In a rapidly changing educational landscape, teachers can easily lose touch with the sense of purpose that first inspired their work. This course invites educators to pause, reflect and reimagine what it means to teach-and to lead-in today's evolving profession. Through guided reflection, peer dialogue and exploration of innovative practices, participants will reconnect with their professional identity while examining forward-thinking approaches to teaching and learning. Grounded in research on teacher efficacy, innovation and well-being, participants will explore how reflective practice fuels creativity, adaptability and professional renewal. Topics will include future-ready pedagogies, the role of technology and AI in learning, teacher well-being and sustaining purpose in challenging times. By the end of the course, educators will develop a personalized action plan to sustain joy, relevance and impact in their work. Course will run asynchronously. No in person instruction. Only start and end dates are listed. Offered through the Rockland/Westchester Teacher Center Institute.

Coding is a basic literacy in the digital age, and it is important for kids to understand and be able to work with and understand the technology around them. It also helps children with communication, creativity, math,writing, confidence and English learning. While there are suggested timelines for work completion, this course does NOT require any synchronous sessions so you may plan your time accordingly. All work is due by the end of the last day of the course. You will receive a Rockland Teacher Center gmail account to participate in this course. Participants print their own CTLE certificate. After the following has been completed, 1. The course officially ends: 2. MLP Evaluation is completed 3. Attendance is confirmed by instructor: 4. Once the MLP admin marks the course complete, participants will be able print their CTLE certificate. Please note that initial class information, including your new RTC gmail, will be sent to the email you have registered on Frontline MLP.

This Professional Development workshop, which is only open to Dobbs Ferry teachers, teaching assistants and office staff, will equip you with the tools needed to become proficient in Google Workshop for Education, transitioning staff basic users to power users. This in-person workshop empowers teachers to transform static documents into dynamic learning environments. Participants will dive into advanced Google Docs features, including voice typing and multimedia integration, while refining their Google Classroom management through Rubrics and streamlined feedback loops. The session culminates in the creation of an "Interactive Choice Board" or HyperDoc, utilizing the "Make a copy for each student" workflow to differentiate instruction effectively.All participants must bring a working, charged laptop.

Education is a cornerstone institution in our country and is directly connected to what is referred to as the "American Dream.” Education plays the dual role of preparing students to be active, literate citizens who are prepared to prosper and contribute to our economy. As educators, we have an obligation to fulfill the tenet that all children are entitled to a "free and appropriate education” in the United States of America. In 2021, educators face a myriad of social issues that impact our profession. In this course, participants will research, analyze and discuss some of the important issues facing our students and profession today. Participants will identify and utilize culturally responsive teaching strategies to create inclusive learning environments; identify the impact of poverty and homelessness on children's classroom behavior and learning; describe the structures of US families today, identifying the difficulties that working parents face in raising children; discuss and analyze issues pertaining to race, ethnicity and gender and the ongoing issue of unequal educational opportunities; discuss and analyze ethical/legal issues affecting teaching and learning such as the use of technology, education law, etc.; describe and analyze the impact of alcohol and drug abuse on students in recent years; identify the ramifications of school violence on schools and what steps educators are taking to keep students safe but also feel connected to schools; and analyze dropout rates and identify why students drop out of school and develop strategies as to what educators can do to prevent students from dropping out of school. Required texts:" Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain", by Zaretta L. Hammond, 2014; "Teach Like a Champion 3.0: 62. Offered through the Rockland/Westchester Teacher Center Institute.

Most students do not fit into the "one size fits all” theory of a typical classroom setting. Technology has eased the disappointment that many students face with academics. Technology has helped students become excited about learning and empowered them to feel confident in the classroom. This 3 credit course is intended to give educators an opportunity to learn about, explore and implement technology tools that can assist with engaging learners. This course will also explore tools for Special Need Students, Speech and Language Impairments and tools for the Deaf & Hearing. These tools will help students feel more empowered and help them succeed. Required Text: "The UDL Educational Technology Guide 2020: Technology for Special Education” by John F O'Sullivan. Offered through the Rockland/Westchester Teacher Center Institute.

