Reflective Teaching, Inc. and its subsidiary, Blue Moon Publications, began in 1996.  The company was created because a teacher, Meg G. Renslow, wanted to share her success at teaching literacy, i.e., writing, reading, speaking, as well as instilling her love of teaching with other educators.  

She presented writing seminars at the Hanover Township School Corporation in Cedar Lake, Indiana, several schools in the Gary Archdiocese Schools, and the high school students of the 21st Century Scholars at Ivy Tech in Gary, Indiana.  She presented her seminar at the Indiana North Central Association Commission on Schools, Indiana Committee in 1999. She also led a seminar for the Great Lakes Social Studies Conference in Chicago entitled, "Bringing the World into Your Classroom".  Meanwhile she taught 4th grade and earned her Educational Specialist License in Educational Leadership and Foundations at ISU in Terre Haute, class of 2000.

She then branched out and led a class of community members, who wanted to write their Great American Novel at the Woodmar United Methodist Church. (One ninety-two year old gentleman wrote about the time as a youth when he was rescued in a bucket when he fell down a well in Calumet Township.) Each series of seminars were beneficial for everyone involved. 

However, when the playing field got tougher with Goals 2000 and the No Child Left Behind Act. So in 2003, Meg Renslow entered Loyola University Chicago to earn her doctorate, focusing on writing methods.  Her dissertation, "The Study of the Northwest Indiana Writing Project", took three years to complete and is in the LUC Graduate Library.  Dr. Renslow remains the only outside researcher of the National Writing Project, the largest, oldest, and most successful professional development program. 

 Her research project, "The Study of the Northwest Indiana Writing Project/Summer Invitational Institute" is available on createspace.com for $10.95.  It is also on Kindle for $9.99!

Dr. DeMakas graduated in May of 2008 in Curriculum and Instruction at Loyola University Chicago.  In May of 2009, Meg married John DeMakas.  Her new name is Dr. Meg Grandfield DeMakas.  Her family multiplied from her three grown children, Jessica, Amanda, and Andrew to five, plus two daughter-in-laws, Michael & Courtney (Chase John Demakas, born March 23, 2011), and Mark & Beth. 

In June of 2009 she retired from public school teaching, but continues to teach English Composition at Purdue University Calumet and Education at Indiana University Northwest.  Currently, she is writing books for her "Mastering the Art of Literacy Series".   She completed volume #3 recently, "Mastering the Art of Making Children's Books.  Now she is compiling Volume 2, "Mastering the Art of Retelling, Using Mentor Texts".  She expects to finish this book in Spring of 2012.   Her fourth in the series is  "Mastering the Art of Teaching Literacy Creatively", which includes community based units, grantwriting, and multi-media in the classroom, should be down the pike by late summer.

When you meet Dr. DeMakas and hear her insights into the runnings of a site of the National Writing Project, you will know that the nominal fee for her seminars and materials are well worth their weight in gold!  Her message has merit for the business community and other agencies as well as school systems and home school cooperatives.  That is why her company, a member of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, is reaching out globally so that Reflective Teaching, Inc. can have more positive effect in the world.

Dr. Meg G. DeMakas, CEO, of Reflective Teaching, Inc. is an accomplished educator and writer.  Her Educational Doctorate Degree is from Loyola University Chicago in Curriculum and Instruction, 2008.  Her Educational Specialist License is from Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana in Educational Leadership and Foundations, 2000.  She has earned her Superintendent and Principal License from ISU. Her Master of Science in Elementary Education and Reading Endorsement are from Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana. Her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education is from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.

Dr. DeMakas always focuses the reciprical relationship of  writing and reading  to increase literacy levels in her students.  She taught 1st through 8th grade in Indiana, Vermont, and Louisville, Kentucky.  She also taught remedial reading and gifted education.  

What Dr. DeMakas can provide for your organization is a series of seminars in which she will develop writing skills in the schools, the business world, and the community.  Teachers will improve their students' writing achievement, when they learn and apply the cutting-edge writing strategies.  From people wanting to get down their memories for their families to businesses losing orders due to the writing errors of their staff, all levels of writers can benefit from Dr. DeMakas's writing seminars.

Please consult the Product 1, Product 2,  and Services pages in order to learn what is available.                                

Product 1 refers to her literacy texts, such as her research, and "The Mastering the Art of Literacy Series, Volume 1: 'Mastering the Art of Demand Writing: The Case of the Backyard Mystery", written by Dr. Meg G. DeMakas.  This is the writing tool designed to improve the writing ability of any age of writer.  It is indispensible for any school, business, or organization wanting to raise the level of writing expertise within the ranks.  There are 9 lessons including a timed writing prompt, which serves as a pre and post assessment.  The portfolio is a autobiographical book.  When the portfolio is utilized by a whole school it can serve as a teaching tool establishing a true baseline of writing ability.  Teachers strengthen their writing ability and consequently their students' writing ability experiencing the series of mini-lessons addressing the six writing 'traits' or descriptors of writing: the analytic descriptors of concept, organization, word choice, voice, diction, conventions, and the holistic appraisal.

Product 2 is the Tabbie Tale Series of picture books about cats.  The books are beautifully illustrated in addition to the well chosen text.  Enjoyable to read in themselves, they also can serve as useful teaching tools or 'mentor books'. 

Also, notable is her primary biography which she also illustrated--"Queen of the Limerlost: The Gene Stratton Porter Story (as told  by her animals).  Meg will appear at the Chesterton Art Center, Nov. 20th, 2011, in the persona of Gene with a moveable art gallery  of her watercolor paintings from the book.  Come meet the naturalist/novelist, Gene Stratton Porter, dressed in flapper clothes of the Roaring Twenties, from 2 -3 pm.                                       

Services: The services include from writing seminars, writing lessons, and book illustrating.

The contact page and the bottom of each page provide contact information whether you wish to use the phone, email, or snail mail. 

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