"Universal Design: Strategies for Teaching Gifted and Special Needs Children in the Regular Classroom" A workshop for K-8 teachers and administrators January 19, 2007, 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM Presented by Carolyn McWilliams, MA Redeemer Lutheran Elementary School 920 W Sixth Street Ontario, CA 91762 909 986-6510 Registration Fee (includes continental breakfast & lunch): $16.00 View/Download more information and registration form

About the Workshop:
The purpose of this workshop is to teach Universal Design strategies to meet the needs of the broad range of students we find in our classrooms today. Participants will be given an update on the special needs groups they see in their classrooms, including those who are gifted or have mild to moderate learning disabilities. Participants will learn to organize their classrooms and to design lessons that will allow them to teach the basic skills that students need, while at the same time remediating, enriching, and optimizing learning for all. Participants will receive strategies and materials for teaching executive functions such as materials and time management to increase student learning. They will also receive Templates and Rubrics that utilize the concept of Universal Design, or access for learners at all levels. In addition, sample student and teacher materials, which delineate, teach and reinforce executive function, organizational, time management, and general study skills for each content area for grades K-8 will be given to all participants. The session will be highly interactive with lots of hands-on materials, which can be used immediately and throughout the school year!

Description of Topics:

• What do all the labels mean? Gifted, ADHD, Auditory Processing Disorder, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Nonverbal Learning Disability, Aspberger's, etc.

• Obstacles to Success: They aren't just lazy! Gifted students with hidden learning disabilities, Executive Function Disorders, Shadow Syndromes (attentional issues, but not necessarily ADHD; fluency issues, but not necessarily dyslexia)

• Ways to integrate compensations and accommodations for special needs students into the classroom without compromising your curriculum

• Universal Design: Successful organizational tools and teaching strategies, which allow students at all levels of achievement to thrive within the classroom

• Setting Structure: How to set up your classroom and communication patterns so students at all levels not only succeed, but thrive

• Overview of technical supports available for organizing your classroom, students, and families, as well as hands-on instruction in tools you can use right now, for free

About the Presenter:
Carolyn McWilliams, MA, is currently a consultant helping students, parents, and schools deal with special needs issues through Educational Support Services, LLC, in Santa Monica,California. She has been actively involved in virtually every area of private and public education. Prior to establishing Bridges Academy in 1994, she served as Head of Adat Ari El Day School and as a curriculum consultant to schools in Los Angeles. Carolyn has been a classroom teacher in both Goleta Union and Los Angeles Unified School Districts. She was LAUSD Teacher of the Year, was one of five finalists for California Teacher of the Year, and was given an Outstanding Educator Award by the Los Angeles Times. She served on the faculty at California State University Northridge and the Graduate School of Education at the University of California Santa Barbara, where she became a PhD candidate. She has published curriculum and articles in the areas of special education, social studies, English, educational computing, ESL, multi-cultural education, and classroom organization. She presents at conferences on topics related to curriculum, instruction, classroom organization, and special needs populations.

A workshop for K-12 teachers and administrators
Presented by Carolyn Coil, EdD

February 26, 2007 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM St James School 1215 B Street Davis, CA 95616 530 756-3946		February 27, 2007 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM Our Lady of Perpetual Help School 836 Dewitt Avenue Clovis, CA 93612 559 299-7504
February 28, 2007 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM Olive Knolls Christian School 6201 Fruitvale Avenue Bakersfield, CA 93308 661 393-3566		March 1, 2007 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM Bishop Alemany High School 11111 N Alemany Drive Mission Hills, CA 91345 818 837-5229

Registration Fee (includes continental breakfast & lunch): $16.00
View/Download more information and registration form

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP:
How and why do we assess students? What do we learn from assessment? These are the essential questions of this workshop. We will examine assessment terminology and the role of standardized tests, but the major emphasis is on how to use pre-assessment, formative assessment (progress monitoring), and summative assessment tools when differentiating classroom instruction.

We will address how to ensure that standards are linked with curriculum units and how and when to create rubrics. We will also discuss grading and its role and implications in the assessment and learning process. Participants will leave the workshop with rubrics and practical tools they can use in their classrooms immediately!

WORKSHOP TOPICS INCLUDE:

• What is assessment
• Why we do assessment and what we learn from it
• Formative and summative assessment tools
• Linking standards to curriculum and assessment
• Developing assessment criteria
• Constructing complex rubrics
• What makes a good rubric
• Designing and using mini-rubrics
• Grading and assessment

ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Carolyn Coil, EdD, is an internationally known presenter and educator. An enthusiastic, motivating and energetic speaker, she has worked in the field of education for over 30 years. She has a master's degree in gifted and special education and a doctorate in educational leadership. Carolyn currently teaches courses in gifted and talented education and presents workshops for teachers and administrators on a wide variety of topics. She has taught at all grade levels and has been an Adjunct Professor at several different universities. Carolyn has presented at national, state and local workshops throughout the United States and in several countries in Europe and Asia. She is the author of a number of best-selling educational books published by Pieces of Learning, including Solving the Assessment Puzzle and Activities and Assessments for the Differentiated Classroom. She has also been listed in numerous publications, such as the International Who's Who of Contemporary Achievement, 5000 Personalities of the World, and Who's Who in American Education.

"Strengthening Your Writing Program With Step Up to Writing®" A workshop for K-8 Teachers March 30, 2007, 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM Presented by Jim Casey, Linda Gonzales & Linda Toren Certified Trainers for Step Up to Writing® Our Lady of Perpetual Help School 836 Dewitt Avenue Clovis, CA 93612 559 299-7504 Registration Fee (includes continental breakfast & lunch): $16.00 View/Download more information and registration form

About the Workshop:
Writing is a critical skill in all content areas. Expository writing - sharing information, persuading others, describing events, summarizing - makes up the majority of the writing we do, yet providing clear instruction to students has long been a challenge. Research shows that the greatest gains in writing come about through guided instruction in specific strategies (not isolated skills) followed by the opportunity to practice those strategies.

Step Up To Writing® provides strategies to guide students in organizing their thoughts, connecting key ideas, writing topic sentences, developing supporting details, writing conclusions, constructing multiparagraph essays and more. It provides students with specific language to discuss and improve their own writing. It provides both students and teachers with rubrics to analyze writing for assessment as well as instructional purposes. Through active reading, students begin the process of identifying and developing strategies that will increase their confidence and skills in writing.

Participants will have the opportunity to:

• Identify two types of writing

• Investigate strategies for active reading, including two column notes and vocabulary study

• Generate informal outlines

• Participate in the development of accordion paragraphs, including organization, topic sentences, transitions, the E's (examples, evidence, and explanations), and conclusions

• Review activities for student practice

• Relate writing strategies to multiple content areas