INTRODUCTION
Welcome to EIU! I have been in higher ed working with educators since 1999 and have been a Panther since 2010. I can often be found in the residence halls meeting with students for a Chew, sitting in my office grading/ talking with students or at sporting events. My family loves living in a college town and interacting with the students. Thanks for stopping by my page!
Office Hours
Education & Training
2007 Ed. D. Curriculum and Instruction: Curriculum Leadership – Northern Illinois University
Dissertation Title: A Study of the Relationship of Middle School Team Ideology and School Achievement Status.
2000 MS Ed. Curriculum and Instruction - Northern Illinois University
Emphasis: Curriculum Leadership & Multicultural Education/TESOL
1993 BS Ed. Physical Education - Northern Illinois University
Conference Presentations
2013 Okrasinski, J. & Wilkins, E. Elementary Education Student Teachers: Levels of Understanding about Induction and Mentoring Programs. Presentation at the Mid Western Educational Research Association Conference, Chicago, IL. November 6-9, 2013.
2013 Okrasinski, J. & Stodden, D. Using Picture Books in Instruction. Presentation at the 3rd Annual Literacy and Learning Coference, Mattoon, IL. November 2, 2013.
2013 Brownson, A. & Okrasinski, J. The Common Core Standards, The library Media Center, Children’s Literature and Informational Text: Using the Library and the Librarian to Effectively Meet Common Core Standards. Presentation at the 34th Annual History and Social Science Teachers Conference, Charleston, IL. October 24, 2013.
2013 Okrasinski, J. & Colombo, J. I still remember the Duomo! Igniting student minds through integrated and differentiated unit study. Presentation at the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform, A National Conversation, Countryside, IL. October 10, 2013.
2013 Okrasinski, J. Integrating Curriculum for Academic Growth. Presentation at the Illinois Education Research Council Symposium, Champaign, IL. June 13, 2013
2013 Okrasinski, J. Reading All Around the World! Presentation at the Illinois Reading Council 45th Annual Conference, Springfield, IL. March 15, 2013.
2013 Okrasinski, J. & Wilkins, E. A Collaborative Model: Helping Elementary Education Teacher Candidates Better Understand Induction. Presentation at the Midwest Association of Teacher Educators Conference, Lafayette, IN. March 22, 2013.
2013 Okrasinski, J., Hunt, T. & Smith J. Enhancing Literacy and Collegiality among Faculty. Presentation at the Midwest Association of Teacher Educators Conference, Lafayette, IN. March 22, 2013.
2013 Wilkins, E. & Okrasinski, J. What do Student Teachers Know about Induction and Mentoring? Presentation at the Illinois New Teacher Collaborative Conference, Springfield, IL. Feb 27, 2013.2012 Wilkins, E. & Okrasinski, J. Induction and Mentoring Programs: Levels of Student Teacher Understanding. Presentation at the Mid Western Educational Research Association Conference, Evanston, IL. November 9, 2012.
2012 Dale, C. & Okrasinski, J. Giving 3rd - 5th Grade Students a Voice. Session presentation at the Illinois Education Research Council Symposium, Tinley Park, IL. June 11, 2012.
2012 Okrasinski, J. Celebrating our Place in Space: Using a Literature Base to Discover the Geography of our World. Session presentation at Racine-Kenosha Reading Council and Carthage College Literacy Conference, Kenosha, WI. April 14, 2012.
2012 Dale, C. & Okrasinski, J. Putting Students First in an Elementary Practicum Observation Experience. Session presentation at the Midwest Association of Teacher Educators Spring Conference, Urbana, IL. March 30, 2012.
2012 Okrasinski, J. & Wilkins, E. Pre-Service Teacher Coaching through Induction. Session presentation at the Midwest Association of Teacher Educators Spring Conference Urbana, IL. March 30, 2012.
2012 Okrasinski, J. Pull-out, Push-in, Immersion? This Sounds Like P.E. Class! Session presentation at the English Language Learners Conference, Charleston, IL. March 24, 2012.
2012 Dale, C. & Okrasinski, J. Contributions of the Tetrad Model in Practicum Evaluation. Proposal accepted for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning International Conference, Statesboro, GA. March 7-9, 2012.
2012 Dale, C. & Okrasinski, J. Preliminary Implications of Block 1 Elementary Teacher Efficacy. Session presentation at the College of Education and Professional Studies 15th Annual Research Fair, Charleston, IL. February 27, 2012.
2012 Wilkins, E., Jerich, K., & Okrasinski, J. New Teacher Induction Programs: Student Teacher Perceptions and the Role Universities Play. Session presentation at the Association of Teacher Educators Annual Conference, San Antonio, TX. February 11-15, 2012.
