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BARBARA FRANDSEN
barbf@admin.stedwards.edu or barb@familyschool.com


 Career Summary

Teaching has been a major mission of my life for over 35 years. Experience includes teaching: first through sixth grades, senior high students, and college level pre-service teachers. After working as a special education teacher, I became committed to learning, developing, and sharing ways to teach those for whom learning is not easy, regardless of cause. To this end, I have taken many workshops, developed texts for pre-service and in-service teachers, revised teacher education courses at St. Edward's University, and shared ideas with other teachers and parents. My quest continues as I seek new ways to meet both classroom and individual learning needs. It is my conviction that education is the key to individual fulfillment, family unity, national pride, and ultimately, global peace.


 Professional Experience

Director of Field Experience, St. Edward's University 1998-present - Serve as a liaison between faculty in the School of Education and local schools in the placement of all elementary and secondary interns and student teachers. Design assessment forms, complete follow-up studies, and develop a manual for the School of Education. Create study guides for ExCET, organize ExCET presentations, and supervise ExCET study sessions.

Associate Professor of Teaching Methods, St. Edward's University 1987-present
Design, develop curriculum, and teach courses for pre-service teachers in elementary education. Areas of behavior management include the works of: Rudolph Dreikurs' "Redirecting Children's Behavior," Thomas Gordon's "Teacher Effectiveness Training,"William Glasser's "Quality Schools" and "Reality Therapy," Haim Ginott's "Between Teacher and Child," and many others.

Reading/Language Arts includes a whole language approach with a balance of skills primarily taught through Project Read. Remedial strategies include: Carbo tapes, Stevenson, Multisensory Teaching Approach, and the learning styles of Barbara Vitale. Math instruction includes: Making Math Memorable and Mortensen Math.

Workshop Presenter for Inclusion Schools 1998-1999 - Lead workshops with inclusion teachers concerning meeting the needs of regular and special education children.

Workshop Presenter for Cooperative Learning and Reading 1993-present
Design and deliver workshops for in-service teachers on cooperative learning in the classroom and remedial reading strategies. Present parent training using a model based on shaping behavior through encouragement and logical/natural consequences rather than the reward/punishment model.

University Coordinator for Vertical Team Activities 1989 - 1994
As manager of funds from a Southwestern Bell Foundation grant, recruited, organized, and coordinated team activities of three elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and St.Edward's University. The group became known as 'Teachers As Agents of Change - The St. Edward's Vertical Team'. Our original purpose was to determine ways to empower teachers and improve student self esteem.

Coordinated and presented workshops on Cooperative Learning and Learning Styles for teachers in the St. Edward's Vertical Team. Managed grant funds from the Southwestern Bell Foundation.

Resource Teacher & Chapter Teacher for AISD 1984 - 1987
Taught reading, writing and math to 'at risk' students in grades four through six at both Langford Elementary and Patton Elementary. Secured materials, created appropriate groups, and designed individual and group programs. Made arrangements for children with behavior disorders to spend extra time in my classroom when in emotional need.

Assistant Professor, St. Edward's University 1977 - 1984
Taught methodology classes for reading, language arts, science, social studies, and art education for students preparing to become elementary teachers.

Teacher for High School Migrant Students RUB Program summer 1982 &1983
Taught reading, writing, and study skills to 'at risk' senior high students from the migrant program. Developed and applied individual goals and study contacts. Used a combination of direct teach and individualization.

Reading/Study Skills Instructor for Austin Community College 1978
Taught remedial reading to college students in the Parallel Studies Program at Austin Community College. Used a combination of direct teach and individualization through the use of learning contracts.

Preschool Teacher O.T. Aid, Austin Cerebral Palsy Center 1968 -1971
Developed curriculum, designed a developmentally appropriate program, and taught preschool handicapped children ages five through ten. Integrated themes and plans for blind, speech impaired, retarded, orthopedic, and emotionally disturbed children. Worked as an O.T. aid to teach eating and dressing, typing, writing, and other fine motor skills.

Third Grade Teacher, Fort Worth Independent School District 1964 -1968
Taught third grade curriculum to classes at Tanglewood Elementary, an upper economic school. Became involved in out of school activities with an emotionally disturbed boy.

First Grade Teacher, Hurst/Euless/Bedford School District 1963 -1964
Taught 36 low level (homogeneously grouped) first graders for Stonegate Elementary, a low income school. Challenges included:retardation, alcoholic parents, parents in prison, and several children who were repeating first grade.


