If you have questions, contact us by email or phone. Our contact information is here: http://www.wresa.org/staffdirectory.htm
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If you have questions, contact us by email or phone. Our contact information is here: http://www.wresa.org/staffdirectory.htm |
Partners for Mathematics Learning is a mathematics-science partnership project funded by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The purpose of the project is to support the teaching and learning of important ideas in mathematics. One component of the project is to assist schools across North Carolina in introducing the revised Mathematics Curriculum Standards for K-5 in a consistent, focused manner. This year’s round of trainings is grade specific with lots of learning strategies and activities that teachers can begin implementing immediately in their classrooms. The emphasis is on the big ideas in mathematics using Blooms Revised Taxonomy. Each 2-day session will provide teachers with 12 contact hours (1.2 CEUs). Presenter will be Carol Bennett, WRESA Elementary Education Coordinator. If you have questions, contact Carol at cbennett@wresa.org or 828.418.0011, ext. 17. Participants need to bring the following:
· Registration Fee: $35 per session Registration Deadline: See above
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Are you tired of doing the same old thing in your classes? Are you ready to spice things up and try something new? How would you like having GPS devices brought to your classroom when you requested them? We will use GPS devices to explore new and exciting ways to teach science concepts. You will have the opportunity to investigate many types of caches, how to incorporate the technology into your existing lessons, and also have time to create new lessons. No previous experience with GPS units required! This workshop is appropriate for 6-12th grade teachers (especially wonderful for integrated lessons). Science content will be addressed and aligned to the NCSCOS. Use in other curriculum areas such as math and history will also be addressed. Michelle Benigno of Science House will be conducting this workshop. If you have questions, please contact April Spencer at 828.418.0011 ext. 20 or aspencer@wresa.org. Registration Fee: $20 Registration Deadline: September 11, 2009
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Numerous researchers have found that supplementing content area instruction with read-alouds helps to engage students, enrich their content knowledge background, and stimulate their higher order thinking skills. Additionally, reading aloud to students helps them make more meaningful connections to their own lives, and enhances their understanding of the subject material. The National Commission on Reading issued a statement that teachers’ reading aloud to students is the single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading. Nowadays, many picture books are specifically targeted at older students; these types of picture books are more sophisticated and complex in theme and illustrations. Using picture book read-alouds in the content areas is an excellent strategy for stimulating students’ thinking and is an effective use of class time. This hands-on session will provide K-8 teachers with the techniques and tools for implementing successful strategies in their own classrooms. Presenter will be Carol Bennett, Elementary Education Coordinator, who recently conducted her doctoral dissertation research on this topic. If you have questions, please contact Carol at cbennett@wresa.org or 828.418.0011, ext. 17. Registration Fee: $60 Registration Deadline: June 1, 2009
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Two out of three questions on end-of-grade quests require students to infer. Are your students ready? Award-winning teacher, literacy coach and author Karen Haag will show how you can move students from literal to interpretive thinking, and then send you home with the comprehension frameworks you need for planning lessons on inferring. Participants will learn to help students solve puzzles, predict outcomes, interpret idioms and metaphors, infer themes and play referencing-the-text-games. This session would be especially beneficial for teachers who work with struggling readers or those in Title I schools. If you have questions, contact Carol Bennett at 828.418.0011, ext. 17 or cbennett@wresa.org. Registration Fee: $50 Registration Deadline: September 11, 2009
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Participants must attend all three sessions plus complete the equivalent of one-day out of class work assignment to receive credit. The presenters will be Bob Byrd, School Improvement Specialist, and Karen Sumner, Teacher On Loan. Class limited to 25 participants. If you have questions contact Bob at bbyrd@wresa.org or 828.418.0011, ext. 23.
Registration Fee: $50 Registration Deadline: September 28, 2009
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Bring a student’s mind to life! “Sit-and-get” lessons become a thing of the past as you transform your classroom into a center of active learning by being a “guide-on-the-side”. This workshop is designed to increase teacher awareness of standards-based instruction with a focus on inquiry-based pedagogy. Teachers develop their own definition of inquiry while exploring different levels of inquiry instruction. During the inquiry-based activities, teachers will learn techniques of questioning to support the discovery process. Participants will also learn how to shift their current science lessons toward inquiry. This workshop is appropriate for Middle and High School Science Teachers. Michelle Benigno of Science House will be conducting this workshop. If you have questions, please contact April Spencer at 828.418.0011 ext. 20 or aspencer@wresa.org.
