Convention Workshops April 14, 2018
The EEC/Program of Work Committee selected an excellent variety of workshop presentations for the 2018 AZS Convention that include something for everyone. While there are two book discussion workshops being offered, you may only register for one so that more members can be accommodated. The earlier you register, the better chance you have of getting your first choices for workshops. As they say, “the early bird catches the worm!” Please be sure to take the time to complete the workshop evaluation at the conclusion of each workshop. The information you provide is critical to the planning of future convention workshops. Note: if you register online, you will get the workshops for which you register. If you send in a snail-mail registration form, please make a first and second choice and know that you may not get either.
Morning Workshops - Morning 10:30 – 11:45 AM
Go Forth and Make Magic
This is a call to action, to "go forth and make magic" by contributing your talents to inspire participation and creativity in your learning and living environments.
Presenter: Miranda McMahon (Lambda)
When I retired from full-time teaching, my students gave me an anthology of original essays, poems and art with a letter stating that I taught them how to make magic in writing and art and now it was my turn to "go forth and make magic." I have been doing that ever since. Each one of us has unique talents that can enrich the learning and life experiences of those around us, in our classrooms and communities. This workshop examines how we share those gifts and participate in the magic of learning.
The Gratitude Train
Americans lent a hand to France, both during and after WWII, and the French citizens found a remarkable way to say, "Merci!"
Presenter: Jane Murphy (Sigma)
What makes America great? What its citizens do for others tops the list. WWII left France and Italy in shambles. Besides losing buildings and roads, they lost farming equipment. Factories were destroyed, so replacing needed goods was made impossible. People were starving, and America stepped up. Food, enough to make an impact, was delivered. In 1949, when they were back on their feet, the people of France and Italy wanted to say, “Merci!”. This is the story of how they did it.
Chair Yoga – Back by Popular Demand!
“Yoga All Together” is a program in which attendees participate in chair-supported yoga to build strength and flexibility in the body.
Presenter: Susan Petrick (Epsilon)
The first 30 minutes of this DVD program includes seated, gentle and easy poses using the chair for support. The second 30 minute DVD includes some standing poses for balance and concentration. Come to the first and then those who choose may remain for the second video.
Re-Ignite Enthusiasm For Your Profession: Practical Coping Strategies to Eliminate Burnout
Are you currently teaching? This workshop is designed to help you meet the myriad of stressors that you daily encounter.
Presenters: Patti Rahn (Omicron) and Dr. Mary Lee Batesko (Zeta)
This is a difficult time to be an educator! Teachers feel overwhelming pressure to meet the myriad of school responsibilities. This workshop will center on coping strategies for women educators. This will be a hands-on workshop on coping strategies to eliminate burnout before it happens. Many of these strategies you can put in use on Monday morning.
Book Discussion Group – “Little Paris Bookshop” by Nina George
Monsieur Perdu calls himself a literary apothecary. From his floating bookstore in a barge on the Seine, he prescribes novels for the hardships of life. Using his intuitive feel for the exact book a reader needs, Perdu mends broken hearts and souls. The only person he can't seem to heal through literature is himself; he's still haunted by heartbreak after his great love disappeared. She left him with only a letter, which he has never opened. After Perdu is finally tempted to read the letter, he hauls anchor and departs on a mission to the south of France, hoping to make peace with his loss and discover the end of the story. Joined by a bestselling but blocked author and a lovelorn Italian chef, Perdu travels along the country’s rivers, dispensing his wisdom and his books, showing that the literary world can take the human soul on a journey to heal itself.
Group Discussion Facilitator: Cathy Fortunato (Lambda
This is a call to action, to "go forth and make magic" by contributing your talents to inspire participation and creativity in your learning and living environments.
Presenter: Miranda McMahon (Lambda)
When I retired from full-time teaching, my students gave me an anthology of original essays, poems and art with a letter stating that I taught them how to make magic in writing and art and now it was my turn to "go forth and make magic." I have been doing that ever since. Each one of us has unique talents that can enrich the learning and life experiences of those around us, in our classrooms and communities. This workshop examines how we share those gifts and participate in the magic of learning.
The Gratitude Train
Americans lent a hand to France, both during and after WWII, and the French citizens found a remarkable way to say, "Merci!"
Presenter: Jane Murphy (Sigma)
What makes America great? What its citizens do for others tops the list. WWII left France and Italy in shambles. Besides losing buildings and roads, they lost farming equipment. Factories were destroyed, so replacing needed goods was made impossible. People were starving, and America stepped up. Food, enough to make an impact, was delivered. In 1949, when they were back on their feet, the people of France and Italy wanted to say, “Merci!”. This is the story of how they did it.
