resilience \ri-zil-yən(t)s\n: Inner strength to deal competently and successfully, day after day, with the challenges and demands we encounter. – From “Raising Resilient Children”

Symposium on Learning Differences and Unique Learning Profiles:Nurturing Resilient Children, Parents and Teachers

Friday, March 6, 2009 • 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.Featuring Keynote SpeakerDr. Robert Brooks

On behalf of Denver Academy and our conference planning committee, it is my pleasure

to invite you to attend DA’s 2009 Symposium on Learning Differences and Unique

Learning Profiles.

This year’s Symposium will be the fourth in a recent series of conferences hosted at

Denver Academy focusing on meeting the needs of students with learning differences,

their families and those professionals who serve them. Past keynote speakers include: Dr.

Daniel Amen, Richard Lavoie and Dr. Mel Levine.

This year we are excited to welcome Dr. Robert Brooks as our keynote and closing session

speaker. Dr. Brooks brings that rare combination of a deep and broad content knowledge

and a speaking style that is informative, engaging and entertaining. We are also pleased to

host a number of breakout sessions presented by local and regional thought leaders that

are sure to motivate and inspire.

At Denver Academy, we realize the importance that resilience plays in the development

and success of our students, and we also realize how important it is for students to have

resilient adults as role models and mentors. In this spirit we invite you to join us for the

day and hope you take away some new ideas for “nurturing resilient children, parents,

and teachers.”

We hope to see you in March.

Mark T. Twarogowski

Program Director, Denver Academy

2009 Symposium Chair

SCheDULe 8:00-8:30 a.m.: Registration and Check-in

8:30 – 10:30 a.m.: Symposium Opening; Dr. Brooks’ Keynote

10:45 – 11:55 a.m.: Morning Breakout Session

11:55 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Lunch

1:00 – 2:10 p.m.: Afternoon Breakout Session

2:30 – 3:30 p.m.: Dr. Brooks’ Closing General Session

A Message from the 2009 Symposium Chair

Dr. robert brooKS has lectured nationally and internationally and written extensively about working with angry, at-risk youth and families from a strength-based approach that focuses on the development of self-dignity, motivation, hope, and resilience. Among his books, he is the author of The Self-Esteem Teacher, and co-author of Raising Resilient Children; Nurturing Resilience in Our Children: Answers to the Most Important Parenting Questions; Angry Children, Worried Parents: Seven Steps to Help Families Manage Anger; Handbook of Resilience in Children; The Power of Resilience: Achieving Balance, Confidence, and Personal Strength in Your Life; Understanding and Managing Children’s Classroom Behavior: Creating Sustainable, Resilient Classrooms; and Raising a Self-Disciplined Child. Dr. Brooks is on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and is the former Director of the Department of Psychology at McLean Hospital. Additional information may be found on his website: www.drrobertbrooks.com.

“The Power of Mindsets: Nurturing Motivation and Resilience in Students with Learning Problems”

two-part General Session:8:30 – 10:30 a.m.2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

In this workshop Dr. Brooks will outline a strength-based approach for working with and educating students who struggle with learning and attention problems. He will describe the mindset of adults who are effective in working with and teaching these youth. He will identify the mindset of resilient children and adolescents and outline specific strategies for reinforcing this mindset in all youngsters, including such qualities as motivation, self-discipline, cooperation, compassion and hope. In addition, he will describe techniques for the adults in children’s lives to become more “stress hardy” and lessen the possibility of burnout. Many case examples will be included.

Learning Objectives:• Tolearnthecharacteristicsofthemindsetofadultswhowork

effectively with children and adolescents who struggle with learning and attention.

• Tolearnexercisestoenhanceempathyandrespondmore effectively to others.

• Tolearnthecharacteristicsofthemindsetofresilientyouth together with strategies for reinforcing this mindset in all children and adolescents.

• Tolearntheimportanceofastrength-basedmodelinwhicheachyoungster’s “islands of competence” are identified and reinforced.

• Tolearnaframeworkfornurturingourown“stresshardiness” and resilience.

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KeYNote SpeaKer

Teaching to the Minds of Boys and Girls Kelley King, Associate Director and Certified Trainer, The Gurian Institute

Gender affects one’s approach to life and to school. Learn about brain-based gender differences that inform better teaching and better parenting. Particularly for boys, the current statistics are not good. We’ll focus on identifying those hard-wired, male/female differences and the strategies that nurture the nature of both boys and girls!

exceptional Children: Understanding Social, emotional, and Self-esteem Needs and Fostering DevelopmentCraig Knippenberg, LCSW, M.Div.

This session will focus on the social, emotional, and self-esteem needs of exceptional children/adolescents. Participants will gain a thorough understanding of the unique problems exceptional children have in these areas and their impact on successful learning and development. Three cornerstone principles for development and the role of groups will be reviewed. The presentation will include specific strategies for parents, educators, and mental health professionals.

Resilience in the Age of Risk: how to Keep Children Safe Without Crushing Their SpiritDr. Matthew Brink, Clinical Psychologist

This presentation is designed to help parents learn to effectively parent and guide their children through the multitude of risks, pitfalls, and flat-out dangers confronting children today. The focus will be on increasing parents’ awareness of these risks and teaching them how to let children safely discover and become themselves.

FAST: Learning how to Work With your Child — A Multi-Sensory Approach to Reading instructionTammy Curran, Denver Academy

In this session participants will learn how FAST was developed and how effective it is according to the most recent research. The instructor will show the participants a lesson while describing all levels of the FAST program. Attendees will also be given strategies to help their children while reading. The importance of fluency, comprehension and reading daily will also be discussed.

