2009 Professional Development Workshop Schedule
All workshops will take place at the historic site visitor center from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Four hours of inservice credit is available for each workshop.
To register for a workshop, contact the Education Specialist, Kimble Talley, at 501-396-3012 or by email.
September 5th
Integrating PowerPoint into Social Studies
Bring your own laptop. In this session, participants will learn how to use both basic and advanced PowerPoint. Learn how to think outside the box. Use PowerPoint to embed video clips, create tutorials, hyperlink to websites, scan, edit, and resize images for activities, engage with daily openers, create voice recorded quizzes for students who are ESL or Special Needs, and much more. Suggested for teachers who teach grades 4-12.
September 19th
Using Authentic Assessments: National History Day Competition
In this session, teachers will learn how to use theHistory Day in Arkansascompetition as a semester or year round project that introduces students to research. Students may choose to write a paper, create a documentary or webpage, create a poster board or exhibit, or write a script for a performance. This competition allows students to tap into their own learning style while they learn history. The 2010 theme is Innovation in History: Impact and Change. Suggested for teachers who teach 6-12.
October 3rd
Integrating Writing into Social Studies
Are your students struggling to pass the writing part of the Benchmark exam? In this workshop, participants learn how to use “Tag writing” to drive student achievement in the classroom and to help students become proficient on the benchmark exam. Suggested for grades k-12.
October 17th
Ten Best Practices to Organize and Engage Students in Social Studies
In this workshop, participants learn how to use effective teaching strategies based on current research that will engage all students. Facilitate in a student-centered classroom. Teach students the skill of self-regulation, which teaches discipline and self-control. Begin class each day with a daily opener, use peer editing, integrate student-led conferences, and so much more. Suggested for grades 6-12.
November 21st
Bring History Alive with Hands-On History Labs
Learn how hands-on history labs can truly engage all students. Create history labs by creating model canoes, cross staffs, water wheels, dragon kites, peanut butter, paper planes, and much more. All aligned to the social studies curriculum. Suggested for grades k-12.
November 28th
Using the Socratic Method to Engage Students
Have you tried a classroom debate? Now try the Socratic Method. In this workshop, participants learn how to drive student understanding and achievement by allowing students to participate in a collaborative dialogue with one another by evaluating both primary and secondary documents. Suggested for grades 3rd-12.
December 12th or December 19th
Civil War to Civil Rights: Pea Ridge to Central High
In this workshop, participants learn how to use Dr. Kathie F. Nunley’s Layered Curriculum® approach to differentiate instruction. In addition, teachers will evaluate how to integrate literacy circles in social studies to teach about the Civil Rights Movement. This workshop is hands-on and is suggested for grades 4-12th. Teachers who commit to the two week curriculum (frameworks are included) will be given books or novels that go with the curriculum. There are 18 books to choose from, which include: Finding Lincoln by Ann Malaspina, Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco, Goin’ Someplace Special by Patricia McKissack, Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Green, Warriors Don’t Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals, Chicano by Richard Vasquez, and Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson.
Note: The topic of each workshop includes material related to our new educational program, Civil War to Civil Rights. The strategies may be used for any unit or theme. All sessions correlate to the Arkansas Social Studies Frameworks and the National Educational Technology Standards and have been approved by the Arkansas Department of Education.
