March 27, 2007
Classroom Strategies that Grow and Stretch
All Teachers and Learners

Select one morning and one afternoon session that will provide you with an in-depth look at the skills and strategies NUA teachers use to build positive classrooms which foster the love of learning and high academic achievement. The cost for registering for all sessions of this Pre Conference is $75.00 and includes a light lunch. You may register for this Pre Conference on the Registration Page.

Morning Sessions (8:30 am - 11:30 am)

Culturally Competent Classrooms - Ahmes Askia

Beyond Bricks and Mortar: An Opportunity to Transform a School District - Marilyn Zaretsky

Lunch provided (11:30 am -12:30 pm)

Afternoon Sessions (12:30 pm - 3:30 pm)

Touching the Spirit:  Teachers Utilizing Culture in the Achievement of Educational Excellence for African American and Other Students - Augusta Mann

Challenging All Learners - Learning Environments that Impact Achievement - Stephanie Rome

Culturally Competent Classrooms
Ahmes Askia

This interactive session will address the adolescent brain and how teachers can use the latest research on this growing brain to engage and accelerate the learning for their students. Participants will explore the integration of youth culture, language use, and development; and, student voice in planning and delivering instruction to middle and high school students. Participants will develop lessons, share in text-based discussion and practice the strategies learned. Additionally, because of the practice, participants will leave with strategies that they can implement in their classrooms immediately.

Beyond Bricks and Mortar: An Opportunity to Transform a School District
Marilyn Zaretsky

Find out how the collaboration between the Albany City Schools and the National Urban Alliance For Effective Education (NUA) has produced a renewed commitment in a community for providing exemplary professional development for teachers.  Learn how the entire community was mobilized to support the systematic approach to improving instruction.  Participate in demonstration lessons and multi-media presentation of how teachers engage and motivate students in their urban classrooms.

Lunch Provided 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.

Afternoon Sessions

Touching the Spirit: Teachers Utilizing Culture in the Achievement of Educational Excellence for African American and Other Students
Augusta Mann

This session will spotlight mentors from the National Urban Alliance (NUA) together with Trust Birmingham K-12 teachers as they demonstrate a representative group of learning and teaching strategies that NUA has introduced.

Attendees will experience the power of these strategies as they view the evidence of excellence in student work when teachers demonstrate how the use of these strategies utilize the Touching the Spirit principles and research on the human brain to accelerate the educational achievement of their significantly under-performing students.

The session will model practices of successful urban teachers used in attaining the serious goals of high intellectual performance centered within fun, engaging, and participatory learning activities.

Challenging All Learners - Learning Environments that Impact Achievement
Stephanie Rome

The learning environment is one of the most critical influences on high intellectual performance.  This workshop will focus on helping educators identify several of the key components of an effective learning environment.  We will examine, explore and experience student voices, research based strategies and practices and discover what leaders in the field are saying to us about building the kinds of classrooms where all students perform at high intellectual levels.  If we build it, they will learn!