Experiencing the Real World in the Classroom

August 4-6, 2008 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

in cooperation with Shenandoah Valley Economic Education, Inc., the Virginia Council on Economic Education, the National Council on Economic Education and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

Pre-register online

Each participant gets:

• Three days of training in August, with lunch, textbooks and all materials provided.
• Strategies for implementing the Virginia SOLs in the Mini-Society®.
• Participation certificate for recertification.
• A $100 personal stipend for full attendance and agreement to develop a Mini-Society® in your own classroom.
• A mini-grant to buy materials for your classroom Mini-Society®.
• Follow-up and consultation as needed.

The Mini-Society® curriculum

. . . is an experience-based approach to teaching concepts of economics and entrepreneurship, designed for students in grades 3-8. In this program students design and develop their own classroom society, creating a name, flag, and currency. Then they establish their own businesses to provide goods and services to their fellow citizens in classroom markets. Finally, teachers, interact with the students through debriefings to discuss the concepts underlying their experiences.

This type of learning is real learning

. . . internalized by students because they have an experiential context in which to relate it. The economics and entrepreneurship skills and knowledge learned through Mini-Society® incorporate and complement other thematic curricula such as language arts, social studies, math, science, critical thinking, problem solving, practical arts and cooperative learning. This program has proven to be successful in implementing the Virginia Standards of Learning in grades 3-8.

During the school year, each participating teacher will receive:

• A $100 personal stipend for attending training and agreeing to implement the classroom program, plus a mini-grant for materials.

• All books and materials necessary to implement this program.

• Individual in-school follow-up as needed and as available.

• An opportunity to participate (if desired) in the annual GEM (Global Entrepreneurship Marketplace) Fair to be held in 2009.

The instructors for the workshops will include:

• Lynne Stover, teacher consultant in the JMU Center for Economic Education.

• Dr. William C. Wood, the director of the center and professor of economics at JMU.

• Andrea Nolley, an outstanding educator who has successfully implemented the Mini-Society® in past teaching assignments.

Note to teachers: Brochures and enrollment forms for this workshop are being mailed to all area schools. Fill in the form, or you may

Pre-register online

If you have questions, call Lynne Stover at (540) 568-3248 or email stoverlf@jmu.edu