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Ready Here I Come: Kindergarten Readiness in NH

Karen Gerdts, NH State PIRC & Jo-Ann Mulligan, Preschool Title I Reading Supervisor, Manchester School District, & Coordinator of ReadyManchester

A child's first experience in school is very important to all parents and to their child's success. This interactive workshop will help parents understand "Kindergarten Readiness" and will identify ways parents can engage with their children in order to help them get ready for Kindergarten. During this session participants will preview portions of the new DVD entitled, Ready Here I Come! Participants will explore activities that support large and small motor skills, visual discrimination, memory, early math, social skills, health and language  

Charter Schools in NH: Past, Present and Future

Panel Discussion with: Beth McClure, Strong Foundations Charter School; Bill Wilmot, Seacoast Charter School;
Eileen Liponis, NH Charter School Association;  Ollire Lane-Wortley, Virtual Learning Academy;  Matt Southerton, NH Center for Innovative Schools

This discussion session will look at charter schools in NH – past, present, and future. We will review what's working, what could be improved, and the current state of funding for charter schools in NH.

Together We Can: Developing and Providing Quality Parent Education

Jane Quigley, Principal and Kimberly Sousa, Teacher, Dr. Norman Crisp School, Nashua

Participants will learn how to identify and prioritize parent education needs, plan for development and presentation, and explore delivery system options for quality parent education sessions in schools. Led by an actual school-based partnership team.

Response-to-Intervention: Families and Schools Working Together for Student Success

Elaine McNulty Knight, M.Ed., Consultant to NHDOE; Michelle Lewis, Parent Information Center on Special Education

Schools are committed to helping children succeed and have many strategies to support  struggling learners. RtI is designed to assist struggling learners in a more proactive and deliberate manner using research based methods that target the specific skill(s) the child needs help learning. The RtI process itself is flexible, and schools have a variety of ways in which they
implement RtI. Come learn more about how families and educators can work together to help students succeed.

Special Education: It's More Than Just Academics

Bonnie Dunham, Parent Information Center on Special Education

Schools offer more than just instruction in reading, writing and arithmetic. A school's parent/student handbook and the NH Curriculum Frameworks provide standards for a broad array of skills that are important for all students. Participants will learn how these skills, which include social, organizational and problem-solving skills, can be addressed in the IEP.

A Positive Approach to Learning Disabilities: The Student Perspective

Students from RSEC Academy

Students in grades 8-11 share their insights into what it is like to have learning challenges.  Audience members will be asked to participate in a variety of activities that allow them to experience a learning disability first hand.  Each activity has a point to be made that may challenge currently held beliefs about LD students, and will enlighten participants about the intelligence, effort, and skills of the presenters and the population they represent.

Our Children's Emotional and Behavioral Health: Improving Collaboration Between Schools, Families, and Physicians by Focusing on the Child

Nate Jones, Psychologist, Instructor in Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Dartmouth Medical School

This workshop will discuss the struggles schools, families, and medical professionals have in collaborating around children's mental health. Tools and techniques will be presented to improve collaboration and promote the development of emotional and behavioral health in children. Participants will increase their awareness of barriers to mental health and increase their awareness of strategies to overcome those barriers.

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Beyond the Bake Sale: How Parent-Teacher Groups  Can Partner with Schools to Improve Academic Achievement

Karen Gerdts and John-Michael Dumais, NH State PIRC

With the pressure on schools to raise achievement and to address improvement requirements under No Child Left Behind, parent-teacher groups are in a perfect position to become advocates for increased family engagement that supports student achievement. Learn what parent-school partnership groups are already doing around NH to move beyond the traditional role of the parent-teacher group and address critical school needs. Includes an overview of how NH State PIRC and the Parent Information Center can support your parent-teacher group and school.

Schools Without Walls: Making Family and Community Involvement Work

Angie Miller, 2011 NH Teacher of the Year

Led by the 2011 NH Teacher of the Year, this workshop will explore the importance of service and community involvement within our classrooms. We will explore ways for teachers to throw open the doors of their classrooms and ways for parents, community members, and service organizations to become more involved with their local schools. This workshop will be about breaking down traditional barriers while raising student achievement.

Faces of Learning: Effective Student-Centered Learning In and Out of School

Kim Carter, Executive Director, QED Foundation, and Panel

Join us for this interactive session exploring what we know about how people learn, what effective learning looks like, and how we ensure high quality learning experiences for every child through connecting school with home and community.

