"Ideas, Insights and
Challenges"
Curricular Studies Partnership Teacher Conferences
The Fall "Ideas, Insights and Challenges" Partnership Teacher Conference
Wendy Miller , 2005-2006 North Carolina Teacher of the Year, WSE graduate and NBCT, presented at the Curricular Studies "Ideas, Insights, and Challenges" Fall and Spring conferences for partnership teachers hosting interns in their schools. Her focus for these presentations was "Keeping the MAGIC Alive in Education" and was extremely well received by all participants. This professional development conference had teachers and faculty use the ideas presented by Wendy to brainstorm and record their discussions about how we as educators can accomplish the following:
- Become advocates for our profession
- Become risk-takers in our practice
- Support our students and interns
The afternoon continued having participants explore the ways they work with interns and gather data about how:
- Interns demonstrate they have a positive effect on student learning
- They help increase intern's ability to work with diverse learners
- Interns gain experience in working with families and the community during the internship.
Horacio Sanchez , nationally known educator, clinician and author in the field of brain-based learning, was the keynote speaker for the secondary IIC conference Monday, March 13, 2006 , in the Madeline Suite on the UNCW Campus. Horacio's presentation focused on "A Brain-based Approach to Working with Adolescents." His energetic style and deep understanding of the underpinnings of human development suggested areas of significant change to assist classroom teachers in successfully teaching at-risk students. Teachers were actively engaged in exploring how to identify at-risk factors and understand their implications; how to manage high-risk behaviors; and how to build resiliency for young adolescents who are at risk.
Participants also heard Dr. Rick Holliday, New Hanover County Schools, speak on North Carolina 's Early College requirements of "rigor, relevance, and relationships" and their implications for teachers and students. Dr. Holliday answered questions from participants after his presentation.
The afternoon session concluded with an at-large discussion led by panelists and site coordinators Linda Britton, Richelle Dombroski, and Jennifer Murphy, on the topic of Creating a Positive Mentoring Environment. Discussants explored ways to assist interns in meeting all exit criteria and requirements before the end of the internship.
