Professional Development Opportunities
Tuesday, August 22 - Friday, August 25
All Teachers New to Bethel
Class: Bethel School District New Teacher Inservice 8:30 – 11:45 MV Caforium
Instructors: Drew Braun and Lori Smith and Tim Goss
Date: Friday, August 25
This class is for all teachers new to Bethel School District this fall. This class is different
than our Induction (Mentor/New Teacher) program. Teachers will be introduced to an overview
of information unique to Bethel School District. Drew and Lori will: discuss our systems
approach and prevention model, provide information regarding Bethel and state assessments and
data, as well as explain a great deal of miscellaneous information about district credit, credit
vouchers, ORF, PBS, BLIS, PDC, PDUs …and a list of the meaning of assorted acronyms! They
will also meet with Tim Goss for training and assistance with email and other technology issues.
This morning inservice will be followed by the new teacher luncheon.
Elementary Level Trainings
Class: Reading Mastery I 8:30 -3:30 SpEd Conf Room
Instructor: Edica Liebl
Date: Tuesday, August 22
This class is for anyone who will be teaching this early reading program for the first time
or for those who would benefit from a refresher course. Edica will provide an overview of the
program, teach about the unique features of this research-based curriculum, and model the
presentation of lessons. Participants will practice and learn: the formats, important error
correction procedures, quick ways to collect important student data, and ways to ensure that the
program is delivered in a lively way to engage all learners.
Class: Reading Mastery II 8:30-3:30 SpEd Conf Room
Instructor: Lynda Hardwick
Date:Wednesday, August 23
This class is for anyone who will be teaching this early reading program for the first time
or for those who would benefit from a refresher course. Lynda will provide an overview of the
program, teach about the unique features of this research-based curriculum, and model the
presentation of lessons. Participants will practice and learn: the formats, important error
correction procedures, quick ways to collect important student data, and ways to ensure that the
program is delivered in a lively way to engage all learners.
Class: Open Court (K-1) 8:30 – 3:30 Prairie Mt Room 35
Instructor: Lisa Schutt
DATE: Wednesday, August 23
This class is for any new teachers who will be teaching the Open Court program at grades
K-1. The presenter from Open Court will train teachers in the program and offer effective
strategies regarding implementation and student engagement. K teachers should bring the
teacher’s guides for Unit 1 and Unit 5. 1st grade teachers should bring the teacher’s guide for
Unit 1 and Unit 7.
Class: Open Court (GR 3-2) 8:30 – 3:30 Prairie Mt Room 36
Instructors: Anne McKee grades 2/3
DATE: Wednesday, August 23
This class is for any new teachers who will be teaching the Open Court program at grades
2-3. The presenter from Open Court will train teachers in the program and offer effective
strategies regarding implementation and student engagement. Teachers should bring the teacher’s
guide for Unit 1.
Class: Open Court (Grades 4-6) 8:30 – 3:30 Prairie Mt Room 43
Instructor: Lea Stone grades 4-6
Date: Wednesday, August 23
This class is for any new teachers who will be teaching the Open Court program at grades
4-6. The presenter from Open Court will train teachers in the program and offer effective
strategies regarding implementation and student engagement. Teachers should bring the teacher’s
guide for Unit 1.
Class: REWARDS – Reading Excellence: Word Attack and Rate Development Strategies
(Grades 4-12) 12:30-3:30 MV South Media
Instructors: Ginger Kowalko and Lori Smith
Date: Wednesday, August 23
This class is for all teachers who will be teaching intermediate REWARDS (grades 4 &
5) or regular REWARDS (grades 6-12). The program is 20 lessons long and teaches students to
read multi-syllabic words fast. Students learn and practice decoding and fluency skills.
REWARDS Intermediate is indicated for 5th grade students and regular REWARDS is indicated
for ‘medium low” and “medium’ middle grade readers at the beginning of the year. It is very
appropriate for high school students in special education or for those who have very low reading
skills. This would also a be good class for content area teachers in grades 4-12 who are interested
in understanding the reading difficulties many students experience and to learn strategies to help
students in their content area classes.
Class: Horizons 12:30 – 4:30 SpEd Conf Room
Instructor: Amy Riepma
Date: Thursday, August 24
This beginning reading program is used mostly in our Title Classrooms. It is for anyone
using the program for the first time or from those who would benefit from a refresher course.
Amy will provide an overview of the program as well as teach and model the lesson format. She
will be able to answer questions and describe ways to make the program engaging for all learners.
