use of data, teamwork, research-based best practices, and
which uses modern tools to drive ethical and principled, goal-oriented
action. This culture of disciplined thought and action is rooted in the
ability of the relationships among all stakeholders to build a trusting,
transparent environment that reduces all stakeholders’ sense of
vulnerability as they address the challenges of transformational change.
|
|
Knowing effective reading strategies builds confidence and enhances reading comprehension. Mardy Brown, K-12 Language Arts Consultant for the Northwest RESA, presented a workshop filled with helpful strategies, interesting selections, and valuable resources. This well-paced workshop provided helpful ideas to motivate students. Participants shared the following comments:
|
|
||||
|
Artists and non-artists alike were given the opportunity to explore visual journaling with practicing art teacher, Mindy Essic of Winston Salem, North Carolina. Mindy provided an inspiring, hands-on day using cross-curricular strategies to enhance learning. Participants found a wonderful modality to enrich their teaching and enhance student learning.
Mindy will return July 31, 2008 to repeat an initial visual journaling workshop and again September 26, 2008 to do a follow-up training. Watch for registrations on the Northwest RESA website. (www.nwresa.org)
Read what teachers had to say about their day::
|
|
July 26, 2007
|
2007-2008 Practicing Leadership Academy Begins
Dr. Joe Sinclair, Director of NWRESA, welcomed
over 40 school officials to the 2007-2008 Leadership Academy for Practicing
Administrators which began on July 26, 2007 and will continue
through March 2008 at the Holiday Inn in Wilkesboro. Some of the top educators in North
Carolina are on tap to present and the purpose is geared toward providing school
administrators with ideas and strategies designed to benefit them
professionally. At the conclusion of the Academy, participants
will have earned 54 hours of intense instruction and 5.4 renewal
credits. This satisfies the new mandate:
"Effective July 1,
2007, school administrators shall earn at least five renewal credits
during each renewal cycle that focus on the principal’s role in teacher
effectiveness, teacher evaluations, teacher support programs, teacher
leadership, teacher empowerment, and teacher retention.”
(GS 115C-12(9)a)
In addition to Linda Suggs and Jack Hoke, other important topics pertaining to teacher recruitment and retention will be presented by some of the top state leaders in education including Hank Hurd, Doris Jones, Gordon Millspaugh, Steve Moree and Alisa McLean. During the 2006-2007 school year, the first Leadership Academy, which was also organized by the NWRESA, produced very positive results. Due to the high demand and limited space availability for the second academy, registration had to be limited. |
|
A popular session for K-2 teachers has been “Literacy in a Bag.” This “Make and Take” workshop gave teachers the opportunity to create high-interest, book bag activities to integrate into the curriculum. Workshop presenter, Tori Wise, T.O.Y. for Moore Magnet School in Winston Salem, NC is currently teaching kindergarten. The workshop has been a favorite and repeats have been requested. |
|
|
|
Strategic Reading in 3-5
|
|
“Reading, Writing,
and Social Studies” |
||||
|
As Mardy Brown, Language Arts Consultant shared, “It is not very often that you have the chance to have a real author spend the day with you to share the makings of a novel!” Polio and leprosy instilled great fear and tangled emotions for many during troubled times. However, President Roosevelt focused on his abilities rather than his disabilities as he confronted the challenges of polio. Students face many obstacles today. Much can be learned as both teachers and students examine President Roosevelt’s remarkable life. An integration of themes took place throughout the day. A luau took place in the afternoon! Participants sampled an array of Hawaiian goodies! What a delightful day with Joyce!
|
|
|||
|
|
Just Say
Poetry |
|
|
Participants made the following comments: · “I received wonderful ideas and am not afraid to write poetry with my students! · I wish this had been a two-day workshop instead of one!” · “I got more than I ever expected…new ideas, literature, and wonderful presenters!”
|
|
|
Deanna "Dee" Hanlin is Northwest RESA's Math Consultant and a Texas Instruments Tł National Instructor. We congratulate her for the many math contributions she has made to educators throughout North Carolina!
|
|
Leadership in the 21st Century |
Dr. Alisa R. McLean presents at the |
||
|
|
Alisa
R. McLean, M.Ed., with the Center for School Leadership Development,
Principals' Executive Program at UNC Chapel Hill, presented at the
Practicing Leadership Academy on October 9, 2007. Dr. McLean shared with
principals the importance of leadership, leadership skills, and having
essential leadership characteristics. She also discussed types of
leadership as well as leadership in North Carolina. Principals focused
on the difference between management and leadership. "Leaders", said Dr.
