Email contact for questions concerning WWEC Conference:

stephdesigns@centurytel.net

Session Descriptions

8:00-8:45 Sessions

democracy it is! A New Generation of Civic Engagement

Kurt Griesemer & Chad Reuter, Project Directors
Wisconsin Educational Communications Board
8:00-8:45 • Area: Social Studies, Gr. K-6 • Board Room A

democracy it is! brings student activism to life in your classroom from the view of the children engaged in making a difference! democracy it is! will inspire you and your students to go beyond discussing what could be done in favor of getting out and making your voices heard!

Kurt Griesemer and Chad Reuter are Instructional Programs Developers with the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and co-Project Directors on the democracy it is! series.

Finding & Telling the Story: Objectivity & Ethical Responsibility

Lyon Evans, Professor of English, Viterbo University
8:00-8:45 • Area: English, Gr. 7-12 • Room: 9

As faculty adviser of Lumen, the Viterbo University student newspaper, for 20 years, and--before that—as a professional, collegiate and high school journalist, Lyon Evans has been actively involved in the news business. Learn through his experiences how to help student journalists identify possible stories, prepare for interviews, gather information, write and revise the story, and see their projects through to successful (occasionally not-so-successful!) publication. Besides the “mechanics” of news gathering and writing, the presentation will explore questions of ethics, press freedom, and journalistic responsibility.

Transforming Teaching & Learning Using an Interactive Smartboard

Naomi Harm, CESA #4 Educational Technology Director
8:00-8:45 • Area: General, Gr. K-12 • Room: 4

Smartboards are an effective integration tool to support teaching and learning and to deliver quality interactive digital content in the K-16 environment. Discover how you can raise the level of student engagement in a classroom, motivate reluctant students and promote enthusiasm for learning through digital lessons and interactive activities. Walk away from this session with many ideas of how to streamline instruction and actively
engage your students with Smart Technologies integration lessons.

Visual & Sensory Strategies for Individuals with Autism

Rosemary Bodnar, Tomah Area Schools
8:00-8:45 • Area: Special Ed, Gr. K-6 • Room: 1

Participants will listen to stories and real life examples of strategies that have worked for some people in the autism spectrum. Presentation willvinclude video of students with autism and samples of visual supports
used in school and home.

Rosemary Bodnar has been working with special needs students for 10 years. She is a member of the Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative Leadership team and has extensive training in Autism Spectrum Disorder. She and her husband are the foster parents of a child with Autism and do respite care for others. Rosemary volunteers at Mt. La Crosse to teach “Rose’s Kids” skiing for children with cognitive disabilities.

Community-Based Instruction

Rick Stewart & Scott Bagniefski, Medical Partnership program at
Lincoln Middle School, School District of La Crosse
8:00-8:45 • Area: Science & Math, Gr. 5-12 • Room: 2

Learn how the Medical Partnership program uses community resources to improve instruction. The Medical Partnership program utilizes Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center and Franciscan Skemp Mayo Healthcare as well as Viterbo University and the UW-La Crosse to deliver curriculum to seventh grade students in an integrated program of instruction. See how this program cooperates with 70 different doctors, nurses, technicians, and other community volunteers to provide an experiential learning environment for students and increase motivation and the level of learning.

Scott Bagniefski teaches Mathematics and Social Studies in the Medical Partnership program. Rick Stewart teaches Science and English in the Medical Partnership program.

Developing a Summer Reading Program

Mary Mulvaney-Kemp, Former District Reading Specialist, Viroqua
8:00-8:45 • Area: Reading, Gr. 1-5 • Room: 6

Research indicates that struggling readers tend to regress significantly during the summer. This session tells you about the Viroqua Area Schools’ summer evening reading program and will emphasize the maintenance of reading skills acquired during the school year. Students attended three evenings a week for a six week period. Material presented will include specific content and implementation strategies regarding fluency, spelling, self-selected reading, one-on-one instruction, listening skills and a book “give away” program. Attendees will also learn about Viroqua’s book mailing system used in the summer of 2006. The program’s value was confirmed by student attendance and parent evaluations.

