Catalog: Rockland/Westchester Teachers' Center Institute

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1. Building Thinking Classrooms Follow-Up

Location: Zoom (Zoom, Zo)

Dates: 6/12/2023

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This follow-up session was created for anyone who has participated in a Building Thinking Classrooms Book Study through any local, regional, or state initiatives. During this session, participants will work in small discussion groups to share their classroom experiences and brainstorm solution-strategies to challenges. There will also be time to review additional resources collected by members and collaborate on next steps.

2. Resources to Support ELLs Over the Summer Break (6/12-6/15/23)

Location: Online (online, ny)

Dates: 6/12/2023 to 6/15/2023

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All students benefit from reading and learning over the summer break. However, this is essential to ELLs to help prevent them from losing too much ground over the summer. During this course, participants will explore resources that can be given to students and families to keep their students from this learning loss. 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.

3. Take a Cultural Virtual Field Trip (6/12-6/15/23)

Location: Online (online, ny)

Dates: 6/12/2023 to 6/15/2023

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Participants in this course will take virtual field trips not only to location but to time periods and events from history that shaped our future. When students have a virtual field trip experience to accompany learning, the students comprehend concepts deeply. Participants will learn how to adapt these Google Arts and Culture field experiences into their teaching or teaching support. 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.

The secret to every positive learning environment? Belonging.This is the foundational principle behind "We Belong" by Laurie Barron, Patti Kinney. Are you an educator that believes that community and connectivity are at the heart of every successful classroom? Are you excited to engage in meaningful discussion with colleagues about important topics such as student engagement? If so, this course is for you. In this 15 hour CTLE course we will engage in asynchronous online discussion, study, and interaction about the importance of connectivity in revolutionizing classroom management.

Participants are responsible for securing a copy of We Belong: 50 Strategies to Create Community and Revolutionize Classroom Management by Laurie Barron and Patti Kinney in advance of the course. Dates listed are the start and end date; the course is asynchronous online and available 24/7. A Rockteach email address will be assigned to participate in this course, which will be delivered in Google Classroom.

In this 15 hour asynchronous book study, participants will be taking a deep dive into the book "Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain” by John Ratey MD. The book reviews case studies and evidence on how important exercise and movement is for the brain to be able to create, think, and learn. Participants will use this book to help increase the movement in their own classrooms and improve practice as an educator.

Course dates listed are the start and end date of this 15 hour asynchronous course.

Participants in this course will be provided a rockteach email address to participate in the course. The course will be delivered in Google Classroom.

Required Text: "Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain” by John Ratey MD

Participants must secure a a copy of book or ebook prior to the start of the 15 hour course.
Learn how to use the creation tools in Google Earth which allows you to easily create and share maps and stories about our world as an Earth project. You or your students can create a project for any subject choosing, drawing placemarks, lines and shapes, adding rich contextual information to your places (text, links, images, videos, 3D views and Street View), and organizing your project into a narrative flow. You can even share the project and work collaboratively with others. When it is finished, you can use the presentation mode and allow viewers to fly from one place to the next following the narrative of your project, immersing them in the journey through Google Earth's imagery and the custom content you provide. This 3hr training is asynchronous online and will be delivered via Google Classroom. A rockteach email address will be provided to participate in the training.

7. Fraction Foundations

Location: Zoom (Zoom, Zo)

Audience: Elementary

Dates: 7/11/2023 to 7/13/2023

New
Explore the developmental progression of fractions and how a child's understanding of whole numbers plays an important role in the development of fractional understanding. Participants will discuss integration of practice standards and investigate rich tasks that support students in their understanding of parts of a whole, equivalence, addition/subtraction, multiplication and division and how those concepts work into math in the real world around them. Participants must attend both sessions to earn CTLE hours.

