course / workshop descriptions

A Mathematics Institute for Primary Grade Teachers
Laying the Foundation, Building a Deep Understanding of Number (co-sponsor: VMP)
During this 3-credit graduate course teachers will develop a deeper understanding of the foundational concepts of early numeracy including counting, number sense, magnitude, properties of number, and place value. Participants will examine how students develop an understanding of number, and the common errors and misconceptions students have about number; and explore ways to assess and promote early numeracy development throughout the school day.
Co-sponsored by the Learning Collaborative with the Vermont Mathematics Partnership which is funded by grants from the US Department of Education, Award Number S366A020002 and the National Science Foundation, Award Number HER 0227057.
Dates and Times: July 14-18; 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m, plus one fall follow up session
Location: Springfield High School Library
Fees: $720 (includes materials); optional three graduate credits $330
Instructor: Loree Silvis
Register: Online at the Learning Collaborative

Common Network Day for Southeast Vermont
These day-long Network meetings are being offered on a single day in the fall. Many southeast Vermont supervisory unions encourage most teachers to attend. Details on all sessions and locations will be available soon!
Dates and Times: September 17, 2008, 8:30am–3:00pm
Location: School sites in two counties
Fees: No charge
Instructors: Dept of Ed staff and Network Leaders
Register: With your school or with the Dept. of Education

Educating Children for Their Future, Not Our Past
Daniel Pink's premise for his presentation uses the two sides of our brains as a metaphor for understanding the new roadmaps that must be developed to prepare our students for a rapidly changing and unpredictable world. The goal of Alan November's presentation is to help educators develop approaches to teaching cricital thinking and global communication skills that will foster a passion for self-directed, life-long learning. Please note that this is a simulcast. The presenters will be on screen in Brattleboro, speaking from Burlington.
Dates and Times: August 22, 2008, 8:30am–3:00pm
Location: Brattleboro Union High School, Fairground Road, Brattleboro
Fees: $25 (no half day rate)
Instructors: Daniel Pink and Alan November
Register: Online with the Learning Collaborative

Formative Assessment Bellows Falls
The Formative Assessment Project (FAP) will assist teachers in developing a greater capacity to frequently monitor the learning of all students and adjust instruction to better meet their needs. Through this course participants will gain a common understanding of the research and strategies that define the domain of assessment for learning. Instructors engage participants in activities that they can use in their classrooms as they implement formative assessment techniques to adapt teaching and learning. This Formative Assessment Project is based on the carefully researched “Keeping Learning on Track” professional development program from ETS. Dozens of Vermont schools now have active Formative Assessment teams. For team members, this is a three-day summer course, with monthly meetings of teams in schools through the 2008-09 school year. Team leaders (one per school) attend an additional two days of summer '08 trainings. This Formative Assessment course is co-sponsored by Windham Northeast Supervisory Union. The project is also supported by the Vermont Department of Education. Read the statewide details in this PDF .
Dates and Times: Aug. 11, 12, 13, 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. and school year meetings, 2008-09
Location: WNESU Offices, 25 Cherry St., Bellows Falls
Fees: $700, includes materials; optional three graduate credits, additional $330. For Team Leaders, total five days of training, $1,000; optional four graduate credits, $440.
Instructors: Kathryn Larsen and David Larsen
Register: Online with the Learning Collaborative

Formative Assessment Chester
The Formative Assessment Project (FAP) will assist teachers in developing a greater capacity to frequently monitor the learning of all students and adjust instruction to better meet their needs. Through this course participants will gain a common understanding of the research and strategies that define the domain of assessment for learning. Instructors engage participants in activities that they can use in their classrooms as they implement formative assessment techniques to adapt teaching and learning. This Formative Assessment Project is based on the carefully researched “Keeping Learning on Track” professional development program from ETS. Dozens of Vermont schools now have active Formative Assessment teams. For team members, this is a three-day summer course, with monthly meetings of teams in schools through the 2008-09 school year. Team leaders (one per school) attend an additional two days of summer '08 trainings. This Formative Assessment course is co-sponsored by State Street School, Windsor. The project is also supported by the Vermont Department of Education. Read the statewide details in this PDF .
Dates and Times: Aug. 18, 19, 20, 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. and school year meetings, 2008-09
Location: Chester-Andover Elementary School
Fees: $700, includes materials; optional three graduate credits, additional $330. For Team Leaders, total five days of training, $1,000; optional four graduate credits, $440.
Instructors: Kathryn Larsen
Register: Online with the Learning Collaborative

