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Exploring a Math Residency at Your School
Administrators, curriculum teams and others involved in professional development planning are invited to attend a meeting on Thursday, April 30th from 9:00 to 11:00 with Tom Scherstan as we explore options for longer-term mathematics focused professional development. Please RSVP to Lori Langlois at lori@ncedservices.org or contact her for more information.
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Leaders in Prevention
Students from Berlin, White Mountains Regional, and Lin-Wood school districts were among the schools participating in the NH Teen Institute's Leaders in Prevention program in late March. This was made possible through the North Country High School Coalition for Alcohol Abuse Prevention, a grant coordinated by NCES. Groveton and Straford students attended earlier institutes through the grant.
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Director's Notes
North Country Charter Academy's (NCCA) Principal Lisa Lavoie has written and submitted an Alternative Education Grant to the New Hampshire Department of Education for their consideration. If awarded this grant, NCCA would establish two new sites in Gorham at NCES and in Woodsville that would add GED preparation to the school's repertoire. With the age of compulsory education raised to eighteen as of July 1, 2009, these sites would provide dropout prevention relief to local high schools, and another avenue for students to earn a credential that opens doors of opportunity to attend post-secondary institutions of education, qualify for training programs, enlist into a branch of the military, or be better prepared to enter the world of work.
The success of NCCA has been recognized by many state officials for its effectiveness in providing a positive, focused educational climate with high student expectations to enable students to recover missing credits toward completion of their local high school diploma requirements or completion of state mandated diploma requirements to earn an NCCA diploma. Over NCCA's first four years of operation, 116 students have earned their diplomas, and over 30% of these graduates have matriculated to post-secondary education. The GED preparation program would provide students with yet another avenue to achieve academic success.
North Country Charter Academy was one of four Charter Schools to be audited by a team of educators as required by state law. The visiting team was led by Dr. Richard Ayers, former Superintendent in Laconia and in Hopkinton, who worked with an Assistant Principal from Franklin High School and the Science Department Head of Laconia High School. Prior to their visit Lisa had provided them with two very large three ring binders containing many pieces of documentation that they required. The visiting team made observations at the Lancaster and Littleton sites, and they interviewed NCCA staff, superintendents, high school principals, parents of NCCA students and NCCA graduates and current students. NCCA successfully fulfilled all expectations and retains its accreditation status for seven years, when it will again be audited. I offer my sincere congratulations and appreciation to Lisa and her office staff Jennie Richardson, Kim Randall, Linda Dalglish, a NCCA teachers Paul Hennessey, Deborah Ryder, Scott Kleinschrodt and Francine Owen for all of their contributions to NCCA's success.
Charles F. Thibodeau, Jr.
Executive Director
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Book Talk
 In partnership with the NH Staff Development Council, NCES will hold a two-hour book talk to discuss Tony Wagner's The Global Achievement Gap: Why Even Our Best Schools Don't Teach the New Survival Skills Our Children Need--And What We Can Do About It on Tuesday, April 28th from 3:30 to 5:30 at NCES. Please RSVP to Lori Langlois if you would like to attend. Light refreshment provided.
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Upcoming Professional Development
Reaching Students in Special Ed with Hands-on Math
 These will be hands-on workshops with Tom Scherstan. Just the thought of doing math in this workshop may prompt participants to experience their own anxieties over math. But remember, Tom will be differentiating his instruction, so everyone will come to understand the basic concepts he will teach by using their own strengths and preferred ways of learning - not their weaknesses. Which is the whole point of Tom's work in math: everyone can learn math, and they can use their strengths to do it.
Come see for yourself:
- how math can be differentiated
- why students who don't normally participate in math can engage and learn
- how classroom behavior can be managed beautifully and respectfully during math instruction
Date for Grades K-6 : Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Date for Grades 7-12: Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Presenter: Tom Schersten
Location: NCES, Gorham, NH
Time: 8:45- 3:00
Cost: NCES Member School Staff $95, Associate Member Staff $115, All others $135
Registration: Contact Becky Ring at 466-5437 or becky@ncedservices.org by April 16th. Be sure to indicate which date/grade levels you are registering for. Purchase orders should be faxed to 603-466-2907 or checks mailed to NCES, 300 Gorham Hill Road, Gorham, NH 03581. MC/Visa accepted.