8. Introduction to the Science of Reading

Location: Zoom (Zoom, Zo)

Dates: 7/11/2023

New
There is a push to incorporate the science of reading into classrooms, but what exactly is the science of reading? This one-hour course will explain some of the scientific research behind reading instruction and help participants begin to understand the pieces and parts that make up a structured literacy approach. Facilitated by Dr. Christina Clark
The goal is to enlighten educators in the importance of eliminating disparities and realizing the imperative of critically developing cultural proficiency. The group will have candid conversations about race to help educational leaders understand why performance inequity persists and how to guide policy analysis and instructional reform that promote true academic parity. This hybrid 15 hour book study will assist educational leaders to examine the achievement gap through the prism of race. Participants must secure a copy of Courageous Conversations About Race: A Field Guide for Achieving Equity in Schools and Beyond by Glenn E. Singleton before the course starts.

10. Affirming Classrooms for LGBTQ+ Youth - Zoom

Location: Zoom (Zoom, Zo)

Dates: 7/12/2023

This interactive workshop will focus on how to create affirming classroom environments for your LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) students. It will cover terms LGBTQ+ students want you to know, legal considerations, and more. Led by Loren Klein, Director of Health & Wellness, and staff of the Rockland County Pride Center.

11. Fostering STEAM, Haverstraw Brick Museum

Location: Haverstraw Brick Museum (Haverstraw, NY) [map]

Dates: 7/13/2023

This workshop will introduce teachers to practical techniques for integrating STEAM activities into everyday lessons. We will use the Museum archives and hands-on learning to make complex subjects like architecture, engineering, earth science and history come alive through fostering mindset, discovery, and identity in the curriculum. Teachers will be asked to do one or two of the projects that we do with our students so they may apply what they learned in a classroom setting. This training is facilitated by Rachel Whitlow, Executive Director of The Haverstraw Brick Museum. A minimum of 12 is required to run the program.
Google Drawing is a very powerful tool and very underutilized. Learn to use Google Drawing to create your own graphics for your classroom. Turnkey this into an activity for your students as a way to showcase their learning. While creating your flyer, poster, infographic, or other type of graphic, you will also learn how to use an online app that quickly and easily removes the background of images and photos that you can then incorporate into your design. This 3hr training is asynchronous online and will be delivered via Google Classroom. A rockteach email address will be provided to participate in the training.

13. Phonological Awareness

Location: Zoom (Zoom, Zo)

Dates: 7/18/2023

New
This one-hour course will look at the progress of skills that early learners need to help them develop their phonological awareness, to ultimately build their understanding of phonemes. Participants will learn about the progression of sound awareness. Participants will leave with some tools to help develop phonemic awareness in their students. Facilitated by Dr. Christina Clark

14. Phonics

Location: Zoom (Zoom, Zo)

Dates: 7/25/2023

New
Phonics is the study of the combination of letters and sounds. Did you know that there are 44 sounds in the English language? These sounds are represented in over 200 different letter combinations. In this one-hour course, participants will learn about the different types of letter combinations, from blends to diagraphs to vowel teams. Participants will also learn about some easy-to-use phonics screeners to help pinpoint where to start instruction with their readers. Facilitated by Dr. Christina Clark

15. Fluency

Location: Zoom (Zoom, Zo)

Dates: 8/1/2023

New
Fluency is an essential part of being a reader and is often overlooked when building skills in readers. Reading fluency is more than just how quickly a reader can read. It is about rate, speed, and accuracy. In this one-hour course, participants will learn about building fluent readers and why oral reading fluency is the key to helping readers grow. Facilitated by Dr. Christina Clark

16. Vocabulary Building

Location: Zoom (Zoom, Zo)

Dates: 8/8/2023

New
With so many words that students need to know to be successful, how can we target instruction to be the most useful? Words, Words, Everywhere, but Which Ones Do We Teach article by Michael Graves is the foundation for this one-hour class on building vocabulary in students. Participants will learn strategies for selecting vocabulary words for instruction to create powerful readers. Facilitated by Dr. Christina Clark

17. Youth Mental Health First Aid - Zoom

Location: Zoom (Zoom, Zo)

Audience: school staff, social workers, coaches, law enforcement, camp counselors, youth group leaders, clergy, and parents

Dates: 8/10/2023

Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is an evidence-based training that teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to a young person who may be experiencing a mental health or substance-use challenge, a mental health illness or a mental health crisis and how to connect them with appropriate professional, peer, social or self-help care. The course teaches participants how to use a 5-step action plan for both crisis and non-crisis situations.