Geometer's Sketchpad, Grades 3-12
The Geometer's Sketchpad is a dynamic construction and exploration tool that adds a powerful dimension to the study of mathematics. With Sketchpad, students can construct objects, figures, and diagrams and explore their mathematical properties by dragging objects with the mouse. As shapes change, all mathematical relationships are preserved, allowing students to examine an entire set of similar cases in a matter of seconds. Geometer's Sketchpad enables students and teachers to create dynamic construction that lead to improved mathematical insight and workable conjectures.
Dates and Times: August 6, 1:00pm-3:00pm and August 7-8, 8:30am-3:30pm
Location: Learning Collaborative, Route 5, Dummerston
Fees: $225; $110 additional for one graduate credit
Instructor: Janine Manninen
Register: Online with the Learning Collaborative

Investigations 2008 Support Workshop for Teachers Implementing this Math Curriculum
The new Investigations math curriculum (2nd Edition) is now in use or about to be implemented by several school districts within our region. The new edition offers many learning opportunities that were not included in the 1st edition. Learn both math content and curriculum implementation skills with Liz Van Cleef who has been a professional development leader for Investigations at sites across the U.S. Liz has taught two courses for the Learning Collaborative in the past, receiving very positive evaluations each time.  
Dates and Times: July 8, 9, 10, 2008, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., with two follow-up days (full days), one in September and one in October, to be determined by the group at the first session.
Please note that this schedule has been changed from a regular one-week format, but the new format provides a more supportive, long-range structure, in keeping with current research about best practice in professional development.
Location: Learning Collaborative, Route 5, Dummerston
Fees: $880; optional three graduate credits, $330.
Instructor: Liz Van Cleef
Register: Online with the Learning Collaborative

Math For Struggling Learners (Elementary)
Living in poverty, having math disability, or learning in an ineffective math program are all causes of math difficulties. Unlike reading, when children struggle with mathematics, many teachers feel they don't have reliable strategies to support their students. While programs like Math Recovery offer intervention in a pull-out setting, recent research suggests that many students may be served in the regular classroom, if teachers can use strategies that address their needs. This course uses current research and practice to help teachers work more effectively with students who struggle in their classes. The focus is on using context, a better understanding of cognition and the learning process, and the role of reflection in understanding, to make mathematics meaningful to all students. Teachers will learn the theory of making mathematics meaningful, and explore practical strategies to implement.
Dates and Times: June 30, July 1, 2; and Saturday, September 20, 8:30 a.m.-4:00p.m. with follow-ups October 27 and December 8, 3:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
Location: Learning Collaborative, Route 5, Dummerston
Fees: $675; optional three graduate credits, additional $330
Instructor: John Tapper
Register: Online with the Learning Collaborative

Mother Goose Cares about Math, Science, and Social Studies
Watch for a description coming soon!
Dates and Times: Aug. 18-21, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., including lunch
Location: Learning Collaborative, Route 5, Dummerston
Fees: please see MotherGoosePrograms
Instructor: tba
Register: online at MotherGoosePrograms

Strategies for Overcoming Math/Computer/Test Anxiety and Phobia
This one day seminar is designed for teachers and sufferers of math/computer/test anxiety and phobia. Through journaling, discussion, and specifically designed workshops that treat math/computer/test anxiety and phobia one becomes accustomed to acknowledging feelings of anxiety and subsequently moves past them to understand math-related concepts. Math/Computer/Test Anxiety and Phobia have many causes, influences, and consequences, but they can be treated and most importantly prevented.
Dates and Times: August 11, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Location: Learning Collaborative, Route 5, Dummerston
Fees: $50
Instructor: Janine Manninen
Register: on-line with the Learning Collaborative