Keeping your School Safer – the ABC’s

Doug Leclair, District Safety Chair, School District of La Crosse
8:00-8:45 • Area: General, Gr. K-12 • Room: 8

During his 30-year career, Doug Leclair has witnessed the dramatic change in safety and security issues surrounding schools. He’ll share some of today’s important fundamental concerns about school safety and security with practical examples of how to assess your school’s safety levels and how to take reasonable and cost effective measures to increase safety and security. Bring questions and suggestions to share with session attendees.

Doug Leclair has 30 years experience working with and for schools. For the last 10 years he has focused on safety and security issues including the development of Emergency Action Plans with mandated lockdown drills, bringing School Resource Officers (police officers) into schools, requiring volunteer background checks and developing staff ID badges.

Ammunition Against Childhood Obesity

Steven P. Czys, Chiropractor, Elite Chiropractic & Wellness
8:00-8:45 • Area: General, Gr. K-12 • Board Room B

Is there anything more important than your health or the health of your family? Discover how a healthy lifestyle is the only way to live to achieve maximum human potential. We will discuss childhood obesity and the myriad of diseases it leads to. We’ll investigate which foods to eat and which to avoid as well as what vitamins help you and which can actually harm you. Learn how important it is to keep active and exercise. This is important information for you, your students, and others in your life.

Dr. Steven P. Czys is a graduate from UW-La Crosse & Palmer College ofChiropractic. He has a private practice in La Crosse that focuses on patient education and living a healthy lifestyle.

Strengthening Families

Nancy Meyers, Director of Child Services, Family Resources
8:00-8:45 • Area: General, Gr. Pre-K-K • Room: 3

Strengthening Families is a Wisconsin initiative to help early childhood programs reach out to parents to help prevent child abuse and neglect. Learn about the protective factors, how they relate to the prevention of child abuse and how to implement strategies for the protective factors.

Nancy Meyers has worked for Family Resources for eight years as a trainer for SIDS, Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards and Strengthening Families. She also was a day care director for 22 years.

Building Community in the Music Class Room

Paul Gulsvig, Choral Director
8:00-8:45 • Area: Music & General, Gr. K-12 • Room: 5

Are all our students are engaged in rehearsals or the music classroom? This session will demonstrate energizers, team building techniques and motivational strategies for the music classroom. We will learn new ideas to welcome every learner into our rehearsal and make each student feel important. These will all be “hands on.” Come ready for fun and activity.

Paul Gulsvig is a retired Choral Music Educator of 33 years, a recovering Norwegian and father to three children who are all in music education.

School House Rock: Protect Yourself Inside the Classroom

Gary J. Van Domelen & John David Schrager, Attorneys, Wagner, Falconer & Judd, Ltd.
8:00-8:45 • Area: General, Gr. K-12 • Room: 7

Cut through the legal lingo and find out where you stand in the classroom. This session will touch on: confidentiality concerns; liability for disciplining children; the First Amendment - what you can and should not say and computer use - can Big Brother watch us? There will be time for questions and answers and a little fun “thrown” into the mix.

Wagner, Falconer, & Judd, Ltd., is a 74-year old law firm with offices in Minneapolis, MN, Brookfield, WI, and La Crosse. Gary Van Domelen manages the La Crosse office and has over 20 years of business and litigation.
In July of 2000, John David Schrager opened the Brookfield office.

No Child Left Behind - Present and Future

Mike Thompson, Office of the State Superintendent, DPI
8:00-8:45 • Area: General, Gr. K-12 • Board Room C

This session will review the basic requirements of the NCLB Act and the impact to date on Wisconsin Schools. The reauthorization process scheduled to begin in ‘07 and the future of NCLB will also be discussed. Mike Thompson has a PhD in Education Administration and coordinated the implementation of NCLB for the Wisconsin DPI.

