National Association of Museum Schools Conference: Full Schedule

7:00am EDT

Registration & Breakfast

Limited Capacity seats available

Monday June 22, 2015 7:00am - 7:45am EDT
TBA

Break / Refreshments

8:00am EDT

Opening Session / Keynote: Carmen Agra Deedy

Limited Capacity seats available

Moderators

Carmen Agra Deedy

Monday June 22, 2015 8:00am - 8:45am EDT
Salons I - III

9:00am EDT

A Tale of Two Museum Schools

Limited Capacity seats available

Follow Robert Churchwell Elementary and John Early Middle, two museum magnet schools in Nashville, Tenn., on their journey to implement the museum theme. The session will address what makes the magnet program unique as outlined in the federal Magnet School Assistance Program grant awarded in 2010 to Metro Nashville Schools. Find out how these two schools, with more than 30 museum partners, learning expeditions, project-based learning partnerships, and museum spaces in both buildings, have forged their museum identities and implemented museum strategies in the classroom and in the community.

Speakers

Becky Verner

Instructional Designer, MNPS Museum Magnet Schools

Monday June 22, 2015 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
Conference 4

Session 1

9:00am EDT

American Museum Schools: A Brief History and Perspective

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Kaleen Tison Povis

Monday June 22, 2015 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
Conference C

Session 1

9:00am EDT

Beyond the Field Trip: Building Strong Partnerships with Museums

Limited Capacity seats available

How do you move beyond simple field trips to learning expeditions? In a panel discussion facilitated by Principal Katherine Kelbaugh, some of The Museum School's partners, including the High Museum of Art and the Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University, will talk about their educational programs and school partnerships, including innovative programming and learning expeditions, as well as how to build solid school-museum partnerships.

Speakers

Katherine Kelbaugh

Principal, The Museum School of Avondale Estates

Monday June 22, 2015 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
Conference 2

Session 1

9:00am EDT

Jumpstart Experience-Based Learning with Reading and Writing

Limited Capacity seats available

Get the scoop on experience-based learning in the classroom from teachers who have been there! Find out how teachers can act as facilitators instead of lecturers, guiding students find their own solutions to curriculum-related problems. Take part in an interactive exploration of some high-level first steps you can use in your classroom and team next year. You'll leave the session inspired and equipped with concrete tools to get you on your way!

Speakers

Ashley Beebe

Teacher, The Museum School of Avondale Estates

Lillian Galicia

Teacher, The Museum School of Avondale Estates

Katherine Morgan

Teacher, The Museum School of Avondale Estates

Monday June 22, 2015 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
Conference E

Session 1

9:00am EDT

Qualities of Leadership: An Instructional Unit

Limited Capacity seats available

The session will travel across an 11-day unit for grades 4 and 5, examining positive leadership in politics, science, social justice, the arts, sports and business. Attendees will walk away with a teacher-created and proven template for building a rich unit plan using best practices aligned to core academic areas and state standards. Learn how to incorporate technology, formative assessments, problem-based learning and engaging activities for students.

Speakers

Ann Scott Hanks

Teacher: Gifted Program, Fulton County Schools: Ocee ES

Monday June 22, 2015 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
Conference D

Session 1

10:30am EDT

All the World’s a Stage: Reader’s Theatre in SS and Science

Limited Capacity seats available

With little or no narrative, informational texts that accompany science and social studies lessons pose a challenge to many elementary students, causing some to develop vocabulary and conceptual deficits in those subject areas. By transforming reading into a spoken performance with gestures, Readers Theater increases fluency, builds vocabulary and increases concept knowledge as well as boosts student confidence and motivation. Learn about examples of and resources for using Readers Theater to teach science and social studies.

