Gayle Meinkes-Lumia

Gayle Meinkes-Lumia has been teaching English Language Arts at the Brentwood School District for twenty-six years. She attended the University of Buffalo for her undergraduate degree, where she specialized in English Language Arts. She holds a Masters’ degree in English Literature and Secondary Education at Hofstra University, where she also instructs secondary education students. Gayle is a master teacher who is heavily involved in student success and teacher education. Gayle was the English Language Arts Staff Developer at Brentwood for two years, where she created innovative lessons and disseminated information to faculty and students. She has taught classes at LIIPS and the Brentwood Teacher Center for twenty years, developed lectures for the Suffolk Reading Council, written articles for the “Social Studies Docket”, and has been awarded, “New York State Educator of Excellence” in 2000. Last year, she additionally was awarded, “Teacher of the Year” in Brentwood. She has two children, a high school rising senior, taking all AP level courses and a Northeastern University Honors student aspiring to be a surgeon. In her spare time, Gayle develops new courses for LIIPS, is an avid reader, and devotes the majority of her time to her children.

Check out my course offerings:

Courses
Kaleidoscope – A Cross-Cultural Approach for the Primary and Secondary Classroom Having students become knowledgeable citizens of the world through cultural experiences enables them to become reflective thinkers and critical learners. Viewing one’s culture as tantamount to the learning experience is critical for both students and teachers alike. Kaleidoscope is the process of putting into place a multicultural way of thinking and teaching that can be implemented by all teachers. Teachers will be provided with a theoretical framework, bridging theory and practices via exercises, discussion, scenarios, teaching materials, and language acquisition. In the end, a recipe for engagement will occur. *A must for K-12 Educators!!!!! ONLINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only $250.00$280.00 Buy here
Literature Circles-Empowering Students through Text and Talk Small, peer-led discussions about texts; engaging, thought provoking critical readers – these are just some of the descriptions that are entailed in literature circles. When kids are engaged in well-structured book clubs, their comprehension and their attitude toward reading, both improve. Well-designed literature circles, organized by competent teachers can pave the way for lifelong readers and learners. In this course, you will learn how to construct literature circles (fictional and non-fictional) inside your classroom and enable students to create meaningful connections within various texts. Participants will complete a myriad of tasks: • Complete an introspection of themselves and their teaching styles • Complete research on literary circles • Share relevant teaching stories that assist everyone in the teaching process • Cultivate student interest by creating exciting reading opportunities • Master different approaches to prepare students for higher thinking • Execute lessons that enrich student learning • Read a young adult novel and complete literature circle activities of your own Overall, participants will be refreshed as they enhance their classrooms by learning more about themselves! ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only $250.00$280.00 Buy here
Literary Success in the K-12 Classroom CCSS ELA-Literacy. RL5.1 – Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text. CCSS ELA- Literacy. RL 2.6 – Acknowledge differences in the points of view of characters, including by speaking in a different voice for each character when reading dialogue aloud Course Description: Creating a balanced literacy program in one’s classroom is tantamount to student success. In this course, participants will be introduced to a medley of literary forms and techniques that will ensure student success. Topics include: author study, literature circles, poetry analysis, RAFT writing, non-fiction and fiction sources, newspaper and magazines, vocabulary study, arguments, etc… Assignments include: raising the proficiency bar, determining and clarifying meaning in texts, distinguishing between text types. In the end your classroom will be infused with literate individuals!!!! Participants will be introduced to a medley of literary techniques. They will be able to comprehend, organize, and orchestrate a balanced literacy program within the confines of their classroom. They will also be able to walk away with a wide array of material for their literate classrooms. a. Participants will be able to implement a balanced literacy program in their classrooms b. Participants will be able to glean the knowledge of experts in their field and develop writing assignments for their students c. Participants will be able to acquire a medley of non-fiction and fiction assignments (common core driven) for their classrooms. ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only $250.00$280.00 Buy here
Loving Literacy Lane As educators, we are required to be teachers of literacy. We are all required to be teachers of literacy. We must learn to embrace this change, not deject it. This course will provide you with the means of loving every minute of literacy. You will be introduced to many literacy websites, learn the newest literacy out there to teach, uncover a wealth of creative writing assignments, incorporate interdisciplinary modalities, and have students love literature once more. Games and exciting anticipatory sets will be demonstrated as well. Your students will thank you! This course is a suitable for all educators K-12. ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only $250.00$280.00 Buy here
Moving Beyond Judgment – Summative and Formative Assessment in the K-12 Classroom Under the new Common Core rigors, student assessment can be a tenuous task. Providing students with accurate feedback and substantial strategies for learning is tantamount to growth. Addressing students’ learning and performance as well as clarifying expectations is synonymous with excellence. In this course, teachers will learn to utilize tools of the trade in order to elevate students’ self-esteem, improve their writing, assess their individual and group assignments. Various modalities of learning and assessments will be covered for all disciplines. Proper practices will be addressed in order to raise the bar of student growth. In the end, teachers and students alike will develop successful instructional strategies that move beyond the basic rubric. A must for all educators!!!! ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) In-Service Credit only $250.00$280.00 Buy here
