The Open Charter School program attracts many educators interested in learning more about Constructivism and the components that make the school successful - the integration of technology with the curriculum, thematic teaching, open-structured and child-centered education, team teaching, multi-age groupings and collaborative governance. As a laboratory school, we are always seeking ways to refine our own teaching and disseminate effective practices. To this end, we offer an annual professional development program - The Open School Constructivist Institute. To apply just download this application form and mail it back. Registration is free.
The 10th Annual Open School Institute
Constructivism in action. Charter as a pathway to reform.
Thursday & Friday March 5-6, 2009
8:00am - 3:30pm
- Come visit a school on the cutting edge of educational reform.
- Watch constructivism in action.
- Observe thematic teaching refined over 30 years of team teaching
- See computer technology networked and fully integrated into the classroom curriculum.
- Discuss curriculum design with experienced teachers.
- Discuss charter school issues with experienced administrators, teachers and parents.
- Find out how you can transform your school into a “learning organization.”
The Open Charter School is a California Distinguished School and a National Magnet School of Merit serving the Los Angeles Unified School District. Our student population reflects the ethnic and linguistic diversity of Los Angeles. The school has gained an international reputation for its innovative teaching methods, creative standards-based instructional programs and intensive integrated use of technology.
Day One
8:00 - 8:30: Registration and Breakfast
8:30 - 9:30: Orientation, Overview & Tour
9:30 - 10:25: Informal Observations
10:25 - 10:45: Break
10:45 - 12:15: Workshops and Focused Observations - Session I
12:15 - 1:15: Lunch On Your Own
1:00 - 2:30: Workshops and Focused Observations - Session II
2:30 - 3:30: Panel Discussions
Day Two
8:00 - 8:30: Registration and Breakfast
8:30 - 9:00: Guest Speaker - TBA
9:00 - 10:25: Workshops and Focused Observations - Session III
10:25 - 10:45: Break
10:45 - 12:15: Workshops and Focused Observations - Session IV
12:15 - 1:15: Lunch On Your Own
1:00 - 2:30: Workshops and Focused Observations - Session V
2:30 - 3:30: Wrap-up, Follow-up Evaluation
Sessions are interactive and flexible to meet individual interests and needs. They include a classroom observation component, teacher presentations and discussion, and individual consultation.
Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the following topics:
- Integrating Fairy Tales with Architecture and Habitats
- Having Fun With Money: A Culminating Unit on Money With Practical Applications
- Book Talks: Student-led Literature Circles
- Creating a Cultural Museum
- Differentiated Math, Number Sense, and Math Reasoning
- Calendar Math
- Integrating Library Projects into the Curriculum
- An Overview of Integrated Technology at Open School
- Integrating Math and Science Using Simulations
- Making Management Meaningful
- Inclusion, Collaboration, and Early Intervention
A by-product of the Institute has been the high quality curricular materials that all the teachers at The Open Magnet Charter have created as workshop handouts. In the process of creating these materials for distribution to Institute participants, the teachers have clarified and deepened their thematic units and have incorporated new State and District Standards and benchmarks, as well as student performance-based assessments. Click below for samples of Institute Materials from past years.
Red Cluster
Yellow Cluster
Indigo Cluster
Blue Cluster
Purple Cluster