Educational ReadSources, Inc.


Supporters Projects More about EdReadSources Search: Educational ReadSources P.O. Box 43814 Tucson, AZ 85733-3814 Telephone/Fax: 520-326-0953 Email/General Information: edreadsrcs@aol.com Special Bonus Offer! If you e-mail your contact information, you will receive 2 free issues of the Educational ReadSources Newsletter, plus free information on Marge Christensen Gould's teacher training and programs for at-risk youth. Site design by Blue Jackrabbit Web Site Design, Tucson, AZ	.3-day Teacher Workshop: 'Transforming High School Classrooms into Smaller Learning Communities and Improving Student Achievement' January 19-21, 2006 Doubletree Hotel at Reid Park, Tucson, AZ Register Now - Click Here As educators explore strategies for improving student achievement, it is clear that our greatest challenge today is high school reform. Steeped in tradition for too long, high schools have become outdated, and ineffective. Problems such as poor attendance, discipline problems, dropout rate, failure rate, vandalism, classroom disruption, violence, drug/alcohol abuse, teacher burnout, and low teacher morale, which confront high schools today, are much more prevalent in high-poverty, urban neighborhoods than in more affluent ones. In response to the evidence of academic and social benefits of small schools, government and private foundations are providing millions of dollars for large high schools to create “small learning communities” within the existing school buildings or campuses. Smallness, however, is not enough to improve student achievement. It is critical that each classroom also be transformed into a “smaller learning community” which personalizes learning, is student-centered, success-oriented, and utilizes differentiated teaching and best practices for improving student achievement. This workshop will show educators, step by step, how to transform their traditional high school classroom into smaller learning communities which are organized as professional workplace learning environments. Presenters will include: Educators who have transformed their classrooms into smaller learning communities (SLC’s) Business executives involved in partnerships with similar programs Adult professionals who mentor at-risk students from SLC classrooms Graduates of programs which are SLC’s A featured speaker will donate wall to wall carpeting to help create a professional workplace learning environment for any educator who attends this training, and then transforms his/her classroom based on the model from this training At the Workshop, you will Learn to: Create a student-centered, success-oriented learning environment Differentiate teaching and learning to reach our very diverse student population Motivate and meet the needs of low achieving students Apply best practices for improving student achievement Employ motivational strategies for at-risk students Utilize methods and strategies for reaching English language learners (ELL’s) Incorporate performance-based assessment Bridge the gap for minorities and non-minorities Remove roadblocks to learning for students in poverty Build amazing school, business, community partnerships to maximize your resources Outcomes Improved student achievement Increased number of students going to college after graduation Elimination of almost all discipline problems Reduced negative effects of poverty on achievement Increased student buy-in and ownership of their own progress Increased student connectivity and sense of belonging in the class Greater levels of parent and community involvement in the class More positive teacher attitudes and satisfaction Greater safety and order Fewer dropouts and unexcused absences For Registration fee of $800, Participants will Receive: A copy of the book, Developing Literacy and Workplace Skills; Teaching for 21st Century Employment – Second Edition – (National Educational Service, 2002) (includes 6-semester curriculum outline) A organizer/planner specially designed for the Teacher of the 21st Century Professional Workplace Classroom (a SLC) A copy of Reclaiming At-Risk Youth for the 21st Century Workplace – Case Study for ASCD Training Manual Various Handouts Lunch each of the 3 days of the training Coffee, tea and pastries during morning sessions Refreshments during afternoon sessions One year’s subscription to the Educational ReadSources Newsletter One semester of free teacher support online and on telephone from the date of implementation *Wall to wall carpeting (color of your choice) for your workplace classroom if you implement this program and meet the requirements for this offer* Hotel Reservations Must be Made by September 15,2005 for the Training Seminar (in order to get this rate) In order to get this room rate, you must make your hotel reservations by Sept. 15, 2005, and tell the hotel that you will be attending the Educational ReadSources teacher workshop on Fri., Jan. 20, and Sat., Jan. 21, 2006. The morning session on Thursday will begin at 8:00a.m. The final session on Saturday, will conclude at 2p.m. The charge for the hotel suite is $126.00 single/double occupancy per night. Call the DoubleTree Hotel at Reid Park, Tucson, AZ 85711 –Tel: 520-881-4200. Educational ReadSources, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting effective classroom reform and helping at-risk youth develop