Weekend Workshop with Maggie Moon – Balanced Literacy: Unplugged

Balanced Literacy: Unplugged

On October 4 and 5, Brent International School Manila hosted forty-eight teachers from PK to Grade 6, from EARCOS schools in the Philippines, Korea, and China. Maggie Moon, a former senior staff developer of the Reading Writing Project of Teachers College, Columbia University, presented the workshop.

Day 1 sessions provided an overview of the Balanced Literacy framework and modeled unit development and planning of literacy curriculum for each lower school grade level. Teachers were equipped with strategies for teaching to grade level reading and writing expectations using literature. Maggie modeled practical reading and writing workshops for participants, while delivering a compelling rationale for the benefits of the balanced literacy approach.

During Day 2 sessions, participants received training for con ducting reading and writing conferences with students that focused on individual learning needs, while still meeting course expectations. Participants also discussed formal and informal assessment within a reading and writing workshop format. During the workshop, teachers were given the opportunity to take the role of a student and experience some of the strategies they might use in their classes and in conferencing situations. Group Photo, Day 2 held in Early Learning Center Library

Participants were impressed with Maggie’s expertise in literacy instruction, as well as her knowledge of children’s literature. Some participants commented that they could have extended the workshop for up to a week to learn from Maggie’s experience.

Weekend Workshop with Dr. Susan Clayton Understanding By Design (Intermediate Training): Foundations of Effective Student Learning

On September 13 and 14, Brent International School Manila hosted the school year’s first EARCOS weekend workshop. Dr. Susan Clayton, the workshop presenter, is a former consultant with Grant Wiggins’ Authentic Education. She led participants into deeper understanding of UBD through a practical, hands-on approach to unit evaluation.

During the sessions, participants looked at the elements of Un derstanding by Design to establish the need for a connection between learning goals and how people learn. They also designed assessments for understanding and transfer. They used the six facets of understanding to design and evaluate authentic transfer tasks, and to construct strategic learning plans. Dr. Clayton infused recent brain research to establish effective curriculum design, goal setting, and to provide a rationale for her thoughtful approach to unit development.

Dr. Clayton remained at Brent on Monday to work with the heads of departments and administration on providing effective feedback for curriculum development. The weekend workshop provided an enriching look at improving curriculum and instruction. Participants left feeling challenged and empowered to teach for understanding. Group photo, Our Day 1 with Dr. Susan Clayton