Keene State Offers Summer Institutes for Educators

KEENE, N.H. 4/12/02 - Educators may continue their own education this summer at Keene State College, which offers 24 institutes on such topics as learning about history through children’s literature, ethics in educational practice, and using art and literature to improve students’ writing skills. Other courses deal with classroom strategies for children with behavioral issues and adventure group counseling. These institutes for educators are held on weekends or run for one week throughout the summer.

There are nine institutes available during the first six-week summer session,

May 20-June 28, with most of the offerings scheduled during the second

session, July 1-Aug. 9. 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/courselist.cfm](http://www.keene.edu/courses/courselist.cfm). 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 e-mail to [continuing-ed@keene.edu](mailto

continuing-ed@keene.edu), or on the Internet at www.keene.edu/conted.

Following is a sampling of courses for educators available this summer at Keene State.

Learning about the Past through Children’s Literature, designed for teachers of grades 4-8, addresses how children’s literature can be used to make history come alive for students. David E. White, professor of education and founder of the Children’s Literature Festival at KSC, and instructor Jason W. Fraser will team-teach the course with an integrated social studies focus. A visit to a historical fiction writer’s home is being planned during the class, which meets Fridays from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 31, and June 1, 7, 8, 21, and 22.

Ethics in Educational Practice: Raising the Bar of Behavioral Expectations is a one-week institute running from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, July 8-12. The course explores ethical education practices through classic literature and philosophy. Truth, friendship, courage, and many more topics of importance to all K-12 teachers, parents, and community members will be covered by Thomas McGuire, an education faculty member at KSC.

Picturing Writing: Fostering Literacy through Art and Image-Making within the Writing Process combines two courses into a six-day institute that meets from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, July 8-13. This institute explores an art-and-literature-based approach to writing, which has been proven by research to dramatically improve student writing and entice even the most reluctant writers. Instructor Katherine Shanks shows how to give students access to visual and kinesthetic modes of thinking at every stage of the writing process. The course uses reflection, discussion, and observation of classroom mini-lessons.

Classroom Strategies for Children with Behavioral Issues is designed to assist classroom educators in effectively mediating between their primary role as facilitators of learning and coordinators of positive group dynamics in the classroom. This course takes a proactive, methodical, fun-filled approach in addressing current issues that undermine the relationship between effective teaching/learning and a safe and congenial classroom environment. It places the educator in a position to better enjoy a profession that is intrinsically rewarding. Instructor Philip Hamm teaches the one-week institute, scheduled Monday to Friday, July 22-26, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Adventure Group Counseling explores the group process using an adventure-based model. Class members participate as a group in a sequenced series of activities to promote group problem-solving situations using both low- and high-ropes course elements. The course provides skills in helping others to increase their self-esteem, learn to trust, take risks and challenge themselves, solve problems, and overcome obstacles faced during everyday life. Class participants should be prepared to spend the entire week outdoors. Instructor Edward Singer teaches a few technical skills such as belaying and harness tying so participants can handle the rope challenges during the institute, scheduled Monday to Friday, June 24-28, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.