Purdue to offer professional development for teachers

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University's College of Education will host the 2013 Summer Institute for elementary teachers Monday (June 3) through June 7. 

The focus is "Creating Content-Rich Instruction for the 90-Minute Reading Block." Teachers will learn how to integrate social studies topics with state-mandated 90-minute reading time in elementary classrooms.

The institute is presented by the College of Education's James F. Ackerman Center for Democratic Citizenship and the Center for Literacy Education and Research (CLEAR).

Nine teachers from Lafayette-area schools were selected to participate. They will create instructional units to be implemented in their classrooms in the fall.

"As educators, we need to help students at their early age to explore and understand the world around them and master the skills of active citizens," said conference co-organizer Asta Balkute, assistant director of the Ackerman Center. "And reading is an essential skill that allows students to access information about their community and the world."

The teachers will examine the use of specific digital technology - such as iPad apps - for use in the 90-minute reading block, said Phillip VanFossen, Ackerman Center director and James F. Ackerman Professor of Social Studies Education.

"Not only will participants leave with a wealth of new ideas to take back to their classrooms, but they will also receive course credit and a set of children's books to implement their new lesson plans," said conference co-organizer Kerry Hoffman, director of CLEAR.

More information on the Ackerman Center can be found at http://www.education.purdue.edu/ackerman

More information on CLEAR can be found at http://www.education.purdue.edu/clear 

Writer: Judith Barra Austin, 765-494-2432, jbaustin@purdue.edu

Source: Asta Balkute, 765-496-3335, abalkute@purdue.edu