Issued by: Kathy Quirk
414-229-3144
kquirk@uwm.edu
Date: August 13, 2002
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Issued by: Kathy Quirk Date: August 13, 2002 |
What do
macaroni necklaces, bookmarks, candles and key chains have to do with learning
to read?
These items were all part of a recent Market Day at the Milwaukee Sign Language School (MSLS), organized with the help of a partnership between UWM and the school.
MSLS students enrolled in the summer school program researched and wrote about markets around the world, finishing their learning experience with a Market Day featuring a variety of items they made.
UWM's Department of Exceptional Education (within the School of Education) collaborated with MSLS in developing the curriculum for the summer program. The program also provided urban teaching experience for future teachers from all over Wisconsin involved in the distance education program for certification in teaching the deaf and hard of hearing.
The preservice teaching experience was funded as part of grant for culturally appropriate teacher education from the U.S. Department of Education, according to Amy Otis-Wilborn, associate professor of exceptional education.
Chuck Marks, principal of MSLC and Karen Bradley, summer school principal and teacher Kevin McDonough worked closely with the UWM students and cooperating teachers. The school's new balanced literacy coach Teresa Valent was also a key part of the program planning, according to Otis-Wilborn. The world markets theme allowed teachers and student teachers in the program to use the balanced literacy approach with the MSLS students, researching and writing about a topic involving a variety of subject areas.
The balanced literacy approach helps students develop their skills using a combination of reading, writing, listening, speaking, deep thinking and research. UWM is one of a number of community organizations involved in the Milwaukee Partnership Academy, an organization formed to help make sure every child in Milwaukee succeeds in school. The MPA partners are collaborating to introduce the balanced literacy framework throughout the Milwaukee Public Schools this fall.
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