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Monday, July 12, 8:15am -9:00am
To kick off our week, we’ll cover some brain basics--and make sure we know some of the wonders of the human brain before we refocus on the interesting and important differences in ways the male and female brain see the world!
Monday, July 12, 9:00am -11:30am Understanding the Minds of Boys and Girls Michael Gurian’s presentations are a highlight of the Summer Training Institute. He is a dynamic and energetic presenter, challenging his audiences to consider new and innovative ways of awakening both girls and boys to the wonders of learning and life. Michael is a social philosopher, family therapist, and educator. The Gurian Institute, which he co-founded, conducts research, launches pilot programs and trains professionals internationally. Michael has been called "the people's philosopher" for his ability to bring together people's ordinary lives and scientific ideas. He has pioneered efforts to bring neuro-biology and brain research into homes, schools and public policy. A number of his ground-breaking books in child development have sparked national debate, including NURTURE THE NATURE, THE MINDS OF BOYS (co-authored with Kathy Stevens), THE WONDER OF GIRLS, THE WONDER OF BOYS, BOYS AND GIRLS LEARN DIFFERENTLY!, and THE PURPOSE OF BOYS (April 2009). In these inspirational, practical, and humorous presentations, Michael focuses on helping children of all ages succeed in school and life. Because boys and girls experience their home and school life differently, he explores how the minds of boys and girls develop distinctly— and how parents, educators and others working with children and families can care for and support the needs of both daughters and sons. The Minds of Boys and Girls session traces how a child’s learning mind grows, how girls’ and boys’ learn and grow differently, how acculturation influences boys and girls and how crucial school success has become to life success. Michael brings to life the developmental science of girls’ and boys’ minds and subsequent Institute sessions focus on the practical methods by which to raise and educate those minds. The Purpose of Boys session traces the specific needs boys have--both biological and social--to be raised and educated toward purposeful action, moral relevance, and motivation and goal-setting. With so many boys under-motivated at home and in school today, this session acts as a lens through which educators and anyone who cares for children can practically direct their learning and nurturing environments toward buildling successful and relationally literate boys and young men. Monday, July 12, 12:30pm - 4:00pm Either: Leadership and the Sexes Each of us enters the educational working environment not only as a human being, but as a woman or a man. Each workday is a meeting of gender-different styles, modes of operating, and leadership skills. The organization that utilizes the differences between men and women is the organization that discovers significant advantages. The organization that helps both genders understand each other has committed to maximum success, not only for the students they serve, but for the men and women that provide the services. In this presentation, Michael and Kelley provide a balanced, gender-positive approach that will help men and women in the educational workplace support each other and bring the best they have to offer to their leadership in classrooms, on administrative teams, while working with parents and in the board room! Or:
But we are seeing children—children whose bodies may look all grown up, but whose brains are still moving toward a maturity they won’t reach for a number of years, egging them on to take chances, seek novelty, ignore warnings, respond to impulses they don’t fully understand. In recent years, cutting edge research has helped us to better understand the learning styles of male and female adolescents, addressing questions like: What happens to boys and girls when their bodies begin the transformation from child to young adult? What does it all mean for teachers? We know that the adolescent brain is truly a work in progress! How should that knowledge impact how we raise and educate our middle and high school students? This session will explore the teen brain and propose answers to these important questions. Movement in the Classroom: The brain learns best when the body is moving. We have spent years and resources struggling to teach children to learn, and yet the standardized achievement test scores go down and classroom management issues plague teachers at all levels. Could it be that one of the key elements we’ve been missing is simply movement? This session will provide options for movement in the classroom for all ages and grade levels. When movement is used purposefully and intentionally, classroom management becomes easier and performance improves! Tuesday, July 13, 8:00am - 11:30am and 12:30pm - 4:00pm The sessions are all-day, age-level specific and will give participants a tool box full of practical strategies that can be used in any classroom to increase teacher effectiveness and make sure the needs of both boys and girls are being met. (SELECT ONE AGE LEVEL) Wednesday, July 14, 8:30am -11:30am Making A Good Brain Great Daniel G. Amen, MD is a physician, child and adult psychiatrist, brain imaging specialist, bestselling author, Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and the CEO and medical director of Amen Clinics, Inc. Dr. Amen is the author of 35 professional articles and 23 books, including the New York Times bestsellers, Change Your Brain, Change Your Life and Magnificent Mind At Any Age. In February 2010, Harmony Books will publish Dr. Amen’s new book, Change Your Brain, Change Your Body. He has also written and produced three recent blockbuster fundraising shows for public television, raising more than 16 million dollars. Dr. Amen, together with The United Paramount Network and Leeza Gibbons, produced a show called The Truth About Drinking, on alcohol education for teenagers, which won an Emmy Award for the Best Educational Television Show. Wednesday, July 14, 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Down From the Mountaintop! One of the challenges facing Gurian Institute participants is how to process the volume of information that they have gained over their week’s experience. Particularly challenging is returning to their school environments and trying to translate what they have learned to their daily practice. In many ways, the Gurian Summer Institute is a “mountaintop” experience, in which important ideas are examined in a supportive environment among people who share the same basic interests. Returning down from the mountain, figuratively and literally, requires some tools that will allow participants to develop practical ways to make the ideas they have discussed an integral part of their own lives. Participants will discuss the challenges they face when they return to their home schools. They will learn how to address those challenges, whether they are institutional or interpersonal, in ways that allow them to preserve their enthusiasm and see results from their good intentions. The presenter is an experienced teacher-educator, who also has 34 years experience in the K-12 arena. She will provide specific tools for addressing re-entry into one’s real life and how to make the valuable suggestions learned on top of the mountain part of daily routines. Wednesday, July 14, 1:45pm - 3:45pm Now What? Developing An Action Plan — Come together as a school team or form a team with your new Summer Institute friends! The goal of our action-planning session is to bring together what you've learned throughout the week AND to figure out how it all applies back where you work. This FUN (and funny!) and practical session will provide you with an effective action-planning tool that you can take back to your organization to get everyone working together and celebrating common goals. Closing for regular participants 3:45pm - 4:00pm Thursday, July 15, 8am Certification of new trainers and recertification for current trainers
This session will cover the curriculum, materials, contracting process, and all issues related to becoming a Gurian Institute Certified Trainer. New applicants must submit a completed application and nonrefundable $50 fee to attend this session. For more information, click certification. |
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