Staff Development

Traditional Staff Development

Early childhood

Book and Brain Building Blocks Process for PK, K, 1 and 2

The purpose of the Book and Brain Building Blocks program is a strategic tangent or addition to core reading curriculum. Book & Brain Building Blocks familiarizes students at an early age with how to navigate thinking by using 5 essential skills of evaluation combined with reading skills to create critical reading.

This critical reading is reflected or manifested in a compare and contrast mode of multiple-choice options on almost all standardized reading comprehension tests.

With repetition of 5 to 50 examples and development of the early reader, Book and Brain Building Blocks will help all students to become quick evaluators and thinkers in the reading process.

6-hour GT or CEP credit is awarded for this session.

(Coming soon! Fall 2006)

Elementary

Book & Brain Building Blocks

Learn five building blocks for thinking that are used in all standardized reading tests: understanding opposites, comparing, contrasting, combining and abstracting information. Students will benefit from the practice of developing these five new skills and applying them in the critical reading process. Training may be with staff or in the classroom with students as a demo session. This session is targeted to PK, K, 1st and 2nd grade students, but may also be conducted for upper grades and ESL or Bilingual students as well.

3 or 6-hour certificate for CPE or GT credit

Book & Brain Reading

This workshop demonstrates how to analyze items in reading comprehension. Discover how test questions templates and test answer distracters from a completely different view: Book or Brain. Instructors will help students "divide and conquer" all different types of reading comprehension test formats such as any achievement test or reading test given either teacher-made, State Assessment or National Standard type of test. Get ready for a paradigm shift that is easy to understand and to pass on to staff and students.

Start here if you are choosing the first workshop. 6 or 12-hour certificate for both CPE or GT may be awarded.

The Book & Brain University

A novel way to bring staff development to your campus, on any calendar day without subs, both students and staff will love the engaging format of a "fish bowl" staff development with a university theme. Students will receive a graduation diploma at the end of the session and enjoy hands-on learning techniques in the process. A great Part II to the first staff development with teachers as they watch the response of the students in the instructional process. Pricing based on headcount. Selection of 1 to 5 days of training is available. Some required materials needed for the program. Watch the Book & Brain University video.

Secondary

Book & Brain Reading

This workshop demonstrates how to analyze items in reading comprehension. Discover how test question templates and test answer distracters form a completely different view: Book or Brain. Instructors will help students "divide and conquer" all different types of reading comprehension test formats such as any achievement test or reading test given either teacher-made, State Assessment or National Standard type of test. Get ready for a paradigm shift that is easy to understand and to pass on to staff and students. Application to all different types of test will be illustrated such as PSAT, SAT, THEA, AP and GED.

Start here if you are choosing the first workshop. 6 or 12-hour certificate for both CPE or GT may be awarded.

Book & Brain University

Bring staff development to your campus on any calendar day without subs. Both students and staff will love the engaging format of a "fish bowl" staff development with a university theme. Students will receive a graduation diploma at the end of the session and enjoy hands-on learning techniques in the process. A great Part II to the first staff development with teachers as they watch the response of the students in the instructional process. Pricing based on headcount. Selection of 1 to 5 days of training is available. Some required materials needed for the program.

Thinking in Threes

Think in an entirely different way. Students will benefit from the knowledge of threes: Past, Present and Future; Mind, Will and Emotions and the Good, Bad and Ugly. Greatly improve lesson plans and student awareness through this wonderful pattern in reading, writing, speaking and listening. Sessions may be divided as needed into two 3-hour sessions on thinking and writing.

Verbose Vocabulary

Make-and-takes are the theme of this workshop. Six different take home ideas: Discovery Definition, Silly Sentences, Tutor Train, Super Script, Painting Partners and Story Stations, plus two other informative activities that teacher will want to use in the classroom. This workshop focuses on multiword meanings and new word acquisition. SAT and GRE words are used in session. Be prepared to learn at least 15 new words that you have never said before.

