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Catalog: Rockland/Westchester Teachers' Center Institute

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1. GREENBURGH CSD NEW TEACHER INSTITUTE September 10, 2024 - June 3, 2025 (EWTC)

Location: Woodlands HS/MS (Hartsdale, NY) - Innovation Lab

Dates: 9/10/2024 to 6/3/2025

Location: Innovation Lab

THIS CLASS IS ONLY OPEN TO NEW TEACHERS IN THE GREENBURGH CSD DATES AND TIMES: 3:30 - 5:00PM at Woodlands MS/HS Innovation Lab September 10, 2024 October 15, 2024 November 12, 2024 December 17, 2024 January 14, 2025 February 25, 2025 March 25, 2025 April 29, 2025 May 13, 2025 June 3, 2025 ***1.5 additional hours will be spent on assignments outside of our sessions. In order to receive the 1 in-service credit from EWTC you MUST attend. ALL sessions and complete all assignments.

This activity has a required evaluation

  • Max Class Size: 30

2. Hybrid: Making Content Comprehensible for Multilingual Learners: The SIOP Model for Tarrytown Teachers, February 23 - April 14, 2025 (EWTC)

Audience: Educators in grades K - 12

Dates: 2/23/2025 to 4/14/2025

Location: Hybrid

Join us for this 45-hour hybrid book study (open only to Tarrytown teachers) which will provide an in-depth exploration of Making Content Comprehensible for Multilingual Learners by Jana Echevarría, MaryEllen Vogt, and Deborah J. Short. Participants will engage with key strategies for designing and delivering effective lessons that support the language development and academic success of multilingual learners. By examining research-based frameworks and practical tools, this course will empower educators to create inclusive, engaging, and comprehensible content for students from diverse linguistic background. Participants must purchase the book before the commencement of the course. Online meeting dates will be on Mondays, February 24, March 10, March 24, March 31 and Thursday, April 10 from 7:15pm-8:15pm. All other assignments are self-paced. PARTICIPANTS MUST ATTEND ALL SYNCHRONOUS SESSIONS TO RECEIVE FULL CREDIT FOR THIS COURSE. 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.

This activity has a required evaluation

  • Max Class Size: 20

3. Hybrid: "Canva All Glowed Up" for Elementary K - 5 Tarrytown Teachers Only, February 24 - March 24, 2025 (EWTC)

Audience: PK - 12 Teachers in Tarrytown Schools Only

Dates: 2/24/2025 to 3/24/2025

Location: Online/Hybrid

New
This hybrid course is ONLY open to Tarrytown teachers. Synchronous meeting dates will be on Meeting dates will be on Monday's, 2/24, 3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24 from 6:30-8:30 pm. All other assignments are self paced. Canva All Glowed Up will introduce teachers to the new features of Canva that came out in June. This comprehensive 15-hour course is designed to empower teachers with the knowledge and skills to effectively utilize Canva tools in the educational setting. Unlock your creativity and enhance your classroom with our comprehensive Canva Masterclass for Teachers! This hands-on workshop will equip teachers with the skills to create stunning educational materials and interactive content. ● Magic Studio: Discover the magic of Canva's AI-powered tools to streamline your design process. ● Presentations: Craft engaging and visually appealing presentations that captivate your students. ● Video & Photo Editing: Learn to edit videos and photos like a pro, adding a dynamic element to your teaching resources. ● Working with Templates: Explore a variety of customizable templates to save time and maintain a professional look. ● Creating Whiteboards: Utilize Canva's whiteboard feature to brainstorm, plan lessons, and collaborate in real-time. MUST ATTEND ALL SYNCHRONOUS SESSIONS TO RECEIVE FULL CREDIT FOR THIS COURSE. 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.

