Participants will access text and research in whey which they will plan curriculum with the "end in mind.” Then, they will develop instructional units and learning strategies "to reach out to individual learners at their varied points of readiness, interest, and learning preference.” Course participants will develop curriculum adaptations and instructional strategies based upon tiered assessments. They will take these ideas and put them into action in their classrooms. Participants will develop the "big ideas” associated with curriculum designs. Then, participants will analyze and apply methods of differentiating products (content), process (instruction) and product (assessment). During input sessions, participants will learn to incorporate a variety of research-based strategies into their lessons. Course participants will develop curriculum adaptations that are responsive to the individual needs of all students while still maintaining a focus on academic proficiency and excellence for all students. These strategies will include: responsive teaching, ongoing formative assessment, and teaching for understanding in academically diverse classrooms. Participants will develop assessment tools to address the Six Facets of Understanding from the UBD model: Explanation, Interpretation, Application, Perspective, Empathy, and Self-Knowledge. Required Readings: "How to Differentiate Instruction in Academically Diverse Classrooms”, 3rd ed., by Tomlinson, Carolyn. (2017). Alexandria, VA: ASCD; "Essential Questions: Opening Doors to Student Understanding”. 2nd ed., by McTighe, J. and Wiggins, G. (2013). Alexandria, VA: ASCD. *If you are taking this course for Graduate Credit, participants must also register with Manhattanville through Instant Enrollment on Service Hub. Email Colleen Gill at cgill@rockteach.org for more information. Note: Official graduate transcripts will not be available until the official end of the college semester.

This course will have two goals: (1) to facilitate Professional Learning Communities (PLC) in our schools through the habits of successful thinking and (2) assist participants in creating classrooms responsive to the needs of all students. These two goals will allow participants to grow professionally and push students beyond independence levels. By developing habits of thinking and collaborative communication skills with colleagues, participants will develop strategies to make their schools better learning communities and to make their classrooms more responsive to the needs of all learners. We will utilize the book How Full is your Bucket by Tom Rath and Donald O. Clifton as the conceptual framework. The book "reveals how even the briefest interactions affect your relationships, productivity, health and longevity.” Effective schools explicitly develop the skills and strategies of collegiality amongst staff members. Effective teachers have a profound impact upon student learning. Therefore, participants will develop thinking and communication skills to make them more effective teachers; improving their responsiveness in the classroom. Required Readings: "Cultures Built to Last: Systematic PLC's at Work", by DuFours and Fullan, 2014; "How Full is Your Bucket", by Rath and Clifton, 2004. *If you are taking this course for Graduate Credit, participants must also register with Manhattanville through Instant Enrollment on Service Hub. Email Colleen Gill at cgill@rockteach.org for more information. Note: Official graduate transcripts will not be available until the official end of the college semester.

Students living in poverty face challenges that educators may miss in our school settings. Ruby Payne (2019) says that students living in poverty are often in "survival mode.” This can make learning in schools challenging, but certainly not impossible for students. As a result of this course, participants will develop methods and strategies that will best meet the learning needs of students living in poverty. Participants will understand the nature of poverty and how poverty affects behavior and academic performance. Once an understanding of poverty has been established, participants will "embrace the mindset of change” necessary to assist students living with poverty (Jensen, 2009). Participants will view students as having "fluid intelligence” and develop action steps necessary to positively influence the way in which students can better understand learning standards and grow as learners/thinkers. Finally, participants will develop classroom level factors to improve student performance following the SHARE method developed by Jensen in his book titled Teacher with Poverty in Mind: What Being Poor Does To Kids' Brains And What Schools Can Do About It (2009). The SHARE method stands for: Standards-based curriculum and instruction; Hope building; Arts, athletics, and Advanced Placement; Retooling of the operating system; and Engaging instruction. Required Readings: "A Framework for Understanding Poverty-A Cognitive Approach”, 6th ed., by Payne, Ruby (2019). Aha Press, Highlands, Texas; "Disrupting Poverty: Five Powerful Classroom Practices”, by Kathleen M. Budge and William H. Parrett (2018) ASCD Alexandria, VA. *If you are taking this course for Graduate Credit, participants must also register with Manhattanville through Instant Enrollment on Service Hub. Email Colleen Gill at cgill@rockteach.org for more information. Note: Official graduate transcripts will not be available until the official end of the college semester.

In this graduate level online book study, participants will examine the dynamics of a multi-tiered system of supports, become familiar with the framework and learn how to support students at all tiers through research based interventions. Based on the book, The Road to Success with MTSS: A Ten-Step Process for Schools by Tom Hierck and Chris Weber, and additional resources, participants will embrace MTSS's multifaceted approach which includes addressing academic, social- emotional and behavioral needs. Teachers, support staff and therapists will all learn how to support students in many domains through case studies, while reflecting on their own current practices in MTSS. Kindly Note that participants should acquire the book before the commencement of the class. Since this class is for grad credit level credit, participants must also register with Manhattanville through Instant Enrollment. Email Colleen Gill at cgill@rockteach.org for more information.

This course is a professional book study centered around School Talk: Rethinking What We Say About - and To - Students Every Day by Mica Pollock. Through critical reading, collaborative discussion, and data-driven reflection, educators will explore how language, culture, and identity intersect in the classroom-and how to shift our communication to be more culturally responsive. Participants will examine their own classroom data (e.g., behavior logs, participation records, assessments, and student voice data) to reflect on the impact of their language and interactions. Educators will use the Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education (CRSE) framework as a lens for analysis, goal-setting, and transformation of practice. . *If you are taking this course for Graduate Credit, participants must also register with Manhattanville through Instant Enrollment on Service Hub. Email Colleen Gill at cgill@rockteach.org for more information. Note: Official graduate transcripts will not be available until the official end of the college semester.

Participants will develop strategies to create and lead classroom learning environments that are flipped. In 2014, the Flipped Learning Network defined flipped learning as "a pedagogical approach in which direct instruction moves from the group learning space to the individual learning space, and the resulting groups space is a dynamic, interactive learning environment.” Participants will develop strategies to guide students as they "apply concepts and engage creatively in subject matter.” Participants will refine practices to related to delivering information outside of the traditional classroom setting. By flipping the learning out of the traditional group dynamic, participants will be able to lead student learning by developing more in-depth relationships with students. Participants will also learn how to lead a more fluid classroom where students interact creatively with the content and each other. This type of teaching requires the skills of transformational leadership and participants will utilize Flip Your Classroom: Reaching Every Student in Every Class Every Day (2015) by Bergman and Sams and Flipping 2.0: Practical Strategies for Flipping Your Class (2013) by Bretzman to find and refine these skills. Required Readings: "Flip your Classroom: Reaching Every Student in Every Class Every Day”, by Bergman, Jonathan and A. Sams, San Diego, CA: ISTE. 2012 (and workbook, 2015); "Flipping 2.0: Practical Strategies for Flipping Your Class”, by Jason Bretzman, Bretzman Group LLC. 2013; "The Blended Workbook: Learning to Design the Schools of Our Future”, by Horn, Michael and H. Straker, New York: Jossey-Bass. 2017. *If you are taking this course for Graduate Credit, participants must also register with Manhattanville through Instant Enrollment on Service Hub. Email Colleen Gill at cgill@rockteach.org for more information. Note: Official graduate transcripts will not be available until the official end of the college semester.