9:00-10:15 Keynote

Welcome, Announcements: Danette Tritch, WWEC President
What Did You Expect?
Matt Glowacki, Revolutionary
9:00-10:15 • South Hall

Matt Glowacki has been sharing his ideas about diversity and disability professionally for over eight years. He was a part of the United States National Sit-Volleyball Team and attended the Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia in 2000 and the World Championships in Cairo, Egypt in 2002. Matt was born without legs, and it has made him realize people’s expectations for others are based on preconceived stereotypes, limited personal experiences and prejudices. His new common sense approach to tackling ignorance sets him apart from the crowd of educators and puts him in a new class of “Revolutionary.” The use of humor is always present in his illustrations of absurdity when it deals with the judgements of others. And for the record, “He was just born without legs. Everything else is there and works just fine.”

Our opening keynote speaker is sponsored by:

10:15-10:45 - Exhibit Break

10:45-11:30 - (Lunch Option)

The Money Game: Shifting from Worry to Wellness

Carol Ebert RN, BSN, MA, CHES, Ebert & Associates
10:45-11:30 • Area: General • Room: 1

Ready to take the time to look at you and your money – or lack of it? With money worries topping the list for most people and ultimately affecting their state of well-being (yes it will!), isn’t it about time to shift into a new gear? The workshop will help you explore the root of your money-attitudes, examine the detrimental effects on your health, and move you forward toward a lifestyle of abundance and prosperity.

Carol Ebert is an education specialist with a broad range of healthcare, corporate wellness and education experience. Her gift of creativity allows her to develop award-winning programs.

Active Games, Active Brains

Carol Hanson, Elementary Physical Education, West Salem
10:45-11:30 • Area: General & PE, Gr. K-4 • Ball Room (upstairs)

New and different activities from last WWEC convention will be presented. Participants will learn activities to do with children that link content, concept and movement. No one is “out,” all children are active and everyone is learning in a fun and non-threatening setting. Leave with practical activities to use with your students. This will be an activity session for everyone who wishes to participate. Join us for new and innovative games and activities to help children learn through movement.

Carol Hanson believes the goal of physical education is to develop enthusiastic, skillful movers through activities and games and has developed this throughout her teaching career. She was named the Wisconsin Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year for 2006.

H.O.P.E. – Hottest Off the Press Publications for Educators

Sarah Dixen, Trish Harvey, Kristen Hoeft, Susie Hughes, Rhonda
Rabbitt, and Teri Staloch. Leadership Team, Master of Education
Professional Development Learning Community Program, UW-La Crosse
10:45-11:30 • Area: General, Gr. Pre-K-12 • Room: 7

As educational professionals, we are all undoubtedly committed to continuous growth and professional development. However, with more and more educational resources available to us, but with less and less time to determine what is most important to read, how can members of the education profession keep up? The answer is simple: Rely on the power of collaboration by letting others assist you in the selection process! The presenters in this session are responsible for researching and disseminating resources to 45 faculty members and 660 graduate students (primarily PK-12 educators) across the state of Wisconsin. This session will focus on the latest “must reads” and presenters will model some best practices for sharing them. They promise to get you hooked on a book!

Teaching Reading For Fun and Success

Arlene W. Sonday, Educational Consultant
10:45-11:30 • Area: Gr. K-2 or Special Ed, Gr. 2-12 • Room: 8

Knowing and using fun and interesting activities and strategies that follow the research and lead to success for students and teachers is the key. Successful reading programs should include direct instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. Weaving this array into a balanced, exciting and meaningful instructional setting can be daunting. This session will link research to teaching strategies and suggest a variety of fun activities for direct instruction in each area. Teaching reading and spelling can be exciting for teachers and students. Instruction must be delivered effectively. Solid literacy skills provide the foundation on which all other learning depends.

Arlene Sonday is the author of Sonday System. She’s an Academy of Orton- Gillingham Practitioners and Educators Fellow and an adjunct instructor at Hamline University, MN and Fairleigh Dickinson University, NJ.

Evidence-Based Practices for Addressing Behavior Challenges

Gaye Tylka, Early Education Director, CESA #4
10:45-11:30 • Area: General, Gr. Pre-K-2 • Room: 5

Research suggests that children who are identified as “hard to manage” during the preschool years have a high probability of continuing to have difficulties into adolescence and when aggressive/antisocial behavior persists to age 9, further intervention has a poor chance of success. In this workshop, participants will examine the evidence-based, user-friendly practices to promote healthy social and emotional development and meet the needs of children with challenging behaviors in early care and education settings. Strategies are based upon the training modules published by the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning. Gaye Tylka joined CESA #4 in 1992 as Early Education Director after 15 years of direct services to children and families in a variety of settings. She provides resources, technical assistance, and staff development for special and general education teachers/staff of young children.