 Supervision

University Supervisor for St. Edward's University 1987- present
Serve as the primary coordinator and liaison for the field placement of elementary interns and student teachers. Supervision involves contacting district administrators, school principals, and individual teachers. Prepare manuals for student teachers and schools, outlining goals, expectations, and a tentative pacing guide. Weekly seminars offer additional information and continuing support for student teachers.

Director, Consultant for Family School Tutoring Services 1993 -1996
Arranged and supervised one-on-one tutors for children in need of either remediation or educational challenges. Guided the testing and establishment of individualized tutoring plans, consulted with tutors, parents, and teachers, and provided all needed materials.

 Educational Background

University of Texas, Austin, Texas 1979
Earned a Master of Education, Reading Specialist, and Special Education Certification with an emphasis on learning disabilities.

Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas 1963
Earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with certification in grades one through eight.

 Additional Professional Training

Blackboard Web Classes, St. Edward's University, 2000 and 2001 Participated in workshops designed to facilitate student success on ExCET.

Glasser Workshop, Austin, Texas, 2000 Dr. William Glasser presented ideas on Choice Theory and the use of Reality Therapy in a one-day workshop for therapists and teachers.

ExCET Conference, Arlington, Texas, 1999 and 2000 This one-day conference promotes ideas for ExCET success.

Using Power Point, St. Edward's University, 1999 Attended a workshop designed to teach participants how to use power point.

Counseling Children, Cheryl Strong, M.ED., LPC 1996
Participated in a one day workshop designed to help those who work with children understand and identify emotional needs.Techniques of play therapy were included.

Movement and Learning, Barbara Vitale 1995
This five-day workshop identified ways to assess specific learning needs along with innovative remediation tying movement, music, arts, drama, and touch to learning. The workshop was designed for 'at risk' learners.

Mortensen Math, Abigale Barnabas 1995 - 1996
The continuing training and guidance in the use and benefits of Mortensen Math offers unique ways to make math concrete and enjoyable to children.

Project Read - Phonology/Writing/Comprehension 1994
Learned methodologies for teaching phonics, writing, and comprehension in the regular classroom. Phonology is an active approach to teaching synthetic phonics. Framing Your Thoughts (writing) demonstrates concrete ways to identify and correctly use parts of speech. Comprehension ties understanding and writing by concretely marking paragraphs and key words.

Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome, Irlen Institute 1994
Learned to screen and assist individuals who read more easily with use of colored paper, dimmer lighting, enlarged print, and colored overlays.

Neuro Linguistic Programming, Andrea & Jonathan Rice 1993 and1994
NLP is a study of the connections of language, touch, and feelings. Training included powerful exercises for: bonding positive feelings and learning concepts, communicating nonverbally, using stories and metaphors to convey messages or ideas, and identifying and meeting individual learning style needs.

Advanced Cooperative Learning, Edythe Holubec 1994
Refined skills learned in beginning cooperative learning, including ways to use base groups, application of scripts, and ideas on collaborative teaching.

Working in a One Computer Classroom 1994
Working on Macintosh computers, learned to integrate technology in the classroom when only one computer is available.

Making Math Memorable, AISD 1994
Learned ways to use manipulative and hands-on experiences to teach math.

Redirecting Children's Behavior, Trainer's Course, Tammy Cox, 1993
Redirecting for a Cooperative Classroom, Trainer's Course, Tammy Cox
Both courses earned certification as a trainer for both parents and teachers. Courses shared insight from the studies of Dr. Rudolph Dreikurs' child-centered philosophy.

Redirecting Children's Behavior, Barbara Cook 1992
Took the course as a parent/teacher and grandparent. Gained expertise in redirecting, encouraging, using consequences, and dealing with the four types of difficult children: inadequate, attention, control, and revenge.

Carbo Recorded Reading, Marie Carbo 1991 & 1992
Learned specific ways to identify and meet learning style needs. Gained a method of taping reading selections for remedial readers to improve fluency, self esteem, and comprehension.

Beginning Cooperative Learning, Edythe Holubec 1990
Learned the differences in cooperative learning and traditional group teaching: creating a team spirit, insisting on individual accountability and learning, leading group processing and group problem solving, and teaching social skills and goal setting.

