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GEAR UP EDI Hosts Workshops for Willapa Valley Educators

GEAR UP EDI - Willapa Valley WorkshopsThe UW GEAR UP Educator Development Initiative (EDI), a partner of Washington State GEAR UP and a program of the UW Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity, hosted two Common Core State Standards (CCSS) workshops for Willapa Valley Middle and High School teachers and principals in Menlo, Wash., this winter.

Held Dec. 4, the Literacy Across the Curriculum workshop provided training on teaching strategies for aligning curriculum to the standards and supporting students in academic preparation for college-level work. Tailored to the needs of the teachers, the workshop provided an in-depth focus on specific topics such as close reading, task complexity, teaching vocabulary and argumentative writing.

GEAR UP EDI - Willapa Valley Workshops
(l-r) Roseann London, Nancy Morris and David Slavit

Roseann London, GEAR UP EDI Director and Annie Kirking, UW doctoral student in curriculum and instruction, teamed up with Kate Hanigan, an English language arts teacher from Wahkiakum High School, to present the program.

The Mathematics workshop, held Jan. 15, covered instructional strategies to support students’ conceptual understanding, procedural skills and fluency, and the ability to apply mathematics to the real world. London collaborated with Dr. David Slavit, Boeing Distinguished Professor of Mathematics Education and Mathematics, at Washington State University Vancouver to present the workshop.

“This training was very helpful to our staff,” said Willapa Valley High School Principal Nancy Morris. “They are very excited about applying what they learned in their respective classrooms.”

GEAR UP EDI - Willapa Valley WorkshopsGEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) EDI provides year-round professional development and training for school leaders, counselors, teachers, administrators and other GEAR UP professionals to enhance their efforts in preparing low-income students to enter and succeed in post-secondary education.