charlesdittrich.com

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Welcome to charlesdittrich.com. My name is Charles Dittrich and I am a teacher, trainer, and consultant.

Please use the links above to view my vita, publications, contact information, brief biography, educational philosophy, consulting opportunities, testimonials, conferences and presentations, and past trainings and consultations.

To the left is a summary of my work history, my online presence, and RSS subscription information. A link to the class homepage for the course I currently teach, Civics, can be found in this section.

To the right is a slide show of my work with students and schools across the country. Viewable from any page on the site, the slides illustrate some of the products produced by teachers and students I worked with in the past.

Publications

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Articles available for download can be found by clicking the appropriate link after each entry.

Pool, J. et. al. (2011). Arts Integrationin Teacher Preparation: Teaching the Teachers, Journal for Learning through the Arts, 7(1), retrieved from http://escholarship.org/uc/item/65g5z7wp
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Pool, J., et.al. (2009). Imagining Innovative Curriculum Designs, published as part of conference proceedings, Hawaii International Conference on Education, Honolulu, Hawaii

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Dittrich, C., et. al. (2008). Revisiting on-line discussion as practice for reflective thinking in three sequential classes, published as part of conference proceedings, Hawaii International Conference on Education, Honolulu, Hawaii

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Dittrich, C., et. al., (2007). Using Technology to Develop Preservice Teachers’ Reflective Thinking, published as part of conference proceedings, Hawaii International Conference on Education, Honolulu, Hawaii

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Pool, J., et. al., (2005). An examination of multiple factors of teacher preparation quality at two liberal arts institutions, published as part of conference proceedings, Hawaii International Conference on Education, Honolulu, Hawaii

Pool, J., Dittrich, C., Longwell, E., (2004). An analysis of SAT and Praxis I performance, Action in Teacher Education, 26(2), 60-68

Pool, J., Ashenfelder, E., Clark., B., Dittrich, C., (2002). Reality bytes: Exploring first year teacher journals with preservice teachers, Pennsylvania Teacher Educator, 1, 13-19

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Personal reflection evaluations

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The following document contains student evaluations concerning my ability to encourage and facilitate personal reflection

Personal reflection evaluations

Instruction and assessment evaluations

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The following document contains student reflections about my instructional and assessment practices.

Instruction and assessment evaluations

Classroom management evaluations

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The following document includes evaluations from students regarding my classroom management abilities.

Classroom management evaluations

General evaluations

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Evaluations will appear in separate pop-up windows after clicking each link. This will allow you to view the images in their original size.
General evaluations from classroom and presentation viewers
Evaluation from a colleague
Another evaluation from a colleague

Return to Testimonials

Testimonials

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It’s with pleasure that I share with you testimonials from those I have taught and trained. For testimonials from specific areas of interest, please click the relevant links below. Links will open in a new browser window.

Samples include:

and

Past Trainings and Consultations

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Past Trainings and Consultations, 2007-2009

Adams County Arts Council, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Adams county Arts Council Luncheon on collaboration between arts partners, Fall 2008

Des Moines Independent School District, Des Moines, Iowa

Training visit and professional development at Wright and Howe Elementary Schools, focusing on arts-integration and curriculum development, Spring 2009

Gettysburg Area School District, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Workshop presentation on arts-integration to Gettysburg area teacher (k-12), Spring 2008
Workshop for Gettysburg Area High School faculty on arts-integration, Fall 2008

Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Training visit and professional development at three elementary schools in West Des Moines, IA, with 10 Gettysburg College teacher education students, Spring 2008
Student Teacher Seminar presentation, Spring 2008
Presenter on historical background of the 1950s, Leonard Bernstein Center Leadership Conference, Summer 2008
Gettysburg Address as a masterwork workshop in conjunction with the Civil War Institute, Summer 2008
Student Teacher Seminar presentation, Fall 2008
Training visit and professional development at Jackson Middle School, Portland, OR with 9 Gettysburg College teacher education students, Spring 2007

Lafayette Parish School System, Lafayette, Louisiana

Training visit at Comeaux High School, focusing on arts-integration and curriculum development, Summer 2008

Lehigh Valley Arts Council, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Workshop presentation to Lehigh Valley Arts Council on arts-integration, Spring 2008

Moffett Elementary School, Lennox, California

Consulting and evaluation visit to Moffett Elementary, meeting with local teachers and students, and conferring with visiting school personnel from Seminole County, FL, Spring 2008

Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, training in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Training visit with emissary from Hamburg, Germany schools on behalf of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival

Seminole Country School District, Sanford, Florida

Training visit at Midway Elementary School, focusing on arts-integration and curriculum development, Summer 2008
Training visit at Midway Elementary School, focusing on arts-integration and curriculum development, Spring 2009

West Des Moines School District, West Des Moines, Iowa

Evaluation visit at Hillside Elementary School, focusing on assessment practices and evaluation needs, Spring 2009

Educational Philosophy

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Social studies classrooms are supremely situated to study culture, society, history, its leaders and peoples, and the controversial moments of time. I believe that social studies educators must help students apply the lessons of the past to the challenges of today in ways both ethical and moral, empowering them to participate fully in America’s democratic society.

