What's New
Summer 2008 Course updates
There are just a few updates to the FOR-PD course this summer.
Objectives
First of all, the lesson objectives have been reviewed and many of them have been rewritten so that they are more measurable. More specific verbs, such as describe, list, evaluate, have replaced more ambiguous terms such as understand.
Quizzes
The quizzes were all reviewed and some updates have been made to some questions. This review was completed to ensure that the quiz questions are closely aligned with the objectives and that all questions and feedback are very clear so as to avoid any confusion about what is being asked.
Technology and Literacy Thread
FOR-PD has added a new "thread"(or standard resource) to the FOR-PD course for summer 2008. The “Technology and Literacy” resource explores how teachers can utilize technology to support reading instruction and students’ reading development in grades PreK-12.
When teachers visit the “Technology & Literacy” icon (shown to the left), they will be provided with a variety of options (e.g., a quality video clip, or a relevant website, an audio clip, or a webquest, or an interactive activity) that demonstrate how to integrate literacy and technology. This new resource offers a relevant, research-based alignment with each FOR-PD lesson objectives and content.
We believe that teachers will be motivated, and will become better equipped, to use technology in their classrooms to support literacy in new and innovative ways.
For the summer 2008 semester we will have a change in our Facilitator Leader group. Dorothy Zablotsky has decided not to continue as a Leader. Dorothy and her husband have numerous trips planned and she feels she will be away too much. We are really going to miss having Dorothy as part of the Leader’s team, but she will not be gone as part of our facilitator learning community and I’m sure she would love to continue to hear from you! Thank you, Dorothy, for your guiding hand and all of your hard work in support of the FOR-PD family!
On a brighter note, our former Reading Specialist, Lourdes Smith has agreed to join us as a Facilitator Leader in Dorothy's place. We are very happy that Lourdes will continue to provide her expertise to you in this capacity.
The rest of our Facilitator Leaders team will remain the same. Other leaders are as follows:
Sharon Feinblatt, Kelly Hansell, Montez Hollins, Kim Pearson, and Nancy Tondreault
These ladies are top notch professionals and while each leader has specific duties, they are always available to assist any facilitator. Please feel free to approach them if you have any question or comment.
New interactive webpage at the U.S. Department of education 
US Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings released a white paper and launched a new interactive Web page following up on the landmark education report, A Nation At Risk, which was published 25 years ago.
Here’s the link to that page: http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/risk25.html
Over the next several months, the Secretary will pose various questions related to the state of education in the US on this Web page. We strongly encourage you to periodically log onto the site and provide your responses to the questions.
Contact Us
Contact us using any of the emails below or directly using our convenient feedback form.
FOR-PD Project
FOR-PD Help Desk
FOR-PD Facilitators
Dr. Vicky Zygouris-Coe (Principal Investigator)
Richard Scott (Registration)
Candace Whitehead (Facilitator Specialist)
Saioa de Urquiza (Interim Project Director)
Return to the
FOR-PD Homepage.
Last Updated:
May 15, 2008