Registration Fee: $45 Registration Deadline: October 2, 2009
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This session will use instructional web sites to define and explain visual literacy. It will also explore the meaning and significance of photography in communication, discuss the ethics of photojournalism, explore instructional strategies for using editorial cartoons, comics, ads and other visual elements in print newspapers and on newspapers' web sites. Hands-on activities encourage differentiation. Each participating teacher receives a CD with valuable instructional materials (lessons and graphic organizers), web resources and a book of editorial cartoons.
To register for this session go to www.wresa.org. If you have questions, contact Carol Bennett at cbennett@wresa.org or 828.418.0011, ext. 17.
Presenter: Sandra Cook, NC Press Foundation, Newspapers in Education Registration Fee: $50 Registration Deadline: October 5, 2009
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Dr. Rick Spurling, creator of It Is Time….To Be Bully Free! An Anti-Bullying Guidebook For School Leaders (Dec. 2006), will provide information about one of the most important issues is the lives of school age children.... bullying. Dr. Spurling is nationally known for his expertise and has spoken to over 30,000 concerned principals, teachers, coaches, parents and students over the past 4 years about the impact of the Bully-Free philosophy. Dr. Spurling will emphasize the trauma students go through when bullied, or a witness to bullying, and will stress the responsibility and the influence that we all have in eliminating bullying behavior. Dr. Spurling’s program has become a model statewide and his dissertation The Bully Free School Zone Character Education Program: A Study of Impact on Five Western North Carolina Middle Schools has served as a tremendous resource offering schools and systems direction in establishing this program. Don’t’ miss this very informative and high-spirited presentation. If you have questions, please contact April Spencer at 828.418.0011, ext. 20 or aspencer@wresa.org.
Registration Fee: $35 Registration Deadline: October 8, 2009
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Participants continue to request that we bring Kathy Bumgardner back to the WRESA for another session. If you have not been to one of her sessions before, you are in for a real treat! Those of you who have been, know that Kathy provides so many great teaching strategies at every session. The best way to ensure that your students will be ready to successfully "show what they know" in May is to begin "now" with strategic classroom best practices that will develop your students into "readers WHO think". Participants will walk away from this session with valuable high quality classroom strategies and activities that they can learn about today and begin using with their students tomorrow. This session would be especially beneficial for teachers who work with struggling readers or those in Title I schools. If you have questions, call Carol Bennett at 828.418.0011, ext. 17 or cbennett@wresa.org.
Registration Fee: $50 Registration Deadline: October 20, 2009
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This one-day session focuses on teachers who have taught 0 – 20 years and want assistance with critical retirement information and decision making early in their career. This session will review the actuarial implications and repercussions of early-mid career decisions, laws, policies and processes, benefit options and investment plans. The training will be conducted by a panel of skilled presenters including Robert Ayers, WRESA staff Retirement Consultant and Dan Farmer, regional 401-K specialist. The session will be facilitated by Bob Byrd, School Improvement Specialist, and April Spencer, Secondary Education Consultant. Session limited to 25 participants. If you have questions, contact Bob Byrd, ext. 23, bbyrd@wresa.org or April Spencer, ext. 20, aspencer@wresa.org.
Registration Fee: $35 Registration Deadline: October 20, 2009
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Mentors will gain knowledge and training in the new teacher evaluation standards and instrument. Mentors will develop sample indicators for the standards and methods to support beginning teachers during the transition to the new instrument. Karen Sumner, Western Region Teacher on Loan, will facilitate this course. If you have questions, contact Karen at ksumner@wresa.org or 828.418.0011, ext. 26.
Registration Fee: $35 Registration Deadline: December 1, 2009
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Cheryl Fuller, NCDPI professional development consultant, will be at WRESA on November 4-5 to present a train-the-trainer session on the New Teacher Evaluation Instrument. Please plan on sending a team to receive the most updated information on the instrument and information on planning for teacher training. This two-day workshop will provide the newest updates on the evaluation instrument. If you have questions, contact Karen Sumner at ksumner@wresa.org or 828.418.0011, ext. 26.
