Summer 2016 Graduate Credit Opportunities

Free grad credits are nice...but they aren't always available.

In the meantime...If you are looking for grad credits to move you to the next lane on the salary schedule or to finalize your recertification, here are a few options to consider.

First, a few degree advancement reminders...

If you are looking at completing any graduate credit work this summer or early next fall, remember to submit your Coursework Pre-Approval forms. The district review committee will review forms one last time this school year, and forms are due by noon on Friday, May 27. Access documents and guidelines on inSite.

FREE Graduate Credits

The Dakota Writing Project is hands down some of the BEST PD I've had, and their Summer Institute is coming up quickly. It runs June 13 - July 8, and this year, the first three weeks are on campus at USD and the fourth week is online. The DWP just sent out information that they can pay 100% tuition and fees for the first 12 who register. (The Institute is worth 6 graduate credits!) If you are interested, please email Michelle Rogge Gannon before May 23 at mrogge@usd.edu for the details. (Email her ASAP so that you can be one of the 12!)

Online Graduate Credits

​If you are interested in completing self-paced graduate credits in your PJs and in the comfort of your own home, you might want to check out Learners Edge Professional Development. Learners Edge offers (mostly 3 credit) courses on: Teaching Excellence, Instructional Strategies, Classroom Management, Literacy, Brain-Based, Technology, Leadership, and Design & Assessment. Browse their Summer/Fall 2016 Catalog here. Also, a handful of colleges endorse their courses, and you can request your credit through one of the colleges listed on the Learners Edge website. (Augie is one, so if you already have a few graduate courses through Augie, you can add any Learner's Edge course to your Augie transcript.) Lastly, if you are new to Learners Edge, use promo code FRIEND20 to receive $20 off your first ​3-credit course.

Local Graduate Credits

There are also a number of great opportunities available here in town. 

• ​The District offers Red Apple courses, which offer teachers opportunities to get grad credits for less than the typical university cost. View the Red Apple calendar here. 
• Augie and USF both offer continuing education courses during the summer. View Augie's list here and USF's list here.
• New Tech is also offering the Project Based Learning Academy again. There are two courses offered: Academy I - Introduction to Project Based Learning, and Academy II - Integration of Project Based Learning​. (Click on the links to view descriptions.) Registration closes on May 23.

Happy learning!

DWP "Teaching Shakespeare" Workshop

You may have heard that Shakespeare is visiting South Dakota this spring as part of a nation-wide tour (if not, click here to read my previous post about it), and while you probably won't be able to make all of the events during the First Folio's 27-day visit to USD's National Music Museum, this might be the one to put on your calendar.

On Saturday, March 12, the Dakota Writing Project is offering a FREE "Teaching Shakespeare" workshop. It is a five-hour commitment, unless you add in the commute to-and-from USD. Here's what the DWP has to say about the workshop:

“Teaching Shakespeare: Bring the Folio Experience into your Classroom"

Dakota Writing Project Workshop

Saturday, March 12, 2016
10am-3pm
Cost: FREE!

"At whatever level you teach Shakespeare, come to this workshop, share your expertise, and learn new ways to approach Shakespeare in the classroom. Workshop facilitated by Darlene Farabee (Associate Professor, Department of English, USD). The Workshop includes continental breakfast, lunch, tour of the First Folio!exhibition, and supporting materials for classroom exercises. Spaces for the workshop are limited."

I realize the description is not very in-depth, but I have participated in two DWP experiences in the past, and they have been some of the best PD I have received. If you are at all interested, please consider attending! Plus, it is free!

Space is limited, so you will want to register soon if you are interested. Fill out the online registration here.

DWP Summer Institute 2015

The DWP Invitational Summer Institute is in the works! Very few details are out at this point, but here is what I know:

1. This has been some of the BEST PD in which I have participated. It is for ANY teacher who wants to look at using writing more effectively in the classroom. (The summer I participated, the teachers ranged from K-college, and included PE, science, social studies, and art, as well as English.)
2. The dates are set: June 8 - July 2, 2015. The group meets Monday through Thursday.
3. The ISI takes place on USD's campus. Typically, teachers can choose to commute each day or to arrange housing in Vermillion. (I opted to commute each day with another Sioux Falls teacher, which I really enjoyed. We were able to spend time bonding and processing the information from the day.)
4. One of our own SF teachers will co-direct - Meghan WoundedHead!
5. Teachers can earn 6 graduate credits for completing the ISI.

As I learn more, I will try to send out information. In the meantime, you can watch the DWP ISI website or contact DWP director Michelle Rogge Gannon at mrogge@usd.edu.

Sorcerer's Apprentice Registration Posted

The Dakota Writing Project has posted the registration document for the annual student creative writing camp: The Sorcerer's Apprentice. The camp is March 27-28, but early bird registration is due March 16. Read more about the camp in this previous post or visit the DWP website.

Sorcerer's Apprentice Creative Writing Camp

The Dakota Writing Project's Sorcerer's Apprentice Creative Writing Camp is set for this spring! It typically takes place in the fall, but this year, it will be in March and expanded as the Dakota Writing Project pairs up with the Vermilion Literacy Project.

The camp itself is a one-day workshop for high school students with a genuine interest in writing and will take place on Saturday, March 28. This workshop is intended to bring "together high school writers with dedicated teacher-writer professionals...for a day of writing and collaboration that promises to be a magical apprenticeship." Throughout the day, students will have the opportunity to explore a variety of creative genres and partake in revision exercises. The day culminates with a chance to perform the day's work.

New this year is an expansion to include a few Friday events on March 27th. A 3-hour writing marathon will kick-off the day at 12:30, followed by a reading by USD faculty member and published author Natanya Pulley at 4 pm. The day will culminate with a poetry slam that evening.

If you have a student who may be interested, please encourage them to explore this writing opportunity. The camp website has not yet been updated, but eventually, more information will be available here, along with the registration form. In the past, student registration fees have included the workshop, a camp t-shirt, a copy of the Vermilion Literary Project magazine, lunch, and workshop refreshments. There are scholarships available for students with financial needs; please email dwp@usd.edu for more information.