Speakers

Sherry Morton

Educator, Hess Academy

Monday June 22, 2015 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Conference 2

Session 2

10:30am EDT

Defining the Museum School Model

Limited Capacity seats available

This session will explore the challenges of defining the Museum School Model. Following a brief overview of previous research attempting to define the Museum School model, the session will describe recent efforts by the CEISMC Evaluation Group, in collaboration with NAMS, to explore critical elements of the model within a nationwide sample of Museum Schools.

Speakers

Jessica Gale

Research Scientist II, Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics and Computing (CEISMC)

I am an education researcher focusing primarily on research and program evaluation in K-12 settings. As a Research Scientist and member of the CEISMC Evaluation Group, I conduct evaluations of a variety of k-12 STEM education programs. One of our current projects has involved serving... Read More →

Monday June 22, 2015 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Conference C

Session 2

10:30am EDT

Road Map to Expeditions

Limited Capacity seats available

Go far beyond the field trip and take your learning excursions to the next level as you begin the wonderful journey of expeditionary learning.. Take home a road map for successful expeditions, beginning with planning tips. Understand the roles of key players and equip yourself with helpful resources to use on expedition days as well as tips and tricks to overcome roadblocks.

Speakers

Wesleigh Reaves

Museum Liason, The Museum School of Avondale Estates

Yolanda Silveri

First Grade Teacher, The Museum School of Avondale Estates

Monday June 22, 2015 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Conference E

Session 2

10:30am EDT

The Workshop Model: Beyond the Basics

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Jen Pomfret

Instructional Support Teacher, The Museum School of Avondale Estates

Mike Stewart

Assistant Principal, The Museum School of Avondale Estates

Monday June 22, 2015 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Conference D

Session 2

10:30am EDT

Travel Through Student Made Journals

Limited Capacity seats available

How can you help your students record their new knowledge? Through travel journals! Learn the basics on creating this wonderful learning resource. Presenters will share examples and discuss ideas for personalizing journals. There will be time for reflection and planning. Walk away with ideas about how to make this amazing tool work in your classroom!

Speakers

Emily Gardner

Gifted Teacher, The Museum School of Avondale Estates

Katie Stenberg

Kindergarten Teacher, The Museum School of Avondale Estates

Monday June 22, 2015 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Conference 4

Session 2

12:00pm EDT

Lunch

Limited Capacity seats available

Monday June 22, 2015 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT
Exhibitor Hall - Conference A / B

Break / Refreshments

1:15pm EDT

Behind the Scenes: Lessons Learned by Museum School Principals

Limited Capacity seats available

Gain invaluable insight and suggestions as museum-school principals from Michigan, Florida, Tennessee and Georgia discuss mission and philosophy, museum-model features, special challenges – and opportunities- facing museum schools and what it takes to get one off the ground and lead it to success.

Speakers

Katherine Kelbaugh

Principal, The Museum School of Avondale Estates

Monday June 22, 2015 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
Conference 2

Session 3

1:15pm EDT

LIVE Exhibit Night - Discover. Explore. Question.

Limited Capacity seats available

Discover: Take a walk behind the scenes of exhibit night planning. Discover what it takes to have a successful exhibit night!

Explore: Explore a LIVE exhibit night. Come watch docents from The Museum School in Avondale Estates as they guide you through real student exhibits.

Question: Bring your exhibit planning questions to a panel of museum school teachers.

Speakers

Jenny Di Meo

Intervention Teacher, The Museum School of Avondale Estates

Amy Rodriguez

Teacher, The Museum School of Avondale Estates

Monday June 22, 2015 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
Conference D

Session 3

1:15pm EDT

Museum Unit Planning for Middle School: Connected, Relevant, Engaging

Limited Capacity seats available

Designing museum units specifically for middle school students and teachers is a challenge, and this session prepares attendees to tackle it. Participants will get a chance to look closely at a planned unit as well as plan a unit of their own. They'll discuss best practices in unit planning, cultivating partner relationships and project-based learning ideas specifically for middle school students. Participants are encouraged to bring ideas for a museum unit relevant to their own students, hometowns or current events.

