Springfield, Ohio - While the kids take a break for summer, area teachers can explore proven solutions, expand their knowledge, learn how to build stronger teams and develop new approaches to teaching while interacting with experts in the field of education during the first of three building block conferences June 10-12 at Wittenberg University.

Sponsored by Wittenberg, Clark County Schools and Springfield City Schools, the "Skills and Strategies" conference offers teachers a dynamic program complete with lectures, student musical performances, field trips and critical networking opportunities designed to help foster the building of character, citizenship and community in area schoolchildren.

Participants will learn how to form and create active, civil and professional learning communities in their own school environments. They will also take a fresh look at mentoring, parental involvement, tutoring, values education and social skills development. In addition, the curriculum will also provide ideas on how teachers can work with community partners, develop service learning and integrate it all into the curriculum. The keynote address and breakout sessions will explore the dynamics of school-based violence, including how to prevent bullying, intimidation and harassment both by students and by teachers.

Participants can attend the conference for free if they enroll in a summer graduate course offered by the Wittenberg education department. The courses, taught by Wittenberg faculty and teaching associates who are master teachers in area schools, will further examine many of the skills and strategies addressed in the conference. The conference alone, without registration for the graduate courses, is only $125 and teachers in Springfield City Schools can qualify for professional leave credit. Call (937) 327-6417 to register and for more information .