Completion of the Belfer 1 and Belfer Next Step Teacher Training Courses at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, DC (July 2001 & July 2002)

Completion of the 5 day residential seminar by the NJ Council of Humanities entitled "Literature of the Genocides" (July 2001)

Participation in the state project for the NJ Council for the Humanities on the topic of "Women and the Holocaust"

Completion of a 5 day residential seminar on "The Holocaust and Human Behavior" with Facing History and Ourselves in New York (August 2002)

Representative for the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education at the Pennsylvania Holocaust Education Task Force annual convention (December 2003)

Former active Member of the South Jersey Holocaust Education Center Board of Directors (Education Committee) Katz JCC, Cherry Hill, NJ

Current active member of the Holocaust Education Outreach Committee, Holocaust Resource Center, Maitland, Florida

Development and implementation of a middle school course, "Literature of the Holocaust" (Spring 2002)

Presenter at the New Jersey Education Association Convention of workshop "Literature of the Holocaust in Middle School" (November 2002)

Presenter of Holocaust Education workshops for teachers at the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey, Cherry Hill, NJ (January 2003)

Presenter at the Central Florida Holocaust Education & Resources Center Summer Teacher Training Institute

Participant in the Summer 2006 Jewish Resistance and Holocaust Teacher Seminar in Poland

Teach a course studying Holocaust literature and media at Valencia Community College, Orlando, Florida

Completion of the annual seven day Florida State Holocaust Educator's Institute at Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida

Completion of the annual five day Martin and Doris Rosen Holocaust Symposium, Boone, NC

Presenter of workshop "Literature of the Holocaust as an Instructional Approach" FDEA (Florida Developmental Education Association) October 2006

Presenter of workshop "Literature and Media of the Holocaust" at the 2007 Annual Holocaust Educator's Institute, FSU (Florida State University), June 2007

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST STUDY TRIP I WILL BE LEADING TO POLAND DURING JUNE 2009.

Click here to download a copy of my complete resume.

Resume

Click here to download a copy of my brochure with all the services and workshops I offer listed.

Brochure

Consulting, Workshops and Teacher Training Services Available

As a trained Holocaust educator and scholar I conduct teacher training and in-service workshops for school districts and organizations on the local, state and national level.  In addition, I have conducted community workshops on Holocaust education for community organizations such as the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey.   I have been a presenter at many state and national conferences on subjects such as Holocaust Education, Developmental Reading, and Metacognition.  My workshops vary but a sample of them is as follows:

1. Introduction to the Holocaust:  a two hour workshop that introduces participants to the history of the Holocaust.  For community members or educators who have a limited background in the Holocaust.

2. Literature of the Holocaust: a two hour  (or 2 1/2 hour) workshop designed for educators.: An overview of recommended professional teacher training institutes and seminars as well as methodology books are shown.  High quality Holocaust children's literature will be shared.  An overview of pedagogy, instructional strategies, research validated methodology, common techniques to avoid during instruction.   Student assessment techniques are presented  The focus is on the use of literature and assorted media  as a primary method of instruction.  Holocaust education using the affective-cognitive approach is stressed.  An optional additional half hour can be added to give an overview of the history of Holocaust education both in Europe and the United States up to the present day, as well as an overview of the state of Holocaust instruction on the college level today in the United States. 

3. Instructional Activities for Holocaust Education:  a two hour workshop where a variety of teacher-directed student activities are presented.  The focus is on using all types of Holocaust media as an instructional  vehicle.  Activities include photo,  map and music and movie analysis as part of the instruction.  Activities that incorporate documentary, Hollywood representations of the Holocaust,  use of video testimony, music and art and poetry as a form of expression and study, all related to the Holocaust.  Student activities and projects, hands-on teachers will work in small groups, using survivors in the classroom, women and the Holocaust, and the use of the Internet.  (Internet access to for all would be ideal, short of that a single computer with access and projection would work.)

Any of the above workshops can be modified to meet your needs.  For audiences that already have a background in the Holocaust then I recommend Workshop 2 followed by Workshop 3 on a different day.  These two in that sequence are perfect for teachers with the background but lacking the research validated pedagogical approaches.  Some school districts prefer to hold all three, on 3 separate occasions to make sure their faculty is properly trained to the same level of background of subject matter and approach.   This can also be arranged as part of an ongoing series of workshops throughout a school term or summer training program.

Contact Information

Richard A. Gair, Professor of Holocaust Studies & Reading

Work:
Valencia Community College, East Campus
701 N. Econlockhatchee Trail
Orlando, Florida 32825
Office Phone: 407-582-2641, Fax- 407-582-2465
rgair@valenciacc.edu

Home:
1740 Adams Street
Longwood, Florida 32750-6189
407-260-2893 (Voice and Fax)
rgair@cfl.rr.com