READING/MATHEMATICS AND WRITING
SUMMER INSTITUTES
They were all there for the Teacher Center Reading/Mathematics and Writing Summer Institutes in July. “It’s the greatest turnout we’ve ever had,” agreed conference coordinators Roni Messer, Michele Schlifstein, and Naomi Isaac-Simpson, looking towards the five hundred and thirty new and 
experienced teachers (three hundred and seventy-one from Extended Time schools). Assembled at the Fashion Institute for Technology, they came for the intensive, content-based, print-rich work sessions on integrating non-fiction writing into reading and math. Sessions were geared to teachers by the grades they teach, K-2, 3-5, and 6-8.
As each participant could say, “Those who can, teach. As teachers we learn continually, throughout the school day and after school too, with and from students, colleagues, parents and college instructors. Then, in summer we learn even more!”
While the individuals’ reasons varied for devoting nearly an entire week to increasing their knowledge and skills, all cited positively the Teacher Center presenters and facilitators. Participants often said how pleased they were to start with a content area and then to see, hear, and role-play reading and math strate-gies with experienced colleagues. They felt that they now would be able to adapt and apply the processes they had acquired in classrooms.
Those attending were surrounded by print and pictures, on charts and posters on the walls, in books and materials at their desks, on chart paper reports that they created and displayed. Activities included tried and true cooperative learning strategies and some new ones, sharing with partners and small groups, solving problems and creating prompts, access to age-appropriate non-fiction books, demonstrations and model-ing— all in the service of their students and preparation for increasing students’ achievement!
NOTE:
Find information about Teacher Center Literacy Network and Thinking Math events taking place throughout the year in Highlights and The New York Teacher.
SUMMER INSTITUTES
They were all there for the Teacher Center Reading/Mathematics and Writing Summer Institutes in July. “It’s the greatest turnout we’ve ever had,” agreed conference coordinators Roni Messer, Michele Schlifstein, and Naomi Isaac-Simpson, looking towards the five hundred and thirty new and experienced teachers (three hundred and seventy-one from Extended Time schools). Assembled at the Fashion Institute for Technology, they came for the intensive, content-based, print-rich work sessions on integrating non-fiction writing into reading and math. Sessions were geared to teachers by the grades they teach, K-2, 3-5, and 6-8.As each participant could say, “Those who can, teach. As teachers we learn continually, throughout the school day and after school too, with and from students, colleagues, parents and college instructors. Then, in summer we learn even more!” While the individuals’ reasons varied for devoting nearly an entire week to increasing their knowledge and skills, all cited positively the Teacher Center presenters and facilitators. Participants often said how pleased they were to start with a content area and then to see, hear, and role-play reading and math strate-gies with experienced colleagues. They felt that they now would be able to adapt and apply the processes they had acquired in classrooms.
Those attending were surrounded by print and pictures, on charts and posters on the walls, in books and materials at their desks, on chart paper reports that they created and displayed. Activities included tried and true cooperative learning strategies and some new ones, sharing with partners and small groups, solving problems and creating prompts, access to age-appropriate non-fiction books, demonstrations and model-ing— all in the service of their students and preparation for increasing students’ achievement!NOTE:
Find information about Teacher Center Literacy Network and Thinking Math events taking place throughout the year in Highlights and The New York Teacher.