Visit the NCES website for full description
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Graduate Credit Course: Digital Tools in the Classroom
This course exposes participants to various technology tools such as Google docs, sound recording, animation, moviemaking and photo editing software. Some time will be spent with specific skills development: participants will learn to create animations, sound recordings and movies with readily available, free software. Using these skills, participants will connect the use of technology to curriculum objectives and understand how to incorporate the ISTE ICT standards into student activities. The final projects will demonstrate the participant's ability to create student activities that foster critical thinking, meet curriculum objectives and use engaging software. Throug this course, students will also discover how to assess technology based activities and learn how to incorporate the use of web 2.0 tools for collaboration and delivery of their projects.
This will be a three credit course through Plymouth State University.
Date/Time: Securing dates for evenings in June and may repeat during the summer. Contact Becky Ring at becky@ncedservices.org for more information.
Location: Conway, NH
Cost: $1285 In-State, $1375 Out-of-State
Instructor: Paula Churchill, NCES Technology Instructor
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Comprehension in the Content Areas
Help middle school students be more efficient and effective in reading for understanding.
The presentations and work are focused on middle school level content, but can apply to other grade levels.
Teachers of Science, Mathematics, English/Language Arts and Social Studies; Special Educators, Title I Teachers, Curriculum Specialists, Administrators, Literacy Coaches and Integrated Arts Teachers are all encouraged to attend.
Teachers will take home strategies that they can immediately use. Please bring text based materials or articles that you plan to use in your classrooms.
Date: Thursday, April 30, 2009 from 8:45 to 3:30
Presenters: Saundra Kent and Pauline Raiche
Cost: Member School Staff $65, Associate Member School Staff $80, Non-Members $95
Location: NCES, Gorham, NH
Registration: Please register by April 16 by emailing Becky Ring at becky@ncedservices.org or calling NCES at 800-268-5437 or 603-466-5437. Purchase orders should be faxed to 603-466-2907 or checks mailed to NCES, 300 Gorham Hill Road, Gorham, NH 03581. MC/Visa accepted.
Sponsored by: 
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Comprehension Strategies for Paraprofessionals
Supporting Reading and Writing for Understanding
The workshop is for paraprofessionals who support students, in grades 4-12, in reading as well as content areas, in classrooms and in special education or other services such as Title I.
Appropriate for parents and special educators as well.
Date: Friday, May 1, 2009 from 8:45 to 3:00
Presenters: Pauline Raiche and Saundra Kent
Cost: Member School Staff $55, Associate Member School Staff $60, Non-Members $75
Location: NCES, Gorham, NH
Registration: Please register by April 16 by emailing Becky Ring at becky@ncedservices.org or calling NCES at 800-268-5437 or 603-466-5437. Purchase orders should be faxed to 603-466-2907 or checks mailed to NCES, 300 Gorham Hill Road, Gorham, NH 03581. MC/Visa accepted.
Sponsored by:
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Introduction to GPS in the Classroom
 Come learn the basics of using a Global Positioning System receiver (GPSr) and ways to use this technology with your students. You will start the day indoors learning the basic operation and functions of the GPSr. The group will then move outside for some exercises that help demonstrate how the receiver works. This will be followed by an opportunity to seek out geocaches in the area.
Note: This a hands-on workshop. Participants will use a Garmin eTrex during the workshop. Please dress for the weather.
Special offer for educators: Participants have the option to purchase a new Garmin eTrex for $50 (approximately $95 value). Payment for the workshop and GPSr must be received by the April 16th deadline so that the appropriate number of receivers can be ordered in time for the workshop.
For: Educators and/or those involved with informal education programs such as with Girl Scouts, after-school program, etc.
