Teach music through language and teach language through music. The complementary nature of these domains make it a rich learning experience for children. During this session we'll explore two units for upper elementary and middle school students, grade levels that, we sometimes feel challenged to connect the two domains.
Audrey Cardany is Associate Professor of Music at the University of Rhode Island where she teaches courses in music education and directs choral ensembles. She is published in JRME, GMT, Psychology of Music and The Mountain Lake Reader. Dr. Cardany also serves as Education Director... Read More →
Are you looking for an engaging new way for students to “show what they know”? Infographics may be just the tool you’re looking for! These visual representations of information require students to synthesize their research by prioritizing what’s most important and translating it into an eye-catching graphic. This hands-on workshop will introduce you to the basics of building infographics and give you the opportunity to explore several free online infographic tools. Attendees should bring headphones and a charged Chromebook/laptop.
Technology Instructional Coach, North Kingstown School Dept.
Kim was a classroom teacher for 20+ years. In 2014, she became the Technology Instructional Coach for her school department in North Kingstown, RI. She works with PK-12 students and teachers; creates and delivers blended learning professional development for faculty, staff, and administrators... Read More →
High stakes testing. New ELA curriculum mandated by the state. It doesn’t matter what point you are in your career. You need to understand (or be reminded of) some fundamentals about growing readers. You will leave this session with many tools and strategies you can implement from day one of the school year to build an environment of enthusiastic readers. My tried and true formula is proven: students in my school borrowed 1,000 more books than any other school library in the state of RI last year. Come find out why!
Library Media Specialist, Barrington Public Schools
After working for over two decades with students, Melanie Roy has advanced knowledge in creating an environment in which readers thrive. You can find her at @mrsmelanieroy and @BMSLibraryRI.
Kay Scheidler has spent the past over fifteen years as Massachusetts district Curriculum Director and Assistant Superintendent in varied districts, helping teachers weave MCAS tested skills into their teaching and learning. She currently serves on the Education Committee of Providence charter school, and provides RI teachers with professional development on how to boost student learning by developing the understandings tested on RICAS. Teachers and students develop pride in learning with positive results on the state test. Kay explains how the tested areas of close reading, inference, central idea and evidence, three writing types, text-based writing and learning to comprehend challenging text can be developed with active student learning activities.
Dr. Kay Scheidler is a former teacher and English department chair, Hope High School, Providence, and former Board member and president of the RI Council of Teachers of English, also teaching Methods of Teaching English and supervising student teachers with the Brown Education Department... Read More →
This ADVANCED data merge session harnesses the power of Google Forms and Sheets by linking their information to either Gmail, Docs, or Slides using the magic of the AUTOCRAT add-on tool. Quickly personalize award certificates, registration confirmations, progress reports, daily behavioral updates, job applications, and more! Attendees MUST have a solid working knowledge of Google Forms and Sheets and be able to install the AUTOCRAT add-on in Sheets. (If your school domain does not allow this, please create a free personal Gmail account prior to the session.) Attendees should also bring headphones and a charged Chromebook/laptop.
Technology Instructional Coach, North Kingstown School Dept.
Kim was a classroom teacher for 20+ years. In 2014, she became the Technology Instructional Coach for her school department in North Kingstown, RI. She works with PK-12 students and teachers; creates and delivers blended learning professional development for faculty, staff, and administrators... Read More →
In this 90 minute session, participants will understand why teaching vocabulary helps students to comprehend more challenging texts. Participants will understand the different categories of words, how to choose which words to teach, and a systematic way to implement vocabulary instruction into their literacy program. Teachers may bring a few texts from their classroom to have a go at writing a week's vocabulary lesson plan using a new template.
Cherae Clark is a literacy consultant with 20 years of experience teaching reading and writing to grades K to 8. For the last 8 of those years she has been working with districts in RI to implement the Common Core State Standards by doing school and district level professional development... Read More →
Kay Scheidler has spent the past over fifteen years as Massachusetts district Curriculum Director and Assistant Superintendent in varied districts, helping teachers weave MCAS tested skills into their teaching and learning. She currently serves on the Education Committee of Providence charter school, and provides RI teachers with professional development on how to boost student learning by developing the understandings tested on RICAS. Teachers and students develop pride in learning with positive results on the state test. Kay explains how the tested areas of close reading, inference, central idea and evidence, three writing types, text-based writing and learning to comprehend challenging text can be developed with active student learning activities.
Dr. Kay Scheidler is a former teacher and English department chair, Hope High School, Providence, and former Board member and president of the RI Council of Teachers of English, also teaching Methods of Teaching English and supervising student teachers with the Brown Education Department... Read More →
Across grade levels, it is important that students are “reading the world and reading the word” (Freire and Macedo, 1987). Literature Circles (Daniels, 2002) are one way to cooperatively engage students in “reading the word,” so when the traditional role choices are revised to real-world perspectives like a social worker or journalist, students practice “reading the world” as well. In this session, participants will learn about the roles, experience the roles, and think about how this practice can be applied to their own contexts.
Brittany is currently a sixth grade Language Arts teacher in Jamestown, RI. She is a co-director of the Rhode Island Writing Project, helping to plan and lead professional development for K-12 teachers. She believes it is important for students to understand the world around them... Read More →
The foundational skills are critical in the beginning stages of reading, but that doesn’t mean worksheets and drills. This session examines the why and how of developing strong phonemic awareness, phonics and fluency skills, including the importance of building the neural networks in the beginning reader’s brain.
Laura Stewart is an educator and organizational leader. She has served as a classroom teacher, building and district administrator, adjunct professor, and director of numerous professional development initiatives around the country, including directing the Reading First initiative... Read More →
Participants will see a short presentation regarding Maker Education followed by a question & answer session then they will be able interact with a variety of maker technology and/ or try out a variety of maker activities. Technology examples: Makey Makey, Hyperduino, Bloxels, 3D printer, Kano, and more - Activity examples- paper circuits, led projects, steam challenges, tinkercad, code.org, and more Resource: http://guides.rilinkschools.org/FuseRIDSilvaMaker
Darshell Silva has been a Teacher Librarian for 14 years, currently, she is an Librarian in North Kingstown, RI. She is a RISTE board member, an ISTE STEM PLN Leader, and a former Highlander Institute FUSE Fellow.
In this session one will learn the truths and myths of dyslexia. Dyslexia affects students in all subjects, not just reading and writing. This session will demonstrate what to look for in your students at all ages and will provide practice "diagnosing" students with dyslexia through case studies. The second half will focus on the best services for students with dyslexia in and out of the regular classroom. Time at the end will be provided to peruse some materials that can be used.