PR 101: Getting the Word Out About your Classroom

Tricia Louis, Wonewoc-Center Schools
10:45-11:30 • Area: General, Gr. K-12 • Room: 4

Parents and other community members need to know about all the wonderful things that are going on in your classrooms. From small daily achievements to year-long projects, we need to celebrate our students’ work. In an age of heavy public scrutiny of education, your public relations skills can give your school community the information they need, as well as having an invaluable resource for any accountability issues. Some of the basic tips and skills that will be presented in this session are how to craft letters to parents/guardians, using your own or your school’ s newsletter, use of websites and weblogs, and utilizing the local media.

Tricia Louis is a 1994 graduate of Winona State University. She is in her 13th year as a Band Conductor (Grades 5-12) and has presented at the Wisconsin Music Educators Association Conference on subjects including Public Relations as well as use of technology in classrooms.

The Impact of Stress & Trauma on the Attachment of Young Children

Jeff Reiland, Child & Family Therapist, Gundersen Lutheran
10:45-11:30 • Area: General, Gr. Pre-K-5 • Room: 9

Participants will learn about the profound impact of early stress and trauma on infants and young children, how insecure attachments form between parent and child, and the ramifications for these insecure attachments for children as they age. This session will review current research regarding attachment and discuss interventions that attempt to mediate the negative impact of insecure attachments in a learning environment.

Jeff Reiland is a child and Family therapist at Gundersen Lutheran. He is also an adjunct assistant professor in the Physician Assistant graduate program at UW-La Crosse.

Let’s Make It Happen! (Right here, right now!)

Kathy Hawkins & Lisa Schreiner, Teachers/Advisors –
Ranger Renaissance, Logan High School
10:45-11:30 • Area: General, Gr. 7-12 • Board Room A

Does your school need a jump start? Does your staff, student body, and community need to get excited about something? It’s time to Renaissance your school! Renaissance is not just an organization, it’s a philosophy that promotes and acknowledges schools’ academic excellence. You’ve heard of pep assemblies for sports, right? This is an ACADEMIC PEP ASSEMBLY. Learn how to Renaissance your school and about the national organization willing to support you in your efforts.

Kathy Hawkins has been a high school French and English teacher for 28+ years, Renaissance advisor at Logan High School since 2001. Lisa Schreiner has been a special education teacher for 20 years and Renaissance advisor at Logan High School since 1998. Lisa currently serves on Jostens National Renaissance Advisory Board.

Responsive Design for the Middle School

Matthew Christen, Logan Middle School, La Crosse
10:45-11:30 • Area: General, Gr. 5-8 • Board Room C

Learn about the six fundamental principals of the Responsive Design Approach. Experience the Circle of Power. Hear about how Responsive Design has been effective in developing social skills, improving management and building a more brain-compatible learning environment. Matthew Christian is trained in both elementary and middle school Responsive Classroom models. He has been practicing middle school Responsive Design for seven years.

Tell Your Way to Better Writing

Terry Visger, Retired Teacher; Viterbo University Adjunct; Storyteller
10:45-11:30 • Area: Language Arts, Gr. K-6 • Room: 3

Once upon a time oral storytelling ruled the world. It was the medium through which people learned, settled arguments, and made sense of their environment. Then came the written word and storytelling was set aside as entertainment. But our brains are still wired to learn through story; it is the universal learning style and the best way for students to develop writing skills such as sequencing, story elements, word choice, voice, main idea, character development, and all the rest. In this workshop, participants will revisit the power of story and learn a variety of strategies to use during the writing block to make their students better and more confident writers.

Terry Visger is a professional storyteller who gives workshops on the power of storytelling in the classroom, in businesses and organizations.

