[Ailist] Canton Conference in October 09

[Joyce Lemke]

For those of you who responded to Marge, Gina or I regarding your interest, or the interest of those with whom you work in the use of strengths focused approaches in schools, here is the preliminary information about our education focused meeting in Canton, Ohio in October this year: 


VOICES OF LEARNING: A Seriously Fun Mosaic of Conversations
Canton, Ohio                                              October 12-16, 2009"By personalizing instruction to match a child's interests, strengths and learning styles, 
teachers find that students welcome more challenge and stretch their capacity to learn,"
says Dr. Joseph Renzulli, director of the National Research Center for the Gifted and 
Talented at the University of Connecticut and co-founder of Renzulli Learning.  "Prescriptive,
remedial approaches to achievement are falling short.  Accountablity for the truly educated
mind in today's knowledge-driven economy should first and foremost take account of high-
end learning skills.  These are the learner-centered skills that grow young minds, promote 
genuine student engagement, and increase achievement." 
 
The members of the Positive Change Core (PCC www.positivechangecore.org) hypothesize that the adoption and use of strengths-focused approaches described by Renzulli withall students will result in better student outcomes.  Those outcomes include better attendance, higher levels of engagement in classroom and independent study, higher levels of cooperation with teachers and peers, and an environment that reduces bullying and violence.  They will produce higher graduation levels, high achievement levels for all students, and increased levels of college-going.  
 
We are convinced that Stark County and Canton, Ohio is calling for such results.  Indeed, Stark County has already accomplished great results using these very methods. PCC proposes a celebration of and with students and teachers involved in programs across Stark County that use strengths based development. In short, we want to know, show and grow the good that exists in Stark County’s schools.  
 
During the second week of October (October 12-16, 2009), we would like to convene three connected but free-standing celebrations tentatively called VOICES OF LEARNING : A Seriously Fun Mosaic of Conversations. On October 13 at GlenOak High School, October 14 at the Timken Campus in Canton, and October 15 at Stark State College, we hope to bring together each day a group of about 100 - 50 % students, 25% teachers/administrators, and 25 % community members (including parents, educators, and business people), to work on a project (or projects) demonstrating and/or advancing strengths based work in Stark County and Ohio. Monday October 12 and Friday October 16 would be “Field Days” where participants would visit nominated sites around Stark County to see strengths approaches in action.  
 
 
 
Please contact Joyce Lemke, 330-704-0793 or jole200 at yahoo.com with questions or for further information
If you are interested, please reply to me off list, and we'll add you to our email roster for further information including registration, etc.  Thanks for your interest!  Joyce

 
 
 
Joyce A. Lemke
417 E.Huntingdon Street
Savannah, Georgia 31401

 C 330-705-0793