Vienna 2008

Pre-Conference Information

Carol Ann Tomlinson

Differentiating Instruction: Multiple Learning and Teaching Approaches that Respond to Student Diversity in the Middle Grades PLEASE NOTE: This pre-Conference is full as of November 18th

In many places around the world, teachers are finding that student populations are becoming more diverse. In the middle grades, diversity of development is already a given and is now extended by diversity of culture, language, economic status, and exceptionality. Both the approach to teaching and learning called “differentiated instruction” and the middle school philosophy advocate envisioning student diversity as a positive and teaching in ways that honor student differences rather than ignoring them. While that sounds like appropriate classroom practice, it’s often not easy to translate the vision into classroom reality. In this session, participants will explore the key principles of effective differentiation and how they look in action in middle grades classrooms by examining teacher-created differentiated lessons and video clips of teachers at work in differentiated classrooms.

Resources and Handouts

Elizabeth Schroeder

The Importance of An Interactive Learning Environment When Teaching about Sex

Young people learn in a wide variety of ways. Teachers who address sexuality-related issues exclusively by lecture are losing the vast majority of their learners who may learn best through interactive experiences, self-reflection, or other methods. In addition, sexuality-related topics are related to three areas of learning: cognition, affect, and skills. Lecture teaches only to the first of these three areas, when it is imperative to address affect (how our learners feel about a particular topic) and skills (how our learners can use what we have taught in their real lives).

During this full-day session, Dr. Elizabeth Schroeder will provide the background for educators to be able to incorporate experiential learning, all three learning domains, and the various types of learning intelligences when teaching about a wide range of sexuality-related topics. Sample activities will be conducted and provided.

Patrick M. Jones

Middle School Music: The Missing Link in American Music Education.

The music education profession has ignored middle school and, as a result, we have no concept of what middle level music education should be and don’t prepare music teachers for middle school. However, between the “methods” of elementary school and the performing ensembles of high school lies the opportunity to help the majority of students develop musicianship skills they can and will use for life. This session will involve participants in developing meaningful and innovative middle level music curricula for the schools in which they teach.

Resources and Handouts

Beverly Carroll

German Expressionism through the painting techniques of Austrian Artist, Egon Schiele.

The morning classes will take place in her art studio at AIS and will include the step-by-step method Egon Schiele used to create his painting” Autumn Tree in a gust of Wind”(1912). After a lunch break, the class will continue it’s study at the Leopold Museum which offers one of largest collections of Egon Schiele’s works including the original
“Autumn Tree in a gust of Wind”. Each participant will have a canvas to carry home with them. This workshop is designed for art teachers and other teachers who wish they were and limited to twelve participants.

Dave Youngs

Enhancing Math and Science Instruction with AIMS
For almost three decades AIMS activities have been used successfully to meet the special educational needs of middle school students. Since AIMS math and science activities incorporate a hands-on, minds-on approach, they embody the National Middle School Association’s call for students and teachers to engage in active learning using curriculum that is relevant, challenging, integrative, and exploratory. In this session, participants will engage in a number of highly motivating math and science activities appropriate for middle school students.

Resources and Handouts

Melvyn Ramsden

Orthographic cult + ure in Middle Schooling: how the real structure of English spelling cult + ive + ate + s rich and rigorous vocabulary expansion
There is a widespread notion that spelling is only an elementary school concern. Nothing could be more adrift of orthographic fact! In places where it is known and understood that spelling is about representing meaning in writing, then the way words are written becomes an entirely different cognitive dimension: the written word is human thought made visible as text. As Chomsky put it, the English spelling system is a "near optimal match" for the lexical representation of the language. During this workshop we will engage with the real structures of the written English word - not the ersatz parody of spelling that currently holds sway in many schools. And as a result you will know why 'superseding' (yes, it really is spelled with <s>, not <c>!) is not just 'replacing', and why 'segregation' is 'egregious'. Know how to share such orthographic insights with your students and they will finally be <con + sci + ous> of what is concealed by many of the current schemes, methods and systems: that in every real sense, English spelling makes complete sense, and that conscious mastery of spelling is to bring rigour and expansion in working vocabulary. And then prepare to marvel as their command of both written and spoken English goes into orbit.

Resources and Handouts

Leanne M. Dunlap

Administrator Job Alike

For the first time ELMLE is providing an opportunity for administrators to convene and discuss the issues relevant to middle level
administration. During the day long pre-conference, administrators will have a chance to network, share ideas, best practice, as well as the successes and challenges middle level administrators face. An agenda for the day will be put together by pre-conference participants in early January. Topics may include: curriculum, scheduling, evaluation practices, technology, recruitment, ESL and resource programs. A list of job alike attendees will be shared prior to the pre-conference and an
email discussion will determine the exact agenda for the day. For further information contact Leanne Dunlap at ldunlap@asw.waw.pl

Vienna 2008
General Information - Hotel Information - Pre-Conference Information
Conference Program - Registration - Featured Speakers
Graduate Credit - Recruiting