2011 Dale, C.M. & Okrasinski, J. What Have Been/Will Be the Ramifications of State Level Changes in Teacher Certification Regarding the Basic Skills Test? Presentation at the Illinois Association of Teacher Educators Conference, Peoria, IL. November 4, 2011
2011 Okrasinski, J. Middle school teaming & school achievement status: A look at
teacher ideology. Presentation at the Association of Teacher Educators Summer
Conference, Philadelphia, PA. August 9, 2011.
2011 Okrasinski, J. Developing Leadership Skills in K-5 Students through Literature. Session presentation at Carthage College Literacy Conference, Carthage College, Kenosha, WI. April 16, 2011.
2011 Okrasinski, J. Hidden Treasure: Finding Gold in Newspapers. Session presentation at Illinois Council for the Social Studies Spring Conference, Champaign, IL. April 15, 2011.
2011 Okrasinski, J. Leadership and Literature: Creating Learning Communities without Bullies. Session presentation at Midwest ATE Conference, West La Fayette, IN. April 1, 2011.
2010 Okrasinski, J. Developing Leadership Skills in K-5 Students through Literature. Session presentation at the IATE Fall Conference, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL Nov. 5, 2010.
2010 Okrasinski, J. Creating Effective Middle School Teams. Session presentation at the ROE 11 Fall Classic. Charleston, IL Oct. 8, 2010.
2010 Okrasinski, J. Team Ideology and School Achievement Status: What’s the Connection? Poster Presentation at the Illinois Education Research Council Symposium, Champaign, IL, June 8-9, 2010.
2007 Okrasinski, J. Team Ideology and School Achievement Status: What’s the connection? Poster Presentation at the National Middle School Association (NMSA) Annual Conference, Houston, TX, Nov. 8-10, 2007.
2003 Vanlaarhoven, T., Munk, D.D., Okrasinski, J., & Wyland, S. Project ACCEPT : Creating collaborative experiences to prepare pre-service teachers for working in diverse classrooms. Illinois Council for Exceptional Children- Spring Conference.
2003 Vanlaarhoven, T., Munk, D.D., & Okrasinski, J. Project ACCEPT : A collaborative model for improving teacher preparation. Illinois No Child Left Behind Conference.
2002 Vanlaarhoven, T., Okrasinski, J. & Demmert, S. Assistive technology in the middle school classroom. Workshop for Kaneland School District 301.
Publications
Wilkins, E., Okrasinski, J. & Jerich, K. (currently under revision) Induction and Mentoring: Levels of Student Teacher Understanding. Submitted for Review in Action in Teacher Education.
Rieman, P.L. & Okrasinski, J. (2007). Creating Your Teaching Portfolio. NY: McGraw Hill.
Funding & Grants
2013 Faculty Development Partnership Grant, Co-writer for Young Adult Reading Group (YARG!) "Young Adult Literature and the Common Core: A Partnership
between YARG! And the P12-University Advisory Committee on Implementing the Common Core" – $750
2013 Faculty Development Partnership Grant, Co-writer for EC-EIU Reading Council - Strengthening Teachers, Encouraging Parents: A Two-Pronged
Approach to Building Strong Readers" – $500
2013 Faculty Development Support Grant to assist in redesigning MLE program – $478
2013 Redden Grant for “Social Studying” – purchasing Tablets with apps for use in practicum and social studies methods -$1500
2013 College of Education Research Grant - “Reviving the Renaissance.” – $1000
2012 Faculty Development Partnership Grant, Co-writer for Young Adult Reading Group (YARG!) creating inquiry circle boxed sets of texts - $750
2012 Faculty Development Partnership Grant, Co-writer for EC-EIU Reading Council Author Visit - $750
2012 Redden Grant for Content Area Reading materials - $1500
2011 Redden Grant for Social Studies materials -$1500
2011 Faculty Development and Partnership Grant for ELL Conference – $750
Frequently Taught Courses
Predominant courses taught:
MLE 5150 -Interdisciplinary Curriculum in the Middle-Level School
MLE 4100 - Assessing Student Learning (Replaces MLE 4000)
MLE 3150 - Interdisciplinary Teaching in the Middle Level School
ELE 5250 - Introduction to Research in Education
ELE 3340 - Social Studies Methods for Elementary and Middle School
Other courses taught:
MLE 4280 - Teaching Reading in the Middle-Secondary School
MLE 4000 - Practicum in Middle School Curriculum and Instruction
MLE 3110 - Curriculum and Instruction in the Middle-Level School
ELE 5640 - Teaching and Supervision of Social Studies in Elementary and Middle Schools
ELE 3350 - Language Arts in the Elementary Schools
ELE 3000 - Instructional Strategies for the Elementary Classroom
Research & Creative Interests
Differentiation & instructional strategies; middle school teaming/PLC's; leadership development in K-5 classrooms; ESL; middle school organizational structures; social studies instruction