Massachusetts DESE Professional Development for Educators
2009 Professional Development Institutes
Differentiated Writing Instruction to Close the Achievement Gap
Location:
Simmons College, 300 The Fenway, Boston
Dates:
August 11-13, 2009: 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
September 26, October 31, December 12, & January 23: 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. 2009
Participants:
Open to Massachusetts teachers: classroom teachers in grades 3-6, special education teachers and administrators, teachers of English language learners, literacy specialists and coaches.
Prerequisites:
Open to Massachusetts Educators
Cost:
The course is sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
(formerly MA DOE) and is being offered AT NO CHARGE to all* Massachusetts educators.
Participants who attend all sessions and complete the requirements of the course are eligible for 45 PDP’s. 4 graduate credits are available from Simmons College at a cost of $350.00.
* Educators from high need districts have priority.
General Information
Participants will learn to:
- Develop an instructional strategy that steadily builds clear-cut skills.
- Provide targeted feedback that keeps students on course to mastery.
- Track student progress, easily and often.
- Adjust instruction in response to how well each student is learning— to give each child the help he needs, when he needs it.
Local and national studies show that while achievement among primary and secondary students has improved in general, the achievement gap between white students and their Latino and African American classmates remains stark.
Participants in this course will use The Writers' Express methods, which draw on every child's personal experiences, a few carefully chosen technical and expressive skills, and targeted, economical teacher comments to help develop motivated, confident, and effective writers and readers. Course participants will develop and practice using teaching and assessment tools, apply them in the classroom, and document the change in writing skills of one student over time.
Schedule
August 11-13, 2009: 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. September 26, October 31, December 12, & January 23: 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. 2009
Register
For questions about the course contact:
David Meyers, WEX President
(617) 844-1003 or email dmeyers@wex.org.
Questions
For questions about the course contact:
David Meyers, WEX President
(617) 844-1003 or email dmeyers@wex.org.