This Free class is only open to consortium members. The Edith Winthrop Teacher Center Educator's Book Club will be wrapping up its fifth year by reading "Trauma-Responsive Pedagogy: Teaching for Healing and Transformation” by Arléne Elizabeth Casimir and Courtney N. Baker. This book explores the research and practice around trauma-responsive education in easy-to-digest, actionable text that elevates the healing and wellness of both the children and adults in our classrooms. It describes the challenges of a classroom that does not attend to adversity and trauma, then presents the research on trauma-responsive classrooms, and finally provides an inclusive framework that supports educators in centering the whole child in their classrooms. It offers a recipe for what to do next period, next week, and next school year. What to expect: All participants are asked to purchase the book before the start of the book club cycle All participants are asked to read the book and come prepared for book discussions across three live mandatory Zoom (Thursday) meetings: - April 16: 4:30-6:30 p.m. (Discussion will be on the Introduction, Section 1 + Additional Readings) - April 30: 4:30-6:30 p.m. (Discussion will be on Section 2 + Additional Readings) - May 14: 4:30-6:30 p.m. (Discussion will be on Section 3 & Conclusion + Additional Readings) All participants are required to do three asynchronous assignments after each live Zoom discussion. Your camera must be on and you must be present on-screen at all times during the Zoom sessions. Participation in the Zoom sessions, including responding to prompts in the chat, is required to receive full credit for the course.

In today's digital age, student focus and engagement are more challenging than ever. This course will equip teachers and administrators with practical strategies to manage distraction-free learning environments. You will learn how to effectively explain the benefits of a no-cell phone policy and its positive impact on student performance. Key topics will include setting clear expectations and developing classroom management strategies that foster focus and participation. Collaborative projects and interactive discussions will guide you in discovering ways to enhance student engagement without relying on technology. Additionally, the course provides guidance on effective communication with students, parents, and colleagues to ensure policy success. By the end of the course, through engaging in research-based teaching techniques and hands-on activities, you will have a comprehensive plan to minimize distractions, improve student learning outcomes, and cultivate a focused, collaborative classroom culture. PLEASE NOTE: The institute cannot refund a participant once the class has commenced.

Gamification is the use of game elements and game design techniques in non-game contexts. It also empowers and engages the learners with motivational skills towards a learning approach and sustaining a relaxed atmosphere. This is when ENl students feel most confident and English language learning is a success. While there are suggested timelines for work completion, this course does NOT require any synchronous sessions so you may plan your time accordingly. All work is due by the end of the last day of the course. You will receive a Rockland Teacher Center gmail account to participate in this course. Participants print their own CTLE certificate. After the following has been completed, 1. The course officially ends: 2. MLP Evaluation is completed 3. Attendance is confirmed by instructor: 4. Once the MLP admin marks the course complete, participants will be able print their CTLE certificate. Please note that initial class information, including your new RTC gmail, will be sent to the email you have registered on Frontline MLP.

This training will focus on how clear expectations, consistent language, and intentional communication reduce stress and support regulation in the classroom. Teachers will explore how everyday communication choices shape classroom culture and contribute to a more predictable, supportive environment without overlapping with belonging-focused content.

After 33 years of teaching almost every level of High School Mathematics, I have pretty much seen it all. In this workshop, I will share many tricks that you can not learn from a graduate course or from a book! Whether you are preparing for your first year of teaching or in your retirement year, there is something for everyone. You will leave with some ideas that will not only help you in your classroom but will make you laugh a little and love every day of your career!

This 15 hour online book study is geared for early childhood teachers from preschool through 1st grade. Collaborate in online discussions with participants and discuss developmentally appropriate practices for young learners. "Christakis's new ideas, analysis and methods serve to guide and support teachers, policy makers, and parents in understanding the inner lives of children to stimulate their learning and ‘help young children be young children.” The New York Times The book will discuss best practices in the early childhood classroom and how we can ignite learning for young children and truly give young children what they really need to be healthy, young learners. By delving into this book, participants will learn how to create the optimal learning environment for their young students. Participants will be required to secure their own copy of the book. Participants must secure a copy of the book, The Importance of Being Little- What Children Really Need From Grownups by Erika Chrisakis prior to the course start date. This course will be delivered in Google Classroom. A rockteach email address will be assigned to all participants. RTCI/WTCI course./WTCI Course Required Text: The Importance of Being Little- What Young Children Really Need from Grownups by Erika Christakis

This 15-hour online course is designed to equip educators with essential educational technology tools, strategies, and mindsets that support innovation, equity, and student engagement. Participants will explore practical applications of EdTech in the classroom, gain confidence in using digital tools, and develop a future-ready teaching toolkit. This course will be delivered in Google Classroom. A rockteach email address will be assigned to all participants. RTCI/WTCI course.

