me arts ed

Maine Association for Middle Level

Powerful Learning for Young Adolescents
October 23-24, 2014
Point Lookout Resort and Conference Center, Northport

One of the many spectacular views from Point Lookout.

What makes an outstanding school for 10-14 year olds? The well – research position paper from the Association for Middle Level Education, This We Believe: Keys to Educating Young Adolescents lists four essential attributes:

• Developmentally Responsive: using the nature of young adolescents as the foundation on which all decisions are made.
• Challenging: recognizing that every student can learn and everyone is held to high expectations.
• Empowering: providing all students with the knowledge and skills they need to take control of their lives.
• Equitable: advocating for every student’s right to learn and providing challenging and relevant learning opportunities.

The MAMLE Annual Conference is the perfect time for staff to reflect on the vision for their school and how it is being implemented. It is the only event in Maine that explores the current issues facing schools through the lens of effective teaching and learning for 10-14 year olds as exemplified by the essential attributes outlined in This We Believe: Keys to Educating Young Adolescents.
Just look at the opportunities at the conference:

For everyone:

1. Two outstanding keynote speakers: Matt Nelson, MPA Middle Level Principal of the Year and Nancy Doda, international expert on educating young adolescents.
2. 35 + concurrent sessions on a wide range of topics

For folks interested in STEM:

1. A STEM Model For Problem Solving – Sara Nason, Sanford Middle School
2. Make ‘Space Day’ Everyday! – Sharon Eggleston, Aerospace Educator
3. Getting Students to Beg for More Math Time! – Alison Veilleux, Lyman Moore Middle School
4. Gaming in the Classroom – Suzanne Simmons, Bonny Eagle Middle School
   Working to save clams from European green crab–Woolwich Central School
   Working to save clams from European green crab–Woolwich Central SchoolSoft Shelled Clam Connections – Denise Friant, Hesper Reith, Edward Striewski, Leanne Fisher Woolwich Central School

Working to save clams from European green crab–Woolwich Central School

5. Soft Shelled Clam Connections – Denise Friant, Hesper Reith, Edward Striewski, Leanne Fisher Woolwich Central School

6. STEM Programs Roundtable – Jeff Rodman, Middle School of the Kennebunks

7. Start Developing iOS and OS X Apps Today! (Double Session D & E) – Maine-based Apple PD Specialists

8. Moon Unit – Alison England, Adam Bullard, Sonja Schmanska, & Josh McPhail, St. George School
9. K-12 Outreach – Interactive Civil Engineering – Lauren Swett

STEM projects

1. The Auburn Land Lab – An Opportunity To Learn Differently – Phil Brookhouse, Auburn School Department
2. FROM CURIOSITY TO CAREER: Transforming Student Engagement into Career Pathways – Jay    Collier, Educate Maine
3. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Field Marine Science – David Williams, York Middle School

For folks focusing on culture and climate:
1. Middle Level Theory into Practice – The Troy Howard Middle School Story – Kimberly Buckheit & Students, Troy Howard Middle School; Kelley Littlefield, Ecology Academy Teacher; Chris LaValle, Innovation Academy Teacher; Sarah Wyman, International Academy Teacher
2. The Power (and Struggles) of Shared Leadership Teams – Mike Muir, Auburn School District
3. Legacy: Making Education Meaningful Through Service Learning – Shianne Priest & Students, Leonard Middle School
4. Meeting the Standards in a Restorative Classroom – Celeste Libby, Travis Taylor, Lisa Hall, Ansley Newton and 6th Grade Guidance Counselor, Saco Middle School

Enthusiastic and engaged students at Space Day-Auburn MS

5. It’s All About Choice… And a Lot of Planning! – Carl Bucciantini, Auburn Middle School

6. The Fourth “R”-The Power of Relationships in Middle School – Jerry Kiesman, Hermon Middle School
7. Building Community Through Challenge – Gert Nesin & Todd McKinley, Leonard Middle School
8. Positive Adults + Positive Interventions = Positive Students – Sheila Underhill; Reuben Fowlow; & Tracy McKay, Central Middle School
9. The Anatomy of a Successful Parent Night – Ward Willis, Middle School of the Kennebunks
10. Student Reflecting and Conferencing – Melissa Fenelon, York Middle School
11. “Ignite the S.P.A.R.K!”~Students Promoting Acts of Random Kindness – Jodie Bennett & Molly Brewer, Medomak Middle School
12. Brain Breaks for Students – Susan Callahan, Auburn Middle School

For those who literacy throughout the curriculum remains an important topic:
1. Talking About the Text: Engaging Ways to Boost Comprehension and Understanding — Nancy Doda
2. Read 180: Increase Student Engagement, Ownership, and Achievement – Tammy Ranger, Skowhegan Area Middle School
3. A Culture of Collaboration in Writing – Kym Granger, Mt. Ararat Middle School
4. Allagash Tails and Tales – Tim Caverly, Allagash Tails