Studying Skillful Teaching I
Nothing is more complex, challenging, or important than assuring high levels of learning for each and every student. And no single factor has a greater impact on student learning than skillful teaching. This is a foundational program for building teachers' capacity - the knowledge and skills as well as the courage and conviction - to promote learning and increased achievement. It is based on the belief that teaching is a process of decision-making, not a prescriptive list of do's and don'ts; skillful teachers never stop learning through experimentation, data analysis, study, and collegial sharing about what works best for their students. While providing an overview to a comprehensive model of the knowledge base on teaching, this course focuses on a few areas in depth: 1) Planning lessons that are clear and accessible to all students; 2) Communicating high expectations; and 3) Using a variety of assessments to inform planning, teaching, and reflecting on lessons. Participants will learn both how to collect and analyze data and how to respond to data by drawing on research-based instructional strategies. In addition, a strong theme throughout the course is strengthening understanding and respect for our students' diverse cultural backgrounds.
Dates and Times: August 4-7, Oct. 18, Nov. 15; 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Location: Learning Collaborative, Route 5, Dummerston
Fees: $875, includes materials; optional 3 graduate credits, additional $225
Facilitator: Maxine Minkoff
Register: on-line with the   Learning Collaborative   May 17 registration deadline!
Please note: There will be no refunds of the tuition for this course after May 31.

Teaching Mathematics Through Inquiry Science
This course will explore different ways that mathematics instruction might occur in your classroom within the context of hands-on inquiry science investigations. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of scientific explorations with the focus on mathematical connections. A major component of this course will be to develop a classroom-based action research project to be carried out in your classroom in the fall. The approaches used in this course have been developed by the instructors through day-to-day work with students in the multi-age classroom.
Dates and Times: August 12, 13, 14, and three fall follow-up sessions to be determined
Location: Learning Collaborative, Dummerston
Fees: $675, optional three graduate credits, additional $330
Instructors: David Parker and Marcia Wells
Register: Online with the Learning Collaborative

Technology Integration, Using Web 2.0, the Tools Kids Know So Well
This is a hands-on course in what is known as Web 2.0. Participants will become skilled in a variety of chat and networking tools, photo and video sharing tools, blogs and much more and will be able to use these tools in their daily teaching. Additionally, participants will use these tools to develop communities of practice for their own professional development.
Dates and Times: July 28-Aug. 1, Sept. 27; 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Location: Learning Collaborative, Route 5, Dummerston
Fees: $675; optional three graduate credits, additional $330
Instructor: Jane Wilde
Register: on-line with the Learning Collaborative

The Challenges of Multiculturalism for Educational and Social Institutions
A critical analysis of social, historical, and philosophical dimensions of multiculturalism. Special focus on multicultural issues as they affect families living in poverty and their teachers, caregivers and advocates. This is a highly regarded UVM course.
Dates and Times: Six fall dates beginning 9/13, ending 12/13 (exact dates tba)
Location: Learning Collaborative, Route 5, Dummerston
Fees: tba
Instructor: Shelley Vermilya, Ed.D.
Register: Online with the Learning Collaborative

Writing An Effective Constructed Response, Grades 6-12
This course is based on the premise that middle and high school students need to use reading and writing in order to construct meaning from the content they encounter in their classes. Writing tied to reading not only helps students along the way (short writes), but also assists with synthesis of important content (fully-developed writing). Teachers will work with a number of short reading/writing sequences in a variety of content areas, using informational and literary text, including poetry. They will also work with guided instructional sequences designed to help students learn to think carefully about the text/subject, and then to write short pieces (constructed responses and short essays), which are both well written and show solid understanding. The three days in the summer will be devoted to working with some of these sequences, as well as designing constructed response instructional sequences. There will be two follow-up sessions, one in September and one in November.
Dates and Times: July 22, 23, 24, and Sept. 24, Nov. 19; 8:30am-4:00pm
Location: Learning Collaborative, Route 5, Dummerston
Fees: $725, includes materials; optional three graduate credits, additional $330
Instructor: Joey Hawkins
Register: Online with the Learning Collaborative - Deadline: June 17, 2008!