Monday, July 21-Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Join us in Chicago for the Junior Great Books Summer Institute 2008.

The three-day summer institute will teach you the Shared Inquiry questioning and discussion method using the new Junior Great Books Series 3–5. With step-by-step instruction, modeling, and small-group practice you will learn how to raise probing questions about outstanding literature that you and your students will want to explore together in discussion. You will practice using follow-up questions to take students to deeper levels of understanding, and you will learn to use Great Books supporting activities to develop students’ reading comprehension, critical-thinking, and writing skills. During a field trip to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum you will apply these strategies to other areas of your curriculum; afterward you will develop your own lesson plans.

The summer institute is open to up to 20 (minimum 10) teachers of grades 3–5 and will take place at the Foundation's offices at 35 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 400, Chicago, Illinois.

Outline of Institute Activities

Day 1
8:00–8:30 a.m.   Registration and continental breakfast

8:30–11:00 a.m.   What is Shared Inquiry?: Introduces participants to Great Books programs and the Shared Inquiry method of learning. Everyone participates in an instructor-led Shared Inquiry discussion and in an observation of a videotaped student discussion.

11:00–12:00 noon   Lunch (on your own)

12:00–2:30 p.m.   The Leader’s Role in Shared Inquiry, Part 1: Guides participants through the process of preparing and leading Shared Inquiry discussion. Participants learn to distinguish interpretative questions from factual and evaluative questions, and to write their own interpretive questions for in-depth discussion.

Day 2
8:30–11:00 a.m.   The Leader’s Role in Shared Inquiry, Part 2: Focuses on the role of follow-up questions in developing critical thinking.
Participants practice using follow-up questions in small-group discussions, with the aid of an interactive video of a classroom discussion.

11:00–12:00 noon   Lunch (on your own)

12:00–2:30 p.m.   Shared Inquiry in Your Classroom: Demonstrates how you can meet student needs with Great Books classroom activities that support growth in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and writing. Participants practice responding to commonplace classroom situations using an interactive video.

Day 3
9:00–11:30 a.m.   Notebaert Nature Museum: Aquatic life field trip during which participants observe and ask questions about the natural world. Participants also reflect on applying Shared Inquiry across the curriculum.

11:30–12:30 p.m.   Lunch (at the museum)

12:30–2:30 p.m.   Planning Your Great Books Implementation: Lesson planning across the curriculum, followed by reflection and evaluation.

Course fee:

Registration by June 30, 2008: $399

Registration after June 30, 2008: $450

Course fee includes:

All course materials and activities
A free classroom set of Starting Off Strong including a Leader’s Guide and thirty student books (retail value $59.95)
One Leader’s Edition of your choice in the new Junior Great Books Series 3–5 (retail value $49.95)

Note: Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses.

For more information call Judith McCue at 1-800-222 5870, ext. 283 or send an e-mail with Summer Institute in the subject line.