High Standards, Active Learning

Our professional development programs for educators offer a dynamic learning experience in an inspiring, collaborative environment. We provide support for helping students become active, engaged learners who have the academic foundation to be successful in an increasingly complex world.

Our methods teach students how to think critically and creatively, evaluate information, solve challenging problems, and develop strong foundational skills. Combining theory with years of classroom experience, we specialize in helping participants create instructional programs that maximizes students’ learning.

In addition to the programs offered at our site, we can create series of customized professional development sessions for interested schools. Contact Sharon Sutton, Outreach Coordinator, at (310) 825-1325 or ssutton@ucla.edu.

Register Now!

Critical Thinking Institute (K-8)

Learning how to access and manage information, think critically, solve complex problems, and use technology effectively are essential skills for living and working productively in the 21st century. The award-winning Critical Thinking Institute is designed to introduce teachers to the methods UCLA Lab School has developed for teaching these skills.

Focusing on the content areas of science and social studies, the goals of the institute are to help teachers:

• Foster critical thinking and communication among their students
• Address standards and basic skills utilizing authentic learning experiences
• Prepare students to become part of a learning/working community by fostering collaboration
• Teach information literacy skills (e.g., finding, evaluating and using information) in the meaningful context of inquiry/project-based learning
• Integrate technology into instruction through web searching, database construction, concept mapping and the creation of multimedia projects
• Use technology to enhance student productivity and promote creativity

Participants are invited to transform a unit of study in social studies or science that employs a traditional approach, where students receive knowledge from the teacher, to an area of focus that uses a constructivist approach, where students are actively engaged in creating their own understanding.

Upcoming Events

Session I

CLOSED

Session II

Jan. 30 & Feb. 1, Feb. 20 & 22, March 13 & 15, and April 17, 2010
Registration must be postmarked by January 8, 2010

• Weekday meetings are 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Saturday meetings are 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

$400 / per person for each Session

English Learners in California Symposium

Saturday, February 6, 2010
8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Keynote Address by Kathryn Lindholm-Leary, San Jose State University

Join us for this dynamic symposium that brings together educators, parents, community members and advocates for English Language Learners to engage in a discussion about the advantages and challenges we experience in working to meet the needs of English Learners.

Session leaders include UCLA faculty, public school leaders, policy experts and UCLA Lab School demonstration teachers. Topics include policy, best practices, advocacy, technology and dual language programs.

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Educator Days

These one-day, guided visits to UCLA Lab School classrooms provide snapshots of teaching and learning in different subject areas.

8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
FREE, registration required
Registration must be postmarked one week prior to the event

Writer’s Workshop

October 8, 2009

Project-Based Learning | Social Studies and Science

November 12, 2009

Reader’s Workshop

December 10, 2009

Integrating Technology Into the Curriculum

February 11, 2010

Cognitively Guided Instruction | Math

March 11, 2010

Learning in Two Languages

May 13, 2010

Group Visits

To arrange a customized visit for your group, contact Sharon Sutton, Outreach Coordinator, at (310) 825-1325 or ssutton@ucla.edu

Publications

Written and edited by UCLA Lab School faculty, these publications are based on our Critical Thinking and Early Literacy Institutes. To order copies, call (310) 825-1801. Costs include taxes and shipping.

Managing Information in a Digital Age

This comprehensive guidebook presents the process and essential skills for embedding information literacy strategies across all areas of the elementary through high school curriculum. The curriculum is divided into seven areas: questioning, identifying and collecting, evaluating, sense making, reflecting and refining, using, and assessing. The methods promote the skills, knowledge and attitudes that will help students develop effective lifelong information awareness, seeking, management and presentation strategies. Three-ring binder: $35

Early Literacy Skills Development: Guiding Principles for Helping Young Children Become Smart, Skilled and Passionate Readers and Writers

This full-color, easy-to-follow guide offers practical advice for helping young children of diverse backgrounds become lifelong readers and writers. Written by UCLA Lab School demonstration teachers, the guide identifies essential principles that form the foundation of an effective literacy program and gives examples of how these principles are implemented in the classroom. These teaching practices consistently enable children to achieve or exceed state and national language arts standards. Spiral-bound, 26-pages: $10