Date: Saturday, May 2, 2009 from 9:00 to 3:00
Presenter: Kristin Alvarez, NH Geographic Alliance
Cost: $15 (includes lunch) plus the optional $50 for those who wish to purchase an eTrex
Location: NCES, Gorham, NH
Registration: Please register by April 16 by emailing Becky Ring at becky@ncedservices.org or calling NCES at 800-268-5437 or 603-466-5437. Purchase orders should be faxed to 603-466-2907 or checks mailed to NCES, 300 Gorham Hill Road, Gorham, NH 03581. MC/Visa accepted.
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Preventing Health Risks & Promoting Healthy Outcomes Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Questioning (LGBQ) Youth
As a group, lesbian, gay, and bisexual students are at higher risk for early sexual activity and for HIV infection. In addition to the sexual behavior risks, research has shown that these students are at greater risk for physical and verbal abuse in schools than other students. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth report more thoughts about suicide and suicide attempts than their heterosexual peers and higher drug and alcohol use.
Workshop participants will:
- Increase their ability to provide preventive services to lesbian, gay, and bisexual students that will help steer them away from risky sexual behaviors.
- Increase their ability to help other school personnel improve the climate for lesbian, gay, and bisexual students within their schools, so that they can be safe and productive at school.
- Initiate and/or improve programs to prevent health and mental health risks and promote healthy outcomes.
Target Audience: School nurses, school counselors, and other educators working with LGBQ youth.
Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 from 8:15 to 4:00
Cost: Free
Location: NCES, Gorham, NH
Registration: Please register by April 1 by emailing Becky Ring at becky@ncedservices.org or calling NCES at 800-268-5437 or 603-466-5437.
Sponsored by: NH Department of Education, Office of School Health & American Psychological Association with Funding provided by Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Cooperative Agreement No.: 1U87DP001217-01.
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Formative Assessment and Diagnostic Probes Follow-Up
This session is for K-12 mathematics educators and is a follow-up to the Formative Assessment & Diagnostic Probes sessions done on November 10th and December 8th with Christine Downing. In this follow-up session, participants will utilize curriculum topic studies in a more in-depth approach to design their own diagnostic probes. In addition, a protocol will be presented which helps to streamline the analysis of student work based on completion of diagnostic probes. Finally, activities will be presented to engage participants in aligning probes to the GLEs and GSEs and how to utilize NECAP support materials to create probes. Throughout the session, additional formative assessment classroom techniques (FACTs) will be shared by the presenter. Participants are encouraged to bring the following resources to the session:
- Uncovering Student Thinking in Mathematics (text received through prior sessions or may be purchased from NCES).
- Current mathematics program (teacher edition only) being utilized in school
- Copies of NH GLEs/GSEs
If you did not attend a prior session, you are still welcome to attend this session.
Presenter: Christine Downing, Mathematics Content Specialist, NHDOE
Location: NCES Conference Room
Dates: Friday, May 15, 2009
Time: 9:00 – 3:00
Cost: NCES Member School Staff $20, Associate Member Staff $25, All others $30
Registration: Contact Becky Ring at 466-5437 or becky@ncedservices.org
Questions: Contact Matt Treamer @ 466-5437 or matt@ncedservices.org
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Literacy 2009
The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) act, the new IDEA special education legislation, and the sanctions imposed for Schools in Need of Improvement, among other educational initiatives, are having a dramatic impact on literacy instruction practices in elementary schools across the country. Consistent with many of these reform efforts, is the call for using reading instruction practices that are based on scientific reading research. This research base provides a wealth of information regarding reading development, reading difficulties, and reading instruction, including the essential areas of reading: phonemic awareness; phonics, decoding, spelling, and word study; oral language development; vocabulary, reading fluency; comprehension; and writing. Instead of asking teachers to completely abandon past practices, the reality of this current emphasis on using scientifically based reading research to inform our instruction, instead, further enhances many of the best literacy practices we have learned over the years. This workshop provides teachers with the opportunity to critically reflect on the scientific research-base, to grow in their understanding of this knowledge base, and reaffirm best literacy practices of the past and present.
