Third Annual
Beginning Teacher Conference
Sponsored by:
Teachers for a New Era Project
at
The University of Connecticut
The purpose of this conference is to provide beginning teachers with an
opportunity to explore relevant issues in an interactive forum while
demonstrating the resources available to them as educators through
the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
University of Connecticut Greater Hartford Campus
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
9:00am – 9:30am
Registration/Check-In
Breakfast Served
9:30am – 9:40am
Welcome
Auditorium Lobby, Library Building
Auditorium Lobby, Library Building
Auditorium, Library Building
Aja LaDuke, TNE Induction Committee, Graduate Assistant
Dr. Marijke Kehrhahn, Director of the Teachers for a New Era Project
9:50am – 10:50am
SESSION 1
Subject Session: English
Room 208, Social Work Building
Facilitator: Julie White, Mansfield Middle School, Mansfield, CT
Reconnect with your subject specific cohort and share strategies for success, brainstorm solutions for areas of
struggle, and discuss recent developments in research pertinent to the subject area. This session is an
opportunity to ask questions and to share successful ideas from your own classroom.
Parents and Teachers as Partners
Room 306, Undergraduate Building
Facilitator: Gina Vance, Assistant Principal, Gideon Welles School, Glastonbury, CT
An effective parent-teacher conference can help build a strong partnership between you and a student’s
family. Participants in this session will explore strategies to plan and prepare for a successful conference and
foster positive communication with parents.
Both Sides of BEST: Advice from a
Portfolio Completer and Scorer
Room 302, Undergraduate Building
Facilitator: Ryan Jones, History Department, Manchester High School, Manchester, CT
Participants will learn more about the criteria for the CT BEST Portfolio as well as strategies for successful
completion and integration into the planning, instructing, assessing, and reflecting of your lessons.
Strategies for Managing Differentiation
Room 203, Social Work Building
Facilitator: Peg Curtis, Hall Memorial School, Willington, CT
A classroom is filled with students of widely varying readiness levels, interests, and learning preferences.
Participants in this session will discuss the challenges of responding to a wide range of learner needs, and we
will do some problem solving around how to use specific strategies to manage differentiation.
Classroom Management - Elementary Classroom
Room 403, Library Building
Facilitator: Mickey Maheu, Southeast Elementary School, Mansfield Public Schools, Mansfield, CT
Come prepared to share your successful tips and strategies and learn what works for your colleagues. Leave
with new ideas to promote the positive management and structure of your classroom.
11:00am – 12:00pm
SESSION 2
Special Education: What Every Teacher Should Know
Room 302, Undergraduate Building
Facilitator: Ed Orszulak, East Hartford High School, East Hartford, CT
Do you know your legal responsibilities as a classroom teacher? How can you provide effective inclusion for
students with special learning needs? This session will explore a teacher’s legal obligations, ideas about
managing and differentiating for students and strategies for successful collaboration with special education
resource teachers and paraprofessionals.
Parents and Teachers as Partners
Room 306, Undergraduate Building
Facilitator: Gina Vance, Assistant Principal, Gideon Welles School, Glastonbury, CT
An effective parent-teacher conference can help build a strong partnership between you and a student’s
family. Participants in this session will explore strategies to plan and prepare for a successful conference and
foster positive communication with parents.
Subject Session: Science
Room 208, Social Work Building
Facilitator: Jon Swanson, Grades 9 – 12, E.O. Smith High School, Connecticut Regional District # 19
Reconnect with your subject specific cohort and share strategies for success, brainstorm solutions for areas of
struggle, and discuss recent developments in research pertinent to the subject area. This session is an
opportunity to ask questions and to share successful ideas from your own classroom.
Strategies for Managing Differentiation
Room 203, Social Work Building
Facilitator: Peg Curtis, Hall Memorial School, Willington, CT
A classroom is filled with students of widely varying readiness levels, interests, and learning preferences.
Participants in this session will discuss the challenges of responding to a wide range of learner needs, and we
will do some problem solving around how to use specific strategies to manage differentiation.
Classroom Management - Elementary Classroom
Room 403, Library Building
Facilitator: Mickey Maheu, Southeast Elementary School, Mansfield Public Schools, Mansfield, CT
Come prepared to share your successful tips and strategies and learn what works for your colleagues. Leave
with new ideas to promote the positive management and structure of your classroom.
