Dinner with Senator Heitkamp

On Tuesday, June 30 (this week), ND Senator Heidi Heitkamp and U.S. Small Business Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet from Washington, DC, will be on campus for a brief tour. President McDonald would like to invite four (4) Teacher Ed students to join the group for dinner at 6 PM in the UTTC Cafeteria Conference Room.

If you are able to join us, please contact Jen Heid by phone (ext. 1428) or email (jheid@uttc.edu) as soon as possible. This will be "first come, first in". Also, no children or family members can attend with you. There are security issues because Ms. Contreras-Sweet is a member of President Barack Obama's Cabinet.

We will be done by 7 PM as the group has to leave at that time. Thank you!

Smithsonian Institute Announcement

Hello Smithsonian Institute Participants! 

Next week, June 22-26, we will be holding our fifth and final Smithsonian Institute workshop.  The workshop will take place in a new location.  It will be held on UTTC’s south campus in the Science and Technology Building.  We will in rooms 231 and 232 which are located on the second floor.

There are a couple of items to share with you:

·         Note that Registration and Check-in will be held from 8-8:30 am M-F.  We will start all formal sessions promptly at 8:30.  Please make sure that you are checked in and ready to begin the day.

·         The workshop will run from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday-Thursday.  Friday’s schedule will be 8:00 am to 3:30. 

·         Participants that are taking the week-long workshop for credit must be present for all sessions in order to receive the required passing grade for the course.  Visit with Leah Hamann if you have any questions or concerns. Make sure to sign the attendance sheet each morning to document your attendance. 

·         Participants who are not taking the week-long workshop for credit will fill out a UTTC CEU form on the first day.  Make sure to sign the attendance sheet each morning to document your attendance. 

·         UTTC pre-service candidates, if you need childcare for the week please contact either Lori Brown at the Infant/Toddler Center or Nevada Allen at the Preschool to make arrangements if you have not done so already.

·         Dress – due to the amount of hands-on activities that are scheduled, it is encouraged that you select clothing that you do not mind getting dirty.  In addition, please wear tennis shoes, as depicted in the partial Monday schedule you will be playing games).  Depending on how cool the building can get, please consider bringing a sweater, sweatshirt, or light jacket.  Lastly, some of our activities will have us going outside please bring a blanket to sit on, sunscreen, and bug spray.  There is plenty of room in the classrooms to house these items throughout the week so that you do not have to bring them with you every day.

·         Lunch will be on your own throughout the week, with light snacks provided.  Lunch at the cafeteria is $6, unless you are on a meal plan.  You are welcome to bring a sack lunch.  There is a microwave available for us to use, but no refrigerator.  

Below is the morning schedule for Monday.  You will receive a hard copy of the week-long agenda when you register/check-in on Monday. 

Day One:  Monday, June

8:00-8:30 am                                      Registration/ Check-in

8:30-8:45 am                          Opening Prayer

8:45-9:00 am                          Welcome

Leah Hamann, Instructor and Director of Extended Learning, UTTC

Elizabeth Wilkie, Program Coordinator, The Smithsonian Associates

9:00-10:00 am                                    How to Teach Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Children

Mr. Marcelo Campoverde, educator and former instructor, Division of Education and Psychology and Diversity Coordinator, Mayville State University, will cover aspects of teaching culturally and linguistically diverse children, particularly related to the benefits of using games, sports and food/nutrition and art in the classroom.  A key element would be the importance of respect, of treating all learners as individuals with culturally defined identities and their own store of knowledge and experience.  And that incorporating this knowledge and experience in classroom practice is a key way to engage these students. The speaker will also discuss strategies and techniques for teaching ESL students, related to our workshop topics.  Socially responsive and responsible teaching and learning requires teachers to be informed about the cultures and languages of their students.

10:00-10:15 am                      Break

10:15-10:45 am                      Cultural History of Native American Games

Ms. Dovie Thomason, storyteller and educator, will provide some cultural and historical background on the early role of games and sports for Native American tribes.

10:45-11:30 am                              Games and Sports Lessons/From the Animal People 

Ms. Thomason will present two stories about games and sports and two about the animals depicted on the dice in the bowl and dice game. The stories help listeners understand leadership, skills development, values, family practices, and the importance of relationships with the natural world.  Ms. Thomason will lead a discussion on how to use storytelling in the classroom, touching on the strategies covered in previous Smithsonian workshops.

11:30-12:30 pm                      Bowl and Dice Game

Professor Butch Thunderhawk will provide some background historical and cultural information on the game and participants will play the game in teams.

12:30-1:30 pm                                    Lunch