Date: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 from 9:00 to 3:00 (Continental breakfast & registration at 8:30)
Presenter: Dr. Melissa Keenan
Cost: $25 (includes lunch)
Location: NCES, Gorham, NH
Registration: Please register by emailing Becky Ring at becky@ncedservices.org or calling NCES at 800-268-5437 or 603-466-5437. Purchase orders should be faxed to 603-466-2907 or checks mailed to NCES, 300 Gorham Hill Road, Gorham, NH 03581. MC/Visa accepted.
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What School Leaders Need to Know About Literacy Planning and Reading Instruction
For Adminstrators and Literacy Planning Teams Grades 4-12
Literacy planning for grades 4 and up presents unique challenges. Effective, school-wide literacy instructionshould include a plan for providing reading and writing instruction to good readers (close to grade level or above) that is delivered in regular content classrooms, and a plan for providing interventions to weak and struggling readers. Literacy planning should involve all teachers and be actively supported by committed leadership.
Date: Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Time: 8:45 to 3:30
Presenter: Joan Sedita, M.Ed.
Cost: NCES Member School Staff $60, Associate Member Staff $75, All others $90
Location: NCES, Gorham, NH
Registration: Please register by May 6 by emailing Becky Ring at becky@ncedservices.org or calling NCES at 800-268-5437 or 603-466-5437. Purchase orders should be faxed to 603-466-2907 or checks mailed to NCES, 300 Gorham Hill Road, Gorham, NH 03581. MC/Visa accepted.
Sponsored by:
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Developing Learning Leaders
Registration is now open for the NHSDC 5th Annual Conference. The conference theme is Developing Learning Leaders: Preparing to Go the Distance. The conference will highlight four of the six NH educator teams presenting at the summer NSDC conference in Boston.
Visit NHSDC's website for more information
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Performance Pathways Users Group
These video conferenced sessions are to provide a context for users to ask questions of each other and to share experiences including tips, tricks and best practices regarding the development and support of Performance Tracker.
Dates: Fridays, April 10 and June 12 from 9:00 to 11:30. Contact Becky Ring to register for the NCES location at 466-5437 or becky@ncedservices.org
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PRIME For Life
Educators representing Berlin High School, Berlin Youth Alternatives, Colebrook Academy, Groveton High School, Littleton High School, Lin-Wood High School, Stratford High School, Pittsburg High School, White Mountains Regional High School and Woodsville High School recently participated in an intensive three-day program to become certified instructors of the PRIME For Life curriculum.
PRIME For Life is an alcohol and drug program for people of all ages. It is designed to gently but powerfully challenge common beliefs and attitudes that directly contribute to high-risk alcohol and drug use. The training was made available through the Grants to Reduce Alcohol Abuse which funds the North Country High School Coalition for Alcohol Abuse Prevention project managed by NCES.
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Advising Appointments
Plymouth State University
College of Graduate Studies
Cheryl Baker will be available from 3:00 to 5:30 at NCES on Thursday, April 9, 2009 for advising appointments. She will be available to discuss current or future graduate programs including the MEd, MBA, CAGS and EdD. Please call 603-535-2636 to arrange an appointment.
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NH Recovery
How the Federal Stimulas Affects Businesses, Schools, Municipalities, and Non-Profits
Video Conference
Location: NCES
Date: April 7, 2009
Time: 12:30 to 4:00
Registration required (link below)
This event is designed to acquaint businesses, municipalities, schools, and non-profit organizations with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), and to provide information on where to find detailed information on the 80 or so ARRA funded programs that are expected to benefit New Hampshire. ARRA provides New Hampshire with many opportunities to put people to work and to bring other benefits to the people of the State. Funds are primarily allocated through existing programs. Information is being posted at http://www.nh.gov/recovery/ as it becomes available. Please visit this site to locate detailed information and to submit suggestions, proposals, or questions.
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