As such, I believe:

In critical pedagogy

that as a participant in the democratic process I am a teacher as learner and my students are learners as teachers, necessitating student centered instruction, assessment, and classroom management
that schools are not neutral environments, but subject to political and social pressures and expectations, so I must help students gain critical consciousness about the impact on society of their, and others’, decisions

In the inherent, individual nature of each student

that learning requires assent, desire, action; it is characterized by discovery and surprise
that differentiated instruction and aligned assessment is the best way to meet not simply academic needs, but the specific needs, demands, hopes, desires, and potential of my students
that there is no substitute for authentic instruction and assessment to meet the varied learning styles and intelligences of each student
that arts-based integration motivates students and increases comprehension and understanding regardless of cultural or economic background

In the power of reflection to improve teaching and learning opportunities

that reflection allows everyone to consciously choose who they are becoming, whether a teacher or a learner
that the time to take control of my instruction, and my students of their learning, is now; that our growth and development is in our hands
that I need reflection to best inform and guide my theory based practice

Conferences and Presentations

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Any presentation materials available for download can be found by clicking on the download link after each entry

Presenter, with Jonelle Pool, & Ken Pool
The Role of Arts-Based Pedagogy in Promoting Content Accessibility for Diverse Learners
Pennsylvania chapter of the National Association of Multicultural Education
Juniata College
Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
April, 2009
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Exploring Multiple Intelligence Theory through Arts Integration

Paper presented by Jonelle Pool, & Kenneth Pool

National Social Science Association Conference

Albuquerque, New Mexico

October, 2008

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Presenter, with Jonelle Pool
Artful Preparation: Modeling Arts Integration in Preprofessional Field Experiences
Association of Teacher Educators
New Orleans, Louisiana
February, 2008

Presenter, with Jonelle Pool, & Emily Weigler
Revisiting on-line discussion as practice for reflective thinking in three sequential classes
Hawaii International Conference on Education
Honolulu, Hawaii
January, 2008

Download

Presenter, with Kenneth Pool
The Leonard Bernstein Center Goes to College
Hawaii International Conference on Education
Honolulu, Hawaii
January, 2008

Download

Presenter, with Jonelle Pool, & Lindsay McCoy
Using technology to develop preservice teachers’ reflective thinking
Hawaii International Conference on Education
Honolulu, Hawaii
January, 2007

Download

An examination of multiple factors of teacher preparation quality at two liberal arts institutions
Paper presented by Jonelle Pool, Kenneth Pool, & Eric Longwell
Hawaii International Conference on Education
Honolulu, Hawaii
January, 2005

An analysis of SAT and Praxis I performance of teacher education candidates at three different types of institutions Paper presented by Jonelle Pool, Kenneth Pool, & Eric Longwell
American Association of College for Teacher Educators
Chicago, Illinois
February, 2003

Presenter, with Jonelle Pool
Using web-based technology to construct meaning
Middle States Council for the Social Studies
Atlantic City, New Jersey
February, 2001

Presenter, with Jonelle Pool, Erin Ashenfelder, & Brendon Clark
Reinventing educational psychology
Pennsylvania Association of College and Teacher Educators
Grantville, Pennsylvania
October, 1998

Workshop Facilitator

History Alive, Gettysburg College Education Department
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
October 2004, April 2005

Workshop Facilitator
Portfolio Development, Gettysburg College Education Department
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
April 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
October 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

Contact Information

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To reach Charles Dittrich about a possible consulting opportunity or more information on current appearances, research, availability, or promotional materials, please send an email that includes your:

name
title
organization
email address
phone number
question, concern, request, or inquiry

You can send this email by clicking the highlighted link above, or manually in your email program by using the address: cdittric77@gmail.com

Consulting Opportunities

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Specializing in curriculum development, organizational motivation, cross-curricular instruction and planning, arts-integration, and incorporating reflective elements into daily classroom practices, Charles Dittrich is an engaging, authentic, experienced, and well recommended consultant.

Whether you are looking to energize your executive team or project managers, plan excellent and meaningful professional development for your teachers or administrators, or develop a deliberate and comprehensive plan to reform your existing curriculum into one full of integration and reflection, Charles Dittrich can provide you with high quality service and measurable results in a time-frame most appropriate for your organization.

For quotes and consulting opportunities, please use the information found on the Contact Information page.

Biography

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After graduating from Gettysburg College with a bachelor's degree in history and secondary social studies certification, I gained my first practical field experiences as a social studies high school teacher, where my current research interests began influencing my educational philosophy.

Two elements of that philosophy, service and philanthropy, led me to explore the realm of higher education administration where I served as a development officer, learning valuable lessons about stakeholder relations and effective fundraising.

Desiring a return to the classroom, I served for two years in a full-time appointment as a faculty member of the Gettysburg College Education Department. There I redesigned the curriculum of and taught two courses, Social Foundations of Education and Social Studies Methods.

Exposed to arts-based teaching while on Gettysburg College's faculty I became the Manager of Training Services for the Leonard Bernstein Center for Learning. My work there included everything from web content development, management of online services, curriculum development, implementation of the Artful Learning™ model at sites across the country, consultant management, college course instruction, to budget management.

Excited about returning to the secondary classroom this fall, my current research interests include the role of arts-integration in preservice teacher education, the relationship between technology and critical reflection, and the implementation of democracy in daily classroom practices. With a bevy of publications, presentations, trainings and workshops, I remain at the fore-front of current research and practice in education.

My professional memberships include:

Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, member since 2002 - 2008
Middle States Council for the Social Studies, 2000 – 2002
National Council for the Social Studies, 1999 – 2002, 2006 – present
National Social Studies Supervisors Association, 2009
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2006 - present
State of Pennsylvania Teaching Certificates, Secondary Social Studies, 1999 - present

My wife Jillian and I, and our daughter Madison Genevieve, make their home in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Vitae

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A .pdf version of my current Curriculum Vitae is available at this link.

charlesdittrich.com

Publications

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Personal reflection evaluations

Instruction and assessment evaluations

Classroom management evaluations

General evaluations

Testimonials

Past Trainings and Consultations

Educational Philosophy

Conferences and Presentations

Contact Information

Consulting Opportunities

Biography

Vitae