Content Seminar Leader Information

Terri Carley

17245 Fountainbleau

Prairieville, LA 70769

tcarley@ebrschools.org        Work: (225) 344-0084            

Seminar Location:                                                      Seminar Times: 5:30  to 8: 30  

Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts

2040 South Acadian Thruway

Baton Rouge, LA  70808

Seminar Description:

This content seminar is an introduction to the foundations and content pedagogy of upper elementary literacy and math (grades 3-5) with a focus on Strategic Design, Louisiana Content Standards, and the Louisiana Components of Effective Teaching.  The Practitioner Teacher Handbook and the Performance Assessment System (PAS) Handbook will be discussed, as well as other components of the Practitioner Teacher Program (TPT).  Best Practices in planning, assessment, and instruction will be the focus of seminar sessions with research and state standards and benchmarks being the basis for all practices.  Other sessions will be designed to help the Practitioner Teachers fulfill the requirements of the PAS.

Seminar Goals:

Participants will. . .

Ø      Analyze the differences between traditional instructional design and the Strategic Design Process.

Ø      Use the Strategic Design Process to plan standards-based lessons and assessments.

Ø      Differentiate instructional choices

Ø      Work in partnerships with other teachers, administrators, parents, and community members to ensure that students have meaningful math and literacy experiences.

Ø      Manage classrooms to allow for student engagement and achievement.

Ø      Examine how children best learn math and what instructional techniques are most effective to help students apply math to real life situations and solve problems.

Ø      Realize that to grow as teachers they must become lifelong learners participating in professional development.

Course Materials:

            Practitioner Teacher Handbook

            Performance Assessment System (PAS) Handbook

            Teaching for Results: Elementary Mathematics & Literacy

Seminar Requirements and Expectations:

·        Attendance

·        You must attend 15 out of 18 seminars in order to receive a passing review.

·        Credit cannot be given for attending another Content Seminar.

·        More than 3 absences merit dismissal from the program

·        Contact content seminar leader prior to an absence.

·        Absences do not excuse missed work.  Contact content seminar leader for missed seminar assignments.

·        Tardy Policy:  Prompt arrival is expected.  3 tardies in excess of 15 minutes will result in an absence. Tardy or early departure of 45 minutes or more is considered and absence.

·        Participation

·        Come to seminar prepared to participate.

·        Individual and group work is expected of all participants.

·        Your full attention is expected. Participants will not be considered as participating if they are grading papers, engaging in side conversations, completing lesson plans, etc.

·        Active participation depends on your having the required materials and completed assignments listed for each session on the syllabus.

• Assignments

·        Assignments are turned in at the start of seminar.

·        All assignments are due on the date listed on the syllabus.

·        If absent, either email assignments to the content seminar leader or assignments are due at the start of the next seminar.

·        Assignments not meeting high expectations will be returned and marked for revisions.  Failure to submit revisions will result in an incomplete assignment.

·        Specific details for assignments will be given well in advance of due date. 

·        Please have assignments completed prior to the session and bring copies if specified in directions for other seminar members.

Seminar Grading System

• Participants will receive timely feedback at each seminar on assignments. 
• Formal mid-year progress reports (December) and end of the year performance reports (May) will be issued to provide feedback to participants. Participant performance on assignments, participation, and attendance will be rated based on pass/fail basis.
• A narrative of participant performance is included. Participants must meet or exceed standards to receive a passing mark. 
• Each of the three categories is equally weighted.

Rubric – Content Seminar Requirements:
	Failing	Failing	Passing	Passing
Requirements	Unsatisfactory	Approaching Standard	Meets Standard	Exceeds Standard
1. Seminar Assignments	Completed half of the assignments or less this school year  &/or assignments completed are low quality	Completed the majority of assignments this school year, but quality needs to be improved	Completed the majority of assignments this school year at a high quality	Completed all assignments this school year at a high quality
2. Participation	Rarely or does not participate in the content seminar	Participates in content seminar at times, but needs to be more engaged and involved in seminar activities	Participates actively in content seminar, is engaged in content seminar activities the majority of the time	Participates actively in content seminar, always engaged and involved in seminar activities
3. Attendance	Absent more than 3 content seminars	N/A	Absent 3 seminars	Absent 1-2 seminars or Perfect Attendance