The Design Squad

Eric Brunsell, Asst. Professor, UW-La Crosse
10:45-11:30 • Area: Science, Gr. 4-8 • Room: 2

“That’s engineering? I want to do that!” What does it take to get your students to say this? See how you can use teacher friendly engineering challenges to engage your students in science and math. Participants will undertake an engineering design challenge and receive resources for including engineering design as part of their normal science teaching curriculum. The session will also introduce the new PBS Kids series, Design Squad, a reality show geared towards upper elementary and middle school students. Learn about the STEM Alliance an area organization of educators, engineers and parents interested in providing quality science, technology, and mathematics experiences for youth.

Eric Brunsell is an Assistant Professor at UW-La Crosse. He instructs elementary, middle and high school science methods courses.

Paving the Way to Proactive Educational Intervention for ALL Kids

Denny Schultz, Special Education Director, CESA #4
10:45-11:30 • Area: General, Gr. K-12 • Room: 6

The increased emphasis on accountability for learning has placed added pressure on schools and teachers to have students make continual progress toward high academic achievement. The implication of success for ALL students is becoming more and more of a reality as we are confronted with the diversity of students. Join us for an exciting discussion of how to avoid the bumps in the road of increased accountability. Denny Schultz is the Supervisor of Itinerant Services at CESA #4

Planning and Teaching Spanish at an Elementary School:

Building Partnerships to Support Learning
Joyce Shanks, Associate Professor at UW-La Crosse and UW-La
Crosse pre-service teachers Gina Angeli, Nicole Blohm, Michelle
Constalie, Michael Mooren, Aimee Pavlik, Sarah Swoboda
10:45-11:30 • Area: Global Education, Gr. K-5 • Board Room B

Presenters will share information on the Spanish program at North Woods Elementary School in La Crosse. The program is based on a partnership between UW-La Crosse and North Woods International Elementary School. For the past two years, education majors from UW-L have taught Spanish in PK-5 classes. The pre-service teachers work to integrate Spanish concepts and culture across the curriculum and to internationalize the curriculum. This partnership has led to increased curricular opportunities for PK-5 students, teaching support for teachers at North Woods, and valuable teaching opportunities for pre-service teachers, elementary educators, foreign language teachers, those interested in internationalizing the curriculum and those interested in integrating curriculum

11:45-12:30 - (Lunch Option)

Post 2006 Election Analysis: Implications for Education

Joe Heim, UW-La Crosse Political Science Professor
11:45-12:30 • Area: General, Gr. K-12 • Room: 8

The fall elections are over, so how will education fare? Enjoy an enlightening summary of the November 2006 elections results and what the policy implications are for K-12 education in Wisconsin. Both Federal and State outcomes will be discussed. Also included will be the potential for significant changes to school aid, QEO and other education related policies such as TABOR and the Taxpayer Protection Amendment.

Joe Heim is a professor of political science, election analyst, WKBT-TV La Crosse analyst and a frequent guest on Wisconsin Public Radio.

Sticks n’ Stones Bullying Prevention

Deb Goold, Safe & Drug Free Schools Facilitator, CESA #3
11:45-12:30 • Area: General, Gr. K-12 • Room: 4

Sticks n’ Stones is a strong K-12 “stand alone” bullying prevention program, with a robust science-based, focusing on changing both school social climate and individual behavior. It is uniquely developed to support, not replace, other prevention or character education programs. Sticks n’ Stones discourages bullying in all forms, while increasing social skills that improve interaction among students and between teacher and student. A distinctive strength of the program is the adaptability to many academic areas: math, social studies, English, health, art and science.

Deb Goold is the Safe and Drug Free Schools Facilitator in the CESA #3 district. She has been working with bullying prevention for over three years and comes from a school counselor background.

Scamper Along the Creative Trail

Carol Ebert RN, BSN, MA, CHES, Ebert and Associates
11:45-12:30 • Area: General, Gr. K-12 • Room: 1

Stuck in the muck of every-day teaching plans and need to re-charge your creative juices? Join us as we “play” around with innovative approaches to get you excited again. You will discover how to substitute, combine, adapt, magnify, position, eliminate and rearrange what you are doing to create new directions for new learning.

