Purdue to offer professional development for teachers
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University's College of Education will host the 2012 summer institute for elementary teachers on June 4-8.
The topic is Creating Content-Rich Instruction for the 90-Minute Reading Block.
The institute, presented by the college's James F. Ackerman Center for Democratic Citizenship and the Center for Literacy Education and Research (CLEAR), includes instruction on integrating social studies topics with state-mandated 90-minute reading time in elementary classrooms.
Twenty teachers from nine Lafayette-area elementary schools - Burnett Creek, Clinton Central, Cumberland, Dayton, Glen Acres, Hershey, Klondike, Murdock and Woodland - were selected to participate. The teachers will create instructional units to be implemented in their classrooms this fall.
"As educators, we need to help students at an early age explore and understand the world around them and master the skills of active citizenship," said conference co-organizer Asta Balkute, assistant director of the Ackerman Center. "Reading is an essential skill that allows students to access information about their community and the world."
Each day will have a different focus, including utilizing standards and planning framework, grade-level instructional planning and assessment, and the use of instructional technology.
"Not only will participants leave with new ideas to take back to their classrooms, but they also will 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.
The Ackerman Center provides programs, lectures, resources and workshops for teachers, K-12 students and college students with the aim of improving student involvement in schools and communities. More information about the center can be found at https://www.education.purdue.edu/ackerman
CLEAR is committed to improving literacy teaching and learning by offering high-quality professional learning opportunities to P-12 school partners, engaging in research through collaboration with faculty colleagues and participating in community efforts that focus on literacy to build better lives. More information can be found at https://www.education.purdue.edu/clear
Writer: Judith Barra Austin, 765-494-2432, jbaustin@purdue.edu
Sources: Tonya Agnew, College of Education, 765-494-0568, tragnew@purdue.edu
Asta Balkute, 765-496-3335, abalkute@purdue.edu