Registration Fee: $20 Registration Deadline: October 20, 2009
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Have you had educators who have joined your staff that need a one day workshop explaining the RTI model? This workshop will introduce them to the big picture of RTI in North Carolina and help them begin to put the pieces together. They will be introduced to the NC Problem Solving Model and discuss how Positive Behavior Support (PBS) fits in as well. This overview will allow them to understand how RTI fits into their current school situation. April Spencer, the Secondary Education Coordinator, will present this training. If you have questions please contact April Spencer at 828.418.0011 ext. 20 or aspencer@wresa.org.
Registration Fee: $35 Registration Deadline: October 20, 2009
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The focus of this session will be to help teachers improve effective strategies of guided reading in their classrooms. This professional development will be beneficial to any educator who works with K-5 students, and especially those in Title I schools. “Balanced reading is deep-rooted in the belief that teachers should be constantly aware of students' individual needs and progress. Teachers who know students individually provide many kinds of support, enabling students to move to higher levels of reading and literacy development. Teachers of balanced reading provide direct instruction to scaffold learning and make learning to read and write easier. In the classroom, a balance of instructional activities for reading should exist. Modeled reading, shared reading, guided reading, and independent reading, as well as direct instructional activities, are all included in the balance” (NC DPI). This session will provide participants a certificate for 5 contact hours (.5 CEUs). Carol Bennett, WRESA Elementary Education Coordinator, will conduct this guided reading session. If you have questions, contact Carol at cbennett@wresa.org or 828.418.0011, ext. 17.
Registration Fee: $35 Registration Deadline: October 20, 2009
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Training on the assistant principal evaluation instrument will be held at WRESA on Friday, November 6, from 9:00 to 3:00. This training is for the districts selected to participate in the pilot: Mitchell, Rutherford, and Swain. Registration Fee: $0 Registration Deadline: October 20, 2009
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Lynn Carter, Regional National Board Consultant, will offer an overview session on renewing your national board certification. Lynn will share pointers, tips, and information on available support. Registration fee is $20.00. Please register by November 1 online at www.wresa.org .
Registration Fee: $20 Registration Deadline: November 1, 2009
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Lynn Carter, Regional National Board Consultant, will offer an overview session on getting started on the national board process. If you want pointers, tips, and information on support available, please join us for the afternoon. This session is free for candidates. Please register online at www.wresa.org by November 1.
Registration Fee: $0 (free) Registration Deadline: November 1, 2009
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Back by Popular Demand! Do you feel as if there are some students you just can’t reach? Need some help? Students who are in unmotivated states are not ready to learn. The good news is that you can manage these states. Find out what is going on in the brains of unmotivated students and learn strategies to help those students become engaged, focused and successful. This workshop is designed for any Grade 3-12 teachers. Ms. Carlann Scherping is a NBCT who has completed over 80 hours of workshops with Eric Jensen on brain compatible teaching and learning. She has presented locally, regionally, state-wide and nationally. Currently she is teaching 6th grade social studies in Polk County. If you have questions, contact April Spencer at 828.418.0011, ext. 20 or aspencer@wresa.org.
Registration Fee: $35 Registration Deadline: November 6, 2009
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Students' attention is divided daily among texting, Facebook, TV, music, video games, and socializing. Learn techniques to get their attention by learning to use video, music, phones, and even video games in the classroom. These fun activities can be done using resources your school already has. That way you can go back to school with ideas ready to use! Jason Rhodes teaches Senior English at West Henderson High School and has taught Broadcast Journalism. He uses gaming, cartoons, and film-making to help students engage with their learning. If you have questions, please contact April Spencer at 828.418.0011 ext. 20 or aspencer@wresa.org. Registration Fee: $35 Registration Deadline: November 6, 2009
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Are you beyond frustrated as you try to encourage your reluctant and/or poor readers to become more successful? Attend this workshop designed for middle and high school teachers of all disciplines. You will be given an assortment of strategies and activities that you can immediately take into your classroom and use that will engage and enhance the skills of even your most unwilling readers. Based on the work of Robert Marzano, Sue and Kylene Beers, and Janet Allen, this workshop will include a discussion of ways to implement “The Amazing Seven”(building background, making connections, inferencing, visualizing, questioning, determining importance, and synthesizing) as well as the “whys” and “how tos” of identifying, teaching and incorporating essential vocabulary into all disciplines. Presenters will be Martha Geitner from Asheville City Schools and April Spencer, Secondary Education Coordinator for WRESA. If you have questions, please contact April Spencer at 828.418.0011, ext. 20 or aspencer@wresa.org.
