Debbie Silver
Ed.D.
TX, USDebbie Silver is an award-winning educator with 30 years experience as a classroom teacher, staff development instructor, and university professor. Her numerous recognitions include being named the Louisiana State Teacher of the Year. Along the way she has taught almost every grade level and most every kind of student.
Dr. Silver has been an invited author for several educational journals and has given keynotes at state, national, and international conferences in 49 states, Canada, Europe, and Asia. She has been a featured teacher for the PBS OnLine Teacher Chat and for KDS Knowledge Delivery Systems.
Debbie's book, Drumming to the Beat of Different Marchers: Finding the Rhythm for Teaching Differentiated Learning, has just been updated and re-released by Incentive Publications. Songs she co-wrote with Monte Selby are featured on his cds. She is married to Dr. Lawrence Silver, and together they have 5 sons.
(Audiences everywhere respond to Debbie's use of humor and sensitivity to remind them of how important teachers are in the lives of children. Through research-based theory, poignant stories, and hilarious characterizations she connects with the souls of all who are involved in education.)
MOST REQUESTED TOPICS:
Be A Teacher -- Be A Hero!
In this presentation Debbie Silver utilizes humor and sensitivity to remind audiences of how important teachers (and other educators) are in the lives of children. Through poignant stories and hilarious characterizations, Debbie connects with the souls of all who touch children. Audience members laugh and cry as they are reminded of the value of each and every child in the classroom. ("Pay It Forward" has the same message for counselors, bus drivers, school secretaries, librarians, administrators, and those who are involved in education but are not classroom teachers.)
Going "Outside the Lines"
This keynote (or workshop) addresses how to engage students from all backgrounds and experiences. Relevant, applicable teaching strategies for reaching previously disenfranchised learners are modeled. Researchers tell us that educators should no longer ask about students, "How smart are they?" but rather, "How are they smart?" Debbie discusses how to incorporate students' competencies into curriculum planning and assessment. Participants are engaged in classroom activities designed to help students construct their own learning. Loads of illustrations and ideas! Dr. Silver demonstrates an approach that engages learners and helps them hone their critical thinking skills.
Pay It Forward
(Modification of the "Be A Teacher -- Be A Hero" keynote for counselors, bus drivers, school secretaries, librarians, administrators, and those who are involved in education but are not classroom teachers.) In this celebration of educational employees Debbie Silver congratulates those who "go outside the lines" to ensure the best environment for all students. She utilizes humor and sensitivity to remind audiences of how important all the adults in schools are in the lives of children. Through poignant stories and hilarious characterizations, Debbie connects with the souls of all who touch children. Audience members laugh and cry as they are reminded of the value of each and every child in the educational system.
Reflections From An "Educator Exemplar"
In this spoof characterization of a 30 year teacher (a teacher with one year's experience thirty times), Rhodeena Culsmucker (AKA Debbie Silver), expounds on her philosophy of education, "My way or the highway!" and laments her troubles with everyone in education including students, fellow teachers, support personnel, administrators, and of course, the parents. She is the antithesis of all that Debbie embodies as a teacher and loves to present a "rebuttal address" to Debbie's "Be A Teacher -- Be A Hero" speech. Laced with Rhodeena's comments about audience members, this stand-up comedy routine brings the house down! (It takes Debbie approximately 10 minutes to change into this "lovely" creature.) This routine can last from 15 to 35 minutes and can easily be included in any of the keynotes or workshop sessions without a costume change.
The Art and Heart of Teaching
In this presentation Debbie Silver utilizes humor and sensitivity to remind audiences of how important teachers are in the lives of children. She will demonstrate how to engage all types of learners in the classroom. Her belief is that all children have gifts, and teachers hold the important key for getting students to "open them." Audiences laugh and cry as they are reminded of the value of each and every child in the classroom. Participants leave with loads of new ideas for creative instructional and assessment strategies. (This keynote is a blend of "Be a Teacher -- Be a Hero," "Going 'Outside the Lines,'" and "Reflections of an 'Educator Exemplar.'" )
Calgon, Take Me Away! A Stress Management Workshop for Educators
The physical and psychological costs of stress can undermine your health, your sense of well being, your spiritual growth, and your interpersonal relationships. This workshop offers proven techniques that can be used to deal with stress and burn-out. Humor, role playing, and anecdotes are used to illustrate how anyone can reduce and manage unwanted stress. Learn to laugh, love, and live a more satisfying life.
