Strand Descriptions
The program focuses on 13 themes
and the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS):
- Differentiated Instruction - Skills, strategies and activities to access students with varying levels of academic skills (e.g. definitions of DI; its necessity in today's classroom; creating a conducive environment, assessment for appropriate instructional tiering; and an effective team teaching model).
(Strand Leader – Ms. C. Dianne Carroll)
- Teaching ELLs in Mainstream Classrooms - Skills, strategies and activities that mainstream teachers can use to access ELLs (e.g. how second language is acquired, implementation of the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol, writing language objectives, teaching vocabulary critical in their content area) and work effectively with ESOL teachers (negotiating and sharing teaching responsibilities, and issues of power in a team teaching model).
(Strand Leader – Dr. Hema Ramanathan)
- Math Content Pedagogy: Grades P-5– A survey of effective and engaging activities, strategies, and tasks that deepens one's understanding of the content they teach as well as the best approaches to help students learn that content.
(Strand Leader – Dr. Jill Drake)
- Math Content Pedagogy: Grades 6-8 - Emphasis on developing strategies to incorporate the process standards (e.g., connections, reasoning and proof, multiple representations, and problem solving) as a way to deepen content knowledge and focus on planning and implementing lessons to promote student learning.
(Strand Leader – Dr. Kimberly Anderson
- Mathematics and Technology - Skills, strategies, and activities to integrate technology into mathematics teaching and learning such as using calculators, internet resources, and graphing tools for mathematics teaching and learning.
(Strand Leader – Dr. Fenqjen Luo)
- Reading Pedagogy – An examination of the theories, methods, and materials used in the teaching of reading including the reading curriculum, literacy development, remediation, the role of the teacher and the skills and strategies to promote P-12 literacy learning. (Strand Leader – Dr. Donna Harkins)
- Science Content Pedagogy –New teaching models (with sub-models) for the implementation of performance-based interactive instruction, with hands-on experience in the planning and presentation of particular parts of lessons (introduction, discussion, enrichment, review, grouping, projects), with an emphasis on personalized version of the models for use in participants’ own classrooms.
(Strand Leader – Dr. Dan Saurino)
- Science and Technology –Hands on experience with different types of technology that can be used in science instruction, (e.g. graphing calculators with sensors; other handheld devices and sensors for recording, analyzing, and transmitting data) with an emphasis on enhancing student involvement in inquiry based investigations; information about additional resources for incorporation of technology; and sources of additional training.
(Strand Leaders – Dr. Gail Marshall and Dr. Terri Kielborn)
Click to view syllabus here!
- Science and Health - Emphasis will be on developing skills, strategies and activities to integrate current health concern concepts (i.e., diabetes, obesity, and asthma) into the general education classroom.
(Strand Leader – Dr. Rachel Abbott)
- Social Studies Content Pedagogy –Strengthening and deepening the pedagogical and content knowledge of Social Studies teachers, encouraging effective technology integration, and modeling research-supported instructional strategies.
(Strand Leader – Dr. Janet Strickland)
- Social Studies and Social Justice – Through an examination of race, class and gender, help educators identify and deconstruct their own privilege, and more deeply commit themselves to anti-racist teaching and critical multicultural education. This strand is very participatory, requiring attendees to take risks and be open to self reflection.
(Strand Leader – Dr. Ursula Thomas-Fair)
- Arts across the Curriculum - The arts-based strand will provide teachers the opportunity to encounter and consider applications and demonstrations of the arts in education. This strand recognizes the importance of visual arts, music, dance/movement, and informal drama in motivating K-12 learners across content areas. Innovative and practical ways to effectively teach reading, writing, science, social studies, and math through the arts will be explored.
(Strand Leader – Dr. Kathleen Tate)
Concurrent Sessions ONLY!