Enrollment Dates:
March 8, 2004 - June 1, 2004

Dates for Summer Session:
May 1, 2004 - August 5, 2004

Details:
The PA State GEAR UP Project, a federal grant awarded to the PA State System of Higher Education, is coordinated through the Office of College and Career Awareness. The purpose of GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is to bring college awareness and preparation to select middle and high schools.

As part of the PA State GEAR UP Project, a series of graduate courses has once again been developed that will increase the opportunity for elementary certified middle grade teachers to obtain needed middle level certification as mandated by the NCLB Act. Three transferable graduate credits will be earned. These courses will be delivered at a school site by faculty from state system partner universities including West Chester, Kutztown, Cheyney, and East Stroudsburg University. Courses are aligned with the School District of Philadelphia Core Curriculum and also with the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation enacted in 2001.

NCLB legislation has mandated that by 2005-2006, all teachers must be highly qualified, and it allows each state to determine the standards that will ensure that only “highly qualified” teachers provide instruction to each child attending school. In Pennsylvania, one requirement is that all teachers must be qualified, through the teacher certification program, to teach in their content area. In response to this requirement, the PA State GEAR UP program is offering courses specifically designed for elementary certified teachers seeking middle level certification. As you will note in the course descriptions, most course content is directly related to the Praxis II certification exam.

All costs, including materials will be paid by the PA State GEAR UP program, except for a $50 refundable registration fee, which will be returned to you at the successful completion of the course. You may take more than one course.

Enrollment Procedures & Requirments:

• To be eligible for these courses, you must be a teacher in one of the following PA State GEAR UP schools:
  
  Tilden Middle School, Pepper Middle School, Turner Middle School, Blaine Elementary School, Douglass Elementary School, L.P. Hill Middle School, E. Washington Rhodes Middle School, Leeds Middle School, Ada Lewis Middle School, Hill-Freedman Middle School, and Wagner Middle School.

• To enroll in courses, contact Dr. Cerullo preferably by email:
  Dr. Claudio Cerullo, PA State GEAR UP University Coordinator, West Chester University of PA
  (610) 358-5323, cerullo@enter.net
  
  Please provide all of the following information in your message:
  Name, address, email address, telephone number, school, grade taught, course preference(s), and alternate choice(s)

• EXTENDED Deadline for enrollment: June 1, 2004, except Writing Development and Instruction – April 23, 2004

• Registration Fee: Please bring a self addressed stamped envelope and a check for $50 made out to the State System of Higher Education to your first class session. This check will be returned to you by mail upon your successful completion of the course requirements.

• Site Determination: For the faculty’s convenience, all of the classes will be held at PA State GEAR UP school sites. The course sites will be determined by enrollment numbers. The first school to submit a list of 10 teachers who want to take the same course will become the course site. Class size is limited to 25 teachers. However, if there is an early demand for additional courses, there is a possibility that they can be scheduled.

• For more information please call the Direct Service Coordinator at your school:
  

Summer 2004 Course Descriptions

Passing the Praxis II: (June 22-June 25 from 9am-5pm)

Dr. Thomas Stewart, Kutztown University, Department of Education

Dr. Stewart will be focusing his skills and expertise in the area of Praxis II preparation. In-depth strategies that are geared toward helping students understand and pass the Praxis II exam will be provided. Materials that will help students foster a better understanding of the exam will be included.

Seminar in Elementary School Science: (July 26-July 30 from 8am-4:30pm)

Dr. Craig Wilson, East Stroudsburg University, Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education

This course includes the study and appraisal of objectives needed to pass the science content exam. The emphasis is on those aspects that are aimed toward development of confidence as well as competence on the part of the teacher, relevancy, and student involvement in the science program.

Teaching Social Studies in the Middle School: (August 2-August 6 from 8:30 am-4:00 pm)

Dr. Martha Drobnak, West Chester University, Department of Elementary Education (Chair)

Analysis and evaluation of current trends in curriculum, pedagogy, resources, and materials in teaching social studies will be offered. Emphasis is placed on subject matter standards in the field of social studies education.

Classroom Management for Urban Classroom Teachers July 19-July 23 from 8:30am-4:00pm
Dr. David Brown, West Chester University, Department of Elementary Education

A course designed for practicing teachers in urban schools. Teachers will learn strategies for developing productive learning environments based on developing mutually respective relationship with students. Exposure to the research on culturally responsive interactions and communication patterns that positively affect students' motivation for learning will be offered.

Writing Development and Instruction EDR 520: (May 1, 2004-June 5, 2004, Saturdays from 9 am -5pm)

Dr. Sunita Mayor
Literacy Department
West Chester University

The purpose of this course is to enable teachers to better understand the writing process and how children learn to write and to gain knowledge about the instructional strategies and evaluation procedures used in a holistic approach to literacy learning. The course is aligned with the School District of Philadelphia framework requirements for literacy.

Middle School Langauge Arts: (June 21st-25th from 9am-4:30pm)

Dr. Joann Yaworski
West Chester University
Department of Literacy and Reading

Dr. Yaorski has a specialty in preparing teachers to pass the Language Arts portion of the Praxis II exam.
She has developed a number of web sites that prepare students to pass standardized exams. Her research focuses on student success and teaching reading, language arts, and study skills.

Mathematics Content for Middle School Teachers: (June 21-July 22, 2004 from 8 am-12:30 pm, Tuesdays & Thursdays)

Dr. Nola Blye (Chair)
Cheyney University
Department of Mathematics

The purpose of this course is to explore trends, research, and classroom readiness in the areas of Pre-Algebra, Algebra, and Geometry for 7th and 8th grade teachers taking the mathematics content exam.

If you would like more information about the PA State GEAR UP Teacher Academies, please contact
Edie Paige, Office of College and Career Awareness, (215) 299-8913, epaige@phila.k12.pa.us