Carrieanne Behan

Contact Information

Phone:
970-901-0346

Email:
cbehan@western.edu

EDUCATION

1998 University of Colorado - Boulder

M. A. Elementary Education, Bilingual/Special Education Emphasis

1994 University of the South, Sewanee, TN

B.A. Political Science/French

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Research-based writing instruction for  K12, Active Engagement/Brain Based Teaching and Learning, Technology integration K12, ELL instruction, Professional Learning Communities, Classroom management: Student Motivation

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Instructor, Western State College of Colorado 2005-present

• Responsible for teaching the following undergraduate courses: EDUC 404 Creating Positive Learning Environments, 408 Teaching Writing with the Brain in Mind
• Responsible for teaching the following graduate courses: EDUC 604 Learning Environments, EDUC 608 Methods and Strategies of Effective Writing Instruction, EDUC 687 School-Wide Comprehensive Literacy Program Development, EDUC 684 Materials and Motivation for Reading, EDUC 691 Fostering Collaborative School Sites
  

Educational Consultant and Coach, Colorado 2002 - Present 

Independent Writing Consultant

• Professional Development Trainer of Step Up to Writing, Integration of Six Traits and Step Up to Writing and Beyond the Basics for educators offering graduate credit across the state of Colorado: Summit School District, Frisco, CO; Lake County School District, Leadville, CO; Adams Elementary, District 11 Colorado Springs, CO; Gunnison School District, Gunnison, CO.

Literacy Coach and Faciilitator

• Provided leadership and professional development focused on increasing reading achievement for all students in alignment with the Western State College Partnership Grant to Crested Butte Elementary School. Faciilitated monthly meetings, evaluated data to make research based decisions and implement new core reading program, organized professional development: reviewing interventions, the reading core program and making data driven decisions for all students
• Planned and facilitated professional development for Gunnison Elementary School teachers and paraprofessionals.  Presented strategic planning templates, research based strategies for reading flooding groups, compiled and introduced a variety of resources for all five areas of reading instruction
• Trained all Gunnison Elemetnary School teachers and paraprofessionals in Writing Strategies and Beyond the Basics as well as Reading Comprehension Strategies.   An extension class was offered with night sessions offering graduate credit with instruction in Writing Assessment, Genre specific writing, CSAP Preparation and designing a school-wide Writing Skills scope and sequence
• ASCD Presenter, March 2010 Annual Conference - presented with Western State College Teacher Education Faculty: Collaboration in the Digital World sharing how districts or schools can use digital tools to offer and support professional development
• Higher Education Linguisitcally Diverse Ed Committee Member
• State Committee for ELED Articulation Agreement to design a course syllabus that met the needs of Teacher Education programs and fulfilled grammar requirments at the community college
• Rocky Mountain Summer Institute Presenter - Western State College, 2007 and 2008 Presented and taught Writing Strategies: Beyond the Basics and Six + 1 Traits of Writing
• Colorado Council International Reading Association, 2005 Presenter for Integration of  Six Trait Writing into Step Up to Writing Strategies moving students from Partially Proficient to Proficient and Advanced on CSAP 
• Third Grade and 3rd/4th Grade Combination Teacher, Upper Blue Elementary, Summit School District, Frisco, CO, June 1999 to present

~ Plan and implement 6 subjects daily using a standards based curriculum, Facilitate an energetic, positive, student centered and project based classroom, Worked with students in a mainstream classroom with a wide variety of needs including Autism, Perceptual/Communicative disorder, English Language Learners, Accelerated Learners, Emotional/Behavioral disorders etc., Proctor and prepare students for CSAP, Collaborate with team teachers including special ed and paraprofessionals, Communicate with parents updating them on curriculum/student performance

• Writing Coach, Upper Blue Elementary, Summit School District, Frisco, CO, June 1999 to present

~ Model lessons in all classrooms K-5, Provide writing resources and do mini-workshops for teachers K-12, Meet individually with new teachers and help model/plan writing lessons, Organize and facilitate professional study teams for teachers, Plan the scope and sequence for writing in the district with the teachers ‘n' tools writing team, Help write six trait prompts for the Northwest Consortium assessment

• Summit High School Speech Coach, Summit School District, Frisco, CO, September 1998 to February 2000

~ Prepared high school students for debate, acting and oratorical competitions, Required after school rehearsals and weekend travel, Organized the Summit High School Speech meet hosting nine Colorado high schools.

• Permanent Substitute, August 1998 to June 1999

~ Rotated as a substitute at 3 elementary schools , Taught all grade levels pre-school through 5 th grade , Worked individually with children performing below grade level or those with special needs, Served on the Asset Building Committee (Character Education), Audited Math Curriculum Meetings

• Private Tutor, September 1998 to May 1999

~ Tutored a first grader struggling with literacy, Used Lindamood/Bell letter/sound correspondence techniques, Assisted teachers in his leveled reading program at school, Motivated the student to write and publish his own stories, Used current reading/writing assessments to monitor his progress