Denver Academy Symposium on Learning Differences

resilience \ri-zil-yən(t)s\ n: Inner strength to deal competently and successfully, day after day, with the challenges and demands we encounter.

– From “Raising Resilient Children”

Symposium on Learning Differences and Unique Learning Profiles: Nurturing Resilient Children, Parents and Teachers Friday, March 6, 2009 • 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Featuring Keynote Speaker Dr. Robert Brooks

A Message from the 2009 Symposium Chair

asure tee, it is my ple it m m co g in n n ue nference pla rences and Uniq emy and our co fe d if ca D A g r in ve rn en ea D L osium on On behalf of DA’s 2009 Symp d n te at to u yo to invite s. osted at Learning Profile of conferences h es ri se t n ce re a rences, h learning diffe l be the fourth in it il w w ts m en iu d u os p st Dr. m of s This year’s Sy eakers include: eeting the need sp m e ot on n g ey n k si t as cu P fo y rve them.

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yo We hope to see

owski Mark T. Twarog y r, Denver Academ Program Directo m Chair 2009 Symposiu

Schedule

eck-in tration and Ch is eg R oks’ Keynote .: .m a 0 ening; Dr. Bro 8:00-8:3 p O m u si o p .m.: Sym ut Session 8:30 – 10:30 a orning Breako M .: .m a 5 :5 1 10:45 – 1 :00 p.m.: Lunch t Session 11:55 a.m. – 1 noon Breakou er n ft A .: .m p 0 General Sessio g n si 1:00 – 2:1 lo C s’ k o .: Dr. Bro 2:30 – 3:30 p.m

KEYNOTE SPEAKER 2 0 0 9 S y mpos i um on L e arn i ng D i ff e r e nc e s

Dr. Robert Brooks

has lectured nationally and internationally and written extensively about working with angry, atrisk youth and families from a strength-based approach that focuses on the development of self-dignity, motivation, hope, and resilience. Among his books, he is the author of The Self-Esteem Teacher, and co-author of Raising Resilient Children; Nurturing Resilience in Our Children: Answers to the Most Important Parenting Questions; Angry Children, Worried Parents: Seven Steps to Help Families Manage Anger; Handbook of Resilience in Children; The Power of Resilience: Achieving Balance, Confidence, and Personal Strength in Your Life; Understanding and Managing Children’s Classroom Behavior: Creating Sustainable, Resilient Classrooms; and Raising a Self-Disciplined Child. Dr. Brooks is on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and is the former Director of the Department of Psychology at McLean Hospital. Additional information may be found on his website: www.drrobertbrooks.com.

“The Power of Mindsets: Nurturing Motivation and Resilience in Students with Learning Problems”

Two-part General Session: 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.

2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

In this workshop Dr. Brooks will outline a strength-based approach for working with and educating students who struggle with learning and attention problems.

He will describe the mindset of adults who are effective in working with and teaching these youth. He will identify the mindset of resilient children and adolescents and outline specific strategies for reinforcing this mindset in all youngsters, including such qualities as motivation, self-discipline, cooperation, compassion and hope. In addition, he will describe techniques for the adults in children’s lives to become more “stress hardy” and lessen the possibility of burnout. Many case examples will be included.

Learning Objectives: • To learn the characteristics of the mindset of adults who work effectively with children and adolescents who struggle with learning and attention.

• To learn exercises to enhance empathy and respond more effectively to others.

• To learn the characteristics of the mindset of resilient youth together with strategies for reinforcing this mindset in all children and adolescents.

• To learn the importance of a strength-based model in which each youngster’s “islands of competence” are identified and reinforced.

• To learn a framework for nurturing our own “stress hardiness” and resilience.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS 2 0 0 9 S y mpos i um on L e arn i ng D i ff e r e nc e s

1

Teaching to the Minds of Boys and Girls Kelley King, Associate Director and Certified Trainer, The Gurian Institute Gender affects one’s approach to life and to school. Learn about brain-based gender differences that inform better teaching and better parenting. Particularly for boys, the current statistics are not good. We’ll focus on identifying those hard-wired, male/female differences and the strategies that nurture the nature of both boys and girls!

2

Exceptional Children: Understanding Social, Emotional, and Self-Esteem Needs and Fostering Development Craig Knippenberg, LCSW, M.Div. This session will focus on the social, emotional, and self-esteem needs of exceptional children/adolescents. Participants will gain a thorough understanding of the unique problems exceptional children have in these areas and their impact on successful learning and development. Three cornerstone principles for development and the role of groups will be reviewed. The presentation will include specific strategies for parents, educators, and mental health professionals.

3

Resilience in the Age of Risk: How to Keep Children Safe Without Crushing Their Spirit Dr. Matthew Brink, Clinical Psychologist This presentation is designed to help parents learn to effectively parent and guide their children through the multitude of risks, pitfalls, and flat-out dangers confronting children today. The focus will be on increasing parents’ awareness of these risks and teaching them how to let children safely discover and become themselves.

4

FAST: Learning How to Work With Your Child — A Multi-Sensory Approach to Reading Instruction Tammy Curran, Denver Academy In this session participants will learn how FAST was developed and how effective it is according to the most recent research. The instructor will show the participants a lesson while describing all levels of the FAST program.

Attendees will also be given strategies to help their children while reading. The importance of fluency, comprehension and reading daily will also be discussed.