Class: Step Up to Writing (Grades K-2) 8:30-11:30 Board Room
Instructor: Debbie Kriegh
Date: Thursday, August 24
This class is for new K-2 general ed. teachers who may be teaching this program and for
other K-2 general ed. teachers who are interested in the program. Step Up to Writing is a very
promising writing program that can be used in grades K -12. Debbie will present an overview of
the program and teach some strategies for helping students master sentence writing and other key
skills. Debbie has taught this program with elementary students and will share her enthusiasm.
Class: Step Up to Writing (Grades 3-5) 12:30-3:30 Board Room
Instructor: Debbie Kriegh
Date: Thursday, August 24
This class is for new general ed. teachers at grades 3-5 who may be teaching the program
and for other general ed. 3rd-5th grade teachers who are interested in learning about the program.
Step Up to Writing is a very promising writing program that can be used in grades K -12.
Teachers who attend will learn the overview of the program. The program, which is usually
taught in Language Arts class, can be applied in all subject areas to improve students’ reading,
note-taking and writing skills. Debbie has taught this program with elementary and middle grade
students and will share her enthusiasm.
Middle School and High School Levels
Class: Corrective Reading (2 consecutive half days AM) 8:00-11:30 MV North Media
Instructor: Erika Case
Date: Tuesday, August 22 and Wednesday, August 23
This class is for anyone who will be teaching the Corrective Reading (decoding series).
This Corrective Reading program (Levels A, B1, B2, and C) is taught by Special Education
teachers at the Middle and High school level and by some general education teachers at the
Middle level. It is important that anyone teaching the program have training, and many who have
been teaching would benefit from this course as a refresher. Erika will teach the basics of the
program, model lesson formats, and be prepared to answer questions about how to make the
program engaging for all learners. This is a 2 day training that continues on Wednesday.
Class: Prentice Hall 8:30-11:30 MV South Media
Instructors: Amelia Becker and Sharyn Dye
Date: Tuesday, August 22
This class is for anyone who may be using this program at some point during the
upcoming school year. (Note: Some teachers may begin the year teaching REWARDS and then
start Prentice Hall.) Prentice Hall is used widely at the middle grades and will be used in some
Freshmen English courses. Amelia and Sharyn have been teaching Prentice Hall and will share
an overview of the program and its key elements. They will also describe many of the ACCESS
strategies and instructional delivery methods that they have been using to help make it engaging
for middle grade students.
Class: ACCESS - Academic Content Competency: Every Student Succeeding 12:30-3:30
Board Room
Instructors: Ginger Kowalko and Lori Smith
Date: Tuesday, August 22
This class is for all new teachers at the middle grades level. New high school teachers in
the Social Studies and Science department are also invited to attend. ACCESS consists of various
content literacy strategies and techniques designed to provide every student access to course
content and reinforce and improve reading skills. Ginger and Lori will share the information and
techniques that middle grade content area teachers and high school science and social studies
teachers learned this year.
Class: Step Up to Writing (Grades 6-12) 8:30-11:30 MV South Media
Instructor: Debbie Kriegh
Date: Wednesday, August 23
This class is for all new middle grades teachers. High school English and teachers are
also invited to attend. Step Up to Writing is a very promising writing program that can be used in
grades K -12. Teachers who attend will learn the overview of the program. The program, which
is usually taught in English and Language Arts classes, can be applied in all subject areas to
improve students’ reading, note-taking and writing skills. Debbie has taught this program with
elementary and middle grade students and will share her enthusiasm.
Class: REWARDS – Reading Excellence: Word Attack and Rate Development Strategies
(Grades 4-12) 12:30-3:30 MV South Media
Instructors: Ginger Kowalko and Lori Smith
Date: Wednesday, August 23
This class is for all teachers who will be teaching regular REWARDS (grades 6-12) or
Intermediate REWARDS (grades 4 &5). The program is 20 lessons long and teaches students to
read multi-syllabic words fast. Students learn and practice decoding and fluency skills.
REWARDS Intermediate is indicated for 5th grade students and regular REWARDS is indicated
program for ‘medium low” and “medium’ middle grade readers at the beginning of the year. It is
very appropriate for high school students in special education or for those who have very low
reading skills. This would also a be good class for content area teachers in grades 4-12 who are
interested in understanding the reading difficulties many students experience and to learn
strategies to help students in their content area classes.