Language Arts Strand

Red Scarf Girl and Beyond

Becky Boyle, presenter;  Batchelor Middle School and

Anne Prescott, presenter:  Indiana University, East Asian Studies Center

Don’t delete that e-mail. That’s almost what I did, but instead I gave it a quick glance. I now have an incredible relationship and support network with Indiana University’s East Asian Studies Center and its wealth of resources. Learn how these kinds of collaborations may benefit your students.

Inspiring Students to be Readers & Writers

Ruth Ayes, presenter; Wawasee Middle School

It’s time to start teaching reading and writing according to experts, instead of according to the past.  In this session you will hear what experts like Lucy Calkins, Nancie Atwell, and Gary Paulsen say about teaching reading and writing. If you are craving strategies to inspire your student to read and write, you won’t want to miss this session!

Teaching Shakespeare through Performance

Kari-Anne Innes, presenter; Valparaiso University

This session will look at how to use theatre games and exercises in teaching language arts, with particular emphasis on “Romeo & Juliet.”  Participants will play games from Cambridge School of Shakespeare designed to increase the understanding of language, build oral communication skills and promote teamwork in the classroom. The session will be led by the director of the Young Actors Shakespeare Workshop and student participants.

Sleuth: Creating an Interdisciplinary Unit

Diane Bernhardt, Judy Hollar and Stephanie Olsen, presenters: Thomas Jefferson MS

This is an overview of our seventh grade team’s awesome interdisciplinary unit based on the timely novel THE TERRORIST which all students read. Find out how teacher-made assignments such as crossword puzzles, secret codes, computer maps, DNA analysis, and small-group skits can help students see connections between academic areas. This action-packed unit, scheduled in the middle of the winter doldrums, is fun for students yet fulfills state standards and curriculum objectives.

Using Literature in the Middle School Classroom

Ann Reiser and Marcella Borcherding, presenters: Valparaiso University

Literature has long been a vital part of children’s lives. This presentation uses stories that reflect society to inspire middle school students to read and learn about the world all around them.

Topics will include literature circles, book clubs, read alouds, book and author studies. A bibliography and ways to find the latest books for middle school readers will be available.

Racing through Academic Advisory and State Standards

Reggie Flesvig & Carol Schultz, presenters; Boone Grove Middle School

Participants will learn how the 8^th grade team of teachers at Boone Grove Middle school designed and implemented an advisory program that sharpens student’ skills in math and language arts and addresses Indiana state standards. Using a racing theme, this program incorporates cooperative teams and problem-solving activities to increase student motivation. The successes and pitfalls of this program will be demonstrated and discussed.

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Mathematics Strand

Project Lead the Way – A Gateway to Success

Constance Romano and Shaun Kun, presenters: Gavit Middle School

Project Lead the Way is a program of study, a strategy for teaching and a way of thinking. A brief overview of the program, training and courses will be presented and discussed.

Using Continuous Improvement Strategies to Increase MS Math Performance

Jason Snyder, presenter; Rochester Middle School

What can be done to help a group of average and below-average math students succeed?  See how a 7^th grade mathematics classroom at Rochester Middle school in Rochester, Indiana, thrived by transforming the classroom experience through the continuous improvement philosophies of Dr. W. Edwards Deming and a random sample assessment process shared by Dr. Lee Jenkins. 

Racing through Academic Advisory and State Standards

Reggie Flesvig & Carol Schultz,  presenters; Boone Grove Middle School

Participants will learn how the 8^th grade team of teachers at Boone Grove Middle school designed and implemented an advisory program that sharpens student’ skills in math and language arts and addresses Indiana state standards.  Using a racing theme, this program incorporates cooperative teams and problem-solving activities to increase student motivation.  The successes and pitfalls of this program will be demonstrated and discussed.

Hands-on Activities for Math and Science

Paul Tougaw, presenter; Valparaiso University

Several hands on activities are presented that can be used tomorrow in your classroom. Examples presented to show applications across the curriculum. 

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Science Strand

Project Lead the Way – A Gateway to Success

Constance Romano and Shaun Kun, presenters: Gavit Middle School

Project Lead the Way is a program of study, a strategy for teaching and a way of thinking.  A brief overview of the program, training and courses will be presented and discussed.