12:00pm – 1:00pm
LUNCH
Cafeteria, Undergraduate Building
1:10pm – 2:10pm
SESSION 3
Straight Talk about Language Diversity in the Classroom
Room 403, Library Building
Facilitator: Aja LaDuke, Doctoral Candidate, Reading and Language Arts Education, University of Connecticut
Participants will look at stages of second language acquisition and practical strategies to better serve English
language learners, and ALL learners in the classroom. In addition, participants will have an opportunity to
discuss contextual and policy issues around bilingualism, biliteracy, and bilingual education and how they
affect culturally and linguistically diverse students and families.
What Is It Really Like? : Second and Third Year
Room 203, Social Work Building
Teachers Speak Candidly about the First Year in the Classroom
Facilitators: Jenna Dhandapani, Ellington Public Schools, Ellington, CT
Brittany Richard, Special Education/Inclusion Teacher, Grades 3 & 4, Batchelder School, Hartford, CT
Rashana Wilson, Literacy, Grade 5, Bronx Prep Charter School, Bronx, NY
Is it your first year in the classroom? Take this opportunity to speak candidly with teachers who have been
in your shoes. They will discuss highlights, challenges, and surprises from their first year experiences. The
discussion will then be opened for you to ask the questions you’ve always wanted to ask and get honest
answers.
Surviving the Early Years: Time and Stress
Management for New Teachers
Room 306, Undergraduate Building
Facilitator: Matthew Brodeur, Science Department, East Hartford High School, East Hartford, CT
Feeling a little stressed out? Consider tools and strategies to minimize stress and manage time more
effectively. Emphasis will be placed on prioritizing professional responsibilities, eliminating unnecessary
tasks, identifying sources of stress, and seeking positive outlets to reduce stress.
Subject Session: Social Studies
Room 208, Social Work Building
Independent Session
Reconnect with your subject specific cohort and share strategies for success, brainstorm solutions for areas of
struggle. This session is an opportunity to ask questions and to share successful ideas from your own
classroom.
Subject Session : Math
Room 302, Undergraduate Building
Independent Session
Reconnect with your subject specific cohort and share strategies for success, brainstorm solutions for areas of
struggle. This session is an opportunity to ask questions and to share successful ideas from your own
classroom.
2:20pm – 2:30pm
Closing Remarks/Check-Out
Auditorium, Library Building
Directions to the Greater Hartford Campus
West Hartford, CT 06117
1. I-84
2. Exit 43 (Park Road)
3. Right at the end of exit
4. Immediate left at first traffic light (You are now on Trout Brook
Drive)
5. Continue on Trout Brook Drive for 1.7 miles
6. Just past the intersection of Trout Brook Drive and Asylum
Avenue is the Visitor/Student Parking Lot on the right (#8 on
map)
7. Park in the Visitor/Student Parking Lot
** Note: Conference Facilitators, TNE Induction Committee members, and
TNE Graduate Assistant volunteers may park in the lot directly behind the
Library Building (#3 on the map) - no parking permit needed
Greater Hartford Campus Guide
Use the map and ledger below to navigate around the Greater Hartford Campus
1. Information Technology
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Computer Center
High Tech Classrooms
High Tech Labs
2. Library Building
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Auditorium
Campus Director
Cooperative Extension
CT Small Business Dev.
Center
Department of Public Policy
Library
Social Work Research
State Historian
Teacher Certification
(TCPCG)
Undergraduate Psychology
Faculty
Urban & Community Studies
3. Faculty and Staff Parking
4. School of Social Work
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Admissions (MSW or PHD)
Social Work Dean & Faculty
Social Work Registrar
STEP Program
Zachs Community Center
5. Undergraduate Building
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Academic Center for Entering
Students (ACES)
Art Gallery
Blue & White Cafe
BSBT
Bursar/Cashier
CAP/Student Support
Services
Fitness Center
Gampel Student Center
Nondegree BGS (Continuing
Studies)
Parking Services
Registrar
Student Activities
Students with Disabilities
UConn Co-op
Undergraduate Admissions
Undergraduate Faculty
Undergraduate Student
Affairs
6. Faculty and Staff Parking
7. Facilities Building
8. Student and Visitor Parking