Partnering with Vocational Rehabilitation: Strategies to Support Successful Transition to Employment

Lisa Hatz, Tina Greco, Angela Keef – the NH Department of Education

When planning for life after high school for students with disabilities, Vocational Rehabilitation can be an important partner. Come learn how VR partners with youth and families to assist with planning for and meeting employment-related post-secondary goals.

Math is Your Friend: Making Math Relevant and Engaging

Randy Wormald, Math Teacher/Technology Integrator

This workshop, taught by the 2005 NH Teacher of the Year and Disney's 2005 Outstanding High School Teacher of the Year, will provide parents and teachers with some strategies on how to overcome common obstacles and support and engage children in mathematics. The session is intended to be interactive and will be driven by questions and thoughts from the participants.

Padres Activos de Hoy (Parents on Board) (In Spanish)

Elena Acosta, NH State PIRC

(Note: Offered in Spanish only)
Parents under daily stress tend to overreact to a situation involving/disciplining their children.   This creates tension and stress for both parent and child and an endless cycle of miscommunication.  What happens at home is conduit to a child’s learning and success in school.  This workshop offers parents the opportunity to understand what it means to be an “active” parent.   Through videos, exercises and discussions, parents will acquire techniques and tools to becoming an active parent. 

Understanding Bullying: Strategies for Overcoming Our Children's Meanness Epidemic

Dr. Malcolm Smith, UNH Family Life and Family Policy Specialist, and a panel with Carol Croteau of Bully Free NH, Dellie Champagne of NH State PIRC, others

Dr. Smith will present evidence-based, life-changing information for parents, professionals, and anyone who cares for and about our children's rising lack of social skills. The panel will explore the new bullying law in NH and discuss how it is being implemented in NH schools.

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Making Homework Work: Prescription for Homework Headaches

From Ledge Street School, Nashua: Rita Lewandowski, Reading Specialist & Bryn Bustead, Parent Liaison From Northwest Elem. School, Manchester: Shelly Tracy Barry, Teacher; Beth Shea, Parent & Teacher; Kristen Powers, Teacher; Shelly Larochelle, Principal

Educators and parents will learn the key ingredients for supporting their student’s academic success. Topics include helping students stay organized through the use of planners, calendars, assignment notebooks;  study place and  study schedule, student motivation and parent encouragement.

Thinking Outside the Books: Engaging Adolescent Readers

Karen Gerdts, NH State PIRC

Keep your child motivated to read and learn how to help him/her select suitable reading materials. This workshop will help you understand the needs of the middle or high school student and find solutions to overcome their excuses for not reading. During this session participants will explore ways to “interact” with reading activities and learn how to share thoughts that promote “critical thinking” and promote a purpose for reading

Life After High School: The Maddening Challenge of Coming of Age in the 21st Century

John T. (Ted) Kirkpatrick, Associate Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Clinical Professor of Sociology, and Panel

This combination of short lecture and panel discussion will address the challenges facing adolescents and young adults and the multiple ways we might help prepare them, both for education and work beyond the high school level. The discussion will touch not only upon academics, but upon social skills and life skills needed by today's students if they are to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Make Reading Fun: Creating Your Own Books

Kimm Phillips, NH State PIRC; Michelle Clock, PIRC Volunteer Workshop Facilitator

Make Reading Fun: Creating Your Own Books is one of the most interactive workshops offered through NH PIRC's Let's Read Together program. Attendees will learn about expanding conversation with children while creating personalized books to bring home and share. For parents or educators of children 18 months – 5 years old.

After School is Cool: The Unique Role of After-School Programs in Promoting Student Success

Christina Durkee, NH Department of Education and 21st Century Program Panel; representatives from NH 21st Century Community Learning Centers

After school programs are an important resource in promoting student success in school.  Come learn about the 21st Century Learning Program and learn from local programs how they collaborate with families and schools for the benefit of the student. 

Improving Family-School Partnerships in Special Education:  Strategies that Work

Mary Lane, NH Department of Education and School District Panel 

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to increasing family-school partnerships in special education.  This panel presentation will showcase how different districts in NH have approached improving family-school partnerships in special education and the impact it has had on their district.  

Inviting Sponge Bob to Dinner?  Simple Steps to Balance Media and Create a Tranquil Home

Jean Rogers, Founder and Director of Kids Media Diet

In this hands-on workshop, parents can develop a family plan for helping kids to watch less and live more. We will examine statistics on sleep, health issues and academic performance and learn how to unplug and still share the positive aspects of media together as a family.