Complete the course and get certified as a Youth Mental Health First Aider by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing for three years.
Requirements:

Complete a required 2-hour self - paced online class ("Pre-work”), participate in a virtual 6-hour instructor-led training.

The 2-hour self-paced online training must be completed 1 week prior to 8/10/23.

Laptop or desktop computer with a camera and sound

Participants must be present 90% of the time to get certified by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing as Youth Mental Health First Aiders.

Participants who register for the training will receive an email from Karen Roselle-kroselleymhfa@gmail.com with directions to complete an account profile and to access and complete the required Pre-work.

The course is offered for FREE through a federal (SAMHSA) grant awarded to Community Synergy, a non-profit organization and in conjunction with Rockland Teachers' Center.

This course is offered to any adult over the age of 18.

18. Foundations of Mentoring for Teachers

Location: Zoom (Zoom, Zo)

Audience: Teachers with 5 years experience

Dates: 8/14/2023 to 8/15/2023

"Foundations of Mentoring” is a 15 hour course over 2 days and for teacher with 5 or more years experience. The model used for the course was developed by the New Teacher Center at the University of California, Santa Cruz. This course will prepare educators ro act as mentors to new incoming staff. Participants will understand the stages of adult learning, develop strategies and skills to be effective mentors, and gain an understanding of the trust, mutuality, and risk-taking within the mentor-protege relationship. The basic tenets of mentoring can help teachers to not only support new staff members, but develop better collegial relations with team members or grade level partners. Each participant will receive a binder of materials for the course. Faciilitated by Joe Fusaro, Director of Nyack Teacher Center. This training is offered in collaboration with Nyack Teacher Center and East Ramapo Teacher Center and priority is given to Rockland Teachers' Center member districts.

19. Teachers As Readers - Preparing for the New Year with Rockland Reading Council

Location: St. Thomas Aquinas College (Sparkill, NY) - Room Number TBA

Dates: 10/11/2023

Location: Room Number TBA

During this presentation, you will gather lots of resources to prepare for a strong 2023-2024 school year. Books on a variety topics that will help set the stage for a productive and inclusive classroom will be shared. We will also review some professional development, planning, and teaching resources that can help inform your teaching and make life a little easier. Please bring at least one book or resource that you feel is beneficial to setting routines, creating an inclusive classroom, or enhances teaching skills and strategies. This presentation is offered by Rockland Reading Council and facilitated by Co-Presidents Blaire Bookman Sadoff and Maryanna Hoekstra.

20. The New Brick - Haverstraw Brick Museum - Zoom

Location: Zoom (Zoom, Zo)

Dates: 10/11/2023

Learn from the past to discover brick technology for tomorrow. This Zoom seminar will look at the history of Brick Architecture from ancient Babylon to the present day. We will also learn brick terminology, review important NY infrastructure landmarks, and why bricks are having a renaissance as a sustainable material for new building construction in Parametric Architecture as a material leader in the New Brick Technology for tomorrow. This training is facilitated by Rachel Whitlow, Executive Director of The Haverstraw Brick Museum.

Students returning to physical education classes following a concussion often need to go through the Return to Play Protocol. Return to Play was designed to return athletes to competition and is predicated on a student being symptom free before they can start the protocol. If school districts use this for physical education classes, students can miss many weeks of class and the social, physical, and emotional benefits that these classes provide. Also, research has shown activity can be beneficial for recovery from concussion.

