2008-2009 Classroom Management Professional Development

You can NEVER have too much classroom management professional development . . . which is why we are offering you an incredible menu of courses for the new year.

New Teacher Support and Development
Classroom Management Professional Development
2008-2009 Course Series
Building Positive Relationships with Students

Phone: 510-879-8911 Email: Margaret.Dunlap@ousd.k12.ca.us

Purpose for Classroom Management Professional Development: This series of classes is designed to help new teachers learn specific strategies and techniques to build relationships with students. Specifically, concentration will be placed upon increasing knowledge of the urban classroom setting, the diversity of student population in Oakland, and principles of classroom teaching and management. Through numerous activities, readings, discussions, and guest speakers, participants will learn how to create positive, supportive and respectful learning environments, and deal with a range of challenges in the K-12 classroom.

Goals:
• To gain an understanding of key concepts associated with school culture and classroom management, and the relationship of these concepts to students’ basic personal and psychological needs.

• To understand the importance of fostering interpersonal relationships in the classroom, and on the interaction between teacher and student as key factors influencing student achievement and behavior.

• To become familiar with research-supported practical strategies for improving classroom climate, organization and management.

• To gain knowledge with regard to creating a positive, nurturing classroom and school environment for students from all ability levels; socioeconomic classes; ethnic groups; and with varied personal, social, developmental and intellectual backgrounds.

Professional Growth/Equivalency Units:
Option 1: A teacher may earn OUSD Professional Growth Units for attending these courses. These units may be applied towards the OUSD salary through Human Resources. Paperwork will be available at all workshops.
Option 2: A teacher may earn Graduate Units from the University of the Pacific (UOP). The teacher attends the workshops, accrues the hours (15 hours = 1 unit) and is responsible for paying the cost of a semester unit. (1 unit costs $50).
For additional information please email pat.attri@ousd.k12.ca.us or call 510-879-8905.


Classroom Management Course List
Location: Sankofa Elementary School
581 61st Street, Oakland, CA 94606

Social Foundations
Grades 3-12 – Wednesdays, January 21, February 4, February 11, 2009, 4:00-6:00
Develop an understanding of the relationship between school and society. Issues discussed include: history of urban schools, relationship between wealth and test scores, tracking, social foundations of early childhood education, impact of immigration on California students, and political and cultural factors affecting second language acquisition.
Presenter: Dr. Kitty Epstein

Tribes TLC Middle School Overview
Grades 6-8 – Saturday, February 28, 2009, 9:00-3:00 PM
Using the new Tribes manual, “Developing Gifts in Middle School,” learn to create classroom norms and group collaboration strategies aligned with adolescent development that engage students in academics and promote resiliency.
Presenter: Jackie Shonerd

Positive Discipline
Grades K-12 – Date To Be Determined
Learn concrete strategies for building community in the classroom and gaining student cooperation based on creating mutually respectful relationships. Participants will practice how to set boundaries and expectations in a caring environment, and learn problem solving processes that involve students and colleagues in solutions.
Presenter: Kate Ortolano

Challenging Assumptions: Considering Children’s Behavior with Learning Differences in Mind
K-5 – February 2009
Explore how learning differences present in children and play out in classroom behaviors. Participate in a learning differences simulation to begin to understand the experience of children with learning differences. Examine ways to address learning differences and create a classroom community in which children with learning differences and their families feel supported.
Presenter: Ilya Pratt

Creating A Successful K-1 Learning Community: Systems and Materials that Work for Students and Teachers
K/1 only – March 2009
Learn how to develop a class community in K and 1st grade. Turn classroom space into an effective learning environment. Select and organize materials so that students can find them, use them, and clean them up. Learn how to initiate and keep good connections with parents.
Presenter: Harriet Cohen, Park Day School, Founder

Mindfulness
K-8 – Dates to be determined
Learn the practice of mindfulness and how to teach it to children in challenging situations. Presenters will provide information on the importance of embodying mindfulness, the science behind mindfulness and how to utilize mindfulness in the classroom. The workshop will include lecture, practice and interactive exercises.
Presenters: Megan Cowan and Laurie Grossman

Multicultural Education is for All Students
Grades K-6 –Dates to be determined
Help students develop an understanding and empathy for people different from themselves. Equip students with the ability and desire to positively interact with each other. Practice fun exercises and lessons to expand students’ knowledge of others and their worlds.
Presenter: Michelle McAfee