Multicultural Education in Conjunction with the Next Generation Standards Assimilating into the United States from a different culture can be a challenging task. Educators need to know about language, education, foods, customs, and discipline of the students entering our school system in order to promote success. Combine this knowledge with that of the Next Generational Standards and you have the recipe for success. This course will incorporate a plethora of information to inculcate both students and teachers into the multicultural process. Lessons on culture, respect, vocabulary, reciprocal reading, diversity will be covered, as well as various strategies to enhance respect and learning for all. A must for all educators K-12. Upon completing the course, teachers will have the tools necessary to expand their repertoire of ideas in the classroom. ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only $250.00$280.00 Buy here
Music Therapy – Analyzing Music to Enrich our Students’ Mindsets Who doesn’t love music? Music is poetry. Poetry is rhythm. Listening to music on all levels can completely highlight and elevate students scores and lives. From our elementary years, music has always been at the heart of many children. Incorporating songs into the classroom can spark students interests. In this course, we will research content area songs, modern music, children’s songs, classic rock songs and comprehend how they tie into the school setting. Participants will have the ability to offer their own song to research. Music can relate to your mood and relieve stress. Songs as Airplanes; Titanium; One More Night, and Diamonds will be discussed as well as Tupac Shakur lyrics and various rap in the classroom. A must for K-12 educators. ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only $250.00$280.00 Buy here
Notice and Note: Strategies for Close Textual Reading “It is the interaction, the transaction, between the reader and the text that not only creates meaning, but creates the reason to read.” – Notice and Note. Completely absorbing oneself in a text with deep engagement and insight is the ultimate goal that we have for our students. Being able to independently ponder the text with rigor and analysis is critical for students in classrooms today. In this course, you will learn the strategies that enable your students to encapsulate the goals of meaning constructor, discourse developer, expounder of assumptions, assembler of higher learning skills. You will be provided with anchor charts and graphic organizers that place your students at the forefront of the learning experience. They will learn to deeply ponder a text, to pause and reflect, to connect with both fiction and non-fiction texts; thus achieving an overall captivating experience. Participants will be introduced to the concept of extreme close reading via the technique of “Notice and Note”. They will be able to incorporate aspects of this highly effective technique into their classrooms. Regardless of discipline or grade level, their students will benefit from the rigor and insight into texts that this program offers. ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only $250.00$280.00 Buy here
The Philosophy behind Children’s Books – Empowering Instruction, Empowering Students Participating in philosophical discussions and Socratic type of learning is essential for 21st century learners. Enhancing one’s students to be motivated and think critically of the world around them is tantamount to the Common Core standards of learning in all subject matters. The study of the philosophy behind picture books and their authors captivates students and infuses morality and integrity into their worlds. In this course, teachers will be exposed to a plethora of children’s books from all disciplines. They will learn to critically analyze, judge, delineate, and closely comprehend the genre in order to devise pertinent lessons for their students. Teachers will walk away with a plethora of interdisciplinary lessons that collectively forge bonds between their learners. A must for K-12 educators. Participants will be able to: • Select from a wide range of children’s books in order to delve into philosophical ideas and current ELA research • Draw inferences from renowned picture book authors in order to instruct their students on pertinent philosophical issues • Enhance their classrooms via current research on literature in the classroom via ELA techniques/Social Studies techniques, and Science/Math strategies • Participants will be able to implement philosophical trends in their classrooms via picture books • Participants will be able to create lessons that integrate all aspects of literacy via children’s books • Participants will design a medley of critical thinking lessons that target their audiences via Common Core instruction Participants will complete activities, lessons, and design assessments that they will bring back to their students. They will be able to understand the inner workings of picture books and how they transcend classrooms and motivate students. They will complete a cooperative group assignment, weaving all aspects of the course together fully. ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only $250.00$280.00 Buy here
Raising the Bar on Literacy in all Disciplines Creating a balanced literacy program in one’s classroom is tantamount to student success. In this course, participants will be introduced to a medley of literary forms and techniques that will ensure student success. Topics include: author study, literature circles, poetry analysis, RAFT writing, non-fiction and fiction sources, newspaper and magazines, vocabulary study, arguments, etc… Assignments include: raising the proficiency bar, determining and clarifying meaning in texts, distinguishing between text types. In the end your classroom will be infused with literate individuals!!!! Participants will be introduced to a medley of literary techniques. They will be able to comprehend, organize, and orchestrate a balanced literacy program within the confines of their classroom. They will also be able to walk away with a wide array of material for their literate classrooms. ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only $250.00$280.00 Buy here

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