This activity has a required evaluation

  • Max Class Size: 20

4. ONLINE-DASA Dignity for All Students Act - Mandated 6 hour Certification Workshop, February 24 - March 2, 2025 (WTCI)

Audience: Open to All

Dates: 2/24/2025 to 3/2/2025

Location: ZOOM

In accordance with Article 2 Sections 10-18 of the Education Law, all applicants for Certification in NYS registered programs are required to complete six clock hours of Training in Harassment, Bullying, Cyberbullying and Discrimination in Schools: Prevention and Intervention (DASA Training). This workshop will be both asynchronous and synchronous. The first 3 hours will be provided through Google Classroom (a Google invite will be provided). You will need to join using a personal Gmail account. The asynchronous portion will consist of a self-directed module-based approach that will ask candidates to review the background and some of the laws associated with the DASA, timelines and concrete concepts. The modules will include both free responses and multiple-choice quizzes to ascertain your understanding before a certificate for Part 1 can be issued. You will have four days to complete the first 3 asynchronous hours. This 3-hour session must be completed prior to Part II which is on Sunday, March 2, 2025. Part 2, also a 3-hour time frame, will dive deeper into the strategies and reporting procedures as well as proactive mechanisms for tracking, reporting, and preventing bullying and harassment in the educational/school environment, including cyber bullying. All participants must be available on Sunday, March 2, 2025 from 10:00am - 1:00pm to participate in synchronous Part II of the workshop which will be held via Zoom.

This activity has a required evaluation

  • Max Class Size: 35

5. Hybrid: "Canva All Glowed Up" for Secondary 6-12 Tarrytown Teachers Only, February 25 - March 25, 2025 (EWTC)

Audience: PK - 12 Teachers in Tarrytown Schools Only

Dates: 2/25/2025 to 3/25/2025

Location: Online/Hybrid

New
This hybrid course is ONLY open to Tarrytown teachers. Synchronous meeting dates will be on Meeting dates will be on Tuesday's, 2/25, 3/4, 3/11, 3/18, 3/25 from 6:30-8:30 pm. All other assignments are self paced. Canva All Glowed Up will introduce teachers to the new features of Canva that came out in June. This comprehensive 15-hour course is designed to empower teachers with the knowledge and skills to effectively utilize Canva tools in the educational setting. Unlock your creativity and enhance your classroom with our comprehensive Canva Masterclass for Teachers! This hands-on workshop will equip teachers with the skills to create stunning educational materials and interactive content. ● Magic Studio: Discover the magic of Canva's AI-powered tools to streamline your design process. ● Presentations: Craft engaging and visually appealing presentations that captivate your students. ● Video & Photo Editing: Learn to edit videos and photos like a pro, adding a dynamic element to your teaching resources. ● Working with Templates: Explore a variety of customizable templates to save time and maintain a professional look. ● Creating Whiteboards: Utilize Canva's whiteboard feature to brainstorm, plan lessons, and collaborate in real-time. MUST ATTEND ALL SYNCHRONOUS SESSIONS TO RECEIVE FULL CREDIT FOR THIS COURSE. 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.

This activity has a required evaluation

  • Max Class Size: 20

6. Hybrid: Talk Read Talk Write Book Study for Tarrytown Teachers, March 2 - March 23, 2025 (EWTC)

Audience: Educators in grades PreK - 5

Dates: 3/2/2025 to 3/23/2025

Location: Online

This 15-hour hybrid (open only to Tarrytown teachers) professional development course delves into Talk Read Talk Write, an engaging instructional framework designed by Nancy Motley to enhance literacy through structured classroom conversations. Participants will explore the core components of the Talk Read Talk Write approach, which integrates speaking, reading, writing, and critical thinking in ways that support both content knowledge and language development. Online meeting dates will be on Thursday, March 6 and Thursday, March 20 from 7:15pm-8:15pm. All other assignments are self-paced. PARTICIPANTS MUST ATTEND ALL SYNCHRONOUS SESSIONS TO RECEIVE FULL CREDIT FOR THIS COURSE. 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.

