FYI

What can teachers and administrators from middle and high schools do to systematically improve adolescent literacy development on a school-wide basis, including content area classrooms? They can prepare for action by participating in Taking Action on Adolescent Literacy. In partnership with the Ohio Department of Education, Office of Literacy and the Center for Resource Management, ORC is sponsoring a professional development series especially designed for school literacy leadership teams. Go to the Taking Action flyer to get more information about the series and the application process. Participation is limited to 12 teams. Applications are due on or before August 4. Don’t miss this opportunity to collaborate with nationally renowned literacy leaders and be part of a statewide adolescent literacy project.

Ohio students entering 7^th grade in autumn 2008 will need to take 4 years of mathematics in high school to meet Core Curriculum requirements.  Most of these students will follow career paths that do not require calculus, so they will benefit from a senior level mathematics course that is different from the traditional pre-calculus course offered in most high schools.  The QUANT Institute is a 2-week professional development program, August 4 – 15, that explores Data Analysis, Probability, and Statistics concepts and problems using graphing calculators and related technology used in college coursework and workforce applications. Funding from the Ohio Department of Education provides a stipend and free housing for participants living more than 45 miles away. Six quarter hours of graduate credit are available. To register, go to the QUANT flyer, print the registration form on page 3, and send it to the address listed.  Registration closes on July 31.

On June 16-17, 2008, the Ohio Resource Center partnered with the Office of Literacy, Ohio Department of Education, to sponsor the seventh annual Ohio Literacy Institute (OLI). More than 425 educators attended, the largest turn-out in the seven-year history of the Institute. Next year's OLI will be held on June 15-16, 2009. To learn more or to view photos from OLI 2008, visit http://www.ohiorc.org/oli/2008/press_release.aspx.

Many teachers tell us that their lives have been changed and their teaching revitalized by summer professional development experiences. Our online adolescent literacy journal, In Perspective, is devoting its first issue of the upcoming school year to professional development. We are hoping to feature an article reporting the professional development endeavors that teachers took part in during their summer vacation. But we can’t do it without you! So please send us a paragraph or two describing what you did if you took part in an exciting or life-changing experience. For more information about this opportunity, view the PDF flyer, "What did you do on your summer vacation."

Visit the new ORC Ambassador website to learn more about the Ambassador program. ORC has trained more than 100 experienced Ohio educators to provide professional development and interactive workshops. The Ambassadors focus on the use of ORC resources and professional development materials for teaching standards-based mathematics, science, and English language arts. On the new website, you can request an Ambassador to provide professional devopment for you district or school, apply to become an Ambassador, or just learn more about the program.

Check out ORC's three newest webcasts. In each webcast, the members of the panel demonstrate how to analyze test items and data from state and national tests. Materials with each webcast include an article about the webcast topic, a viewing guide, and mini-collections -- small sets of ORC resources -- that provide additional examples and instructional resources supporting the webcast ideas. Each webcast focuses on one of the following topics:

• How to use mathematics vocabulary
• Ratio and proportions learning
• Using extended response items as tools to improve learning

The webcasts, along with discussion materials, are perfect for use in small-group professional development where thoughtful conversations about mathematics content can be held among teachers. The materials provide classroom teachers, curriculum specialists, and other mathematics education leaders with resources and information about using item-specific dats from the OGT to improve instructional practice.

The latest topic in "Questions from the Classroom," deals with providing students with strategies for examining a question before they offer a response. Answers to previous questions are archived on the ORC website.

If you have a question related to adolescent literacy, send your question to editor@ohiorc.org. Please include your name and the name of the school or institution where you work. All questions will receive a response; some will be selected for future columns.

The theme of the May/June Adolescent Literacy In Perspective is "Addressing Classroom Diversity Through Literature," and Edna Thomas, Columbus Public Schools, illustrates the theme in her powerful feature article about reaching students with literature. She relates her own poignant story, then ties it into her students' experiences with literature throughout her 25 years in the schools. She also includes suggested criteria for selecting multicultural books and a list of books that illustrate diversity and that appeal to adolescents. You'll also want to read the classroom vignettes, the OGT column, and the "For Your Bookshelf" feature. Don't miss this compelling issue.

Ambassador Training at ORC
ORC will hold its summer Ambassador training at ORC on July 22-24, 2008. To apply for the next training, complete the application form on the Ambassador website.

The ASM Materials Camp for high school teachers
ASM Materials Education Foundation, whose mission is "to excite young people in materials, science, and engineering careers," is offering this 40+ hour professional development opportunity. Six (6) Ohio locations, each capable of accommodating 30 teacher participants, have been confirmed for the summer of 2008. Locations and dates are:

• Akron - July 14-18, 2008 (tentative date)
• Cleveland - June 16-20, 2008
• Cincinnati - August 4-8, 2008
• Columbus - July 28-August 1, 2008
• Dayton - June 23-27, 2008
• Youngstown - July 14-18, 2008

For additional information and registration, see http://www.ohiorc.org/orc_documents/orc/fyi/ASM_Materials_Camp.pdf.

These attractive posters encourage teachers and students to engage in their learning and explore new learning. Go to the order form and order your posters right away. Instructions are also given on the page for making the poster your desktop background.

Reading Review Board Meetings for 2008-09
Saturday, October 25, 2008 at the University of Akron
Friday, December 12, 2009 at ORC
Saturday, February 28 at ORC and the University of Akron
Saturday, April 4 at ORC

The Science Review Board will hold its next meeting at the Ohio Resource Center on Wednesday, September 24, 2008.

Problem Corner is the newest mathematics feature on the ORC website. You'll have fun with these mathematically rich problems for grades 3-12. With more being added all the time, these problems can motivate, inspire, or challenge students. When you go to the Problem Corner, you'll be able to browse all the problems, or you can browse by grade and topic.