Motivating Reluctant Learners

Make a difference with the four pathways of learning: visual imaging, obtaining concepts, evaluation of evidence, and making summaries. Learn how the ear, the eye and the hand all take part in the learning process. Students who may be reluctant learners will soon become the "special police" or "the Sheriff" in class helping others learn new processes and knowledge. Get ready for a completely different experience in a staff development day.

3 or 6-hour training day certificate for CEP hours

Discovering Dyslexia

Find out the gifts of dyslexia from the author, Nancy Linden, who personally had dyslexia and struggled through the educational process. Learn characteristics, patterns, practical modifications for lessons, and hands-on techniques for learning. This specialized instruction may be used for all types of learners.

3 or 6-hour training certificate for CEP credit hours.

Science

Elementary

Science teachers will love this workshop of dividing prior knowledge into two groups of either a hypothesis (Brain) or observation (Book) in all scientific experiments. This hands-on activity based session will give teachers many tools that can be used the very next day in the classroom. Transform instruction with easy steps created just for Science teachers. Sessions may be divided as needed in to two 3-hour sessions on Science and Social Studies.

3-hour session with either GT or CPE credit certificate awarded.

Secondary

Science teachers will love this workshop of dividing prior knowledge into two groups of either a hypothesis (Brain) or observation (Book) in all scientific experiments. This hands-on activity based session will give teachers many tools that can be used the very next day in the classroom. Transform instruction with easy steps created just for Science teachers. Sessions may be divided as needed into two 3-hour sessions on Science and Social Studies.

Each is a 3-hour session with either GT or CPE credit certificate awarded.

Social Studies

Elementary

Social Studies and Citizenship students will benefit from this wonderful session. Teachers love this instruction on how all standardized tests are created with a distracter for their specific content area. Hands-on activities and Make-and-Takes sprinkled throughout this workshop make learning fun and easy to transfer to the classroom. Sessions may be divided as needed into two 3-hour sessions on Science and Social Studies.

Each is a 3-hour session with either GT or CPE credit certificate awarded.

Secondary

History, Social Studies and Political Science students will benefit from this wonderful session. Teachers love this instruction on how all standardized tests are created with a distracter for their specific content area. ("What is Democracy?" and "What is not Democracy?" are just a few ideas experienced along with Larry, Curly and Moe as the WWII leaders characterized for aid to memory.) This is a workshop like no other. All instructors will love this training. Sessions may be divided as needed into two 3-hour sessions on Science and Social Studies.

Each is a 3-hour session with either GT or CPE credit certificate awarded.

Language Arts

Reading

This workshop demonstrates how to analyze items in reading comprehension. Discover test question templates and test answer distracters from a completely different view: Book or Brain. Instructors will help students "divide and conquer" all different types of reading comprehension test formats such as any achievement test or reading test given either teacher-made, State Assessments or National Standards type of tests. Get ready for a paradigm shift that is easy to understand and to pass on to staff and students. Customize your training with either an elementary or secondary emphasis. Application to all different types of test will be illustrated.

Start here if you are choosing the first workshop. 6 or 12-hour certificate for both CPE or GT may be awarded.

Writing

Think and write in an entirely different way. Students will benefit from the knowledge of threes in the pre-writing, writing and post-writing stages. Greatly improve lesson plans and student awareness through this wonderful pattern in reading, writing, speaking and listening as the entire circle of expression occurs. Elementary, secondary or a mix of audience may be addressed. 3, 6, or 12-hour session may be scheduled.

Vocabulary

Make-and-takes are the theme of this workshop. Six different take home ideas: Discovery Definition, Silly Sentences, Tutor Train, Super Script, Painting Partners and Story Stations, plus two other informative activities that teacher will want to use in the classroom. This workshop focuses on multiword meanings and new word acquisition. SAT and GRE words are used in this session. Be prepared to learn at least 15 new words that you have never said before. Call for a session with your teachers or students.