Registration Fee: $35 Registration Deadline: November 25, 2009
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This regional meeting is an effort to spread the word about the North Carolina Association of Elementary Educators organization and to look at all the benefits of becoming a member. Participants will be provided information about: the organization, the annual conferences, teacher scholarships available, and new teacher funding available; additionally, several literacy “make-it and take-it” activities will be shared based on strategies learned in some of the past conferences. This session is open to all elementary educators and will provide participants a certificate for 5 contact hours (.5 CEUs). Carol Bennett, WRESA Elementary Education Coordinator and NCAEE Region 8 Director, will lead the meeting. If you have questions, contact Carol at cbennett@wresa.org or 828.418.0011, ext. 17.
Registration Fee: $0 Registration Deadline: December 4, 2009
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ONLINE SESSION Registration Deadline: September 20, 2009
Secondary teachers: Have you wanted to begin using purposeful differentiated instruction in your class, but never have the time to create all those lessons and activities? In this online forum, participants will learn about methods for providing differentiated instruction using pre, during, and post instruction activities to promote learning for all students. Participants will share lessons and discuss strategies as they reflect and practice differentiated instruction. This session will provide participants a certificate for 20 contact hours (2.0 CEUs). April Spencer, Secondary Education Coordinator, and Karen Sumner, Western Region Teacher On Loan, will facilitate this online learning course. If you have questions, contact April at aspencer@wresa.org or 828.418.0011, ext. 20 or Karen at kwumner@wresa.org or ext. 26.
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ONLINE SESSION Registration Deadline: , 2009
This online session will explore instructional practices using blogs in elementary classrooms. Because schools need to prepare students for comprehending and navigating when reading on the Internet, blogging is a fun and an easy way to begin. Participants will use an article from The Reading Teacher as the text for this class. A theoretical rationale for blogging with elementary students will be provided. “Learning from the examples of successful blogs by elementary teachers, four common types of classroom blogs with accompanying examples are shared: classroom news blogs, mirror blogs, showcase blogs, and literature response blogs. Resources and suggestions for starting a classroom blog are explained. Finally, HOT blogging, which is a framework for higher order thinking, is discussed. This approach to blogging provides teachers with a systematic way to integrate blogs, deepen comprehension, and teach the new literacies of online reading comprehension,” Zawilinski, L. (2009, May). HOT Blogging: A Framework for Blogging to Promote Higher Order Thinking. Carol Bennett, WRESA Elementary Education Coordinator, will lead this online class. Paid participants will receive an email with instructions for the class by October 1. This online class will provide 10 hours which is equivalent to 1 CEU. If you have questions, contact Carol at cbennett@wresa.org or 828.418.0011, ext. 17.
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ONLINE SESSION Registration Deadline: , 2009
We are offering this book study again because we had so many requests to repeat this session. “Based on cutting-edge research and more than 10 years of application in hundreds of classrooms, 7 Keys to Comprehension demystifies reading and gives practical advice about how you can help any child understand and love reading. This important book reveals why basic things like reading to a child and sharing your thoughts about what you read, create the foundation needed to develop an avid reader. It’s so simple: Talk, read, and share your thoughts with a child and you’ll have a reader for life.” In this online class we will study the book: 7 Keys to Comprehension: How to Help Your Kids Read It and Get It! by Susan Zimmermann and Chryse Hutchins. “This is the bible for teachers and parents – there can be no book more important to future generations than 7 Keys to Comprehension” (Clive Cussler). Participants must purchase their own book, available at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0761515496/qid=1054611178/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/002-5878671-4487261?v=glance&s=books&n=507846 for $10.17. Carol Bennett, WRESA Elementary Education Coordinator, will conduct this reading online course. Paid participants will receive an email with instructions for the class by October 1. This online class will provide 10 hours which is equivalent to 1 CEU. If you have questions, contact Carol at cbennett@wresa.org or 828.418.0011, ext. 17.