This interactive Zoom will examine an approach to Return to Physical Education after a concussion. The process of a gradual return to activity will be examined. Also, impediments for the implementation of return to physical education will also be discussed. Solutions will be offered to help clear these roadblocks.

Presenter: Michelle Kellen, M.Ed., Professional Development Manager, Brain Injury Association of New York State.

BIANYS will provide CEUs in the following areas: Social Work, Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists and Occupational Therapy.

This training is co-sponsored by the Brain Injury Association of NYS

22. Affirming Classrooms for LGBTQ+ Youth - Zoom

Location: Zoom (Zoom, Zo)

Dates: 10/19/2023

This interactive workshop will focus on how to create affirming classroom environments for your LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) students. It will cover terms LGBTQ+ students want you to know, legal considerations, and more. Led by Loren Klein, Director of Health & Wellness, and staff of the Rockland County Pride Center.

23. Foundations of Mentoring for Teachers

Location: Zoom (Zoom, Zo)

Audience: Teachers with 5 years experience

Dates: 10/21/2023 to 11/18/2023

"Foundations of Mentoring” is a 15 hour course over 2 days and for teacher with 5 or more years experience. The model used for the course was developed by the New Teacher Center at the University of California, Santa Cruz. This course will prepare educators ro act as mentors to new incoming staff. Participants will understand the stages of adult learning, develop strategies and skills to be effective mentors, and gain an understanding of the trust, mutuality, and risk-taking within the mentor-protege relationship. The basic tenets of mentoring can help teachers to not only support new staff members, but develop better collegial relations with team members or grade level partners. Each participant will receive a binder of materials for the course. Faciilitated by Joe Fusaro, Director of Nyack Teacher Center. This training is offered in collaboration with Nyack Teacher Center and East Ramapo Teacher Center and priority is given to Rockland Teachers' Center member districts.
During this one hour session you will learn about the science of a concussion, including leading causes, signs and symptoms. Attendees will gain insight on what it is like to be a student with a concussion trying to attend school. Finally you will learn academic adjustments that you can use to help students who are recovering from a concussion. An update to this presentation also examines considerations and adjustments to virtual learning. This session is provided by Michelle Kellen, Brain Injury Association on NYS (BIANYS). BIANYS offers Social Work (#0539), Physical Therapy/ PT Assistants, Speech-Language Pathologist & Audiologists, and Occupational Therapy/OT assistants. This training is co-sponsored by BIANYS and RTC.

Students returning to physical education classes following a concussion often need to go through the Return to Play Protocol. Return to Play was designed to return athletes to competition and is predicated on a student being symptom free before they can start the protocol. If school districts use this for physical education classes, students can miss many weeks of class and the social, physical, and emotional benefits that these classes provide. Also, research has shown activity can be beneficial for recovery from concussion.

This interactive Zoom will examine an approach to Return to Physical Education after a concussion. The process of a gradual return to activity will be examined. Also, impediments for the implementation of return to physical education will also be discussed. Solutions will be offered to help clear these roadblocks.

Presenter: Michelle Kellen, M.Ed., Professional Development Manager, Brain Injury Association of New York State.

BIANYS will provide CEUs in the following areas: Social Work, Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists and Occupational Therapy.

This training is co-sponsored by the Brain Injury Association of NYS
During this one hour session you will learn about the science of a concussion, including leading causes, signs and symptoms. Attendees will gain insight on what it is like to be a student with a concussion trying to attend school. Finally you will learn academic adjustments that you can use to help students who are recovering from a concussion. An update to this presentation also examines considerations and adjustments to virtual learning. This session is provided by Michelle Kellen, Brain Injury Association on NYS (BIANYS). BIANYS offers Social Work (#0539), Physical Therapy/ PT Assistants, Speech-Language Pathologist & Audiologists, and Occupational Therapy/OT assistants. This training is co-sponsored by BIANYS and RTC.