Learning Opportunities for Local Educators

February, 2008

Supporting Emerging Literacy in Preschool and Kindergarten through Natural Routines and Systematic Interventions

Date: February 2, 2008
9:30- 11:30 a.m.
Room 7 Doris Kelley Christopher Hall, 904 West Nevada Street, Urbana

Members of the panel will include Professors Jeanette McCollum, Susan Fowler, Micki Ostrosky, Nancy Hertzog, & Amy Santos from the Department of Special Education. Several of these faculty just received a large federal grant to implement school and home-based literacy practices to support young children and families considered at risk. They will share information about ways to structure the classroom environment to support literacy, embedding early literacy activities into daily class routines, extending the use of weekly stories into daily lessons, and home based activities for engaging families in support of early literacy. Given the interest shown in this symposium from community service providers it is recommended that you plan to arrive early to obtain a seat.

Fostering Active Reading, Part II*

For: 3-12 Educators
Instructor: Phil Wilder
Date: February 5, 2008
Time: 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Location: Urbana High School Media Center

How can we teach students to monitor their own understanding while they read texts? In what ways can we model explicit reading strategies to encourage students to actively engage in reading and comprehending texts? During this follow up session, teachers will develop sample lessons using reading comprehension strategies and content-area specific literacy strategies that promote active engagement with text and lead to meaningful learning experiences.

Building A Community of Writers: Implementing Writer's Workshop*

For: K-8 Educators
Instructors: Haeny Yoon
Date: February 9, 2008
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: College of Education Room 242, Maxiximum Enrollment: 25

This day long workshop will delve into the structure of writer’s workshop from management to lesson development, to creating units of study. The day will include the following foci:

an overview of the most vital parts of writer’s workshop Small group sessions focused on various topics from genre studies, conferences and assessments, mini-lessons, etc.
conversations with fellow educators
opportunities to engage in our own writing

The workshop is designed to assist all teachers of writing and to build an adult writing community. This day-long workshop will be informative and practical for new and experienced teachers of writing. Lunch will be provided.

*CPDU Credit Available, Small Stipend Provided to First 10 Registered Participants

March, 2008

Encouraging Language Development and Promoting Conversation about Books and Ideas in a Diverse Urban Classroom

For: K-12 Educators
Presenter: Dr. J. Helen Perkins
Date: March 1, 2008
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Location: Urbana Free Library Auditorium