Upcoming Events
For more Professional Development Opportunities, visit www.southdakotapd.com
Driver education courses for instructors available
Northern State University will hold a workshop that features DRED 460: Driver & Traffic Safety Education and DRED 480: Special Methods in the Teaching of Driver Education. The class will run June 6-17 at Hub Area Technical School in Aberdeen.
DRED 460 and 480 are two of the three classes required for driver education endorsement. The third class needed is IE 450: Occupational and Safety Education, offered through correspondence at Northern. Terry Richardson will be the instructor. To inquire, contact Northern State University ’s extended studies office at (605) 626-2568.
Sexuality and HIV/AIDS topic of workshops
Two workshops titled “Human Sexuality and HIV/AIDS for Special Education Students” will be held this summer. The first is June 13-15 at Black Hills State University in Spearfish. The second is scheduled for July 20-21 at the Ramkota in Rapid City .
The workshop is designed to assist educators in teaching students with special needs about HIV/AIDS and sexuality education. It is offered for one undergraduate, graduate or renewal credit.
For more information, visit www.southdakotapd.com or contact April Hodges at (605) 773-6898.
Workshops address struggling readers, writers
Special Education Programs and Sopris West Educational Services will host three workshops for teachers this summer. There is no registration fee for these trainings, and one set of materials will be purchased for each registered school district. CEUs will be offered. Each course will have available one transcripted college credit through Colorado University for $100 per credit.
Step Up to Writing Program Training
Closing the Achievement Gap for Students Struggling to Become Proficient Writers
- Dates: June 16-17
- Location: Ramkota RiverCentre, Pierre
- Limit: 75 participants
- Presenter: Kim Marcum
For Elementary Special Education Staff
Closing the Achievement Gap for Struggling Elementary Readers
- Dates: July 14-15
- Location: Cedar Shore Resort, Chamberlain
- Limit: 200 participants
- Presenters: Frank Smith and Gail Adams
For Middle School and High School Special Education Staff
Closing the Achievement Gap for Struggling Secondary Readers
- Dates: Aug. 8-10
- Location: Ramkota RiverCentre, Pierre
- Limit: 200 participants
- Presenters: Joanne Allain and Frank Smith
To register for any of the sessions, call the department’s Special Education Programs at (605) 773-3678. College credit information is not available at this time. Travel, meal and lodging stipends are the responsibility of the individual.
Writing to Win© workshop takes place this summer
The Department’s Office of Career and Technical Education is sponsoring the first of three yearly sessions on the Writing to Win© system. Year one focuses on “Journal Writing for Critical Thinking.” Writing to Win© is designed to help teachers in all content areas improve students’ writing skills.
Writing to Win© I will be held June 27-29 at Mitchell Technical Institute. Dr. Warren Combs, developer of the Writing to Win© system, will lead the training.
Participants will learn the keys to teaching effective short writing. Schools should send teams of three people, including 7–12 classroom teachers and/or administrators. Team members will return to their school districts and implement the concepts learned. They also serve as writing coaches for other teachers. Follow-up sessions will be conducted throughout the year.
What outcomes can participants expect? Research shows that students do 30 percent better on tests of knowledge in courses that implement a student self-check system like the one taught at the workshop. The following demonstrates the impact of the Writing to Win© model at two schools: When middle school students completed two short writing assignments a week in every class, their pass rate on a state writing test increased from 66 percent to 91 percent in a single year. The pass rate at a high school moved from 74 percent to 98 percent three years.
Participants are asked to bring the following resources to the workshop:
- copy of the district/school’s writing curriculum
- sample teacher’s textbook for one grade level in math, science and/or social studies
- laptop computer
- curriculum maps, if available.
Register online at www.southdakotapd.com by June 10. Registration is limited to 25 schools and 75 participa nts. College credit and renewal credit are available.
For information, contact Marsha Kucker, state director of High Schools That Work/Making Middle Grades Work. Call (605) 224-6287 or mkucker@tie.net.
Send nutrition staff to Certification Institute
Administrators: Are you looking for professional development opportunities for your school nutrition staff and authorized representatives? The Certification Institute, June 19-24, trains food service professionals to serve healthy, safe and appealing meals. It also addresses issues such as menu analysis, communication and management skills.
This year’s institute will be held at Augustana College in Sioux Falls . The event is hosted annually by the Department of Education’s Child and Adult Nutrition Services.
Participants choose from a total of eight tracks – each consisting of 30 hours. One track may be completed each year. After completion of track four, participants graduate with a certificate. All tracks qualify for 30 hours of continuing education credits from the School Nutrition Association.
This year’s theme is “Step Up to the Plate for Child Nutrition.” A new track this year will focus on healthy schools with topics such as wellness policy development, new dietary guidelines and the HealthierUS School Challenge.
Deadline for registration is May 13. For information, call Child and Adult Nutrition Services at (605) 773-3413. Or visit the website. |