Using Computers in the Classroom, IBM Atlanta 1990
Learned to use IBM computers in an integrated approach. Gained information about networking, word processing, and a variety of courseware applications.

Learning Styles, Karen Christian 1989
Gained information on identification of learning styles:auditory, visual, tactile, and kinesthetic as well as identification of analytic and global learning.

Whole Language, Kenneth Goodman 1989
Gained a blueprint for integrating reading, oral language, writing, and spelling within the reading program. Increased an appreciation of applying individual interests to reading.

Multisensory Teaching Approach, Margaret Smith 1988
Learned a precise method for teaching synthetic phonics to remedial readers. Program goes from mastering letter sounds, and blending of words, to creating sentences.

ECRI, Austin Independent School District 1987
Gained an understanding of an analytic system for teaching phonics which is designed for whole class instruction.

Stevenson, Husta Landers 1986
Taught me to use the simplicity of word patterns and silly sentences to teach remedial readers. Integrated reading, spelling, handwriting, and composing.



 Publications

Yes! I Can Teach Literacy 2001 - This text is sequenced logically beginning with consideration of developmental processes followed by emerging literacy. A thorough section on teaching reading begins with assessment and walks through each aspect of reading instruction: reading to, guided reading with, and independent reading by children. Concrete teaching strategies are offered as well as adaptations for dyslexia.

Writing is treated with the same mindfulness as reading, including assessment, writing for, guided writing with, and independent writing by children. You will realize a wealth of teaching ideas. Also included are strategies and suggestions for dysgraphia. Unique to Yes! I Can Teach Literacy is the attention paid to guidelines from the state of Texas.

Making a Difference for "Difference" Learners 1998 - The goal of Making a Difference is to assist pre-service and in-service teachers in meeting the challenges of inclusion classrooms. The text begins with a survey of special education terminology and principles and offers a variety of adaptations for gifted, regular, and special students.

Yes! I Can Teach Reading 1997 - In order to stay current with recent trends in reading education, this text guides the beginning teacher in procedures for emerging readers and writers. The text also includes the language skills every reading teacher must master.

Managing Cooperative Classrooms 1994 - Designed for use in teacher education and in-service workshops on cooperative learning, the text coordinates and condenses ideas from Johnson and Johnson, Slavin, and others. Includes the five elements of cooperative learning, a variety of strategies (scripts), a short description of alternative assessment, and ideas for building faculty cooperation.

Diversified Teaching: an Anthology of Teaching Strategies 1993 - Diversified Teaching began as a collection of ideas for learning disabled children. After several years of field testing, the realization came that the ideas were helpful to all types of children and teachers. The text covers strategies for teaching:alphabet sequence, oral language development, oral reading, comprehension, spelling, writing, phonics, and computer use. A final section suggests ways to modify learning for special needs children.

Dyslexia Analysis 1990 - This computerized checklist helps teachers and parents identify the characteristics of dyslexia and related disorders. Individual modules on: reading, spelling, handwriting, expressive and receptive language, and organizational skills indicate levels of severity.


 Honors and Achievements

Teaching Excellence Award, St. Edward's University, 1998 Board Member for Believe In Me, 1997-1998 Member of the Founding Board for Rawson-Saunders School for Dyslexic Students, 1997
Nominated for Piper Award, St. Edward's University, 1994
Outstanding Teacher from the School of Education, St. Edward's, 1994
Honored at a Leader Luncheon, Women's Chamber of Commerce, Austin, Texas, 1990
Demonstration Teacher, Special Education, Austin, Texas,1987
Nominated for Teacher Excellence Award, St. Edward's, 1982 &1983
Outstanding Teacher, Rural Upward Bound, 1982 & 1983
Demonstration Teacher Special Education, U.T. Austin, Texas, 1970
Nominated Outstanding Young Woman of America, Killeen, Texas, 1968

 Professional Organizations

International Reading Association
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Association of Texas Professional Educators

Sponsor of University Professional Organizations

St. Edward's Educators, Sponsor
Texas Student Education Association, Sponsor
Sponsor the student organization which is a branch of the Texas State Teacher's Association. Assist students in fund raising, organizing meetings, electing officers, making arrangements for district conventions.

Association of Texas Professional Educators, Sponsor
Assisted students in creating a charter student professional organization. Currently assist students in electing officers, arranging for meetings, filling out application forms, and making reservations.