Mark Twain

5. Dual Purposes that Serve the Needs of Both Curriculums… Take a Risk!! – Abby Jacobs & Mike Burke, Westbrook Middle School

6. Classroom Blogging with Google Apps for Education – Suzanne Simmons, Bonny Eagle Middle School
7. Creating Visual Notes with Apple MLTI Tools (Apple MLTI Primary Solution) (Double Session D & E) – Maine-based Apple PD Specialists
8. Writing Power: Creating Authentic Audiences for Student Voices – Joyce Bucciantini, Auburn Middle School
9. Meeting Literacy Standards in Health and the Other Allied Arts – Strategies to Help Students Excel in Your Class – Doreen Swanholm & Courtney Belolan, Mt. Ararat Middle School

For participants who believe the Arts are an integral part of any outstanding middle grades program:
1. Recreating Radio Dramas – Barbara Greenstone, Boothbay Region Schools
2. Empowering Students Through Assessment Techniques and Strategies – Jane Snider, Hancock Grammar School
3. Tricks and Tips to Help Students Take Really Good Pictures – Jill Spencer, BoomerTECH Adventures
4. Legacy: Making Education Meaningful Through Service Learning – Shianne Priest & Students, Leonard Middle School
5. Dual Purposes that Serve the Needs of Both Curriculums… Take a Risk!! – Abby Jacobs & Mike Burke, Westbrook Middle School
6. Proficiency-Based Education in an Art Class – Gloria Hewett, Mount View Middle School

For attendees whose interest is personalizing learning and MCL:
1. Teaching MCL: Beyond the Theory – Erin Hoffses, Presque Isle Middle School
2. Proficiency-Based Education in an Art Class – Gloria Hewett, Mount View Middle School
3. Assessment with iPads – Barbara Greenstone, Boothbay Region Schools
4. May the Force Be With You: Planning for the Unique Needs of Young Adolescents – Lindsay Mahoney & Hope Herrick, Messalonskee Middle School
5. Metacognition and the Middle Schooler – Andrea Logan, Lake Region Middle School
6. Back to Basics: How to Create Learning Targets and “I CAN” Statements – Jennifer Etter, York Middle Schools
7. Motivating Students With Engaging Tasks – Mike Muir, Auburn School District
8. Customize the Brain – Bill Zima, Mt. Ararat Middle School

Americans who Tell the Truth

For folks who help their students develop a world view:
1. Hands-On History: The Bangor Community Heritage Project – Ron Bilancia & Pricilla Soucie, William S. Cohen School; Larissa Vigue Picard, Maine Historical Society; Bill Cook, Bangor Public Library
2. World Language Market – Tad Williams & Ellen Jardine, Middle School of the Kennebunks
3. TOP’s Turning Points and Timelines! Kids Get Chronology! – Jacqueline Littlefield, Goethe-Institute Washington -Transatlantic Outreach Program
4. From History to Action, Using the Lessons of the Holocaust and the Civil Rights Movement to Empower Students – Elizabeth Helitzer, Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine
5. Models of Courageous Citizenship: Connecting students to themes in social studies, language arts, science and other curriculum areas – Connie Carter

Especially for leadership teams and administrators:

Jeff Rodman, President of MAMLE and John Keane, President Elect

1. Developing Teacher Expertise – Ben Harris & Mick Roy, Bonny Eagle Middle School and Stacy Penna with Learning Sciences
2. Apple’s Five Best Practices of Excellent Schools! – (Double Session A & B) – Maine-based Apple PD Specialists
3. Middle Level Theory into Practice – The Troy Howard Middle School Story – Kimberly Buckheit & Students, Troy Howard Middle School; Kelley Littlefield, Ecology Academy Teacher; Chris LaValle, Innovation Academy Teacher; Sarah Wyman, International Academy Teacher
4. The Power (and Struggles) of Shared Leadership Teams – Mike Muir, Auburn School District
5. Making Sense of Chapter 180: Implementing the New Teacher Evaluation System in Two Districts – Bill Zima, Mt. Ararat Middle School & John Keane, Leonard Middle School
6. The Anatomy of a Successful Parent Night – Ward Willis, Middle School of the Kennebunks
7. Administrators Roundtable – Jeff Rodman, Middle School of the Kennebunks
8. Meeting the Standards in a Restorative Classroom – Celeste Libby, Travis Taylor, Lisa Hall, Ansley Newton and 6th Grade Guidance Counselor, Saco Middle School

All of these sessions plus more form the backbone of our conference.  What school wouldn’t benefit from having teachers and administrators participate in such a rich experience?

Registration: http://mainemamle.org/conference/registration/

Full program: http://mainemamle.org/conference/conference-schedule/

Yapp app for mobile devices: http://my.yapp.us/MAMLE

Or contact Wally Alexander:

Phone: (207) 859-1362
Fax: (207) 859-1114
E-mail: Wallace_Alexander@umit.maine.edu