5

Successful Communication with Your Children — Now and Throughout Adulthood Cyle Feingold, Founder and Director, Results Learning, LLC. Attendees will learn strategies to facilitate effective two-way communication with their children now through adulthood using his/her preferred learning and communication styles. Each attendee will walk away with an understanding of how they learn and communicate as well as tools to understand how to effectively communicate with their children.

6

Better Together: Learning and Laughing Across Generations Jeff VanKooten, Senior Consultant, The Center for Generational Studies A “quick impact” presentation for boards, superintendents, principals, students, parents, and teachers, with 5 formative themes for effectively understanding our unique design as well as that of the staff and students we interact with.

Discover how to become relationally “savvy”, create harmony, build classroom momentum, and improve productivity, while avoiding the common relational traps that come from interacting closely across five generations.

This session is designed to teach participants how to: •Discover their own biases and values •Appreciate the different values of others •Rebuild morale •Relate effectively •Anticipate the learning quandaries of future students

7

Don’t Give Up! Teaching Resiliency in the Classroom Mark Wood, MA, High School Dean, Denver Academy Resilient children view themselves and the world in such a way that they are able to put everyday setbacks and pressures into effective action instead of debilitating defeat (Brooks, Goldstein). Resiliency needs to be taught through direct instruction and can easily be implemented by the classroom teacher. This session will give teachers, administrators and parents immediate tools to help students manage life’s challenges. Teachers will leave the session with easy-toapply classroom strategies and lesson enhancing ideas.

8

Honoring Cognitive Diversity in the Secondary Classroom Philippe Ernewein, MA, Dean of Faculty Training and Development, Denver Academy Some of the most significant differences that exist within our students are invisible to the naked eye. Furthermore, the complex neurological profiles present in classes are often misunderstood or overlooked by the misguided lens of “normal.” This session will highlight these profiles as well as present classroom techniques to honor cognitive diversity using a strength-based, empowerment model.

Session goal: Audience members will learn specific classroom management and instructional strategies to create a successful learning environment for students with labels that include: Asperger’s Syndrome, ADHD, non-verbal learning disorders and other pervasive developmental disorders.

(sessions continued on next page)

BREAKOUT SESSIONS 2 0 0 9 S y mpos i um on L e arn i ng D i ff e r e nc e s

9

The Paradigm Shift - The Big Picture in Education Dan Loan, Director of Communications and Enrollment, Denver Academy This session is designed to start a debate about education. This presentation will discuss the history of education, student profiles and specific skills needed to survive the educational system. We will also discuss the shift toward engaged learning (and away from traditional teaching methods) that some universities are making.

When we look at education from a different perspective, we can see the demands that can be inadvertently placed on children. With a different point of view we can help ourselves and our children increase their resilience.

10

The Secret Life of the Teenage Brain Mark Twarogowski, MA, Program Director, Denver Academy The latest research has shown that the teenage brain is really still a “work in progress.” Brain imaging and other studies have demonstrated what many parents and teachers already know – that teenage years are a time of dramatic ups and downs characterized by mood swings and poor judgment. This session will explore the relationship between the pre–frontal cortex, responsible for reasoning and impulse control, and the limbic system, responsible for emotional processing. Join Mark as he translates the latest brain research into real-life understanding of what makes our teenagers so “darn interesting.”

11

Intention – Mindfulness – Reflection Eastern Philosophy in a Western Classroom Bobby Duhamel, Teacher - Core High School, Denver Academy During this session we will explore, through both research and practice, the benefits of meditation as well as how and when to use it. We will also discover how non-judgmental reflection can assist in identifying one’s true intention. By understanding how to “be mindful” we can illuminate a pathway of resiliency for our children.

2009 Denver Academy Symposium

Registration Form

*** Registration information must be received by February 27, 2009 *** SEND TO:

CHECK APPROPRIATE BLANKS:

Denver Academy

Denver Academy Parent

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4400 East Iliff Avenue

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Denver, CO 80222

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Fax 720-524-5385

Special Accommodations (explain) ___________________________________________

One participant per registration form, please. Feel free to make copies of this form.

PLEASE PRINT Last Name

First Name Middle Initial

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Please indicate your first and second choice for each breakout session.

REMINDER: Each session will be presented in the A.M. and P.M. breakout sessions.

A.M. Session 10:45 - 11:55 8:30 - 10:30

Dr. Brooks’ Keynote session

1

(presentation number only)

2:30 - 3:30

L U N C H

Dr. Brooks’ closing general session

st

choice

2

P.M. Session 1:00 - 2:10

nd

choice

11:55 - 1:00

REGISTRATION FEES Current Denver Academy Family Member

FREE

All Other Participants

$100

Don’t forget your lunch!

(up to 2 people)

BOX LUNCH • Only $10 Regular Vegetarian

_ _______ _ _______

Make checks payable to: Denver Academy We will NOT be mailing confirmations.

Please mail this form to the address below. Contact Mary Vite or Mark Twarogowski at 303-777-5870 or symposium@denveracademy.org for more information.

4400 East Iliff Avenue | Denver, CO 80222 | Tel: 303-777-5870

Fax: 720-524-5385 | www.denveracademy.org

Registration Materials Enclosed

Symposium on Learning Differences and Unique Learning Profiles: Nurturing Resilient Children, Parents and Teachers

March 6, 2009 A special thanks to the Denver Academy Parent Association (DAPA) for their generous support in making this event possible.

***Please return enclosed form to complete registration***

4400 East Iliff Avenue Denver, CO 80222