Chair Yoga – Back by Popular Demand!
“Yoga All Together” is a program in which attendees participate in chair-supported yoga to build strength and flexibility in the body.
Presenter: Susan Petrick (Epsilon)
The first 30 minutes of this DVD program includes seated, gentle and easy poses using the chair for support. The second 30 minute DVD includes some standing poses for balance and concentration. Come to the first and then those who choose may remain for the second video.
Re-Ignite Enthusiasm For Your Profession: Practical Coping Strategies to Eliminate Burnout
Are you currently teaching? This workshop is designed to help you meet the myriad of stressors that you daily encounter.
Presenters: Patti Rahn (Omicron) and Dr. Mary Lee Batesko (Zeta)
This is a difficult time to be an educator! Teachers feel overwhelming pressure to meet the myriad of school responsibilities. This workshop will center on coping strategies for women educators. This will be a hands-on workshop on coping strategies to eliminate burnout before it happens. Many of these strategies you can put in use on Monday morning.
Book Discussion Group – “Little Paris Bookshop” by Nina George
Monsieur Perdu calls himself a literary apothecary. From his floating bookstore in a barge on the Seine, he prescribes novels for the hardships of life. Using his intuitive feel for the exact book a reader needs, Perdu mends broken hearts and souls. The only person he can't seem to heal through literature is himself; he's still haunted by heartbreak after his great love disappeared. She left him with only a letter, which he has never opened. After Perdu is finally tempted to read the letter, he hauls anchor and departs on a mission to the south of France, hoping to make peace with his loss and discover the end of the story. Joined by a bestselling but blocked author and a lovelorn Italian chef, Perdu travels along the country’s rivers, dispensing his wisdom and his books, showing that the literary world can take the human soul on a journey to heal itself.
Group Discussion Facilitator: Cathy Fortunato (Lambda
Afternoon Workshops - Afternoon 2:30 – 3:45 PM
Co-teaching Done Right
This session will provide an open discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of the full inclusion model and some techniques for successful implementation
Presenters: Annabelle Boehm (Lambda) and Dr. Nora Pollard (Lambda)
Implementing a full inclusion program takes careful planning and management to ensure a successful experience for the students as well as for both teachers. During this workshop participants will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of full inclusion and learn how to arrange the classroom to ensure all members of the class (students and teachers) are valued and are able to use their talents.
Questioning and Discussion Techniques to Motivate Students
This will be a hands-on workshop where educators can learn effective strategies to support increased questioning and discussion techniques.
Presenter: Holly Niemiec (Omicron)
This will be a hands-on workshop where educators can learn effective strategies to support increased questioning and discussion techniques. Topics will include using protocols to support discussion techniques and using Webb’s Depth of Knowledge to increase higher level questioning in the classroom. There will be opportunities to learn a variety of technology connections to support student engagement and motivation.
Pollinators in Peril
Pollinators are in serious trouble in this country. What are some of the reasons that many species of bees and butterflies are in decline and what are some of the ways we can help them in our own backyards.
Presenters: Ellen Hahn (Beta) and Dr. Pamela Albert-Devine (Mu)
Bees: Honeybees are a critical link of the food chain and without bee pollination, most fruits, vegetables, nuts and plants would simply not grow. But of the 20,000 species of bees, only four make honey, so helping these pollinators do their job is vital to the food supply. In New Jersey, we have beekeepers all over the state doing their part. Learn more about honeybees and how you can help. You will even get to see bee keeping items and some items from a bee hive so next time you see a bee don’t be afraid and kill it, but rather thank it for all it does for us, especially the sweet honey that we all enjoy!
Butterflies: Why are most species of butterflies in serious decline? Review a few do’s and don’ts for creating a pollinator garden, view a brief video of the life cycle of the monarch including its migration to Mexico, and learn a few interesting facts about the monarch and other species of butterflies.
P.I.N.K.S. Self-Defense for Women
“P.I.N.K.S-Self Defense for Women” is a practical, reality-based course dedicated to equipping the participant with some skills, abilities and most importantly, the winning mindset to survive a violent encounter.
Presenters: Greg Borlan & Officer Dawn Flanders
P.I.N.K.S (Preventive Information, Necessary Knowledge of Self-Defense) is a course dedicated to teaching woman practical, reality based self-defense. The concepts and easy-to-learn techniques in this class are structured to teach women the skills, abilities and winning mindset to survive a violent encounter. It is taught in an uplifting manner to empower women to fight back and take control of their personal safety.
**Attendees should wear comfortable clothing if they intend to participate in the physical portion of this training.
The Story of Possibility
Join the discussion of our future as we write the new stories of who and what DKG is.
