Teaching Institute
Bringing Joy Back Into Teaching Literacy!
Description: In the past couple of decades, teachers have been placed in pressure cookers. They feel the pressure to teach state standards. Often times the pressure is to teach a particular standard even if students are not ready to comprehend it. Dare I mention the pressure teachers are under to have their students perform well on state tests? All this pressure robs teachers of having fun while teaching and robs them of taking time to celebrate when students’ eyes light up when they learn something new!
I believe that standards and tests have a place in our schools. State standards give teachers wonderful curriculum maps, and testing gives opportunities for teachers and students to celebrate what was learned and accomplished!
During the keynote presentation, I will share ideas on how to bring back joy and fun by (1) teaching foundational skills, (2) teaching different genres, and (3) teaching writing so that students’ voices are heard in their compositions.
Beverly A. DeVries, Ed.D.
Our Schedule
9:00 am - Opening Session (Sanctuary)
Keynote: Bringing Joy Back Into Teaching Literacy!
Presenter: Beverly A. DeVries
10:00 am - Breakout Session 1
Social Emotional Learning (Fellowship Hall)
Presenter: Ron Titus, SNU School of Education
Movement in the Classroom (Devotions Room)
Presenter: Misty Henry, SNU School of Education
Content Area Reading Strategies (Media Center)
Presenter: Brett Bradley, SNU School of Education
PreK - 2nd Grade Panel Discussion (Sanctuary)
Presenters: Andrea Guy, Principal, SNU Lab School
Derek Glenn, Dean of Students, SNU Lab School
PreK Classroom Strategies
Presenters: Madelyn Campbell, Angela Bumpus
& Diana Anthony (In Classroom last 30 minutes)
Kindergarten Classroom Strategies
Presenter: Kim Adams (In Classroom last 30 minutes)
Lower Primary Classroom Strategies (Grades 1 & 2)
Presenters: Gina McGarry, Kimberly Jones,
& Lacy Powell (In Classroom last 30 minutes)
11:00 am - Breakout Session 2
Social Emotional Learning (Fellowship Hall)
Presenter: Ron Titus, SNU School of Education
Movement in the Classroom (Devotions Room)
Presenter: Misty Henry, SNU School of Education
Content Area Reading Strategies (Media Center)
Presenter: Brett Bradley, SNU School of Education
3rd - 8th Grade Panel Discussion (Sanctuary)
Presenters: Andrea Guy, Principal, SNU Lab School
Derek Glenn, Dean of Students, SNU Lab School
Upper Primary Classroom Strategies (Grades 3-5)
Presenters: Alexis Bowen, Erica Downey,
& Dawn Thompson (In Classroom last 30 minutes)
Middle School Classroom Strategies (Grades 6-8)
Presenters: Rachel Guidotti, Cambra Strawn,
& Kaleb Dye (In Classroom last 30 minutes)
12:00 pm - Lunch (Provided by Chick-fil-A)
1:00 pm - Breakout Session 3
Using Mentor Text to Teach the 6 + 1 Writing Traits
(PreK - 2nd in Sanctuary) - Presenter: Beverly A. DeVries
Oklahoma A+ (3rd - 8th) (Fellowship Hall)
Presenter: University of Central Oklahoma
2:00 pm - Breakout Session 4
Using Mentor Text to Teach the 6 + 1 Writing Traits
(3rd - 8th in Sanctuary) - Presenter: Beverly A. DeVries
Oklahoma A+ (PreK - 2nd) (Fellowship Hall)
Presenter: University of Central Oklahoma
3:00 pm - Closing Remarks (Sanctuary)