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ONLINE SESSION Registration Deadline: , 2009
This online book study will explore the book: I Can Write Like That!: A Guide to Mentor Texts and Craft Studies for Writers' Workshop, K–6 by Susan Ehmann and Kellyann Gayer (International Reading Association, 2009). Most teachers understand the importance of using mentor texts when working with young writers. But with so many children’s books available and teachers’ limited time to find them all, matching books to writer’s workshop mini-lessons often poses a challenge. This book is a great teacher resource with its extensive annotated bibliography that details examples of 27 different author’s crafts. Additionally, the book contains the tools to help teachers match the books they already have in their classroom or school library and identify the crafts each book demonstrates. Participants in this online book study will explore ways to help students use exemplary models to improve their own writing. The book study will be led by Carol Bennett, WRESA Elementary Education Coordinator. This online class will provide 10 contact hours (1 CEU). Each participant will need to acquire a copy of the book which can be purchased at http://www.reading.org/General/Publications/Books/BK708.aspx or www.amazon.com. If you have question, contact Carol at 828.418.0011, ext. 17 or cbennett@wresa.org.
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ONLINE SESSION Registration Deadline: October 20, 2009
PLC’s are a buzzword in education, but finding the time to develop a school plan and set the stage for a professional learning community is difficult. Each participants will need to acquire a copy and read the book Getting Started: Reculturing Schools to Become Professional Learning Communities, by Robert Eaker, Richard DuFour and Rebecca Burnette, and learn the methodology behind leading professional learning communities. There will be 20 contact hours (2.0 CEUs) awarded at the completion of this course. Karen Sumner, Western Region Teacher on Loan, will facilitate this course. If you have questions, contact Karen at ksumner@wresa.org or 828.418.0011, ext. 26.
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ONLINE SESSION Registration Deadline: , 2009
This course will examine practices that research suggests makes a difference in students learning. The book “What Great Teachers Do Differently” will be used as a guide along with other sources. The book is available through Amazon.com. This will be a guided class with online and webinar sessions involved. This course is recommended for teachers and administrators. Jan Webster, Director, will be the online class facilitator. There will be 20 contact hours (2.0 CEUs) awarded at the completion of the course. If you have questions, contact Jan at jwebster@wresa.org or 828.418.0011, ext. 21.
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ONLINE SESSION
Register online. For questions contact Kathy Carver, 828.418.0011, ext. 18 or email kcarver@wresa.org or cgeorge@wresa.org.
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Introduction to PowerPoint - Online CourseONLINE SESSION
Register online. For questions contact Kathy Carver, 828.418.0011, ext. 18 or email kcarver@wresa.org or cgeorge@wresa.org.
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Introduction to Excel - Online CourseONLINE SESSION
Register online. For questions contact Kathy Carver, 828.418.0011, ext. 18 or email kcarver@wresa.org or cgeorge@wresa.org.
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Intermediate Word - Online CourseONLINE SESSION
Register online. For questions contact Kathy Carver, 828.418.0011, ext. 18 or email kcarver@wresa.org or cgeorge@wresa.org.
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Intermediate Excel - Online CourseONLINE SESSION
Register online. For questions contact Kathy Carver, 828.418.0011, ext. 18 or email kcarver@wresa.org or cgeorge@wresa.org.
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ONLINE SESSION
Register online. For questions contact Kathy Carver, 828.418.0011, ext. 18 or email kcarver@wresa.org or cgeorge@wresa.org.
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ONLINE SESSION
Register online. For questions contact Kathy Carver, 828.418.0011, ext. 18 or email kcarver@wresa.org or cgeorge@wresa.org.
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ONLINE SESSION
Register online. For questions contact Kathy Carver, 828.418.0011, ext. 18 or email kcarver@wresa.org or cgeorge@wresa.org.
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ONLINE SESSION
Register online. For questions contact Kathy Carver, 828.418.0011, ext. 18 or email kcarver@wresa.org or cgeorge@wresa.org.
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ONLINE SESSION
Register online. For questions contact Kathy Carver, 828.418.0011, ext. 18 or email kcarver@wresa.org or cgeorge@wresa.org.
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