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Just as teachers benefit greatly from receiving coaching after they have successfully completed a preservice (program) training in a particular level of a DI program, leaders benefit greatly from a supportive mentoring program after they have received training on their roles and functions. This new NIFDI service is designed primarily as a follow-up for those who have attended the Direct Instruction Leadership Institute or a similar comprehensive training for leaders of DI implementations. Mentoring by an experienced DI expert can help school leaders apply the concepts and procedures discussed during the institute to actual school situations. The mentoring program provides a supportive, systematic yet flexible bridge between the simulated environment to the real school environment.
The primary mechanism for the program is the mentoring call, which takes place via Zoom or another video-conferencing application. In addition to the Zoom sessions, mentors can make site visits and respond to texts or emails on short notice with a response within 48 hours during the work week.
Click here to read a complete description of the program!
For the past 2 years, NIFDI has been distributing Direct Instruction Spoken English (DISE). We are happy to announce that the DISE program is available for purchase direct from the publisher, Educational Achievement Publishing (EAP). The mission of EAP “is to provide the highest quality, most effective instructional programs for students and teachers.” If you are interested in learning more about DISE, there are two informative interviews available here.
Starting in January, EAP will distribute a monthly newsletter with teaching and implementation tips on using DISE to help students acquire essential receptive and expressive English language skills. To subscribe to the newsletter, click here.
To visit the EAP website, go to https://eapublish.com/.
Three hundred educators from around the world gathered at the end of July in Eugene, Oregon for the 48th National Direct Instruction Conference. The opening session included the presentation of the Wayne Carnine Student Improvement Award and a keynote delivered by Anita Archer.
The Carnine Award went to Raymond Minney, a student at David Douglas Arthur Academy in Portland, Oregon. Doug and Linda Carnine read from the nomination letters submitted by Raymond’s Kindergarten, 2nd and 4th-5th grade teachers, and his intervention specialist. When Linda asked Raymond if he had anything to say, he simply said, “Never give up!”
The opening continued with an excellent keynote by Dr. Anita Archer. Anita guided the group through many of her “Archerisms.” These are Anita’s Golden Principles of Explicit Direct Instruction. These include such sage advice as “Avoid the void, for they will fill it.” And “Don’t commit assumicide.”
Click here to view the conference opening. Also, it’s not too early to begin planning to be in Eugene for the 49th National DI Conference, July 24-28, 2023.
On Friday, July 29, at the closing of the National Direct Instruction Conference, NIFDI, along with the Direct Instruction Community, honored Mary Gleason, Kathy Madigan, and Vicky Vachon in a ceremony inducting them into the Direct Instruction Hall of Fame. Those in attendance heard about the dedication each of them has shown over the years and the impact they have had on the lives of thousands of students, teachers, and colleagues. Their stories are moving and very inspirational. Click here to see the video.