Curry/Samara Model (CSM) Overview helps educators to understand and use strategies related to curriculum, instruction and assessment. After attending a CSM overview, participants will be able to work more collaboratively with colleagues to implement strategies that bring about increased levels of student performance. For an indepth discussion of CSM, please see our Background & Research Foundations articles.

Administrative Awareness Work-Sessions involve one day of administrator training and discussion. This workshop option is an excellent way to allow building and district administrators to learn about the Curry/Samara Model of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, and to discuss ways in which implementation might unfold within selected schools or across the entire district.

Unit Writing Institutes are designed to help educators incorporate their state standards into dynamic instructional units and lesson plans. Institutes are typically scheduled to take place over a period of one to four days, depending on the agency's desired outcomes. During the Institute, participants use UnitWriter software which: (1) has state standards built in for six states (with more to come) - just point and click; (2) is very easy to learn - even novice computer users enjoy the technical expertise they gain. We also have tools to post units on the Internet for sharing across campuses.

Guided Unit Writing is a follow-up to a Unit Writing Institute in which participants develop units of study and lesson plans on an ongoing basis. This can be done with the guidance of a Curriculum Project consultant and/or with in-district unit writing facilitators who can be trained during the Unit Writing Institute. Technical tools are available for posting the units on the Internet for sharing across campuses.

The Model Classrooms Project (MCP) is designed to improve student performance through ongoing study groups that focus on effective instructional strategies and lesson development. Staff development for a MCP is comprised of: (1) a one-day CSM Overview (see above) for all participating teachers; (2) a one-day Model Classrooms Project Overview (see below) attended by all participating teachers - or - by teacher representatives (grade level chairs, department chairs, etc.); and (3) Classroom Visitation & Vignettes (see below) in which a Curriculum Project consultant visits classrooms and provides feedback to teachers through digital photography. The MCP is a highly successful project that blends staff development with ongoing organizational development. For an indepth discussion of MCP please see our Background and Research Foundations articles.

Model Classrooms Project Overview helps teachers who will be implementing the MCP or teacher representatives (grade level chairs, department chairs, etc.) to learn about and implement dynamic instructional strategies in six categories: content, thinking, product, assessment, facilitation, and reflection. During the MCP Overview, facilitators practice facilitating study groups using concrete, field-tested methods. Instructional Growth Portfolios (provided as workshop handouts) are used to help participants reflect on and document ongoing professional growth.

Instructional Leadership Training enables campus based instructional leaders such as principals, assistant principals, deans of instruction, curriculum specialists, department or grade level chairs to provide ongoing support with the implementation of exemplary instructional strategies.

Classroom Visitations & Vignettes celebrate the implementation of instructional strategies related to the Unit Writing Institutes and the Model Classrooms Project. A Curriculum Project consultant visits participating teacher's classrooms to document promising practices through digital photography and anecdotal notes. The resulting vignettes may then be used at follow up sessions to reflect on professional growth.

Products & Performances Workshop assists teachers in identifying authentic student products and creating assessments that support academic and real world success. Training can include the use of our software program, StandardWriter, a tool for creating Product Guides and Rubrics.

The Independent Study Workshop helps teachers to use a five stage model that assists students in selecting a research topic, defining questions and/or hypotheses, developing a research plan, gathering information and organizing/ presenting findings.

Middle School Teaming Workshop helps interdisciplinary team members to: (a) conduct effective team meetings, (b) generate cross discipline activities based on weekly core curriculum and (c) implement long term procedures that deal with a wide array of everyday challenges like behavior; attendance, parent communication, scheduling of projects/tests, state test scores, etc.

Middle School Team Visitations celebrate the implementation of teaming processes. A Curriculum Project consultant visits each team member's classroom for one class period to document exemplary connections through digital photography and anecdotal notes. The resulting vignettes may then be used at follow up sessions to reflect on promising teaming practices.