Session & Date	Topic	Assignments Due
1 Aug. 25 Introduction & overview	Content Seminar Overview Review Syllabus PTP Handbook Overview Needs Assessment Classroom Management Reflections	+Bring in a copy of your management plan. +Write a reflection describing 2 successes and 2 concerns about your plan.  Include how you will adjust and address these concerns.
2 Sept. 8 Con’t overview	PAS Handbook LaTAAP Overview of Content Manual Overview of the Standards and the Comprehensive Curriculum Professional Development Opportunity resources Discuss Master Teacher project due end of Session 1	+Read SDSA Article 1 in your manual and write 10 key points. +Read SDSA Article 2 and answer the questions on the handout. +Print out and bring the GLEs for Literacy and Math for your grade level.  Available on DOE website www.doe.state.la.us
3 Sept. 22 SDSA session 1 (overview)	What is Strategic Design? Why use Strategic Design? Maintaining a focus on Student Achievement	+Read SDSA Article 3 and answer the questions on the printout.  +Begin to think about how you will prioritize your standards
4 Oct. 6 SDSA session 2 (prioritizing standards)	Use Bloom’s taxonomy to prioritize GLEs Cluster GLEs to create Unit Plan	+Read SDSA Articles 4 and write your definition for assessment. An assessment is ______________. +Read SDSA Article 5  List several benefits and challenges for each assessment method.
5 Oct. 20 SDSA session 3 (aligning assessment)	What are you currently using to assess students? What is assessment? What are the different types of assessment? Selecting assessments to align with standards	+Read SDSA Article 6 and list some of the key characteristics of effective instructional choices.
6 Nov. 3 SDSA session 4 (intro to designing instruction) AND Instructional Choice	Creating SMART Objectives Communicating standards to students Modeled Instructional Choice	+Read Chapter 4 “HITS” and Chapter 5 “Differentiating Instruction”   Complete the handout.
7 Nov. 17 SDSA session 5 (designing & differentiating) AND Instructional Choice	What makes instructional strategies effective? Four principals of Effective Instruction Introduction to Differentiated Instruction Introduction to Marzano Modeled IC using DI and HITS	+Select a lesson that you’ve used in your classroom or plan to use and modify it to include DI & HITS.  Be prepared to share with us as if we were students. +Write a brief reflection of  the lesson and the successes and challenges of DI/Hits
8 Dec. 1 SDSA session 6 (putting it all together) AND	Review principles of Effective Instruction Aligning instructional strategies with GLEs Aligning instructional strategies with assessments Lesson Plan presentations	+Create an action plan for your PAS portfolio including dates.  Refer to your curriculum and pacing guides, as well as suggested dates in handbook.  Be specific! +Master Teacher Observations due next mtg.
9 Dec. 15	Lesson Plan presentations Writing Process – 4 square Guest Speaker – Cory Lemoine §         Writing Across the Curriculum	+Bring in two student samples of writing from your class.  +Attach a reflection of students’ successes and challenges with the pieces and how you intend to meet those challenges.
10 Jan. 12	Lesson Plan presentations Comprehension Different ways to teach comprehension Practicing comprehension	+Create a rough draft of the Unit plan and a Lesson plan along with the Unit Context Report that you will use in your PAS.  Feedback will be provided on these. +Dummy Binders:  Bring in a large binder with front & back pockets, 8 colored tab dividers, and 100 clear plastic page protectors.
11 Jan. 26	Lesson Plan presentations PAS Session #1 Unit Outlines Peer editing lesson plans Peer editing Instructional Unit	+Complete the final draft of Unit plan outline, week of Lesson plans, and Instructional unit context report.  Have finalized to be turned in at Feb. 23rd meeting.
12 Feb. 9	Lesson Plan presentations Centers Rotation Types/Purpose Management	+Review video guidelines in PAS Handbook
13 Feb. 23	PAS Session #2 Look at student work samples related to instructional unit Write student progress reports Discuss student achievement     (give out video feedback forms)	+Bring video to next session.  Choose 10 minute clip for group to watch.
14 Mar. 9	Math Using manipulatives Guest Speaker – Video presentations	+Prepare paragraph of how you used manipulatives for math in your classroom this week.  Be prepared to share.
15 Mar. 23	LEAP/iLEAP Review ideas Testing Strategies/Tips     Guest Speaker Jan Oswalt Video presentations
16 Apr. 6	Viewing of Media Graphic Organizers Types/Purposes	+Bring several student examples of different graphic organizers used in your class.
17 Apr. 20	PAS Session #3 DSA Reports Wrap Up Questions	+Finish PAS
18 May 4	Final questions and concerns End of year routines, procedures PAS updates End of year CSL evaluations Distribute end of year PT reports	Have a wonderful summer!!!!