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1. DESIGNING LEARNING WITH THINKING DISPOSITIONS IN MIND
We prepare students for a life of tests, but do we prepare them for the tests of life? While many cite the need for critical and creative thinking, collaboration and communication, do we align our curriculum with those thinking dispositions? This workshop will define dispositions, describe their place in the curriculum and offer ways to assess their growth over time. Designing a curriculum focused on dispositional thinking requires a different mindset. Drs. Costa and Kallick will challenge and help re-frame your mental maps to focus on the real purposes of 21st Century education.
Arthur L. Costa, EdD, Emeritus Professor of Education, California State University, Sacramento; Editor, Habits of Mind Across the Curriculum (2009) and Developing Minds (2001); Co-Author, Becoming an Emotionally Intelligent Teacher (2013) and Bena Kallick, PhD, International Consultant; Vice President, Professional Development Services, Performance Pathways; Co-Author, Habits of Mind Across the Curriculum (2009) and Using Curriculum Mapping and Assessment to Improve Student Learning (2008) |
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2. THE READING BRAIN AND THE COMMON CORE
Dr. Kaufman will examine the brain bases of reading skill acquisition, with emphasis given to the development of skills related to the Common Core State Standards. Dr. Kaufman will feature ‘neurological role plays’ in the first half of the workshop to illustrate key cognitive process elements associated with receptive and expressive literacy. He will devote the second part of the workshop to best practice strategies targeting the development of reading skills across regular and special education domains. This workshop is appropriate for regular and special educators, school- and community-based clinicians, educational administrators, physicians and parents of dyslexic children.
Christopher Kaufman, PhD, Licensed Psychologist and Certified School Psychologist; Co-Founder, Kaufman Psychological Services; Author, Executive Function in the Classroom: Practical Strategies for Improving Performance and Enhancing Skills for All Students (2010)
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3. MOTIVATING MINDS VIA CRITICAL THINKING AND WRITING
This workshop will focus on critical thinking and writing skills, which are inherent within the new Common Core Standards. The workshop leaders will explore teaching strategies that enhance these skills to prepare students for increased learning and academic performance.You will gain time saving strategies and creative ideas for developing engaging activities that you can connect to both your students and your curriculum.
Scott Hobson, MA, Former Principal; Assistant Principal; Master Teacher; Author, Breakfast for the Brain (2012); and Nathan Levy, PhD, Principal; Coordinator for Gifted Programs; Author, Stories With Holes (2005); Co-Authors, Creativity, Day By Day (2012) and THINKology: Engaging Activities to Enhance the Creative Mind (2012)
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4. FROM STEM TO STEAM: STRATEGIES TO INTEGRATE THE ARTS INTO STEM LEARNING
Dr. Sousa will examine the cognitive and social neuroscience findings showing how the Arts enhance creativity, problem solving, memory systems and analytical skills — all critical to achieving success in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects. You will explore teacher-tested lessons at all grade levels that have successfully integrated the Arts into STEM lessons, turning them into STEAM lessons by adding Arts instruction in ways that are much more fun and interesting to students.
David A. Sousa, EdD, Educational Consultant; Member of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society; Author, How the Brain Learns Mathematics (2011); Co-Author, From STEM to STEAM: Using Brain-Compatible Strategies to Integrate the Arts (2013)
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5. BUILDING BLOCKS OF CREATIVE THINKING: APPLICATIONS TO THE COMMON CORE
In this active and experiential workshop, you will learn about the major brain structures associated with creative thinking and will explore pedagogical, curricular and environmental means of advancing creative thinking. You will create a model of the brain while gaining insight into important research around neuroscience and cognitive development. While diving deeply into neural research, you will also learn a simple framework around which to organize research-based best practices connected with learning and creative thinking. The workshop leaders will link research with feasible classroom practice, highlighting alignment with the many threads of the Common Core State Standards that strive to support complex thinking. You will walk away a newly enriched understanding of the brain, a framework for understanding creative thinking and and several immediately usable strategies to advance creative thinking in children. The focus will primarily be on K–8 learning environments.
Elizabeth Rood, MA, Director, Center for Childhood Creativity; Director of Education, Bay Area Discovery Museum; Former Principal and Teacher; and Erica Fortescue, MA, Lead Program Developer, Center for Childhood Creativity; Former Teacher; Developer of inquiry-based science programs
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6. ENGAGING ADOLESCENT MINDS, LEARNING AND THINKING
The latest research in brain development points to the incredible capacity for change. The most amazing change in the human brain occurs during the teenage years. Although this is no secret to parents and educators, the teenage years can be both challenging and rewarding. Dr. Almarode will discuss the differences and highlights specific vulnerabilities and positives associated with the teenage brain and how they learn and think. Applications will be discussed and modeled that capitalize on the ability to change and enrich brain development during the teenage years to improve their engagement, thinking and learning.
John T. Almarode, PhD, Assistant Professor, College of Education, James Madison University; Co-Author of study, Future of Education for STEM Talented Adolescents (2013)
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