Understanding &
Implementing the Common Core Standards
How do the new common core standards affect classroom teaching?
How do the new common core standards correlate to current state standards? How does Bloom's Taxonomy guide rigor for
lessons and assessments in the new common core standards? How should common core standards be introduced as "student
friendly and "parent friendly" statements? All of these questions and more are answered in this workshop.
Additionally, training is available to guide teachers in grades K-12 as they develop new curriculum maps, assessment maps,
pacing guides, and common core assessments. Teachers are trained to create color coded standard guides to use in
all subject areas. Materials, guides, and lessons are provided for teachers attending workshops and trainings.
Revolutionary
Classroom Changes: First Class TeachingTM
In the Age of Standards, learning is directly
related to the instructional needs of students and to the learning skills and concepts found in the standards. This
workshop focuses on 10 changes that need to take place in the classroom in order for teachers to create effective differentiated
lessons that challenge all learners and create First Class TeachingTM. How can teachers create meaningful,
challenging and creative lessons from the common core standards? Highlights from the book, "Generating Standards-Based
Lessons" (Lester, 2007) are shared along with essential changes that need to take place in order to create effective
lessons and assessments that lead to greater student achievement. Workshop includes teacher inventories, video clips,
humor, and teacher activities. This topic can be used for a keynote or half day workshop. It can be combined with
other topics to create a single day or multiple day workshops.
Professional Development Action Planning Utilizing
21st Century Skills
The Framework for 21st Century Learning highlights the need for effective
professional development at the building and district level, as well as, action planning for individual teachers. What
is effective professional development? How do teachers create professional development action plans? How is professional
development evaluated? How does professional development affect student achievement? Professional Development
Action Plans and Professional Development Menus are provided for teachers and administrators in this training, as well as,
instruments to aid in the implementation of building and district wide professional development planning.
Doing
Differentiation: Using the Common Core Standards
Differentiation is one of the most discussed topics
in education today. Teachers understand the definition of "differentiation", however, the art of differentiating
lessons and classroom activities requires in depth exploration and a thorough understanding of how "differentiation"
genuinely becomes embedded in all aspects of "teaching and learning" in the classroom. In this session, teachers
learn to incorporate, embrace and include differentiation strategies in existing lessons and classroom activities. This
session does not include differentiation games or activities but focuses on actual "teaching and learning strategies"
to use with standards-based lessons. Teachers gain an insight into how differentiation flows seamlessly throughout the
new common core standards. This session includes exposure to numerous differentiation techniques, differentiation strategies,
and differentiation assessment ideas to easily implement in the classroom to make differentiation happen and to develop greater
achievement for all students. Participants receive PowerPoint slides, strategy cards, and differentiation inventory
instruments.
Introducing & Implementing Layered LessonsTM
Differentiation in the
classroom expects teachers to implement new instructional strategies to reach all students in the classroom. Layered
LessonsTM are designed using the same concepts and or skills in the common core standards and the same assessments
to reach diverse groups of students. Lessons are designed to reach students working below grade level, students working
at grade level, and students working above grade level. Layers are designed based on the "instructional needs"
of students. Layered Lessons represent a new differentiation technique based on standards based learning. Lessons
use the common core standards and reflect various differentiation techniques for teachers including pre-assessment and classroom
grouping techniques.
Training Teacher Leaders
Teacher leadership is paramount to the success
of a school building and a school district. Many teachers possess the leadership ability needed to move a district forward.
Teachers are now recognized as the "driving force" in outstanding schools across the nation. Building teacher
leadership is the hallmark of an outstanding building and district. Leadership training materials, activities, lessons,
and inventory instruments are provided along with leadership action plans.
Global Awareness and Leadership
How
does global awareness and leadership education support 21st Century Learning? How can these areas be incorporated
into classrooms and gifted resource settings? What global awareness and leadership opportunities exist for students
in grades K-12? What is the connection between giftedness and global awareness and how does leadership factor into gifted
education? Since leadership is clearly defined as an area of giftedness in the Federal definition of "gifted and
talented children", why have we been avoiding this area of giftedness? Participants find the answers to these questions
learn about global awareness and leadership activities and opportunities to use with students.