Desperately Seeking a "Round Tuit" - Time Management for Educators
There is nothing so constant as change and little as challenging as organizing and managing your time in a world of the unexpected. Come and learn about your own psychological strengths as well as stumbling blocks when it comes to taking control of your schedule. Through proven techniques and insightful anecdotes Debbie Silver presents a step-by-step approach for connecting your individual needs to a system for attaining your life long goals and dreams. Loads of time saving techniques are provided. This workshop tackles the serious business of time management skills with humor and with fun.
Earth to Educator, Earth to Educator, Are You There?
This general workshop is appropriate for everyone involved in education. It is designed to improve the communication skills of educators in their many daily interactions with others. Dr. Debbie Silver leads audience members through activities designed to enhance the written and verbal communication skills needed for dealing with students, colleagues, administrators, and parents. Goal setting, empathy, listening skills, and interpersonal relationships are addressed. (A special session for administrators, "Earth to Administrator" -- What Teachers Want Their Principals to Know, is available.)
Learning About Learning Styles
While exploring their own learning styles, participants examine how to positively interact with those whose styles are different. They develop an understanding of the various ways people assimilate and accommodate information. Dr. Debbie Silver uses humor, role-playing, and anecdotes to demonstrate how best to deal with the varied learning styles of students. She presents methods for adapting any lesson to the needs of individual learners. This one has an extra charge because of the instrument used (*see below). *The instrument used for this workshop is copyrighted and must be purchased for approximately $2.30 per participant.
Positive, Proactive Parental Involvement
Through proven procedures, anecdotes, and humor Dr. Debbie Silver reminds participants of basic sensible procedures for dealing with parents. She offers a twist in perspective in that she has several very different sons who went through the public school system with varying degrees of success. Effective management skills are highlighted as well as fundamental techniques for dealing with exacting personal encounters. The importance of professionalism, communication, and compassion are emphasized. (Debbie also offers a Parental Involvement Seminar specifically designed for parents).
What Do I Get For Doing It? Using Rewards as a Classroom Management Strategy
Do your students often ask the question, "What will you give me for doing this?" Does that bother you? This session is a must for teachers and administrators struggling with the appropriate use of rewards as reinforcers. It offers practical, helpful tips on how to move toward a system that is more intrinsically based. Participants will laugh, think, and leave with scores of ideas on how to establish a classroom environment that truly facilitates lifelong learning.
Debbie Silver is an award-winning educator with 30 years experience as a classroom teacher, staff development instructor, and university professor. Her numerous recognitions include being named the Louisiana State Teacher of the Year. Along the way she has taught almost every grade level and most every kind of student.
Dr. Silver has been an invited author for several educational journals and has given keynotes at state, national, and international conferences in 49 states, Canada, Europe, and Asia. She has been a featured teacher for the PBS OnLine Teacher Chat and for KDS Knowledge Delivery Systems.
Debbie's book, Drumming to the Beat of Different Marchers: Finding the Rhythm for Teaching Differentiated Learning, has just been updated and re-released by Incentive Publications. Songs she co-wrote with Monte Selby are featured on his cds. She is married to Dr. Lawrence Silver, and together they have 5 sons.
(Audiences everywhere respond to Debbie's use of humor and sensitivity to remind them of how important teachers are in the lives of children. Through research-based theory, poignant stories, and hilarious characterizations she connects with the souls of all who are involved in education.)
MOST REQUESTED TOPICS:
Be A Teacher -- Be A Hero!
In this presentation Debbie Silver utilizes humor and sensitivity to remind audiences of how important teachers (and other educators) are in the lives of children. Through poignant stories and hilarious characterizations, Debbie connects with the souls of all who touch children. Audience members laugh and cry as they are reminded of the value of each and every child in the classroom. ("Pay It Forward" has the same message for counselors, bus drivers, school secretaries, librarians, administrators, and those who are involved in education but are not classroom teachers.)
Going "Outside the Lines"
This keynote (or workshop) addresses how to engage students from all backgrounds and experiences. Relevant, applicable teaching strategies for reaching previously disenfranchised learners are modeled. Researchers tell us that educators should no longer ask about students, "How smart are they?" but rather, "How are they smart?" Debbie discusses how to incorporate students' competencies into curriculum planning and assessment. Participants are engaged in classroom activities designed to help students construct their own learning. Loads of illustrations and ideas! Dr. Silver demonstrates an approach that engages learners and helps them hone their critical thinking skills.
