American Indian Institute, College of Continuing Education,University of Oklahoma

Overview

This workshop will focus on teaching and learning the "process" of culture-based curriculum development. The starting point for participants will be to acknowledge that culture-based curriculum development is a lifelong process that involves local tribal/band communities, as well as local schools and their programs. This process begins with the establishment of culture-based curriculum teams where parents, teachers, administrators, local cultural resource people and others come together to share ideas, thoughts, and cultural and educational expertise to make a positive difference in classrooms across North America. Ideally, culture-based curriculum materials should permeate schools and classrooms throughout the school year as basic skills in math, English, language arts, music, art, reading and other subjects are taught. This can really happen if schools, programs, and culture-based curriculum development teams set goals for the next school year, the next five years, the next ten years and so on.

We really can make a “big” difference through our efforts as culture-based curriculum development team members. If you are interested and willing to commit yourself to this effort, then this is the workshop for you! Also, encourage others from your area who share your interest and commitment to come to this workshop with you, so that together you can work to make a positive difference in your local school(s) and community.

In recent years, Indian tribes, bands, and First Nations have increasingly recognized the need to have a written legacy to pass on to future generations. At this workshop, we will focus on making cultural information an important part of all classroom activities and subject matter areas (i.e., math, science, language arts, speech, art, social studies, history, etc.). Workshop participants will be encouraged to develop lessons in the subject matter area(s) of their choice as we continue our work in developing culture-based curriculum materials.

Features/Benefits

Each participant will receive a copy of the Handbook for Native American, Alaska Native, and First Nations Cultural Curriculum Developers, which addresses the process of culture-based curriculum development. Some of its features include curriculum format, interviewing, identifying resources, curriculum teams, defining culture, unit outlines, involving elders, stereotyping, and evaluation. You will also receive a copy of the Culture-Based Curriculum Resource Booklet containing lessons developed by participants during this past year’s workshop. You will also have 3.2 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) recorded for you by the University of Oklahoma. This certificate of attendance could be used for staff development points, pending your school/programs acceptance of these CEUs.

Instructor

Anita Chisholm (Absentee Shawnee), M.Ed., Director of the American Indian Institute, College of Continuing Education, University of Oklahoma. She has worked for the University for 27 years. Anita has been an elementary teacher, junior high art teacher, and guidance counselor. She has been the editor and co-editor of numerous cultural curriculum guides that have been disseminated throughout North America and has trained thousands of educators in the process of cultural curriculum development. Anita founded the National Native Curriculum Development Workshop 23 years ago because she felt it was imperative that Native educators have a voice in the schools. Anita feels that when Native people and non-Native people work together and share expertise, they have the power to positively affect school curriculum.

Contact Person :Sue Fish

Next Workshop:Fall 2006

Overview

This conference was developed in order to:

Promote awareness of issues related to Native Exceptional Education both gifted education and special education.

Exchange information, materials, methods, programs, and other educational strategies designed specifically for exceptional Native Learners.

Promote discussion on alternative methods of identification that will increase the number of children participating in programs for the gifted.

Present general information on Exceptional Education to teachers, administrators, and others who are new to gifted and special education.

Advocate for Native gifted and special education.

Strengthen and promote involvement and unity of Native professionals in gifted education & special education at the local, state, and national levels.

Contribute to the training and preparation of teachers who work in the field of Exceptional Education and Native children and youth.

Contact Person: Sandra Poolaw

Next Workshop:August 2006

Online Registration

____

Researching and Writing Tribal/Band Histories is a workshop designed to provide participants with skills in:
§         thinking critically
§         evaluating sources
§         researching both published and unpublished documents,
§         collecting oral history information,
§         organizing information for publication
§         developing materials

Workshop Topics/Activities:

Attention will be focused on the entire process of researching and writing a tribal/band history from beginning to end. Major topics will include:

§         Where to Start: Finding and Gathering Information
§         Common Problems in Tribal Historical Research and How to Overcome Them
§         Developing a Tribal Bibliography
§         Using Printed Sources: Books, Manuscripts, Bibliographies, Archival Material
§         Using On-line sources
§         Utilizing Repositories: Libraries, U.S. and Canadian National Archives, etc.
§         Organizing Your Research for Ease of Use
§         Composing Your Manuscript: Writing Styles and Writing Tips
§         Technical Aspects Related to Writing, Printing, Copywriting and Marketing

About the Instructor:

Duane K. Hale, Ph.D., is currently a history instructor on the faculty at Cisco Junior College in Abilene , Texas . A mixed blood Creek by decent, Dr. Hale has conducted more than 30 Researching and Writing Tribal/Band Histories workshops. He is the author of nine books and the bibliographer for the text book Indian Nations: The First Americans”, recognized nationally as the aid in assisting school children in researching Indian records. Dr. Hale is a member of the American Indian Historians Association, a former member of the Delaware Heritage Committee of Dover, Ohio, and a former professor at Navajo Community College in Tsaille, Arizona, and the University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis.