Middle Level Essentials Conference

2008 Rewind

The Minneapolis Hilton was the site of this year's Middle Level Essentials Conference. Almost 800 people were registered for the event that was held April 4 and 5. NMSA received help in planning and implementing the conference from the Minnesota Middle School Association.

Friday morning opened with school visits to Fridley Middle School and Orono Middle School. Those who did not attend one of the school visits had practitioner-led breakout sessions to attend. A variety of these sessions were held throughout the day Friday. They were all related to the four strands of the conference: Assessment, Standards Based Science Instruction, Literacy Across the Content Areas, and Differentiated Instruction.

Friday evening featured a reception, keynote presentation, and dinner. The reception and dinner were sponsored by our friends at Holt McDougal. Holt McDougal was also the sole sponsor of the conference. The keynote, "Teaching the Head by Reaching the Heart" was presented by Charles Beaman.

NMSA President Theresa Hinkle addresses the crowd, with Greg Long, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Holt McDougal looking on.

Keynoter Charles Beaman captivated the audience on Friday evening.

Saturday's presentations were led by Carol Ann Tomlinson in Differentiated Instruction, Janet Allen in Literacy Across the Content Areas, Bob Holman and Molly Lawrence in Standards Based Science Instruction, and Katy Bainbridge and Kate Garrison in Assessment.

Carol Ann Tomlinson presents on Differentiated Instruction.

Janet Allen presents on Literacy.

NMSA is now looking forward to next year's Middle Level Essentials Conference to be held at the beautiful Red Rocks Resort and Spa in Las Vegas.

The University of Northern Iowa brought a contingent of students preparing to be teachers.