Carol Ebert is an education specialist with a broad range of healthcare, corporate wellness and education experience. She’s a pioneer in the wellness movement and has the gift of creativity which allows her to develop
award-winning programs that adapt to whatever change is coming.

Women & Investing. Make it Happen!

Ron DuCharme, Investment Representative, Edward Jones
11:45-12:30 • Area: General, Gr. K-12 • Room: 5

Women are taking control of their financial lives like never before. They have truly become a force to be reckoned with—in the workplace and in society at large. Indeed, the latest research shows that women will continue to increase their financial presence and power. This interactive workshop focuses on women as they play increasingly larger roles in the development and protection of their family’s financial planning.

Ron DuCharme has been a Edward Jones Investment Representative for six years, specializing in retirement planning.

Educators in Iraq

Major David Aponte, 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry
Staff Sergeant Rick Dobbs, 1158th Transportation Company
E-4 Specialist Nicki Myers, 829th Engineer Detachment
E-5 Sergeant Britta Rotering, 264th Engineer Group (not serving as of 6/06)
11:45-12:30 • Area: General, Gr. K-12 • South Hall

Come hear what these Western Wisconsin educators experienced during each of their tours of duty in Iraq. Learn how it changed them and how it has affected the way they approach teaching. This session is an open panel discussion so you can ask questions.

Industry Tour of INOV8

Bob Greene, Vocational Director, CESA#4
11:45-12:30 • Area: Tech Ed • Location: INOV8

A tour will be provided of INOV8, International, at 430 Nelson Place, in La Crosse. Rising fuel costs and environmental concerns continue to produce opportunities for the waste-oil burning industry. INOV8 makes
waste-oil powered heating systems and boilers, providing virtually free heat when using waste oils. For more information about INOV8 check out their website, www.inov8-intl.com/index.htm.  Because of restriction on the size of the tour participants should register with Bob Greene at CESA #4 by calling 608-786-4855 or emailing Bob at bgreene@cesa4.k12.wi.us . Directions to the tour site will be provided
at that time. The tour will begin at approximately 12:30 pm. Greene served as a Technology Educator for 31 years in Viroqua before joining CESA #4 in 2000, where he is the LVEC and Transition Specialist.

12:45-1:30

Thriving at Work: Preventing Burnout and Managing Stress

Joe Bodnar MS, Counselor/Adjunct Faculty, Winona State University
12:45-1:30 • Area: General, Gr. K-12 • Board Rm A

Teachers face the ongoing stress from the educating of millennial students in spite of their helicopter parents. Unrelieved chronic stress (like teaching) contributes to strained relationships at work and in personal life as
well as a variety of health maladies and conditions from acne to cardiovascular disease. Learn the basics of stress and its impact on the mind/body of an individual, a model for understanding the stress response and how to intervene and reduce unnecessary stress that leads to burnout.

Joe Bodnar’s background includes counseling and teaching in both university and community college settings, workforce development, community behavioral health, personal fitness training, nutrition, and wellness.

A Framework for Understanding Poverty Overview

Colleen Mulder, CESA #4 CSPD Director
12:45-1:30 • Area: General, Gr. K-12 • Room: 1

The U.S. Census Bureau (2004) reports Wisconsin ranks highest in poverty growth. Poverty poses serious threats to children and adolescent brain development. The aha! process’s approach to building high-achieving schools uses Dr. Ruby Payne’s, A Framework for Understanding Poverty and Learning Structures workbooks to identify skills, theories of change, program design, partnerships and ways of building schools where students thrive. Topics covered include the role of language—from formal to casual registers, identifying the resources of an individual, story structure and the hidden rules of generational poverty in middle class and wealth. Many strategies will be covered to guide discipline interventions, increase academic achievement, and build better relationships with all students.

Colleen Mulder is a certified trainer of Ruby Payne’s aha! Process: A Framework for Understanding Poverty. She is the CSPD director at CESA #4. She is also a teacher and registered nurse

Teaching and Coaching to Change Lives

Wayne Sackett, Biology/Head Football Coach, West Salem
12:45-1:30 • Area: General, Gr. K-12 • Room: 8

Teaching and reinforcing character qualities to students and athletes, so they strive to be their best in the classroom and playing field is one of the the goals of the “Changing Lives” program. The prime outcome would be
to create good community citizens. This program provides the tools to build character through a variety of lessons, stories and activities. For the past nine years Wayne Sackett has taught science classes ranging
from freshmen to seniors at West Salem High School. He has also coached high school football and girls basketball for 15 years.

