This learning opportunity will focus on Marzano's research on the nine instructional strategies that have demonstrated increases in student achievement and will be an opportunity to add new instructional "tools" to educators' teaching "toolboxes." Additional topics will include the use and communication of essential learning targets to students, assessment for learning, determining and describing proficiency, goal setting, and success criteria for learning in the classroom, and other topics as determined by the needs of the group.

In the Games That Teach series of classes, one or more of the Colorado State Standards K-12 are addressed through more than 120 activities (in each class—a total of more than 300 activities) in the following categories: Active, Basic Skills, Problem-Solving, Strings, and Pencil and Paper. Specific skills taught through the games include: listening, problem-solving, creative thinking, team building, following directions, fine and gross motor skills, math, reading, history, language, and geography. The format of the manuals provided to each participant stresses not only the steps for each activity but the skills that are being taught. Within each category are games that address many specific skill areas such as language, mathematics, history, and geography. It is the philosophy of this workshop that students learn best and retain information longest when they are actively involved and enjoying what they are doing. This philosophy is maintained because the participants are actively involved in this class. Teachers experience the activities just as their students would. This allows teachers to understand the frustration or difficulties that might be encountered by their students. As the participants are experiencing something new in the activity they can also understand, from the teachers' point of view, the skills that are being taught or reinforced. The activities are designed to provide participants with a variety of methods and techniques for reaching students in a different style. The style of each activity is varied so that all learning styles are addressed as well as all of the intelligences according to Gardner. As the class progresses through the activities, time is devoted to discussion as to how the activities fit into the daily routine, how they can be adapted to various curriculum topics and ages, and teachers are encouraged to analyze and apply which standards, learning styles, etc. are addressed.

The African Studies Association (ASA) will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its first annual meeting in historic Chicago, IL. As part of the larger program, the event will feature scholars, artists, and community activists from the Chicago area who will facilitate panels, workshops, and discussions tailored especially to educators.

Essex LINCs is a professional development program for Essex County's elementary school teachers. This series of American history workshops is aimed at helping educators teach local history within a national context. Participating teachers complete four monthly seminars and a one-week summer institute. ESSEX LINCs centers around four core themes in American history with direct correlation to the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks for elementary grades: Local History in National Context, Governing in America, Working in America, and Populating the United States. The program combines visits to local historical sites with historian-led content sessions. Hands-on training in how to use primary sources and sites from Essex County in the classroom will help educators meet Frameworks objectives while also enlivening their social studies curriculum.

This workshop will go over 15 lesson plans covering the desert environment, Native American culture, Mexican culture, ranch life, World War II, and more. Supplementary literature books are included in the registration fee.