"The course was profoundly important to me. I was already committed to teaching kids about the environment, but this course drove my commitment up several notches. As a result of what I learned, I do plan to change the focus of my (formerly called) "Save the Earth" enrichment class. Formerly, it was mainly about the garbage problem and decomposition, and our wasting of water and paper. This course helped me to refocus on systems thinking, and imbuing the kids with an understanding of the ecosystem, and how various human activities affect it.
The CELF Summer Institute was an intense week for me. Thank you so much for that week."
Laura Myerson
4th Grade Teacher
Claremont School, Ossining, NY
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Scott Beall working with Summer Institute participants to develop
curriculum units for use in their classrooms this school year. |
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Susan Santone (center) working with a middle school math teacher
on refining the goal of her curriculum unit. Insuring educators leave
the Summer Institute with a new or revised unit, or a renewed perspective
on their coursework for the school year, is an important component to the workshop.
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Participants certainly felt like students again when they experienced
an exercise outside called "Oh Deer!". |
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"Students" played the "Silent Squares" game, a fun exercise
in team building and cooperation to bring back to the classroom.
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Special guest presenters Jon Jacobs (EPA Counsel/CELF Board Member)(left) and David Lowy (Corporate Consultant)(second from
left) with Dorna Schroeter (P/NW Boces), Patti Bressman (CELF Board Member), Susan Santone (Director,
Creative Change
Educational Solutions ), Scott Beall (Scott Beall Consulting & CELF Teachers'
Advisory Board Director), Melanie Lester (CELF Board Member), and Katie Ginsberg (CELF Director). |
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Summer Institute co-presenters Susan Santone and
Scott Beall reflecting upon teachers' questions. |
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| Scott advising teachers on their curriculum development plans. |
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"I enjoyed the institute very much for the following reasons: the enthusiasm
of everyone in the room; the varied backgrounds and experiences of presenters and instructors; the format of giving information as a learner
before being asked to reflect as a teacher of others; the significant time
to develop a plan with immediate feedback from others with varied perspectives; and the rich wealth of resources.
Thanks for setting it up!
Next summer it would be great if we could join the [2007 participants] ...
We could share our successes with each other and offer support to the people in the new group. "
Carol Maguire
6th Grade Science Teacher
"The Summer Institute was a terrific experience. I was impressed by
the interest and motivation of the teachers, their sustained energy for
learning,
and the high quality of the instructional units they
developed. CELF and BOCES did a wonderful job recruiting top-quality
educators and coordinating
a program that exemplified best practices in
professional development. I
look forward to continue working with the
teachers as they implement their units, and tracking the impact of the
Summer Institute on student achievement."
Susan Santone
Director,
Creative Change
Educational Solutions
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