Presenter: Barbara Whiting, First Vice-President of DKG International
The story of who we are and what we do is told by DKG members. Together we can create the story of who we are becoming. The best changes come through the heart. Listen to the stories of proposed Society changes and the changes that are already occurring. You are writing the story of DKG’s future. Join this discussion of possibilities and the development of our future story. Together we have an opportunity to create a Society that is extraordinary.
Book Discussion “The Underground Railroad” by Colson Whitehead
Like the protagonist of Gulliver’s Travels, Cora encounters different worlds at each stage of her journey - hers is an odyssey through time as well as space. As Whitehead brilliantly re-creates the unique terrors for black people in the pre-Civil War era, his narrative seamlessly weaves the saga of America from the brutal importation of Africans to the unfulfilled promises of the present day. The Underground Railroad is at once a kinetic adventure tale of one woman’s ferocious will to escape the horrors of bondage and a shattering, powerful meditation on the history we all share.
Group Discussion Facilitator: Judith Jordan (Lambda)
This session will provide an open discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of the full inclusion model and some techniques for successful implementation
Presenters: Annabelle Boehm (Lambda) and Dr. Nora Pollard (Lambda)
Implementing a full inclusion program takes careful planning and management to ensure a successful experience for the students as well as for both teachers. During this workshop participants will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of full inclusion and learn how to arrange the classroom to ensure all members of the class (students and teachers) are valued and are able to use their talents.
Questioning and Discussion Techniques to Motivate Students
This will be a hands-on workshop where educators can learn effective strategies to support increased questioning and discussion techniques.
Presenter: Holly Niemiec (Omicron)
This will be a hands-on workshop where educators can learn effective strategies to support increased questioning and discussion techniques. Topics will include using protocols to support discussion techniques and using Webb’s Depth of Knowledge to increase higher level questioning in the classroom. There will be opportunities to learn a variety of technology connections to support student engagement and motivation.
Pollinators in Peril
Pollinators are in serious trouble in this country. What are some of the reasons that many species of bees and butterflies are in decline and what are some of the ways we can help them in our own backyards.
Presenters: Ellen Hahn (Beta) and Dr. Pamela Albert-Devine (Mu)
Bees: Honeybees are a critical link of the food chain and without bee pollination, most fruits, vegetables, nuts and plants would simply not grow. But of the 20,000 species of bees, only four make honey, so helping these pollinators do their job is vital to the food supply. In New Jersey, we have beekeepers all over the state doing their part. Learn more about honeybees and how you can help. You will even get to see bee keeping items and some items from a bee hive so next time you see a bee don’t be afraid and kill it, but rather thank it for all it does for us, especially the sweet honey that we all enjoy!
Butterflies: Why are most species of butterflies in serious decline? Review a few do’s and don’ts for creating a pollinator garden, view a brief video of the life cycle of the monarch including its migration to Mexico, and learn a few interesting facts about the monarch and other species of butterflies.
P.I.N.K.S. Self-Defense for Women
“P.I.N.K.S-Self Defense for Women” is a practical, reality-based course dedicated to equipping the participant with some skills, abilities and most importantly, the winning mindset to survive a violent encounter.
Presenters: Greg Borlan & Officer Dawn Flanders
P.I.N.K.S (Preventive Information, Necessary Knowledge of Self-Defense) is a course dedicated to teaching woman practical, reality based self-defense. The concepts and easy-to-learn techniques in this class are structured to teach women the skills, abilities and winning mindset to survive a violent encounter. It is taught in an uplifting manner to empower women to fight back and take control of their personal safety.
**Attendees should wear comfortable clothing if they intend to participate in the physical portion of this training.
The Story of Possibility
Join the discussion of our future as we write the new stories of who and what DKG is.
Presenter: Barbara Whiting, First Vice-President of DKG International
The story of who we are and what we do is told by DKG members. Together we can create the story of who we are becoming. The best changes come through the heart. Listen to the stories of proposed Society changes and the changes that are already occurring. You are writing the story of DKG’s future. Join this discussion of possibilities and the development of our future story. Together we have an opportunity to create a Society that is extraordinary.
Book Discussion “The Underground Railroad” by Colson Whitehead
Like the protagonist of Gulliver’s Travels, Cora encounters different worlds at each stage of her journey - hers is an odyssey through time as well as space. As Whitehead brilliantly re-creates the unique terrors for black people in the pre-Civil War era, his narrative seamlessly weaves the saga of America from the brutal importation of Africans to the unfulfilled promises of the present day. The Underground Railroad is at once a kinetic adventure tale of one woman’s ferocious will to escape the horrors of bondage and a shattering, powerful meditation on the history we all share.
Group Discussion Facilitator: Judith Jordan (Lambda)