Implementing Standards Based Forensic Science into Your Classroom

William Bayley, presenter; Chemistry Outreach Coordinator, Purdue University, West Lafayette

Purdue University School Outreach Program.  Standards-Based Integrated Science Instruction (SISI)-

By exploring a problem in forensics (The Kiss of Death), teachers will learn how to apply an integrated scientific approach using physical, chemical, biological, and earth science concepts to solve a crime.  Participants will gain detailed science knowledge and an understanding of the use of inquiry in the classroom.  Each participant will develop his or her own standards-based inquiry unit and classroom implementation plan.

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Social Studies Strand

Beyond Anne Frank:  Introducing the Holocaust to Middle School Students

Dr. David Lindquist, presenter; Indiana University Purdue University, Fort Wayne

Many middle school students first experience the Holocaust by reading excerpts from “The Diary of Anne Frank.”  While an outstanding literary piece that contributes much to Holocaust studies, the diary fails to provide the contextual base students must develop in beginning to explore the Holocaust as a watershed historical event. This session will set Anne’s story within the Holocaust’s greater framework while providing background information and teaching strategies for contextualizing the diary within that framework.

Using the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Website in Your Middle School Classroom. 

Dr. David Lindquist, presenter; Indiana University Purdue University, Fort Wayne

The museum’s website (www.ushmm.org) contains a vast array of historical materials and teaching strategies designed to help you introduce the Holocaust, a topic of immense interest and fascinating complexity, to your students.  The session will begin by examining the museum’s “Guidelines for Teaching about the Holocaust” and will then overview many different features found on the website. Sample lessons will be presented, and the website’s use for both teacher and student research will be considered.

Geography in the Middle – EPCOT Style

Susan Sanders, presenter; Kouts Middle School

Implement this project into your curriculum next week. Attendees will be given packet that includes student handouts, time-line, and rubric. Sample projects will also be on display. Satisfy several state standards, meet the needs of the individual student and excite young learners to enter your classroom everyday.

Multisensory Map Skills

Ruth Johnston, presenter; Valparaiso University

This workshop is for teachers who want to fully engage student in the learning process, while reinforcing map skills, latitude, longitude, mental mapping and cookie mapping will be part of the workshop.

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Fine Arts Strand

Recruiting the Next Generation of Music Teachers:

The Indiana Music Educators Association All-State Future Music Educators Colloquium

Dr. Jeffrey Doebler, presenter; Valparaiso University

How can we ensure the future of music education if there is a shortage of music teachers? The Indiana Music Educators Association All-State Future Music Educators Colloquium may be part of the solution. This session will focus on the implementation and future impact of the Colloquium, as well as how practicing teachers at all levels can recommend students for the program. Teachers and administrators outside of music may also be interested in applying this concept to their professional areas.

Teaching Shakespeare through Performance

Kari-Anne Innes, presenter; Valparaiso University

This session will look at how to use theatre games and exercises in teaching language arts, with particular emphasis on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Participants will play games from Cambridge school of Shakespeare designed to increase the understanding of language, build oral communication skills and promote teamwork in the classroom. The session will be led by the instructor and rehearsal assistants from Valparaiso University’s Young Actors Shakespeare Workshop and applied and interactive theatre classes!

Getting Middle School Students Interested in the Brauer Museum of Art

Betty Gehring, presenter; Brauer Museum of Art, Valparaiso University

The docent at the Brauer Museum will present ideas on how to motivate middle school students to explore the Brauer Museum at Valparaiso University. Information about out-reach classroom presentations and available field trips to the museum will be presented.

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Special Education Strand

Curricular and Instructional Accommodations and Adaptations for Middle School Academic Content.

Maryann Dudzinski, presenter: Valparaiso University

Participants will receive “how-to” information, examples, and forms that can be used to develop accommodations and adaptations in general education curriculum areas for middle school students with special needs. Participants will all receive information on the research base that demonstrates these techniques have a positive impact on student learning.

A Twist in Perspective for Students with Special Needs

Doris Cole, presenter: Valparaiso University

Struggling to create adaptations for your students with special needs? Our typical slant on adaptations for students in special education is to find different ways for them to learn or demonstrate what they know. For fifty minutes we will twist that idea and look at it from a different perspective.

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