Integration of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is a critical component in students' success in the classroom and beyond. SEL has five essential components: self awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, social awareness, and relationship skills. Throughout this course we will engage in readings, videos, personal reflectionS, and online forums to enhance our understanding of SEL as an approach to improving academic performance. Participants will explore each component of SEL, identify how SEL impacts academics, and learn how to integrate the SEL components into their classrooms to meet the needs of their students.

This course will be utilizing Google Classroom as the Learning Management System for instruction and collaboration. All materials and assignments will be posted to be completed asynchronously with weekly deadlines for submission.
A rockteach email address will be assigned to all participants. RTCI/WTCI course.

Current events is a tough subject to tackle with ENL students. Participants in this course will learn tactics for teaching current events and building connections with students. Various online tools and strategies will be explored. While there are suggested timelines for work completion, this course does NOT require any synchronous sessions so you may plan your time accordingly. All work is due by the end of the last day of the course. You will receive a Rockland Teacher Center gmail account to participate in this course. Participants print their own CTLE certificate. After the following has been completed, 1. The course officially ends: 2. MLP Evaluation is completed 3. Attendance is confirmed by instructor: 4. Once the MLP admin marks the course complete, participants will be able print their CTLE certificate. Please note that initial class information, including your new RTC gmail, will be sent to the email you have registered on Frontline MLP.

This session will center on using art as a tool for regulation and expression for both children and educators. The focus will be on process over product, reducing pressure around art, and reframing creative practices as support rather than "extra work.” This session is designed to be practical and re-energizing, helping teachers reconnect with their creativity to reduce burnout and restore joy in the classroom.

Learn about depression and what educators can do to support recovery of depression and other mental health issues. Explore types of depression and factors that contribute to depression and mental health issues. This training is facilitated by Sonia Wagner, LCWS. Available for Social Work CEUs through Rockland BOCES - $30 supplemental fee applies

This workshop will look at ways to integrate Desmos, a free online graphing calculator that is now the embedded calculator for the AP and SAT exams and can be approved for use on NYS Regents Exams, into your classes. It is capable of bringing ideas like Graphing Functions AND Non-Functions, Statistics, Regression Analysis, Polar Coordinates and even Calculus into a very clear format. Whether you are a first time user or have used it before, you will leave with something you can use in math and other classes this year!

From early childhood education to high school, educators are constantly seeking ways to make assessments and grading meaningful and useful for students. Educators seek grading systems that measure student learning and growth. In this course, we will ask deep questions about the point and value of grading. Participants will think about current grading practices and construct new meanings around this important topic. In this inservice course, participants will research, examine and implement standards based grading systems. Participants will: Identify and analyze various types of grading systems from K-12 settings; Define and identify the meaning of standards based grading practices; Bring accuracy to student assessment and grading practices; Learn how to use grades to effectively communicate students' mastery of learning standards; Understand the value of allowing students multiple opportunities to demonstrate their learning when taking assessments; Discuss and implement assessment practices and grading systems in differentiated learning environments; Consider whether to incorporate effort, attendance, and behavior into academic grades; Research and identify homework policies and their impact on grading systems; How to create useful and fair test questions, including how to grade such prompts efficiently; and Analyze the validity and usefulness of allowing students to re-do assessments for full credit and make up policies. Class Texts: "Making Grades Matter", by Matt Townsley, Nathan L. Wear (2021); "Grading From the Inside Out: Bringing Accuracy to Student Assessment Through a Standards-Based Mindset (How to Give Students Full Credit for Their Knowledge)", by Tom Schimmer (2016); "Fair Isn't Always Equal: Assessing & Grading in the Differentiated Classroom", 1st Edition by Rick Wormelli (2018). Course will run asynchronously online. No meeting dates. Only start and end dates are listed. Offered through the Rockland/Westchester Teacher Center Institute.

This Professional Development workshop, which is only open to Dobbs Ferry teachers, teaching assistants and office staff, will equip you with the tools needed to become proficient in Google Workshop for Education, transitioning staff basic users to power users. In this in-person workshop, educators and staff will learn to harness the power of real-time data collection and analysis. Participants will explore how to build effective Google Forms and link them to Google Sheets for automated organization. A key focus will be on "Conditional Formatting," allowing users to create "Automated Formative Assessments" where student responses trigger visual cues-such as a cell turning red when a student indicates they are confused-enabling immediate instructional intervention. All participants must bring a working, charged laptop.

