FALL 2008 Courses

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Reading and Writing

NEW!
Creating and Using Visual Stories for Children with Autism and other Developmental Delays (Developmental Ages 3 - 10 years)
Simply written stories with visual supports have been shown to be effective in helping all children organize their experience. This is particularly true for children who find it challenging to navigate through their daily routines. Visual stories may help them to process information, understand changes, learn appropriate behavior, and help to alleviate anxiety, and develop literacy skills. This workshop is appropriate for teachers, clinicians, and parents who are interested in using visual stories with children on the autism spectrum as well as with typically developing children.

Betsy Knafo has been a curriculum staff developer and assistive technology specialist for over 20 years. She currently consults to therapeutic nurseries and schools throughout New York City. In addition, she has a private tutoring practice where she uses technology to enhance language and literacy for children with learning differences. Betsy is an adjunct at Bank Street College of Education where she teaches Assistive Technology in the Early Childhood Classroom.

Catherine Weiss is the parent of an adolescent with special needs. She has been creating and using simple visual stories for her son for approximately 10 years. An attorney in her former life, she has also participated as a guest lecturer on several occasions in Ms. Knafo and Ms. Immerman≠s courses on assistive technology and autism at Bank Street.

October 25
Saturday, 9:30 am - 4 pm
.6 CEU $265 (Not offered for credit)
Materials fee $15
Registration Deadline 10/17

NEW!
Enriching the Writing Process with Technology (Grades 4 - 8)
Participants in this course will learn how to increase student engagement during the writing process by incorporating technology into writing workshop and content area writing. We will look at sample student projects that present student writing in new ways, such as podcasts (digital audio recordings), blogs (writing in web logs or journals) and multimedia storybooks. Then we will create our own sample projects and develop project plans for our students. Additional topics will include how to publish student work online, ideas for using the computer for modeling and literacy centers, protecting student privacy and safety online, setup of computers and LCD projectors and appropriate classroom management techniques.

Note: Basic computer experience, such as using email or the web, and a willingness to experiment are all that is required.

Libby Baker is an educational consultant with Teaching Matters, developing technology-rich writing curricula for middle school students and providing on-site professional development for New York City K-8 teachers. Previously, she taught first grade at PS 159 in East New York and developed technical training programs for professionals at PR Newswire, American Management Systems and IBM.

December 6
Saturday, 9:30 am - 4 pm
.6 CEU $265 (Not offered for credit)
Materials fee $15
Registration Deadline 11/26

The Essential Orton-Gillingham (Grades 1 - 6) SPED585N
The Orton-Gillingham method of teaching decoding, spelling, and handwriting is a multisensory approach that has been used successfully with children who experience difficulty learning these skills. This course trains participants in the Orton-Gillingham techniques and translates high-interest comprehension activities into literacy programs. Required text: Preventing Academic Failure, by Phyllis Bertin and Eileen Perlman (Monroe Associates Publishers). The course addresses NY State English Language Arts Standards 1 and 4.

Ginny O'Hare is the Director of Outreach at the Mary McDowell Center for Learning in Brooklyn, NY, an elementary school for children with learning disabilities. In addition, she has an extensive private tutoring practice using multi-sensory methodologies.

Debbie Zlotowitz is the Head of the Mary McDowell Center for Learning, an elementary school for children with learning disabilities in Brooklyn, NY.

November 14, 15, 21 and 22
Fridays, 5:15 - 9 pm
Saturdays, 9:30 am - 4 pm
2 CEU $790 / 2 credits $2120
Materials fee $75 (includes required text.)
Registration Deadline: 11/7

Middle School Literacy (Grades 6 - 8) TEWS658N
This workshop will focus on strategies to engage hearts and minds of middle school students. Our goal is to elicit multiple perspectives and dimensions of text. The workshop will examine a broadened concept of literacy, including pop lit as a vehicle for modeling strong voice. We will explore technology as a support for meaningful writing in the classroom as well as productive ways to incorporate writing on demand. The approach will consist of practical activities which energize the classroom.

Louise Kerner formerly taught fifth grade in a self-contained setting as well as sixth grade language arts in Hastings-on-Hudson. Subsequently as an assistant principal she gained the opportunity to develop a wide perspective on children≠s development. Since retirement, Louise has taught a variety of graduate level education courses.

After degrees in English and Linguistics, Laura Rice taught all levels of high school and middle school English in Hastings. Currently an adjunct at Fordham University, she teaches Literacy and is a field advisor. Together Laura and Louise have devised and taught literacy courses to teachers, using approaches to engage adolescents in real work which respects them as individuals and is intellectually challenging.

November 21 and 22
Friday, 5:15 - 9 pm
Saturday, 9:30 am - 5 pm
1 CEU $395 (Not offered for credit)
Materials fee $10
Registration Deadline 11/14

Overview of Remedial Programs for Teaching Reading and Writing (Grades K - 8 skill level) TEWS660N
This is an opportunity for educators to get a quick overview of different remedial programs many tutors have found helpful in supporting reading and writing skills. We will focus on some of the more successful approaches to supporting struggling readers and/or writers and learn which programs tend to work best with different needs. These programs are designed for (or easily modified for) use one-on-one and in small groups. Get acquainted with a variety of programs including: Visualizing and Verbalizing, Preventing Academic Failure, and Basic Writing Skills.
* This is a follow-up to Starting Your Own Tutoring Practice.

November 15
Saturday, 9:30 am - 4 pm
.6 CEU $265 (Not offered for credit)
Materials fee $5
Registration Deadline 11/7

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