Summer Institutes For Educators Abound At KSC

KEENE, N.H. 5/7/04 - Educators may continue their own education this summer at Keene State College, which offers numerous institutes on such topics as the No Child Left Behind legislation, the arts and children’s literature, invigorating elementary science, teaching about the Muslim world, and life story books.

There are five courses available during the first six-week summer session, May 17-June 25, with 28 institutes scheduled during the second session, June 28-Aug 6. All institutes provide teachers with an opportunity for professional development and offer graduate credit that can be applied to school district requirements. A newsletter detailing summer courses for educators is available by mail, and education courses are listed at www.keene.edu/courses. To receive the educators’ newsletter or to register for courses, contact the KSC Continuing Education and Summer Session Office by phone at 603-358-2290/1-800-KSC-1909, by email to continuing-ed@keene.edu or visit www.keene.edu/conted.

Following is a sampling of courses for educators available this summer at Keene State. All courses are three credits and take place at the KSC campus, unless otherwise noted.

Cultural Exploration through the Arts and Children’s Literature explores the arts and children’s literature of various cultures using traditional art forms, folk tales, fairy tales, and their varied literary and artistic interpretations. A visit to the studio of the illustrator Yoshi is scheduled for the second weekend of the course which runs, May 14 and 15, June 11 and 12, 25 and 26 on Fridays from 5 to 9:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Author/Illustrator Studies explains how to prepare and conduct author/illustrator studies in elementary and middle school classrooms. The first weekend focuses on books illustrated by Yoshi and a visit to her studio is planned. The course meets May 21 and 22, June 4 and 5, 18 and 19 on Fridays from 5 to 9:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

No Child Left Behind immerses educators in this complex legislative document explaining how the federal law will impact their school community. The week features guest speakers from the various levels of government charged with implementing the No Child Left Behind law. The classes meet Tuesday to Friday, July 6-9, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Middle School: Transition and Orientation explores the issues and challenges of adolescents transitioning to middle school and the orientation of new students and families to the middle school and community. This one-credit course meets Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, June 23, 25, and 27, from 4:30 to 9 p.m.

Life Story Books: Windows into the Lives of Students and Their Families uses biographies and autobiographies to tell stories about the lives of children, youth, and families. The course premise is that real life stories add context, complexity, and depth that is not evident in traditional textbook reading. The course meets Wednesday, June 23, from 4 p.m. to 7p.m, and Monday to Thursday, July 26-30, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Moving Minds: Invigorating Elementary Science Through Current Best Practice provides participants the chance to collaboratively build their knowledge of current best practice in elementary science education. Special consideration is given to addressing participants’ needs in physical and chemical sciences. The course meets Monday to Friday, June 28-July 2, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Teaching about the Muslim World helps educators design answers to students’ questions about Islam and the Muslim world. The course explains Islam as a faith and culture, its history, political Islam, and terrorism. The course meets Monday to Friday, July 19-23, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Links to the Land: Growing A Place-Based Curriculum explores the links between culture, ecology and community, to heighten awareness of the interconnection between humans and the land that sustains them. Participants can expect to be engaged in active learning outdoors on a farm throughout the week. The course meets Monday to Friday, July 12-16, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.