literacy and 21st century workplace skills. Through training workshops we help teachers to restructure their classrooms and implement a research-based, innovative program, incorporating effective instructional practices, new roles for students and teacher, computers as instructional tools, and a support network including business partners, classroom volunteers, mentors for students, and guest speakers Through business partnerships and grants, we provide resources for transforming classrooms into 21st Century Workplace Classrooms, which are organized as smaller learning communities. We offer teacher support to facilitate and ensure their success. Presenters include the following educators, and members of the smaller learning community of Marge’s program, including business and community partners, classroom volunteers, mentors for students, and graduates of the program: Marge Christensen Gould teaches and coordinates an innovative program for at-risk students at a Tucson urban high school. The program is an example of a small learning community, and is designed to help students develop literacy and workplace skills. This highly successful program is a partnership between the Arizona Supreme Court and the Tucson Unified School District. Now completing its 18th year, the program has gained local, state and national recognition. Marge is the author of the books, Developing Literacy and Workplace Skills: Teaching for 21st Century Employment - Second Edition, Motivational English for At-Risk Students—(National Educational Service), Reclaiming At-Risk Youth for the 21st Century Workplace, a Case Study published in the ASCD Curriculum Handbook, (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development), and several journal articles. She was named to All USA First Teacher Team 2000, by USA Today, and selected as 2000-2001 Teacher of the Year for the U of A /76/Circle K Outstanding Faculty Awards Program, and honored as an Outstanding Arizona Educator 2001, by the Phoenix Suns and America West Airlines. Her program was selected by the Arizona School Board Association for the 1st place 2000- ASBA Golden Bell Award, for outstanding curriculum which has significant impact on improved student performance. Programs based on the model in Marge’s books have been implemented in other states. Kathleen D. Benedict is the teacher/coordinator for the 21st Century Workplace Program, at the Learn Center, in Anderson County, TN. Her program, based on Marge Gould’s model, is now completing its 7th year, and has been phenomenally successful for her students. This alternative learning program for high school students, emphasizes literacy, mentoring, and career preparation. Kathleen has been a presenter for our Teacher Training Workshops in 1999, 2001, and 2003, and presented with Marge at the 2001 ASCD Conference in Boston, MA. Comments from teachers who have attended previous Teacher Workshops: “For three days, surrounded by teachers from across the country, we listened to speakers from the community, mentors, a doctor, and students who began to show us how we could make this program come alive in our own schools. We met with business leaders who spoke about the joy that mentoring brings back to them, and the numerous benefits of being involved with today’s youth. They taught us how to effectively reach into our communities and establish school/business partnerships. We visited classrooms and perused computer programs. But most of all, I felt the drive and saw the determination that one person could have and make a difference. We came out of those three days with a world of knowledge and a network support system to reach out to. It was more than I had ever expected; I had a new mindset ” - Kathy Zullo, Teacher, Flemington, NJ “As a high school principal, I was faced with scores of students reading three to five years below grade level. We turned to Marge Christensen Gould’s 21st Century Workplace Classroom Program. The average reading level increase is 2.9 grades a year for our students. Principals and superintendents need to strongly consider this program as an essential to their high school curriculum.” - William E. Harner, Ph.D., Supt. of Schools. Greenville County Schools, Greenville, SC “The tools are wonderful! The most valuable part is that tools can be adapted to each individual site. The networking that takes place throughout the 3 days is priceless - - the networking is so important. One of the things that is impressive is that you make it your goal to keep all materials and presentations updated, taking into account new teaching/learning research, national mandates, effective practices, and funding information. Thanks for giving teachers a program that can make a difference!” - Dr. Denise Wilburn, Dir. , Federal Projects, Anderson County Schools, Clinton,TN “This is one of the few conferences I have attended where every session was extremely beneficial All information presented was extremely worthwhile and informative. I liked the variety of modalities of presentations too. All materials distributed were excellent! I can hardly wait to review everything and design a program.” - Mary Hinson, Teacher, Tucson, AZ Online Registration Form Please Fax or mail Registration Form to Educational ReadSources by November 15, 2005 'Creating Your Own 21st Century Workplace 2003' Classroom Training Session