Into the Book!

Kristin Leglar & Peggy Garties, Project Directors,
Wisconsin Educational Communications Board
12:45-1:30 • Area: English/Language Arts, Gr. K-4 • Room: 5

Blast off into space, go back in time and jump into a letter with the students from Mrs. Pingel’s class! View Into the Book, the new K-3 reading comprehension video series from ECB and WI Public Television. See educators
using the strategies effectively in the professional development series Behind the Lesson. Presenters will lead activities on how to use these resources and the Into the Book Web site in your library and classroom.

Kristin Leglar and Peggy Garties are Instructional Program Developers and co-Project Directors on the Into the Book! series.

Girls on the Run is So Much Fun!

Christi Pfaff & Deb Bemis, Emerson Elementary, La Crosse
12:45-1:30 • Area: PE or General, Gr. 3-5 • Ball Room (upstairs)

Learn a lesson from our Girls On The Run program by participating! We’ll share the background of this nationally known program developed by Molly Barker and supported by New Balance and present a lesson from the 10-week curriculum on one of the topics about listening, cooperation, gossip or nutrition. Get ready to move and join us for some fun!

Christi Pfaff works with specific learning disabilities and Deb Bemis teaches kindergarten at Emerson Elementary. Both enjoy staying physically fit!

Exploring Collaborative Classroom Activities through Podcasting

Andrea Vogler & Elizabeth Baxley, Onalaska School District
12:45-1:30 • Area: Multiple Areas, Gr. 5-12 • Room: 4

Looking for a new way to inspire your students to connect with the world around them? Come and see how technology made a difference for one middle school language arts class. Through the use of web, podcasting, and PDF files, this kid-friendly activity brought collaboration with a South Korean school to a new and innovative level. This session will be a topic of interest for english/language arts, reading, social studies,
foreign language and science teachers. Andrea Vogler is a UW-La Crosse graduate and has been teaching 8th grade language arts for the past five years. Elizabeth Baxley is a recent UW-La Crosse graduate. She student-taught with Andrea in the Fall of 2006, when they developed and implemented this project.

PDP me ASAP

Kevin Hennessy, Instructional Improvement Director, CESA #4
12:45-1:30 • Area: General, Gr. K-12 • Room: 7

PI 34 is now a reality and Initial Educators are expected to relicense using a Professional Development Plan (PDP). However, all educators have the option to write a PDP. This session will provide an overview of the PDP. If you’re an Initial Educator required to write a PDP, or a Professional Level educator interested in learning more, come explore the PDP. Examine the components of a PDP, review the checklist for approval, and analyze writing a goal for a PDP. Review timelines and PDP support available.

Kevin joined CESA #4 in 1995, as serves as the Director of Instructional Improvement. He’s worked with PI 34 rule since it was adopted in 2000.

Gooey, Slippery & Slimy Science

Dawn Salzwedel, Lincoln Middle School, La Crosse
12:45-1:30 • Science, Language Arts & Music, Gr.1-8 • Room: 3

Begin to explore all of the creative and inventive ways to help kids explore the world of science with hands-on experiments. We’ll discuss and share ideas and experiments that reach a variety of interests and curiosities of
children such as: How does pepper walk on water? Does air have strength? Really, how strong is an egg? How does a musical instrument make sound? Handouts will be given so you can guide your students into this world of inspiration. Come join the fun!

Dawn Salzwedel taught in Cashton for four years and has been teaching middle school science and language arts at Lincoln Middle School for the past five years. This year she is working with sixth graders in the Global
Connection Pod.

