Dear Math, Science and English Teachers,

You are invited to attend a two-day Summer Institute June 14 & 15, 2017, at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD. Teachers from across the state will gather to explore strategies and higher level thinking strategies and activities that will encourage engagement and academic growth targeted to meet the needs of the students in your classroom. Content learning specialists who have extensive classroom experience in their respective content areas will facilitate the Summer Institutes.

What Will You Do at a Learning Power Institute?

• Science Institute: Immerse yourself in on-line laboratory and interactive tools focused on scientific concepts and processes. Experience and experiment with activities that inspire students to apply critical thinking skills to scientific inquiry. Then, use what you’ve learned to design a lesson that incorporates online tools with inquiry science while also meeting the expectations of the new South Dakota Science standards. If you need more information about the science training, please contact LuAnn Lindskov.

• ELA Institute: Examine and explore engaging yet challenging learning activities developed specifically for the English classroom. Experiment with online leveled reading options designed to make informative text more accessible to students of all reading levels. Hesitant to give up the literature that has been driving your classroom instructional practices? Learn ways to solve the dilemma with strategies for integrating informative text and analytical writing into literary studies. If you need more information about the English training, please contact June Preszler.

• Math Institute: Explore strategies for designing and using mathematical investigations, writing dynamic problems and enhancing activities in your classroom. Gain an understanding of how successful students learn and how to develop those same skills in students who struggle. Build informative assessments that monitor and foster mathematical thinking through the use of the “TRU framework” for characterizing powerful learning environments. TRU instruction focuses on the five dimensions of mathematically powerful classrooms:  mathematics; cognitive demand; access to mathematical content; agency, authority and identity; and uses of assessment.  If you need more information about the math training, please contact Marcia Torgrude.

In addition to the training experience, incentives include:

• $200 stipend for participating in the full two days
• Materials and resources (hard copy and/or online) for implementation at the local district
• Campus housing in apartments (2 persons/apartment)
• Meals at the BHSU Student Center
• One hour of graduate credit available ($40 tuition paid by participant)

Please note:

• Participants must be teaching courses in grade 7 through 10 in the content area they choose
• Registration is limited and will close April 1
• Participants from small schools will receive first preference

If you have questions about the Summer Institute or Learning Power, please contact MaryLou McGirr or Dr. Jim Parry.