Seattle, WA—January 5, 2007—“You won’t see this type of teacher training anywhere else in the country,” commented Elizabeth Haughton, Curriculum Design Expert/Learning Specialist and guest lecturer, at the sixteenth annual Summer School Institute for teachers conducted by Seattle-based Morningside Teachers’ Academy (MTA). “We can’t forget that teachers are in the learning business. It’s rate of change and level of performance, frequency and fluency, that are important. This is a real opportunity to see Precision Teaching at its best.”
Teachers flock from across the United States, Canada, and this summer one teacher has come from as far away as Italy. They have come to Seattle to improve their skills by learning The Morningside Model of Generative Instruction, a system of research-based principles and practices in teaching the fundamentals of reading, writing, mathematics, and thinking and reasoning.
This is particularly timely when fewer than half our student population is reading at grade level nationwide and ongoing teacher training programs are scarce.
Jody Brewer, Principal of Loneman Elementary School, Bureau of Indian Affairs School in South Dakota, is attending for a second time. This administrator explains, “We represent a poverty-level population, many of whom cannot read. This program has given kids higher expectations. They now see a chance to move on and break the cycle of poverty.” For her, and others like her, finding effective methods to teach reading means more than improving scores. When students are able to master the fundamentals, it improves their quality of life. She is joined here by 26 other teachers from Bureau of Indian Schools, all of whom will integrate these techniques in their classrooms when they return.
Veronica Pietz, Director of Pierre Indian Learning Center in South Dakota recently commented about the Morningside Teachers’ Academy, “The expertise and the commitment to positively impact educators around the world are to be celebrated. Many of my teachers have stated that the interaction with Morningside has impacted them professionally more than their entire undergraduate and graduate careers combined.”
“The emphasis on regular timed assessments allows you to individualize to each student’s needs; it is not a cookie cutter approach,” Diane Campbell of Logan Elementary in Michigan believes this makes the difference. Linda Mitchell, a second grade teacher at St. Brendan School in Bothell encourages everyone to attend. “The progress and results are incredible to see. No time is wasted, and kids are on task all the time.”
The Summer School Institute combines daily workshops and seminars conducted by experts with daily opportunities to practice and receive coaching from highly skilled supervisors. Appropriate for both the beginner and experienced teacher, attendees are even given an opportunity to intern in the classrooms of the Morningside Academy Grade 1—9 Laboratory School.
Research shows us that some of the most effective instruction is based on precision teaching, direct instruction, fluency-based learning and a personalized system. All of these elements play a critical role in the Morningside Model. We also know that teachers retain and apply very little of what they have been taught, approximately 5%, unless the instruction is accompanied by follow up and coaching. The SSI training at MTA is delivered with lecture, demonstration, practice and coaching. This model has been proven to result in approximately 80% acquisition of knowledge, skill and application.
The Summer School Institute (SSI) at Morningside Teachers’ Academy (MTA) runs from July 16—August 3, 2007. Interested parties may attend one week or more. In addition, MTA offers external partnerships where training is done on site. Locally, we are working with Summit K-12, an Alternative Seattle Public School. MTA has been in 90 schools throughout the United States and Canada, and is currently involved in a project in South Africa.
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Contact:
Kris Melroe, Director of Schools and Agencies
Morningside Academy
201 Westlake Avenue N
Seattle, WA 98109
Phone: 206-709-9500
http://www.morningsideacademy.org
kris@morningsideacademy.org