McLean, "can step 'out of the box' - know how to think about boundaries,
and the basic assumptions which support them. It is not the 'big
picture', but the ' picture behind the picture' that is essential to the
exercise of leadership."
|
|
Hands
-On Science Experiences: Efficacy in Selection, Design and
Assessment Dottie Hayes, a teacher with Hickory City Schools, presented this informative workshop on November 2. Participants learned ways to allow their students to experience science through real world connections. Each increased their awareness of science content relative to the North Carolina SCOS by integrating the unifying themes of the National Science Standards into lesson plans. Participants designed a learning sequence including identification of learning targets, selection of the best investigations and various forms of assessment. |
|
Fall Media Workshop |
||||||
|
|
Karen Lowe, Media Consultant for NWRESA, organized and offered free of charge to membership schools, an annual day of staff development for media coordinators and other media personnel. The event was held at the John A. Walker Community Center on the campus of Wilkes Community College.
|
|||||
|
Highlights from the Milkin' the Mornin' and Squeezin' the Afternoon with Deborah Dees, a National Board Certified Teacher from Fayetteville, NC |
|||||
|
Ms. Dees focused on how a teacher's instructional “time” is an extremely, precious commodity! The workshop showed, not "told" how to effectively and creatively manage, integrate, and deliver instruction that is rigorous and relevant while forming academic and social relationships! Participants experienced: The Magnificent Morning Graph, The Morning Meeting, Conversation Logs, Morning Routines that SET UP successful days, “Ditties” for everything, Probes, Author’s Chair, Learning Centers, and many other effective tips. |
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
Experts from Ward
Scientific led teams of
math and science teachers as well as members of the local law enforcement through a
fascinating day of investigating forensic science on July 11, 2007.
Presentation techniques allowed participants to follow
the path/trajectory of a bullet from weapon to victim or surface using
30, 45, 60, and 90 degree angles. Using simulated blood from Ward
Scientific, participants learned how to safely and realistically demonstrate blood spatter
analysis techniques to their students. allowing them to investigate
the relationship between the height blood is dropped from and the
diameter of the drop on impact. Students will also learn to recognize
vertical blood drops on a variety of different textured surfaces and
differentiate between high and medium velocity spatter such as from a
gun shot or blunt force trauma. |
.JPG)
|
|
|
Participants of this unique workshop were treated to a historical background of quilt making and shown skills one requires for precision measurement and an understanding of geometry concepts. Candy St. Laurence, a quilt teacher and appraiser with a degree in Art History along with Dee Hanlin from the NWRESA staff, provided participants with an activity-filled day creating paper fabric quilts, designing tessellations, learning facts and folk tales about quilting, exploring many literature connections, from picture books to novels and making connections to the NC Standard Course of Study for mathematics, grades 3-8. Due to a heavy response, a second workshop is in the planning. |
|
|
& |
|
|
The Partnership for 21st
Century Skills |
|
|
|
|
The Lenoir Rhyne School of Education, the Northwest RESA, and the Center for Inquiry-based Learning have partnered to provide an enrichment program for educators in northwest North Carolina. This opportunity will soon be offered to NWRESA members. Now that science is tested in grades 5 and 8, many North Carolina school districts are thinking about improving science teaching in their schools. Upgrading science system-wide is expensive and complicated. It’s hard for teachers and administrators to learn enough early in the process when they need to make hard decisions. To help districts get started, the Center for Inquiry-based Learning (CIBL) provides professional development and temporary use of science kits to help teachers and administrators get their feet wet before investing large amounts of time and money. With a $5.3M grant from the National Science Foundation and large-scale corporate support, CIBL is helping more than a dozen school districts, some of which are now fully implemented. CIBL is offering a half-day session to orient curriculum specialists in the NWRESA to the issues, concerns, and successful strategies from their experience since 2000. An informative meeting was held on January 7, 2008 on the campus of Lenoir Rhyne College for all K-8 Curriculum Directors and Science Coordinators. The Center for Inquiry-based Learning is a group of scientists and science educators who are developing programs to assist teachers in the use of multi-disciplinary, hands-on, minds-on discovery methods for teaching science. During the program on January 7, the CIBL staff will demonstrate how to enrich science instruction by making science more accessible and interesting to students of varying skill levels and educational backgrounds. |
