Pearl, Roberts join conference speaker lineup
Two more speakers have joined the lineup for the Education Minnesota Professional Conference Oct. 21 and 22 at Saint Paul RiverCentre.
Barbara Pearl, the creator of the “Math in Motion” approach to teaching math and literacy, will speak at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 21. Pearl’s interdisciplinary instructional model teaches math concepts using origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, to make learning positive and fun for students and teachers alike. Pearl will address establishing school environments in which all students can learn and succeed.
Pearl is the founder and director of Minds in Motion, a staff development program for educators who work with struggling students. She presents professional development for schools and districts and is dedicated to helping improve the quality of teaching and learning mathematics and literacy for at-risk students.
A former teacher and current college math instructor in Pennsylvania, she serves as the northeast regional president of Pi Lambda Theta, the professional honor society for educators. She has authored a book on her instructional approach, “Math in Motion: Origami in the Classroom K-8,” and a children’s book.
On Friday, Oct. 22, bullying expert Dr. Walter Roberts will be the 8:45 a.m. leadoff speaker for a half day of professional development geared to state license renewal requirements in several specific areas. Roberts, a professor of counselor education at Minnesota State University, Mankato, will raise questions about how seriously schools and educators are addressing the problem of bullying, and will offer steps educators can take to become part of the solution.
Roberts also has expertise in crisis intervention and violence prevention among children and adolescents. He has been a classroom teacher, school counselor, licensed professional counselor in private practice, consultant and higher education faculty member. He has been a popular speaker at the conference for several years.
Other speakers Thursday include keynoter Michele Norris, host of National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered;” polar explorer and educator Will Steger; and online learning expert David Glick.
The Professional Conference is free and open to the public. No registration is required.
August 06, 2010