Paul Drake

Nurturing Our Youngest Writers

Posted on by Paul Drake

Many a parent has been elected to their school’s board, excited about opportunities to support the mission, exchange ideas with the leadership and instigate growth and improvement. And many a board member has found doing these noble things to be difficult, if not seemingly impossible. This workshop identifies a handful of common realities affecting the performance of many leadership teams. Hurdles exist which, if not recognized, inhibit governing wisdom, organizational effectiveness and the board’s reputation. Understanding our problems is the first step to remedying them.

Mo Gaffney

Dr. Mo Gaffney currently serves as Head of Lower School at The Covenant School in Charlottesville, Virginia. Before that, she was the Co-Director of the Central Virginia Writing Project and developed teachers of writing through the Summer Writing Institute at The University of Virginia. She has done extensive writing research in elementary schools and has presented her findings at the NCTE national conference. Mo is an Adjunct Professor for The University of Virginia, teaching courses in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. She has led professional development workshops and has presented at Society of Classical Learning conferences on teacher evaluations, reading and writing connections, homework in schools and Singapore Math.

Paul Drake

Singapore Math Strategies: An In-Depth Look

Posted on by Paul Drake

What does a Singapore Math classroom look like and sound like? Throughout this in-depth session, we will demonstrate effective Singapore instructional strategies, including questioning, mathematical discussions and writing in the math journal. You will view student samples and experience the importance of inquiry through the anchor tasks. Come join the conversation and learn this approach to teaching that allows students to master mathematical concepts in greater depth for deeper understanding and improved confidence.

Mo Gaffney

Dr. Mo Gaffney currently serves as Head of Lower School at The Covenant School in Charlottesville, Virginia. Before that, she was the Co-Director of the Central Virginia Writing Project and developed teachers of writing through the Summer Writing Institute at The University of Virginia. She has done extensive writing research in elementary schools and has presented her ndings at the NCTE national conference. Mo is an Adjunct Professor for The University of Virginia, teaching courses in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. She has led professional development workshops and has presented at Society of Classical Learning conferences on teacher evaluations, reading and writing connections, homework in schools and Singapore Math.

Susy WIlletts

Susy Willetts is the Math Coordinator for Pre-K through 6th-Grade students at The Covenant School in Charlottesville, Virginia. Susy has extensive teaching and administrative experience with students of all kinds, including gifted and intellectually advanced students in independent specialty schools, struggling learners in public schools and students in Christian schools. Susy leads professional development workshops about Singapore Math Strategies. She and her husband, Bo, have three teen sons and enjoy spending time together outdoors with their dogs and horses.

Paul Drake

Habits of Mind and Singapore Math

Posted on by Paul Drake

Whether you are implementing Singapore Math or are simply looking to improve the math culture in your school, this session is for you. Changing the way math is taught requires more than just a change of textbooks. A successful transition requires the development of habits of mind in our teachers and students. This session will include how we became a model school with Math’s No Problem by developing instruction that promotes metacognition, exible thinking, and striving for accuracy. Come learn from our five-year journey of professional development, parent education, and student achievement.

Mo Gaffney

Mo Gaffney has served as Head of Lower School at The Covenant School in Charlo esville, VA, for the past six years. Before coming to The Covenant School, Mo taught primary grades in both public and private schools. She earned a BA in Early Childhood Education, an MEd in Elementary Education, and a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction, all from the University of Virginia. While there., she taught writing and beginning teaching courses as well as conducted extensive research in elementary classrooms. She has led professional development workshops and has presented at national conferences on teacher evaluations, reading and writing connections, leisure in schools, and Singapore Math. This past fall The Covenant School hosted a successful Singapore Math conference, featuring Dr. Yeap Ban Har and Maths No Problem, winner of Publication of the Year in the United Kingdom. Mo and her husband, Je , have four young adult children.

Susy Willetts

Susy Willetts Society for Classical Learning • Summer Conference 2017 Susy Willetts serves as the Pre-K-6 Math Coordinator at The Covenant School in Charlottesville, VA. Before coming to The Covenant School, Susy has extensive experience teaching in independent specialty schools for gifted and intellectually advanced students, public schools, where she served struggling learners and Christian schools as a classroom teacher and administrator. She earned a BA in History from James Madison University with a concentration in secondary education and an MAT from Mary Baldwin University. This past fall she and Dr. Gaffney hosted a Singapore Math Conference at the The Covenant School featuring Dr. Yeap Ban Har and Math’s No Problem, winner of Publication of the Year, in the United Kingdom. Susy and her husband are raising their three teenage sons, three chickens and three dogs. Extensive research in elementary classrooms. She has led professional development workshops and has presented at national conferences on teacher evaluations, reading and writing connections, leisure in schools, and Singapore Math. This past fall The Covenant School hosted a successful Singapore Math conference, featuring Dr. Yeap Ban Har and Maths No Problem, winner of Publication of the Year in the United Kingdom. Mo and her husband, Jerry, have four young adult children.