|
Dear Dr. Sinclair: I would like to extend to you the appreciation of USA TODAY Education for helping us develop a new Math and Science Professional Development program. The pilot program that we have implemented through the Northwest Regional Educational Service Alliance (NWRESA) for North Carolina teachers will benefit educators and students across the country. We have already received requests from Miami Dade School District, Arlington School District in Virginia, and Los Angeles School District in California for this program. It has been helpful to have two professional experts assist us in the development, review and implementation of the program. Both Deanna Hanlin and Martha Brown who work at NWRESA have been instrumental in the development of the USA TODAY Education Math and Science Professional Development. This program will assist teachers who are required to teach reading across the curriculum. We are grateful for the support of NWRESA in developing and piloting this important program. There will continue to be a national and state focus on improving instruction in math and science. Due to your support and efforts USA TODAY will continue to be an important partner in improving students’ performance. I look forward to continuing to work with you and your staff. Sincerely,
Joyce L. Winterton, Ph.D. |
|
A three-year
instructional grant submitted by the Northwest RESA has been funded.
Deanna K. Hanlin will serve as Director of the project entitled
"The Mountain Valley Partnership for Elementary Mathematics"
(MVP). MVP is a partnership formed between three institutions of higher
education (Appalachian State University, Catawba Valley Community
College and Surry Community College), seven school districts (Ashe,
Alleghany, Catawba, Elkin City, Hickory City, Wilkes and Yadkin), and
the Northwest RESA for the purpose of providing staff development to
teachers in standards-based mathematics curriculum so that students will
ultimately achieve better on end-of-grade tests. |
|
Deanna
Hanlin announced that the ARMS grant would fund training for membership
LEA's at a rate of $2250 per registered participant to attend the
Science Safety Training. Linda Stroud of
Science & Safety Consulting Services conducted the two intense science
safety trainings with Level 1 being held in Raleigh and Level 2 in Wilkesboro
during July 2007. |
|
|
|
|
Visual Literacy: News Photos, Comics, Political Cartoons and More |
|||
 |
Sandra Cook, Certified Reading Teacher and Newspaper in Education Instructor, NC Press Foundation, and Jock Lauterer, Lecturer, UNC-Chapel Hill (with support from Carole Ireland, W-S Journal entertained participants who explored the meaning and significance of photography in communication and discuss the ethics of photojournalism with Jock Lauterer, a professional photographer and lecturer at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at UNC-Chapel Hill. Participants learned how to analyze news photos, comics, political cartoons, ads and other graphic content found in newspapers and received print and web-based curricula to support their use of those features in the classroom. Participants were shown how varied content in a newspaper could be used to appeal to students with different interests and abilities to allow them build on what they know. It was shown how thoughtful analysis of a newspaper’s visual elements encourages and requires reading and writing as well as integrates different subjects. |
||
 |
AIMS Workshops Benefit
Hundreds of Teachers |
||
| Kay Kent Returns for K-2 Math and Science Sessions | |||
|
|
Kay
Kent, an nationally certified AIMS Instructor, returned for a 2-day
session to benefit teachers in K-2 (one day Science/one day Math).
Participants received science training that addressed Life, Earth and
Physical Science and engaged in hands-on activities to help student's
gain conceptual understanding. NC Science goals were also addressed. |
||
|
|
To help “spark an interest” in science, Dottie Hayes, Hickory City, and Mardy Brown, NWRESA, co-presented “Science Matters: Action Science and Literacy” on June 13, 2007. This interactive, hands-on session provided the opportunity for teachers to explore various stations and to conduct investigations. The workshops were made possible by the ARMS grant. | ||
 
|
Can one turn a tired, old, discarded book into a “work of art?” Heidi Wicker, Art Specialist and NC Elementary Art T.O.Y. helped teachers do just that! Altered books are currently displayed in art museums across the United States. The results from this session were worth “showcasing!”