Successful Communication with your Children — Now and Throughout AdulthoodCyle Feingold, Founder and Director, Results Learning, LLC.

Attendees will learn strategies to facilitate effective two-way communication with their children now through adulthood using his/her preferred learning and communication styles. Each attendee will walk away with an understanding of how they learn and communicate as well as tools to understand how to effectively communicate with their children.

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Better Together: Learning and Laughing Across GenerationsJeff VanKooten, Senior Consultant, The Center for Generational Studies

A “quick impact” presentation for boards, superintendents, principals, students, parents, and teachers, with 5 formative themes for effectively understanding our unique design as well as that of the staff and students we interact with. Discover how to become relationally “savvy”, create harmony, build classroom momentum, and improve productivity, while avoiding the common relational traps that come from interacting closely across five generations.This session is designed to teach participants how to:•Discovertheirownbiasesandvalues•Appreciatethedifferentvaluesofothers•Rebuildmorale•Relateeffectively•Anticipatethelearningquandariesoffuturestudents

Don’t Give Up! Teaching Resiliency in the ClassroomMark Wood, MA, High School Dean, Denver Academy

Resilient children view themselves and the world in such a way that they are able to put everyday setbacks and pressures into effective action instead of debilitating defeat (Brooks, Goldstein). Resiliency needs to be taught through direct instruction and can easily be implemented by the classroom teacher. This session will give teachers, administrators and parents immediate tools to help students manage life’s challenges. Teachers will leave the session with easy-to-apply classroom strategies and lesson enhancing ideas.

honoring Cognitive Diversity in the Secondary ClassroomPhilippe Ernewein, MA, Dean of Faculty Training and Development, Denver Academy

Some of the most significant differences that exist within our students are invisible to the naked eye. Furthermore, the complex neurological profiles present in classes are often misunderstood or overlooked by the misguided lens of “normal.” This session will highlight these profiles as well as present classroom techniques to honor cognitive diversity using a strength-based, empowerment model.

Session goal: Audience members will learn specific classroom management and instructional strategies to create a successful learning environment for students with labels that include: Asperger’s Syndrome, ADHD, non-verbal learning disorders and other pervasive developmental disorders.

(sessions continued on next page)

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The Paradigm Shift - The Big Picture in educationDan Loan, Director of Communications and Enrollment, Denver Academy

This session is designed to start a debate about education. This presentation will discuss the history of education, student profiles and specific skills needed to survive the educational system. We will also discuss the shift toward engaged learning (and away from traditional teaching methods) that some universities are making.

When we look at education from a different perspective, we can see the demands that can be inadvertently placed on children. With a different point of view we can help ourselves and our children increase their resilience.

The Secret Life of the Teenage BrainMark Twarogowski, MA, Program Director, Denver Academy

The latest research has shown that the teenage brain is really still a “work in progress.” Brain imaging and other studies have demonstrated what many parents and teachers already know – that teenage years are a time of dramatic ups and downs characterized by mood swings and poor judgment. This session will explore the relationship between the pre–frontal cortex, responsible for reasoning and impulse control, and the limbic system, responsible for emotional processing. Join Mark as he translates the latest brain research into real-life understanding of what makes our teenagers so “darn interesting.”

intention – Mindfulness – Reflection eastern Philosophy in a Western ClassroomBobby Duhamel, Teacher - Core High School, Denver Academy

During this session we will explore, through both research and practice, the benefits of meditation as well as how and when to use it. We will also discover how non-judgmental reflection can assist in identifying one’s true intention. By understanding how to “be mindful” we can illuminate a pathway of resiliency for our children.

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2009 Denver Academy Symposium regIStratIoN Form

SeND TO:Denver academy

Symposium registration

4400 east Iliff avenue

Denver, Co 80222

Fax 720-524-5385

CheCK APPROPRiATe BLANKS:Denver academy parent ______________

teacher ______________

Student ______________

other (explain) ____________________________

Special accommodations (explain)

___________________________________________

One participant per registration form, please. Feel free to make copies of this form.

PLeASe PRiNT

Last Name First Name middle Initial

Street address

City State Zip

phone (Home) (work) email

Please indicate your first and second choice for each breakout session. ReMiNDeR: Each session will be presented in the A.M. and P.M. breakout sessions.

DR. BROOKS’CLOSiNG

GeNeRAL SeSSiON

DR. BROOKS’KeyNOTeSeSSiON

LUNCH

1St

ChOiCe

2nD

ChOiCe

8:30 - 10:30 (presentation number only)

a.m. Session10:45 - 11:55

11:55 - 1:00

p.m. Session1:00 - 2:10

2:30 - 3:30

4400 East Iliff Avenue | Denver, CO 80222 | Tel: 303-777-5870 Fax: 720-524-5385 | www.denveracademy.org

Please mail this form to the address below. Contact Mary Vite or Mark Twarogowski at 303-777-5870 or symposium@denveracademy.org for more information.

*** Registration information must be received by February 27, 2009 ***

Make checks payable to: Denver AcademyWe will NOT be mailing confirmations.

Don’t forget your lunch!

ReGiSTRATiON FeeS

Current Denver academy Family Member

Free(up to 2 people)

all other participants $100

BOX LUNCh • only $10

regular _______Vegetarian _______

marCH 6, 2009A special thanks to the Denver Academy Parent Association (DAPA) for their generous support in making this event possible.

***pLeaSe retUrN eNCLoSeD Form to CompLete regIStratIoN***

4400 East Iliff AvenueDenver, CO 80222

Registration Materials enclosed

Symposium on Learning Differences and Unique Learning Profiles:Nurturing Resilient Children, Parents and Teachers