Activities and Projects in the Geometry Classroom

Lori Kaminiski & Mark Englerth, Logan High School, La Crosse
12:45-1:30 • Area: Math, Gr. 9-12 • Board Room C

Learn different teaching strategies and projects to enhance classroom learning on basic concepts of Geometry such as area of a circle, surface area and volume of 3 dimensional shapes, quadrilaterals and more.
Both Lori Kaminski and Mark Englerth have Science BAs and Masters in Education and come with an average of 20 years of teaching experience.

Changing the Scene and Nourishing Education

Joni Ralph, RD, Supervisor of School Nutrition, La Crosse School District
12:45-1:30 • Area: General, Gr. K-12 • Board Room B

What helps students achieve academically, take less visits to the school nurse’s office and shine behaviorally overall? Learn the latest research on the relationship between nutrition and learning. See why federal mandates
are requiring schools to implement a healthier school environment. Joni Ralph is a registered dietitian and has 20 years of experience in managing school nutrition programs.

Recording History: Confessions from an Accidental Historian

Susan T. Hessel, Education Writer/Personal Historian
12:45-1:30 • Area: History & English, Gr. 5-12 • Room: 9

Sue Hessel never set out to be a historian, but has authored 15+ history books, including the forthcoming A History of La Crosse, Wisconsin, in the Twentieth Century: Reinventing La Crosse Again and Again. Beginning with her first formal history book, Medicine: the Gundersen Experienced, surprised readers have said, “You know, that was really interesting.” During the workshop, Hessel will take teachers through the process of -- gasp –gathering and making history fun, powerful and inspiring to read. She’ll give tips for helping students elicit tidbits that can make even a huge subject interesting and vital to readers and then turn participants loose finding such a tidbit about their neighbor at the conference.

Susan T. Hessel, a member of the Association of Personal Historians, is also a writer for the School District of La Crosse on a free-lance basis.

Paraprofessional Connections

Mary McKee, CESA #4 Paraprofessional & Support Services Director
12:45-1:30 • Area: Paraprofessionals, Gr. Pre-K-12 • Room: 6

Paraprofessionals are the glue that hold schools together. They are often in very challenging and constantly revolving roles, and may feel “alone” in what they do. This session will provide paraprofessionals with information on communication, teamwork strategies, an explanation of appropriate paraprofessional roles and responsibilities, and an opportunity to connect and share ideas that work for them. Come and join us in this active session to learn strategies and connect with others. It may be just what you need so as not to become “unglued!”

Mary McKee is the Paraprofessional Director at CESA #4, and the State of WI Paraprofessional Grant coordinator. She provides training for paraprofessionals, and also acts as a consultant to school districts on paraprofessional and special education issues.

Fine Motor & Handwriting: Making the Connection

Jane Macdonald & Christy Brodsky, West Salem School District
12:45-1:30 • Area: General, Gr. K-1 • Room: 2

Included will be an extensive study of the importance of strengthening the fine motor skills of early primary students, which will later assist them in developing proper handwriting skills and good penmanship. Students
need fine motor for eye muscles to focus, to distinguish letters, to cross midline and to track. These are all essential skills for reading and writing. They also need eye-hand control to develop good handwriting skills so that they can express themselves in written form. Many resources will be available to view and packets of information will be distributed.

Jane Macdonald has been teaching K, 1 and 2 at West Salem Elementary for 11 years. She’s currently a K-1 Looping teacher. Christy Brodsky has taught first grade for 12 years and also taught CD/LD for seven years. throughout her teaching career.

Closing Keynote

Teachers: Messengers of Hope

Thomas Thibodeau, Associate
Professor, Viterbo University
1:45-2:30 • South Hall

We are always involved in bringing hope into the classroom and the lives of our children. Teachers are beacons of HOPE for our children, their families, our communities and our world. Teachers help children give birth to their dreams. Come and hear the inspirational message that Tom always delivers and leave feeling energized to continue to teach with hope for the future of education.

Tom is a husband, father and teacher. He is committed to encouraging educators and citizens to work together for the good of our children. He is a frequent and very popular contributor to the WWEC.

What does this mean?
The Western Wisconsin Educational Conference is joined by the State of Wisconsin Paraprofessional Training Grant Initiative. Session descriptions that have this symbal next to it, are presentations that are great for all attendees but have particular content that is benefical to paraprofessionals.