 |
|
About |
| |
| Since conducting its first Teacher Workshop in 1985, the Middle East Policy Council has developed the most extensive teacher training program of its kind in the United States. Over 375 workshops have been held in 43 states since the program began. In the past 10 years alone, over 12,000 educators have attended Council workshops. In turn, these educators teach their students and colleagues thereby significantly magnifying the impact of each Teacher Workshop. |
| |
| In fact, it is the students for whom the Council's Teacher Workshops are designed. Workshop presenters demonstrate techniques and provide information that enable educators to communicate more effectively with their students about the Arab world, Islam and the larger Middle East. Workshop participants receive information and curriculum ideas for use in their classrooms and school systems. Teachers are encouraged to engage their home districts in further informational programming and to continue to provide balanced presentations about the Arab world and Islam. |
Workshop participants during a recent Council workshop. |
| |
| The Council conducts 40+ workshops a year and considers requests from state boards of education, local offices of education, private educational institutions and colleges and universities throughout the country. Workshops are also routinely held for prestigious national social studies and curriculum development associations. Workshop content and the materials used are highly regarded. For example, the California State Board of Education has endorsed workshop materials, and the main workshop text is the required text for a required Delaware course of study "The First Renaissance in Europe: Islamic Spain." Teachers throughout the country receive continuing-education credit for attending. |
| |
| The "Teaching About the Arab World and Islam" workshop program was developed to educate U.S. teachers about these frequently misunderstood topics and put unbiased, accurate materials into the hands of educators, as well as demonstrate effective techniques to teach this material. To achieve this, the Council has two eminently qualified workshop leaders, Ms. Audrey Shabbas and Dr. Aminah McCloud. Both educators have decades of experience in the field. |
| |
| These full-day workshops examine in detail cultural geography, history, family and women in addition to recommending books and materials that are especially helpful when teaching about the modern period. Special attention is paid to techniques on how to effectively communicate the new knowledge. Attendees participate in hands-on activities and practice quizzes they can take directly back to their students. The principal reference is the 540-page Arab World Studies Notebook, edited by Ms. Shabbas. The Council makes this valuable resource available to workshop participants for only $15. |
| |
Workshop participants discuss a group project. |
During the workshop, participants often discuss A Medieval Banquet in the Alhambra Palace, a cross-curriculum activity in which students take on the roles of notable figures in medieval life gathered for a banquet in 15th century Spain. An Alhambra Banquet is a fascinating event for an entire community which portrays the music, decorative arts, costumes, poetry, intellectual conversation and food of the period. In 1995 The Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC staged an Alhambra Banquet in which Chelsea Clinton participated and President and Mrs. Clinton attended. |
| |
| Teachers of all subjects and grade levels as well as administrators, librarians and clergy are welcome. However, secondary-school teachers in the social studies are the primary focus. Frequently, this is the level at which "The Middle East" is first studied, and it is critical that students' introduction to the cultures and traditions of the region be as informed as possible. |
| Praise From Attendees |
| |
"I had an amazing experience. I learned more than I had imagined I would!"
- White Plains, New York
|
| |
"Excellent differentiated instruction - visuals, show n' tell, maps, and role-plays. Very relevant ideas to utilize in the classroom. Presentation was very comprehensible."
- New Haven, Connecticut |
| |
"Great - definitely worth getting up early for! Mrs. Shabbas was as good as I'd been told."
- Las Vegas, Nevada |
| |
"This was outstanding - the instructor was so interesting that time flew by."
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| |
"I was impressed by the wealth of knowledge of our presenter."
- New Haven, Connecticut |
| |
"They gave us the material to go back to the classroom and use something immediately without having to wait for a book order or convince someone to buy materials for us. The presentation was clear, well organized and extremely well-informed. I don't believe I have been to any conference that was so relevant and substantive! I hope you'll return next year. I'll be here with bells on! Thank You."
- Cockeysville, Maryland |
|
