News and Upcoming Events
Inaugural Tri-States Middle Grades Conference
July 26-28, 2010
Dive Into Differentiation to Raise Student AchievementMyrtle Beach Sheraton Hotel
2101 North Oak Street
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
843-918-5000
(Rooms: $162 plus tax (rate is good 3 days before and 2 days after the conference)
Registration Cost: $135 per person; $399 for a team of 4
Topics: Brain-Based Learning; Differentiated Instruction
Session times:
Monday, July 26: 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Brain-Based Learning David Vawter
Tuesday, July 27: 9:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m. Differentiated Instruction Ran Barnes
Wednesday, July 28: 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Brain-Based and DI at Work in the Classroom
Millie Fuller, Sherrie Moss
(afternoon appointments available for schools to meet with presenters)
Dr. Ran Barnes has worked with middle level students for over 20 years. He has served as a middle level teacher, administrator, and central office K-12 curriculum resource. As a member of the Middle School Taskforce to transform all junior high schools in Charlotte-Mecklenburg to middle schools, Ran focused on training all teachers on the middle school concept, including teaming and planning. His numerous recognitions include teacher of the year, administrator of the year, and the Ken McEwin Distinguished Service Award. He is currently the President of the North Carolina Middle School Association where he conducts drive-in conferences with hands-on instructional strategies for all students. Ran is known for his presentation, The Differentiated Classroom: Challenging All Students through Cognitive Levels, NOT Dummying Down for Some. Known for his humor and energetic style, participants of his workshops and presentations describe him as “a phenomenal presenter…high energy level…you rock!…wonderful…wow”. Using his own personal triumphs and failures, Ran brings a sense of “I can do this” to all participants.
Dr. David H. Vawter, from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC., is an outstanding teacher and teacher trainer. David knows what works and what doesn’t in today’s diverse secondary classrooms. Recognized as one of the most outstanding teachers in his state, Dave has also trained over 75,000 teachers in over 48 states and provinces on the use of effective instructional strategies. He combines his expertise in teaching strategies and student achievement into the field of research known as Differentiated Instruction. Dave’s authorship credits include: Middle School Block Scheduling and Teaching From Bell to Bell, as well as a contributing author to Teaching in the Block by Canady and Rettig. He also has two for the Bureau of Education and Research: Increasing Academic Success for Every Student (Practical Strategies for Differentiating Your Classroom Instruction) and Beyond Basic Differentiated Instruction. Dave’s most recent publication and presentation topics include adolescent brain research. Drawing on over nine years of public secondary classroom teaching experience, over eleven years of teaching teacher education classes, as well as that of thousands of other secondary teachers across the country, Dave enthusiastically shares his passion for effective teaching and learning. Participants leave Dave’s seminars inspired by a renewed zest for teaching as well as a wide variety of practical instructional strategies they will be able to use immediately to enhance instruction for the many varied student that each middle school classclassroom instructor has the honor of teaching.
Sherrie Moss and Millie Fuller have been classroom teachers and professional developers for most of their adult years. Both of them have experience at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, but they found middle school to be the most challenging and rewarding experience. They received extensive training from leading researchers in learning styles, multiple intelligences, and the brain, and then created professional development to put the theory into practice. They eagerly embraced and developed one of several multiage teams in their middle school, and it was in this team that they designed and implemented a brain-based learning environment where interdisciplinary lessons made learning authentic and fun for a broad inclusion of special education, ESOL, gifted, and regular education students. Test scores, low discipline referrals, and high attendance rates validated their work. Sherrie was recognized as Teacher of the Year in her system while their team was recognized as a GMSA Team of the Year. They have presented at national conventions such as National Middle School Association and ASCD multiple times, as well as working with schools individually. Millie has retired from public school teaching and serves as a docent/educator at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. Sherrie currently serves as the English/Language Arts Director for her school system, made up of 99 schools, and she infuses considerations of the brain in all areas of the language arts curriculum.Click here to download Registration Form
GMSA is excited to make available the latest edition of 'This We Believe: Keys to Educating Young Adolescents' and the companion, 'Research & Resources In Support of This We Believe! These are must reads for those who work with middle level students. The fundamental beliefs and philosophies presented in earlier editions have been revised and reorganized in a way that clarifies the Essential Attributes, and 16 Characteristics so that they are easy to understand no matter the audience.
We hope you will visit the bookstore on our website to purchase your set today.
You can purchase the books by clicking on the pictures to the right. These resources could be used to conduct professional development for your staff.
Meet your GMSA Board Members! Please let us know how we can help by contacting your Regional Liaison. ...View Board Members >>>
Georgia Lighthouse Schools to Watch news...click here >>>
