Regional Effective Schools Institutes

Thanks in part to a generous grant received from the RGK Foundation, The University of Oklahoma Center for Effective Schools is offering Regional Effective Schools Institutes to sustain and expand existing programs and services provided through our center. “The RGK Foundation endeavors to be a catalyst for progressive change in humanitarian concerns. Guiding the foundation is a deep reverence for democracy and a civil society together with the founders’ values of foresight, imagination and discovery. By seeking innovative projects in the area of health, education, human services and community affairs, the Foundation strives to advance knowledge, improve society and help realize human potential.”

By developing consortiums, these institutes reach an optimum number of teachers in identified schools. Therefore, our center is able to deliver effective strategies to many teachers at no cost. Through regional workshops, we offer PreK-12th grade teachers scientifically research-based best practices to raise student achievement and help close the achievement gap. Much time is given to address the standards and how to teach them to all students. To best serve our schools, the following three regional areas were identified to hold these professional development institutes:

• Tahlequah, Oklahoma
• Seminole, Oklahoma
• Chickasha, Oklahoma

Schools in these consortiums include: Beggs, Binger-Oney, Blanchard, Briggs, Calvin, Canadian, Cyril, Dahlonegah, Darlington, Kenwood, Leach, Lindsay, Mason, Maysville, Moseley, Mounds, Oaks-Mission, Riverside Indian School, Rush Springs, Salina, Shady Grove, Union City, Warner and Wilson (Okmulgee Co.) Regional institutes will address the following:

• End of Instruction Institute (EOI) – Oklahoma high school students are assessed in the core areas: Biology I, Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, English II, English III and U.S. History. Teacher consultants in these content areas known for their exceptional test scores, leadership and professional development training provided our teachers with lessons, assessments and teaching strategies to raise their student achievement levels on the EOI assessments. These institutes were conducted in October 2007.



• Reading/Writing Institute – OU CES presented Reading Ideas with Mary Legan. Reading Ideas provided teachers with reading comprehension curriculum that works with all students grades K-12. These integrated activities address all learning styles, increase tests scores, and systematically teach comprehension using rich literature. These institutes were conducted in November of 2007.



• Math Institute – OU CES math consultants will instruct teachers to use integrated teaching strategies within standards based math lessons. Our math consultants have expertise aligning each lesson to specific grade level standards to ensure students learn the essential skills for mastery. These institutes will be conducted in January or February of 2008.



• Walk Through Training – The Walk Through training focuses on helping principals develop instructional leadership strategies that improve achievement in their schools using the walk-through process with reflective feedback. The walk-through provides principals and others who coach teachers with the tools and skills for analyzing classroom practices in curriculum and instruction and conversing with teachers about actions that will enhance the quality of student learning. These institutes will be conducted in March 2008.




In addition to our center’s staff, effective and successful consultants present at these institutes. The consultants share ideas, lessons, and strategies that are successful best-practices to raise student achievement. Research indicates integrated instructional units increase higher order thinking skills of students and increases the overall rigor of classroom instruction. One of our major goals is for teachers to learn to effectively integrate their lessons throughout the school day. Each institute includes integration and differentiated instruction strategies. Our presenters are highly competent in assisting teachers in the development of lessons and strategies to address these issues.