Speakers

Caitlin Niles

Museum Theme Coach, Fred D. Wish Museum School/Hartford Public Schools

Monday June 22, 2015 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
Conference 4

Session 3

1:15pm EDT

Planning for Authentic Learning

Limited Capacity seats available

Find out how to use backwards design to build project-based learning lessons and inspire authentic learning. The model can be used for individual lessons or entire curricular units. We will identify areas for student action and build a lesson to meet specific understandings and skills. Bring standards and planning materials so we can create new lessons!

Speakers

Grant Knowles

Director of Innovation +Fine Arts, Hamilton County Schools

Jennifer Ziegler

Monday June 22, 2015 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
Conference E

Session 3

1:15pm EDT

Show Me the Money: Grant Writing Basics

Limited Capacity seats available

Do you have all the money you need to run your school effectively? Or, do you depend solely on QBE funding and supplemental PTO funds? Education is the top funding priority of many foundations. Learn from the best! An Atlanta-based grant-writing pro will show you how to research potential funders and write effective grants to help support your school with program, capital and unrestricted funding.

Speakers

Amy Crownover

Marketing and Communications Director, New American Pathways

Monday June 22, 2015 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
Conference C

Session 3

2:45pm EDT

Community and Museums: Working Together to Create Final Student Products

Limited Capacity seats available

Inspire your students to produce high-quality final products. Session participants will engage in a protocol to examine products created by students from kindergarten through sixth grade. Learn how an integrated approach using social studies or science content as a lens leads to an authentic need for high-quality work. Examine the use of the community as a resource for research, and learn how to progress towards ELS Common Core Standards. The session will focus on how to effectively use museum exhibits, staff and other experts and community venues for purposeful work that leads to a final product.

Speakers

Jenny Elahi

Teacher, Genesee Community Charter School

Becki Mason

Teacher, Genesee Community Charter School

Lisa O'Malley

Curriculum Coordinator, Genesee Community Charter School

Monday June 22, 2015 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
Conference C

Session 4

2:45pm EDT

Design Thinking and Museum Schools

Limited Capacity seats available

Find out how the design-thinking process has been articulated in the context of an emerging museum-school curriculum. Opening this fall, the Grand Rapids Public Museum School rests on core principles of design thinking, place-based learning and the curatorial process. Learn about the synergistic possibilities of design thinking and museum artifacts by taking part in a curriculum development exercise.

Speakers

Christopher Hanks

Principal, Public Museum School, Grand Rapids Public Schools

Monday June 22, 2015 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
Conference 2

Session 4

2:45pm EDT

Exhibiting Quality Student Understanding

Limited Capacity seats available

Exhibiting student understanding is a fundamental aspect of a museum school. Learn how to write labels to display student understanding as well as how to create common expectations among all stakeholders of what it means to exhibit student work. Hear about the need for quality rubrics and checklists for each exhibit piece and the importance of exhibit uniformity. Examine student-made textbooks (travel journals) and brainstorm ways to create the physical space need to display student work. Bring examples of rubrics, travel journals, labels and pictures you would like to share or revise with the group.

Speakers

Stephanie Higgs

Teacher, Normal Park Museum Magnet School

Carrie Willmore

Teacher, Normal Park Museum Magnet

Monday June 22, 2015 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
Conference 4

Session 4

2:45pm EDT

Museum 101

Limited Capacity seats available

Learn how to build a strong museum learning program, from laying a solid foundation to creating continuity of museum content. Attendees will find out who to include for a successful museum team, when to introduce students to museum concepts and how to determine where such a program fits into their schools.

Speakers

Stephanie Brannan

Principal, Ortega Museum Magnet Elementary

Monday June 22, 2015 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
Conference E

Session 4

4:15pm EDT

Closing Session: Building NAMS Think Tanks

Limited Capacity seats available

Monday June 22, 2015 4:15pm - 4:45pm EDT
Salons I - III