|
||
|
|
Having the necessary skills to read analytically is critical. Mardy Brown has conducted numerous sessions both on-site and regionally with “Strategies for Success with Critical Stance.” She will present this training for the Burke Staff Development Day on August 15, 2007 and the Hickory Staff Development Day on August 21, 2007. This training will allow participants to explore author’s craft through strategic reading strategies using various genres and real-world selections. | ||
|
JASON participants at ASU How does the JASON Professional Development program improve instructional practices and increase teachers’ science and math content knowledge? Teachers get results! & become skilled and confident instructors through the JASON curriculum. A recent SRI International evaluation showed teachers participating in the annual JASON professional development program reported significant gains in classroom inquiry practice, expanded teaching techniques, access to new resources, increased comfort with the Internet, and increased confidence in themselves as teachers. JASON can help you meet your science and math instructional goals! To learn more visit www.jason.org |
 NASA recommends Mysteries of Earth and Mars curriculum as “outstanding.” As part of the Appalachian Region Math and Science Partnership,
Project Director Deanna Hanlin joined with Appalachian
State University in presenting the second year JASON curriculum
entitled "Mysteries of Earth and Mars".
Over 100 attended NWRESA's JASON
Workshop at ASU conducted by Dr. Rob Sanders, an Assistant Professor
in the Department of Leadership and Educational Studies. Dr.
Sanders, along with 10 assistants, provided the day-long training
which included 10 break-out sessions: It's Alive!, Properties of Salt and Freshwater,
Extreme Adaptations, Safe Landing, Take Off!, The Facts of Friction,
Get the Signature!, Modeling Martian Craters, Martians Among Us, and
Team JASON online. A NASA review panel that includes five educators and two scientists recommended the Mysteries of Earth and Mars curriculum with an overall rating of “outstanding”, the highest rating possible. Research conducted by the Center for Children and Technology (CCT) indicates that “JASON students consistently scored above average and out performed non-JASON students.” |
||
| Back to NWRESA Main Page Back to News Menu | |||
|
Nationally Known Speaker Presents for NWRESA
Classroom Management examined a wide array of student behavioral problems. Dr. Tate's presentation covered student's behavior patterns when traveling from one classroom to another and exhibiting different behaviors depending upon teacher expectations and management techniques. While we know that not all brains are the same, Dr. Tate suggests, there are teachers who consistently meet the needs of various brains in a well-managed, proactive classroom. Participants learned the secrets of how to maximize instructional time and minimize disruptions by being introduced to a variety of ways to help with managing students including: Establishing rituals and routines for a well-managed, proactive classroom environment; developing a classroom management plan which addresses unique student needs; Learning strategies for managing students who provide teachers with exceptional behavioral challenges, e.g., learned helplessness, attention deficit disorders, oppositional disorders, and conduct disorders. |
|||
|
APPALACHIAN REGION
MATH AND SCIENCE PARTNERSHIP GRANT The Northwest Regional Educational Service Alliance provided its expertise toward identifying and assisting the number of middle school mathematics and science teachers who did not meet the Federal guideline requirement as being highly qualified, which became a key concern for North Carolina school districts attempting to meet the No Child Left Behind legislation. Thus, evolved the creation of the Appalachian Region Math & Science Partnership, a regional union consisting of 13 school districts, two universities and the Northwest Regional Educational Service Alliance, established exclusively to meet the needs of teachers who may lack full certification in the area of math or science. Over a three year period, the ARMS partnership has provided scholarships and support to middle grade teachers who will complete a rigorous program of university courses and other teacher enhancement activities that has resulted in a masters degree, full certification, or both. The Partnership assisted participants to achieve their expectations by having the ARMS mentors provide sustainable, professional staff development at the local level and support for the ARMS scholars and other mathematics and science teachers in their schools. Participants of the Appalachian Region Math & Science grant received training from nationally known instructors, grant-writing workshop opportunities and thousands of dollars worth of equipment and educational materials. In addition, the ARMS project has been of significant benefit to the local economy by purchasing much of the equipment and materials from local businesses as well as hosting dozens of workshops/trainings at its facility and in turn, encouraging participants to shop, dine and purchase gas while participating through the past 3 years. The Appalachian Region Math Science (ARMS) Partnership was a 3-year project and focused on the improvement of math and science instruction at the middle school level. Training for "highly-qualified" middle school math and science teachers began in the summer of 2005 and continued through June 2007. |
|||
