Registration for Pre-Conference is required. Cost for Pre-Conference is $150.00 for Special Education Council Members. The cost for Pre-Conference is separate from the main Conference.
SESSION A, Speaker and session information:
Joellen Killion
Learning Coaches @ Work Structuring Coaching for Effectiveness
The introduction of learning coaches requires thoughtful planning and support for coaches, teachers, and principals. In this session learning coaches, principals, and district staff will learn about the components essential to the success of a coaching program and how to implement these components. Together they will explore various ways to structure the work of learning coaches within schools to support teacher and student learning. The session includes both large and small group discussions, presentation, case study, and problem solving designed to identify and address challenges related to having learning coaches in schools and to provide practical strategies to support coaching programs.
Outcomes:
- Identify the critical components of successful coaching programs and strategies for implementing them.
- Understand the criteria for structuring learning coaches’ work.
- Generate multiple strategies to address common challenges related to coaching.
- Clarify the role of district staff, school administrators, coaches, and teachers in a successful coaching program.
JOELLEN KILLION is a senior advisor with Learning Forward. She has been closely involved in developing coaching programs for eight years and served as a coach for teachers and principals. She is the author of numerous articles and several books on professional development and coaching including Taking the Lead: New Roles for Teachers and School-Based Coaches and has a new book on coaching scheduled for publication in the fall of 2011. She has extensive experience in supporting schools and school systems ensure that all educators are engaged in effective professional learning to increase student success.
SESSION B, Speaker and session information:
Dr. Lannie Kanevsky
Buying Time for Personal Projects
Curriculum compacting is an evidence-based process for reducing the time highly able learners spend on unnecessary review and practice when they are ready to move beyond grade-level expectations. They can earn time to pursue their interests when given opportunities to demonstrate their mastery in pre-assessments (formal and informal). We’ll explore pre-assessment strategies that identify material already mastered, streamlining techniques for reducing or eliminating material students don’t need to re-learn, and options for manageable replacement activities that enable students to forge ahead into challenging authentic learning. A survey, the Possibilities for Learning, will be introduced as a tool for identifying student learning preferences in their area(s) of passion. Students and teachers can use the survey results to develop engaging, personal projects and contracts that make terrific replacement activities after the curriculum has been compacted.
LANNIE KANEVSKY, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Education at Simon Fraser University. She completed her doctorate in gifted education at Teachers College, Columbia University. She teaches children whenever possible between lecturing at the University, her research, writing on differentiating learning experiences, and developing her website (www.possibilitiesforlearning.com) which offers resources to battle the boredom experienced by many highly able learners.
