Visionary Leaders Institute would love to visit you again.  And if you are not familiar with VLI , allow us to introduce the company to you.

Visionary Leaders Institute (VLI) is one of the leading educational institutions providing change in the field of urban education. The mission of Visionary Leaders Institute is to make significant positive contributions to the revitalization of urban America by providing training, guidance, inspiration and technical assistance to those involved in public education. This includes parents, students, teachers, administrators and staff.

We have enhanced and added new programs and new consultants to better serve you and your school.....Click here to check the website for special packages we have designed for your students and staff!

Alicia Henry, 7th Grade Teacher

Vocabulary words are a bore to most 7^th grade students.  With the current push for standards-based instruction, this standard must be taught in vast detail .  On state accountability tests, the acquisition of vocabulary standard is one of the most frequently-assessed skills to illustrate Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in reading.  Considering middle school language arts instruction is typically designed around literature/novel units, the pressure is on the instructor to teach vocabulary acquisition within the context.  Context is not always contemporary; hence, students have to be engaged to master these skills in order to meet state goals.

For example, many seventh grade students loathe the teachings of Edgar Allan Poe.  Yet, using an innovative engagement methodology, Poe can seem like one of the most contemporary writers en spite of  the use of old English language. Specifically, I used call and response, kinesiology, and rap to teach the vocabulary of this challenging poem to my seventh graders.   After doing a study of the denotative definition of each word and its accompanying tenses, the facilitator and students compromised on a one-word definition that is associated.  Word associations include: synonyms/antonyms, figurative language, connotative definitions, analogical similarities, and others that help to connect the students to the word while addressing the entire acquisition of vocabulary standard.   Vocabulary practice lasts 15-20 minutes at the beginning of each class block (100 minutes) and utilizes the following 3 methods:

• "Regular Way": Call and response, repeating the teacher

• Word-Definition: Teacher says word and student responds with the definition

• Definition-Word: Teacher says definition and student responds with the word.  To exercise the student skills and flexibility within the practice, teacher utilizes all 3 techniques and switches method with a call of the next technique
  

Bam!  Boom!  POW!!  No, you're not reading a comic book, but you are hearing what happens in a Darryl Baynes workshop!! Do your students approach math and science with dread?  Are they traumatized about passing the achievement tests in those subjects?  Are you looking for creative ways to make math and science concepts easier for the students to understand?  Well, look no further!  Darryl Baynes is the answer!!  Darryl specializes in conducting hands on, interactive experiments using every day materials the students are familiar with.  He wants students to understand that math and science are all around them; they just need to open their eyes.

"Teachers are the key.  We help teachers become better providers of hands on science and math concepts in their classrooms, while teaching children that an understanding of science is nothing more than an understanding of themselves." -Darryl Baynes-

Mr. Baynes has developed more than 60 interactive science programs designed to get young people excited about science and math. Mr. Baynes educates students, teachers, and the community regarding the history of minorities in science, math and technology in order to provide role models and career interest.  He also operates science camps that provide exposure to engineering, architecture, biology, chemistry, rocketry and physics!  Some camps are designed for students; other camps are designed for teachers.  In fact, he offers teachers the opportunity to help run a science camp so you get to practice what you learn before taking it to the classroom. 

To book Darryl Baynes for your school contact Donna Anderson at DJAnderson-vli@mindspring.com or call 1-800-223-4244.  Click here to learn about other workshops.