Second Saturdays: MWP Winter Workshop Series

Come sip coffee with colleagues as we devote the second Saturday morning of each upcoming winter month to discussion and hands-on engagement with literacy topics.

Offered through a special collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Education, this year's seminar series includes half-day workshops that focus on different approaches to implementing the recently revised 2010 MN English Language Arts Standards:

January 8th, 2011:
How to use Best Practices in implementing the 2010 ELA Writing Standards
February 12th, 2011:
How to use writing to implement the 2010 ELA Media Production Standards
March 12th, 2011:
How to engage diverse learners in the 2010 ELA Writing Standards

For more information on the individual workshops see registration form below.

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COST: $45 per session -- Graduate credit option available for attendance at all three.
WHERE: Minnesota Department of Education -- Conference Center A -- 1500 Highway 36 West -- Roseville, MN 55113
WHEN: 9:00am - 12:30pm (see dates above) -- coffee and bagels will be served.

TO REGISTER:
Download & Complete the 2011 Saturday Workshops REGISTRATION FORM.pdf. Send to the address included.

Registration deadline is December 20th, 2010.

Come alone or bring a friend. Come to one or come to all !!

Frank Sentwali to Speak at Fall Workshop

Join us on October 16 for a challenging, yet relaxing, Saturday workshop for
past participants of the MWP Summer Institute.

At this year's workshop, "Exploring the Boundaries of Literacy Education," ideas will be popping (or maybe hip-hopping!) after the morning performance of "Enterbrainment Live!" by Frank Sentwali, the creator of Edu-Poetic Entertainment, a Twin Cities spoken word and music ensemble. John Albright (ISI 2005), a teacher who has incorporated Frank's program in his curriculum, will also share with us the benefits of spoken-word literacy activities.

Afternoon activities will include breakout sessions devoted to discussions of various hot topics in literacy: Diverse Learners, Common Core Standards, Digital Writing, and Writing Assessment

WHEN: Saturday, October 16th, 2010
WHERE: U of MN Continuing Education and Conference Center, St. Paul Campus
COST: $60 -- includes parking, breakfast, lunch and snacks

TO REGISTER: By Friday, September 24th, send payment to
MWP, 10 Nicholson Hall, 216 Pillsbury Drive, SE, Mpls, MN 55455. Or contact MWP@umn.edu to reserve a place and bring payment on the day.

Agenda MWP Fall Workshop 2010.pdf

2010 Fall Workshop Sentwali.pdf

MWP TC Wins Grant for Robotics-Based Inquiry

Congratulations to St. Paul science teacher, Susan Benjamin (ISI 2007), who has recently received a $10,000 Toyota Tapestry Grant to include robotics-based inquiry projects in the teaching of physical science . The project creatively titled "Robots Attack the Achievement Gap" draws on robotics instruction and problem solving to engage 6th graders in a variety of science and math learning adventures. As Susan further describes the project,

Typically, the subject of robotics is available to children only through after school programs or in a "gifted and talented" class. This Tapestry Project takes a different approach; special robotics instruction will be provided to the sixth graders at Achieve Language Academy with the lowest skill levels in math and science. These targeted students will then become the robotics experts in their science classrooms, where they will teach their peers while completing a series of Robotics Inquiry Projects. This Tapestry Project includes a week-long off campus experience at STARBASE Minnesota, where students will work to solve science and engineering problems in the context of space exploration. Finally, the sixth graders will work in teams to complete a Capstone Robotics Project that will require them to apply what they have learned about physical science and robotics to a real engineering problem from daily life. These final projects will be demonstrated to families and the school community at a Robot Celebration held in the spring.

Visit The Toyota Tapestry Grants homepage for more information on other award winning school-based projects and/or to learn how you can apply for your own technology and science learning adventure.

Debra Frasier to Visit MWP June 2010

Author and illustrator Debra Frasier will be the guest presenter at this year's retreat for the 20th Invitational Summer Institute on Thursday, June 24th, 2010. Frasier has written and illustrated several children's books including the familiar favorite, On the Day You Were Born.

Visit Debra Frasier's website to explore more of her work.

Of special interest is Debra's growing collection of nature writing. Check out her River Journal to see photos and read about her canoe adventures, as she celebrates turning 50 by traveling 50 rivers.

For past MWP TCs wanting to attend, more registration information will follow as the event date approaches.

Visit the Mt. Olivet website for more information on the site, its trails, services, and directions. The one minute video tour is quite stunning!