During this course participants will learn how to help ENL students become comfortable obtaining and giving information in a variety of contexts. Information gap activities give them the chance to hone their real-world speaking skills and set them up to be expert investigators. Participants will learn and apply these strategies to teaching. While there are suggested timelines for work completion, this course does NOT require any synchronous sessions so you may plan your time accordingly. All work is due by the end of the last day of the course. You will receive a Rockland Teacher Center gmail account to participate in this course. Participants print their own CTLE certificate. After the following has been completed, 1. The course officially ends: 2. MLP Evaluation is completed 3. Attendance is confirmed by instructor: 4. Once the MLP admin marks the course complete, participants will be able print their CTLE certificate. Please note that initial class information, including your new RTC gmail, will be sent to the email you have registered on Frontline MLP.

This session will focus on professional identity, helping teachers see themselves as skilled professionals with voice, boundaries, and confidence. We would explore how feeling valued, competent, and supported directly impacts retention, and how teachers can strengthen their sense of professionalism to support long-term commitment to the field.

Based upon the book Better Than Carrots or Sticks by Dominque Smith, Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey, participants will learn and apply restorative practices for effective classroom management. These practices will assist teachers in not only teaching academic material but also instruct students in matters pertaining to social skills. In line with an educator's mission to educate the whole child, participants will develop strategies to: hold individual conferences with students to address problematic behavior, move beyond the traditional use of rewards and consequences, and ultimately build a strong classroom climate through restorative practices. Required Readings: "Better Than Carrots or Sticks: Restorative Practices for Positive Classroom Management", Smith Dominique, et al., Alexandria, VA: ASCD. 2015; "All Learning is Social and Emotional: Helping Students Develop Essential Skills for the Classroom and Beyond", by Frey, Nancy et al., Alexandria, VA: ASCD. 2019. If you are taking this course for Graduate Credit, participants must register with Manhattanville through Instant Enrollment. Email Colleen Gill at cgill@rockteach.org for more information.

Course participants will learn how to use Magic School AI to create PBL lessons that are meaningful to our students. We will discover how AI can revolutionize teaching and learning, specifically in creating PBL lessons that are aligned with our students' needs. We will explore AI principles, learn strategies for incorporating these technologies into the classroom, and master techniques for enhancing student engagement and critical thinking. As we dive into Project-Based Learning with AI integration, we will be able to foster collaboration and real-world problem-solving skills among students. At the end of this course, educators will have a PBL lesson tailored to the needs of their students which can be implemented into their current learning environments. PLEASE NOTE: The institute cannot refund a participant once the class has commenced.

During the course participants will learn various strategies on how to use art to teach ENL concepts. While there are suggested timelines for work completion, this course does NOT require any synchronous sessions so you may plan your time accordingly. All work is due by the end of the last day of the course. You will receive a Rockland Teacher Center gmail account to participate in this course. Participants print their own CTLE certificate. After the following has been completed, 1. The course officially ends: 2. MLP Evaluation is completed 3. Attendance is confirmed by instructor: 4. Once the MLP admin marks the course complete, participants will be able print their CTLE certificate. Please note that initial class information, including your new RTC gmail, will be sent to the email you have registered on Frontline MLP.

This six hour training with author Heidi Kasevich will focus on fostering respect for temperament diversity,creating introvert-friendly environments, & engaging all learners. This 3 session course will empower educators to champion the value of solitude, elevate quiet forms of leadership, and influence schoolwide culture toward greater temperament inclusivity.

Participants who already have a baseline knowledge of Canva will be able to level up their teaching with this course. Canva has a wealth of information made readily available to teachers, but what we need more of is to sit down and develop, modify and improve our lessons. This course will be designed to take the type of teaching/learning that has ‘always been done' and the ‘I wish I could make this more engaging' and put that into practice. Students are well versed with technology, and have come to expect their classes to keep up as well. Participants will be asked to look at their lessons with a focus on incorporating Canva into them. For example, while teaching Romeo and Juliet, I used to have the students create masquerade ball invites on construction paper while reading that scene. Now, I use the same concept, but involve Canva, and the results have been much more engaging. We all need more time to work on our lessons, let this class help guide that! This 15 hour asynchronous course will be delivered in Google Classroom. You will be assigned a rockteach email to participants. Canva offers a free version called Canva for Education that is specifically designed for educators and their students. This program provides access to many of the same features as Canva Pro, including access to premium images, fonts, and templates, all at no cost to the user.
RTCI/WTCI course