The Excitement Continues to Grow!!!

Plan now to attend this terrific professional development event!

Educators have indicated that this conference has been one of the most inspiring experiences of their professional lives. The 26th NELMS Annual Conference will not disappoint! You can find answers for many of your questions and discover new ideas and resources for your profession. Don’t miss the largest and best regional middle level conference in the country!

The active involvement, careful thought, energy, and caring attitude of attendees make this conference the special event it is! There continues to be a unique and positive energy generated at the NELMS Annual Conference.

Thank you for taking time away from your families and schools to participate in this professional activity. Your attendance at all our events will help you learn new and effective ways of working with young adolescents and it also helps support your NELMS organization. Enjoy, learn, and celebrate with us and each other during our 26th Annual NELMS Conference.

Presenters and Keynote Speakers

Presenters come from every corner of New England and beyond. We have some terrific keynote speakers, great half day sessions and over 200 concurrent sessions.
The keynote speakers are:

Sunday, March 25th - Sue Swaim, Executive Director, National Middle School Association - "The Power of One"

Monday, March 26th - Richard G. Ramsey, Consultant - "Failure Is Not An Option"

Tuesday, March 27th - Rick Wormeli - Teacher, Presenter, Writer - "Nothing Ventured, Something Lost"

Conference Strands Provide Structure!

To help guide, structure and provide a focus for learning, strands for the conference have been identified. Strand letters will assist attendees in their session selections.

Click here for a complete list of all conference sessions.

A. VARIED INSTRUCTIONAL AND LEARNING STRATEGIES

Teachers recognize that their students represent a broad range of interests, abilities, learning styles, and skills! Middle Level Educators accommodate these differences by incorporating effective methods, including team based instruction, brain-based methodologies, effective use of technology, and teaching to multiple intelligences that engage learners to achieve higher levels.
Workshop numbers: 5, 13 18, 32, 34, 35, 39, 46, 47, 51, 53, 57, H5, 64, 71, 79, 80, 83, 94, 98, 101, 106, 109, 112, 119, 120, 124, 129, 130, 131, 142, 145, H13, 159, 161, 166, 167, 168, 179, 184, 186, 188, 189, 190, 191 

B. CHALLENGING AND RELEVANT CURRICULUM

Developmentally responsive middle level schools provide a standards-based curriculum that is challenging and relevant to students. Subject-focused (including unified arts subjects); curriculum, exploratory curriculum, the various iterations of curriculum integration and interdisciplinary curriculum provide teachers with options to meet the needs of their students.
Workshop numbers: H1, 1, 2, 4, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16 19, 22, 26, 28, 33, 43, 55, 61, 69, 72, 77, 78, H6, 91, 97, 102, 107, 110, 115, 117, 118, 121, 122, 126, H11, 143, H12, 154, 162, 165, 169, 170, 174, 177, 187, 194 

C. ASSESSMENT
Standards-based assessment, the process of measuring a students’ progress toward a goal or objective, is integral to curriculum development. Rather than restrict good teaching practices, assessment efforts should inform and strengthen teaching and learning.
Workshop numbers: 63, 65, 73, 108, 114, 137, 147, 156, 157, 164, 176

D. MIDDLE LEVEL BELIEFS, BEST ORGANIZATIONAL PRACTICES AND ADVOCACY
Middle level education meets the educational and developmental needs of young adolescents by implementing best practices that support the precepts articulated in This We Believe and Turning Points 2000.
Workshop numbers: 3, 8, 12, 17, 20, 27, 36, 38, 45, 54, 58, H3, 67, 68, 70, 74, 75, 84, H7, 95, 99, 100, 111, 113, 116, H10, 132, 133, 135, 141, 144, 148, 153, 160, 163, 171, 175, 183, 185

E. LEADERSHIP FOR THE MIDDLE LEVEL
This strand will assist leaders in the middle level schools (i.e., principals, team leaders, instructional leaders, building, and central office administrators) to develop effective teams, programs, and learning climates. Effective leadership is critical to the success of teachers, teams, and schools.
Workshop numbers: H2, 23, 25, 30, 31, 44, 49, 56, 62, 66, H8, 87, 88, 90, 92, 93, 103, 123, 125, H9, 136, 138, 146, H14, 158

F. TECHNOLOGY IN THE MIDDLE LEVEL
The utilization of technology as a resource for learning includes hardware, software, program funding, and most importantly, ways to open communications and educational horizons to move beyond the school computer lab and integrate technology into the classroom to improve student learning.
Workshop numbers: 6, 7, 21, 40, 41, 59, 60, 81, 82, 104, 105, 127, 128, 139, 140, 149, 150, 172, 173, 192, 193

G. SCHOOL/PARENT/COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
Linking parents and community to create powerful learning partnerships is the focus of this strand. Ideas about home/school communication and parent/community programs are included.
Workshop numbers: 11, 29, 37, 42, 48, 50, 52, 85, 89, 96, 134, 151, 152, 181, 195

√ Hot Topic – H. Looking at Student & Teacher Work to Improve Students’ Learning
Looking at student work is a promising practice that effective teams engage in regularly. It provides teachers with a different set of data and a different perspective of their students. When student work is examined, student skill gaps and mastery become evident. Examining student work revels how students think and what perceptions they hold.
Workshop numbers: 24, H4, 76, 86, 109, 155, 178, 180

Update on NELMS 2007 Election

Elections at NELMS took place in New Hampshire Region 2, Connecticut Region 1 and Massachusetts Region 3. NELMS is pleased to announce the winners in those regions. The new members will begin their office term in fiscal year July 1, 2007. New Hampshire Region 2 reelected Sharon Johnston. Connecticut Region 1 elected James Ellsworth. Mr. Ellsworth teaches at Scofield Magnet Middle School in Stamford, Connecticut. Stephanie Kitz was elected in Massachusetts Region 3. She is a new member to NELMS and teaches at Edwards Middle School in Charlestown, MA.

As well as holding our elections in November 2006, two appointments were made on the NELMS board. Greg Goodness retired in October 2006 from his position of Maine Region 1 representative and the board appointed Dennis Duquette, Principal at Gorham Middle School. In Connecticut Region 3, Ann Richardson resigned because of her new position as assistant superintendent. The board appointed Troy Monroe to complete out her term.

It is a pleasure to congratulate these fine individuals to the board and NELMS welcomes their time, dedication and professionalism to the pursuit of healthy middle level education.

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