Second 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 29, 2007
University of Connecticut Greater Hartford Campus
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
9:00 – 9:30am
Registration/Check-In
Breakfast Served
9:30 – 9:50am
Welcome
Auditorium Lobby, Library Building
Auditorium Lobby, Library Building
Auditorium, Library Building
Aja LaDuke, TNE Induction Committee, Graduate Assistant
Dr. Scott Brown, Director of the Teachers for a New Era Project at UConn
10:00am – 10:50am
SESSION 1
Straight Talk about Language Diversity in the Classroom
Room 402, Library Building
Facilitator: Peter J. Kenny, Adjunct Professor, Central Connecticut State University
Participants will look at stages of second language acquisition and how they affect learners' abilities. In
addition, you will look at strategies and materials for each stage. If time, the facilitator will conduct an
exercise which puts each participant in a non-English speaking classroom.
Have It Your Way: Improvisation and the
Scripted Curriculum
Room 220, Social Work Building
Facilitators: Bridgette Gordon-Hickey, Instructional Consultant, Windham Center School, Windham, CT
Jon Romeo, Principal, Commodore Macdonough Elementary School, Middletown Public Schools
You’ve spent years considering, developing, and honing your personal philosophy of learning. Consider
how to weave your personal philosophy into a prescribed curriculum or literacy program.
Subject Session: English
Room 209, Social Work Building
Facilitator: Julie White, Mansfield Middle School
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.
Surviving the Early Years: Time and Stress
Management for New Teachers
Room 306, Undergraduate Building
Facilitator: Jon Hand, Mansfield Public Schools
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.
Parents and Teachers as Partners
Room 308, 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.
11:00am – 11:50am
SESSION 2
Parents and Teachers as Partners
Room 308, 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.
Where Do I Turn? : Finding the Resources
in your Building and District
Room 220, Social Work Building
Facilitators: Desi Nesmith, Intervention Resource Specialist, Hartford Public Schools
Seth Newton, School Psychologist, Litchfield Public Schools
Uncooperative co-workers? Confrontational parents? BEST portfolio worries? No mentor? If you have ever
had these or similar issues? Rest assured that Desi & Seth will help you determine where you should turn for
help in your school and district.
Classroom Management - Elementary Classroom
Room 402, Library Building
Facilitator: Mickey Maheu, Southeast Elementary School, Mansfield Public Schools
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.
Surviving the Early Years: Time and Stress
Management for New Teachers
Room 306, Undergraduate Building
Facilitator: Jon Hand, Mansfield Public Schools
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.
Strategies for Managing Differentiation
Room 209 Social Work Building
Facilitator: Catherine Little, Assistant Professor, Educational Psychology, Neag School of Education, University of
Connecticut
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.
12:00 – 12:40pm
LUNCH
Cafeteria, Undergraduate Building
12:45pm – 1:35pm
SESSION 3
Strategies for Managing Differentiation
Room 209, Social Work Building
Facilitator: Catherine Little, Assistant Professor, Educational Psychology, Neag School of Education, University of
Connecticut
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.
Teaching is Tough! Resilience
while Surviving the First Few Years
Room 220, Social Work Building
Facilitators: René Roselle, Ph.D., Assistant Clinical Professor, Neag School of Education, University of Connecticut
Daniel Patrick Heaphy, 8th Grade Social Studies Teacher, Bellizzi Middle School, Hartford Public Schools
Come and take a resiliency quiz and find out how resilient you are, learn about the characteristics of resilient
people and environments and share with others the strategies you use to buffer yourself during tough times.
A second year teacher in Hartford and a UCONN faculty member will facilitate this discussion on resiliency.
Integrating the ‘Best’ of BEST into your Teaching and Learning
Room 402, Library Building
Facilitators: Italia Negroni, Hartford Public Schools
Christine Sullivan, Connecticut State Department of Education
Participants will learn how the criteria for the CT BEST Portfolio are the foundation to effective teaching and
learning and should be integrated into the planning, instructing, assessing, and reflecting of every lesson
every day.
Special Panel for First Year Teachers:
Q and A with Second and Third Year Teachers
Room 306, Undergraduate Building
Facilitators: Scarlett Wong, Classroom Teacher, Grade 4, Dunbar Hill School, Hamden, CT
Cara Clark, Classroom Teacher, Grade 1, Silver Lane School, East Hartford, CT
Brittany Richard, Special Education/Inclusion Teacher, Grades 3 & 4, Batchelder School, Hartford, CT
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.
Subject Session : Math
Room 308, Undergraduate Building
Facilitators: Deb Ostien, Hall Memorial School, Willington, CT
Peg Curtis, Hall Memorial School, Willington, 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. Additional topics
covered may include setting up your classroom, student assessment and grading, collaboration with parents,
and stress management.
1:40pm – 2:30pm
SESSION 4
Subject Session : Science
Room 209, 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.
Integrating the ‘Best’ of BEST into your Teaching and Learning
Room 402, Library Building
Facilitators: Italia Negroni, Hartford Public Schools
Christine Sullivan, Connecticut State Department of Education
Participants will learn how the criteria for the CT BEST Portfolio are the foundation to effective teaching and
learning and should be integrated into the planning, instructing, assessing, and reflecting of every lesson
every day.
Special Education: What Every Teacher Should Know
Room 308, Undergraduate Building
Facilitator: Mimi Villanova, West Hartford Schools
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.
Positive Classroom Management - Secondary Classroom
Room 306, Undergraduate Building
Facilitator: Cyndy Saunders, 8th Grade Language Arts/Literacy Teacher, Hall Memorial School, Willington, CT
Explore one teacher's tools for positive classroom management: respect, problem solving, good lesson plans,
and a few brief (and clearly understood!) phrases.
Subject Session: Social Studies
Room 220, Social Work Building
Facilitators: Meg Monaghan, Doctoral Student, Neag School of Education, University of Connecticut
Lea McCabe, Bristol Central High School, Bristol, 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.
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