Not So Foreign

Instructors • Location • Retreat Offerings • Teacher Talk • Registration & Cost • Contact Info

Imagine yourself in a place where all is calm and you are the center of attention. We invite you to join us at Wellspring Retreat, located in Round Top, Texas, where it is our mission to provide you with valuable resources to improve student learning as well as to pamper you. We strive for Excellence. Your stay with us includes 2 nights and 3 days in our B&B, gourmet meals, a complementary massage, and most importantly a revived spirit.

For 6 years, we have provided retreats for teachers allowing them to better familiarize themselves with the concept of Accelerated Learning. We provide all the materials necessary for you to create your product.

Teachers comment regularly that this is one of the best staff development opportunities of which they have ever been a part because they leave with tangible tools ready to use in their classrooms.

The only thing required is that you come willing to learn and be cared for. You don’t need creativity or even energy; we provide a source for both. Come join us and find out for yourself. We would love to get to know you and treat you as you deserve!

Presenter to language teachers - 10 years

Teacher Retreat coordinator - 10 years

French Teacher - 10 years (Levels I – V AP)

TEKS for LOTE Facilitator

Certified Teen Leadership Teacher

B.A. in Speech Communications and French - Baylor University, 1992

Married 42 years, mother of 4

Wellspring Retreat and Bed & Breakfast, owner

Involved in artistic endeavors for 30 years

10 years on youth staff at Houston ’s First Baptist Church

Psychology and Speech Communications - Houston Baptist University

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www.wellspringretreat.net

Midway between Austin and Houston, Wellspring is located in Round Top, Texas, an 1830’s German settlement. At the last census, the population numbered 77. Time moves slowly and gently here. There is no hustle of the big city life which makes this a distinctive retreat.

“Wellspring” is a private residence converted into a retreat for educational workshops and personal R & R. The sessions here provide time for creativity and for interaction that renews your energy and enthusiasm for teaching.

There are porches to rock on, a serious walking path and various settings that encourage long intreractions and idea exchanges.

Our gourmet chef and the food has been a hit with everyone. Special diet requirements are accommodated with advance notice.

The “Artbarn” is a workshop setting with individual stations, equipped with everything needed for hands on projects.

There is a great sense of relaxation, accompanied by significant accomplishment. Each session is devoted to the participant taking home the actual tools, enhancements, directions, and "how to" materials for each teaching concept.

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OPTION 1: TEACHER RETREATS in ROUND TOP

1. Choose a Retreat (Poster Making, Games, Student Notebook, Teacher Re-charge)

2. Choose a date. (3 days and 2 nights)

3. Choose between 7 to 12 teachers who will attend. (Can be all one language or a mix of Spanish, French, German and ESL)

4. Email Leah at leah@notsoforeign.org to schedule or call 713-515-0789.

5. Send payment of $495 per participant.

(Includes: 2 nights lodging, 6 gourmet meals, all supplies, and instruction.)

OPTION 2: TEACHER RETREATS brought to YOUR DISTRICT or REGION CENTER

1. Choose a Retreat (Poster Making, Games, Student Notebook, Teacher Re-charge)

2. Choose a date. (2 days)

3. Choose between 18 to 25 teachers who will attend. (Can be all one lanugage or a mix of Spanish, French, German and ESL)

4. Email Leah at leah@notsoforeign.org to schedule or call 713-515-0789.

5. Send payment of $300 per participant.

(Includes: All supplies and instruction.)

Poster Making: Visuals that make the classroom come to life!

Focus: Helping teachers to develop a superior learning environment.

Instruction: Leah demonstrates how the classroom covered with visual aids reinforces teaching. She shows how functional visual aids enable the introduction of new subject matter, allowing for students to reinforce previously learned material, and absorb future information early. Teachers spend 15 hours creating their personal visual aids ready for display.

“Poster Making for the Artistically Challenged” involves introduction of some tools and ideas that make visual aids a “breeze.” This is "know how" you can take home with you and use to easily continue producing more visuals.

Materials: All creative ideas and materials will be provided for a substantial number of visual aids for the classroom. A comprehensive notebook of concepts is discussed.

Games: Hands-on Activities to Reinforce Learning

Focus: Creating hands-on activities within lesson ideas to stimulate student involvement and interaction.

Instruction: Leah demonstrates specific learning activities and how they are valuable learning tools. The activities may be used in the presentation of new material, drilling, and producing language without the assistance of the teacher.

Materials: Patterns and all materials are provided to make class sets for several different games and learning activities ready to use in the classroom.

*Please bring your textbooks and any game/activity ideas that you have if you would like to turn your own ideas into classroom kits.

Student Notebooks: A Learning Tool

Focus: Designing a prototype of a student notebook based on your individual textbook that can be duplicated and utilized by each student.

Instruction: Leah demonstrates an introduction to preconscious learning - providing a way for students to direct their own learning by using their notebooks as a tool, not a burden. She demonstrates the model for such a notebook and how to translate the model to any textbook.

Materials: A detailed example of a student notebook along with a template on disk.

*Teachers must bring a laptop computer (any PC).

Teacher Re-charge

Focus: Giving teachers practical help for managing and leading their classes. Leave rejuvenated and encouraged.

Instruction: Sessions will include discussion, examples, and demonstrations. Participants will be involved in creating an improved environment in their own classrooms. Topics that will be addressed include: physical classroom environment, student behavior and responsibility, teacher responsibilities, minimizing time spent on “daily duties,” pacing of lessons, lesson planning, grading, and life outside of teaching.

Materials: A comprehensive Teacher Manual provides processes, ideas, tools, and templates that correspond to major and minor aspects of teaching. Materials will be provided for making several visual aids for the classroom.

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