Announcements

Mara Sapon-Shevin is Professor of Inclusive Education in the Teaching and Leadership Department of the School of Education at Syracuse University. She teaches in the University’s Inclusive Elementary and Special Education Teacher Education Program that prepares teachers for inclusive, heterogeneous classrooms. She frequently consults with districts that are trying to move towards more inclusive schools, providing workshops and support for teachers and administrators. She has also served as an expert witness in several due process hearings related to students with disabilities, supporting families who want their children fully included.

Professor Mara will present two talks at Covenant:

   1. Using Differentiated Instruction to work with heterogeneous students
   2. Cooperative instructional Activities and games for inclusive classrooms

Professor Mara believes inclusion isn't about disability, inclusion isn't about schools; inclusion is about what kind of a world we want to live in together

Speaker:  Professor Mara Sapon-Shevin
Date: Monday 25th May
Time: 4.00 - 6.30 pm
Location: Covenant Christian School
Cost: CEN schools $10 per attendee / other schools $50 per attendee

Afternoon tea will be provided
RSVP: Thursday 21 May accompanied with payment to Suzanne Bennett

Mara presents frequently on inclusive education, cooperative learning, social justice education, differentiated instruction, friendship, community building, school reform and teaching for diversity.

Active as well in the community, Mara was a member of the Advisory Board and the development team for the Community Wide Dialogue’s project on ending racism in the City of Syracuse. She is co-author of a seven session anti-racism curriculum entitled , “Endracism/Endinjustice: Challenging Oppression, Building Allies” which is designed for high school and college students. She is the co-producer of a DVD entitled “and nobody said anything: Uncomfortable Conversations about Diversity” that is designed to explore critical teaching incidents on social justice for faculty in colleges and universities. She works with other educators and community members to design workshops and learning experiences to help participants build relationships across ethnic and racial groups and collaborate for friendship and peaceful co-existence. Mara also sings with the Syracuse Community Choir and is active in the People’s Music Network for Songs of Freedom and Struggle and the Children’s Music Network.

The author of over 250 books, book chapters and articles, Mara writes extensively about the fields of full inclusion, cooperative learning, social justice education and teaching for diversity. Her book Because We Can Change the World: A Practical Guide for Building Cooperative, Inclusive Classroom Communities (Allyn and Bacon) explores ways in which teachers can use cooperative games, children’s literature, music and curriculum to build classroom communities which model inclusion and acceptance and which help students learn to become active participants in working for social justice within and beyond their schools. Mara’s new book “Widening the Circle: The Power of Inclusive Classrooms” was just published by Beacon Press