CMS University

A Professional Development Opportunity for

the Faculty of the Cooperative Middle School

Workshops available:

Date	Workshop	Description
01/17/08	Rigor & Relevance	How do we achieve rigorous and relevant learning in our classrooms?  Learn to apply new skills and knowledge to real-world problems without sacrificing academic rigor.  To register for this workshop, go to: http://cmsu1rigorandrelevance.eventbrite.com
01/24/08	Lesson Planning	Review how to plan effective lessons that will meet the needs of all learners and how an effective plan can lead to effective instruction.  To register for this workshop, go to: http://cmsulessonplanning.eventbrite.com
01/31/08	Questioning Techniques	The art and science of effective questioning techniques.  How to challenge your learners through the use of higher-order questions.  Focus will primarily be on Bloom's Taxonomy.  To register for this workshop, go to:  http://cmsuquestioningtechniques.eventbrite.com
02/07/08	Maximizing Instructional Time	Strategies to maximize learning from "bell to bell" including class starters, effective transitions, checking for understanding, and closure.  To register for this workshop, go to:  http://cmsumaximizeinstructionaltime.eventbrite.com
02/14/08	Effective Use of Para-Professionals	How to entrust and maximize additional adults in the classroom.  To register for this workshop, go to:  http://cmsuparaprofessionals.eventbrite.com
02/21/08	Formative Assessment	How do you assess FOR learning, not of learning.  The use of assessment to guide instruction.  To register for this workshop, go to: http://cmsuformativeassessment.eventbrite.com
03/06/08	Homework	The who, what, where, why, when and how of homework.  To register for this workshop, go to:  http://cmsuhomework.eventbrite.com
03/13/08	Assessment & Grading	How's my kid doing in school?  What do our (your) grades mean?  To register for this workshop, go to:  http://cmsuassessmentandgrading.eventbrite.com
04/10/08	Exhibition of Best Practice	An opportunity for all to see the best practice of our colleagues.

 

Times:

Each workshop will be from 2:30 - 3:30 in the East Wing of the CMS Library.

Limited Availability:

Each session is limited to 12 attendees.  Sessions may be repeated if demand is great enough.

Registration:

Workshops will be filled on a first come first serve basis and are only available to the CMS faculty.  Please use the above links to register.

"It's the Economy Stupid."

James Carville first said it 15 years ago when he was a campaign manager for then Governor Bill Clinton.  His point was simple.  George Bush was beatable, despite the perception that he was unbeatable having just ended the cold war and been successful in pushing Iraq out of Kuwait in the Persian Gulf War.  Carville's point?  Bill Clinton was a better choice because while President Bush was gaining success overseas, he wasn't taking care of the U.S. economy. President Bush's presidency will always be notable.  It was when the Berlin Wall was torn down and America's presence in the Persian Gulf was intensified, but to folks in America at the time, jobs and a healthy economy were more important.

I bring this up because as CMS begins the process of moving from "Good to Great" it is important to always remember the singular power of an effective teacher practicing effective instructional practices.  It is the single most important determinant of children's success in school.  A single, caring teacher can have a greater positive impact on a student's life than any program, curriculum alignment, policy and/or federal mandate will ever have.  

The 2007 McKinsey Report (Which I first read about at Ewan McIntosh's edu.blogs.com) studied successful schools from around the world.  Their research identified three "things" that mattered most in those top schools that were identified as such.  They were:

1.  Getting the right people to become teachers

2.  Developing them into effective instructors

and

3.  Ensuring that the system is able to deliver the best possible instruction for every child.

In other words.   Education is a people business.  Successful schools hire high quality people and then provide the support needed for them to continue to develop their craft.  As CMS moves from "Good to Great" these three "things" that all successful schools have in common should be kept in the forefront of our minds.