Pay It Forward
(Modification of the "Be A Teacher -- Be A Hero" keynote for counselors, bus drivers, school secretaries, librarians, administrators, and those who are involved in education but are not classroom teachers.) In this celebration of educational employees Debbie Silver congratulates those who "go outside the lines" to ensure the best environment for all students. She utilizes humor and sensitivity to remind audiences of how important all the adults in schools are in the lives of children. Through poignant stories and hilarious characterizations, Debbie connects with the souls of all who touch children. Audience members laugh and cry as they are reminded of the value of each and every child in the educational system.
Reflections From An "Educator Exemplar"
In this spoof characterization of a 30 year teacher (a teacher with one year's experience thirty times), Rhodeena Culsmucker (AKA Debbie Silver), expounds on her philosophy of education, "My way or the highway!" and laments her troubles with everyone in education including students, fellow teachers, support personnel, administrators, and of course, the parents. She is the antithesis of all that Debbie embodies as a teacher and loves to present a "rebuttal address" to Debbie's "Be A Teacher -- Be A Hero" speech. Laced with Rhodeena's comments about audience members, this stand-up comedy routine brings the house down! (It takes Debbie approximately 10 minutes to change into this "lovely" creature.) This routine can last from 15 to 35 minutes and can easily be included in any of the keynotes or workshop sessions without a costume change.
The Art and Heart of Teaching
In this presentation Debbie Silver utilizes humor and sensitivity to remind audiences of how important teachers are in the lives of children. She will demonstrate how to engage all types of learners in the classroom. Her belief is that all children have gifts, and teachers hold the important key for getting students to "open them." Audiences laugh and cry as they are reminded of the value of each and every child in the classroom. Participants leave with loads of new ideas for creative instructional and assessment strategies. (This keynote is a blend of "Be a Teacher -- Be a Hero," "Going 'Outside the Lines,'" and "Reflections of an 'Educator Exemplar.'" )
Calgon, Take Me Away! A Stress Management Workshop for Educators
The physical and psychological costs of stress can undermine your health, your sense of well being, your spiritual growth, and your interpersonal relationships. This workshop offers proven techniques that can be used to deal with stress and burn-out. Humor, role playing, and anecdotes are used to illustrate how anyone can reduce and manage unwanted stress. Learn to laugh, love, and live a more satisfying life.
Desperately Seeking a "Round Tuit" - Time Management for Educators
There is nothing so constant as change and little as challenging as organizing and managing your time in a world of the unexpected. Come and learn about your own psychological strengths as well as stumbling blocks when it comes to taking control of your schedule. Through proven techniques and insightful anecdotes Debbie Silver presents a step-by-step approach for connecting your individual needs to a system for attaining your life long goals and dreams. Loads of time saving techniques are provided. This workshop tackles the serious business of time management skills with humor and with fun.
Earth to Educator, Earth to Educator, Are You There?
This general workshop is appropriate for everyone involved in education. It is designed to improve the communication skills of educators in their many daily interactions with others. Dr. Debbie Silver leads audience members through activities designed to enhance the written and verbal communication skills needed for dealing with students, colleagues, administrators, and parents. Goal setting, empathy, listening skills, and interpersonal relationships are addressed. (A special session for administrators, "Earth to Administrator" -- What Teachers Want Their Principals to Know, is available.)
Learning About Learning Styles
While exploring their own learning styles, participants examine how to positively interact with those whose styles are different. They develop an understanding of the various ways people assimilate and accommodate information. Dr. Debbie Silver uses humor, role-playing, and anecdotes to demonstrate how best to deal with the varied learning styles of students. She presents methods for adapting any lesson to the needs of individual learners. This one has an extra charge because of the instrument used (*see below). *The instrument used for this workshop is copyrighted and must be purchased for approximately $2.30 per participant.
Positive, Proactive Parental Involvement
Through proven procedures, anecdotes, and humor Dr. Debbie Silver reminds participants of basic sensible procedures for dealing with parents. She offers a twist in perspective in that she has several very different sons who went through the public school system with varying degrees of success. Effective management skills are highlighted as well as fundamental techniques for dealing with exacting personal encounters. The importance of professionalism, communication, and compassion are emphasized. (Debbie also offers a Parental Involvement Seminar specifically designed for parents).
What Do I Get For Doing It? Using Rewards as a Classroom Management Strategy
Do your students often ask the question, "What will you give me for doing this?" Does that bother you? This session is a must for teachers and administrators struggling with the appropriate use of rewards as reinforcers. It offers practical, helpful tips on how to move toward a system that is more intrinsically based. Participants will laugh, think, and leave with scores of ideas on how to establish a classroom environment that truly facilitates lifelong learning.