This activity has a required evaluation

  • Max Class Size: 20

7. Hybrid Book Study: Over The Influence: Why Social Media is Toxic for Women and Girls and How We Can Take it Back by Kara Alaimo, March 17 - May 2, 2025 (WTCI)

Audience: Classroom teachers, specialists, school librarians who work with students in grades PreK -12

Dates: 3/17/2025 to 5/2/2025

Location: Hybrid

Participants in this course will be asked to purchase and read the book: Over The Influence: Why Social Media is Toxic for Women and Girls and How We Can Take it Back, by Kara Alaimo. Throughout the class, we will explore the impact of social media specifically on how it is impacting every aspect of the lives of women and girls. This information is critical in understanding and teaching media literacy to students starting at an early age. At the end of the course, participants will have a clearer understanding of how social media has particularly affected our female students and what steps we can take to educate our students navigating social media. There will be 3 mandatory Zoom sessions on Monday, March 24, April 7 and 28 from 4:30 - 6:30pm to discuss the book. Participants will complete online assignments after each session. 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. PLEASE NOTE: The institute cannot refund a participant once the class has commenced.

This activity has a required evaluation

  • Max Class Size: 20

8. Online: Using Data to Improve Student Learning and Performance, March 17 - April 27, 2025 (WTCI)

Audience: All

Dates: 3/17/2025 to 4/27/2025

Location: Asynchronous

Using data can be a manageable and engaging process and, when properly organized and managed, can increase student learning. In this online course, you will develop the skills needed to enhance the management and organization of classroom data to inform and improve teaching and learning. We will explore research-based strategies for analyzing data, examine a collaborative inquiry approach to data study and compare these strategies with those currently being utilized in the classroom. We will also explore the use of small group vs. whole group instruction and how that affects data collection and student learning. At the end of the course, you will have the necessary tools to efficiently use and apply classroom data to enhance student learning.Using data can be a manageable and engaging process to increase student learning.PLEASE NOTE: The institute cannot refund a participant once the class has commenced.

This activity has a required evaluation

  • Max Class Size: 20

9. Hybrid: Reading Above the Fray Book Study for Tarrytown Teacher, March 23 - April 27, 2025 (EWTC)

Audience: Educators in grades PreK - 5

Dates: 3/23/2025 to 4/27/2025

Location: Online

This 15-hour hybrid professional development course (open only to Tarrytown teachers) is centered on Reading Above the Fray, a transformative guide by Julia Lindsay that focuses on practical, research-based strategies for teaching foundational reading skills. Participants will explore how to apply science-backed approaches to help students build strong reading foundations, regardless of their background or learning challenges. Online meeting dates will be on Monday, April 7 and Thursday, April 24 from 7:15pm-8:15pm. All other assignments are self paced. PARTICIPANTS MUST ATTEND ALL SYNCHRONOUS SESSIONS TO RECEIVE FULL CREDIT FOR THIS COURSE. 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.

This activity has a required evaluation

  • Max Class Size: 20

10. Hybrid: AI integration in the Classroom (3/25/25-5/12/25)

Location: Hybrid (Hybrid, Hy)

Dates: 3/25/2025 to 5/14/2025

This hybrid course is designed to introduce teachers to the power of AI in the classroom. It will start with an introduction to what AI is and how it can be used. The course will mainly focus on how teachers can utilize different platforms of AI to research lesson ideas and develop course outlines and class materials for all disciplines and levels. Teachers will then utilize AI to help with student assessments and develop rubrics. The final project will be developing and sharing out the AI generated class materials. This course will be delivered in Google Classrooom and Google Meets. Mandatory synchronous trainings are on 3/25/25, 3/31/25, and 5/12/25 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. 6 hours synchronous/9 hours asynchronous

This activity has a required evaluation

  • Max Class Size: 20

11. Balance the Mind and Heart: Creating Resilient Schools that Address the Social, Emotional, Ethical, and Academic Needs of Students K-12 (3/26/25 - 5/1/25)

Location: Online (online, ny)

Dates: 3/26/2025 to 5/1/2025


Participants in this course will have an opportunity to explore the techniques and strategies needed to create a resilient school that meets the social, emotional, ethical, and academic needs of students. We will examine the research-based skills and competencies that can have a positive impact on the organizational structure of your school, the delivery of instruction, and student performance.

Course activities will focus on alignment with your district's and/or school's goals, the NYS Guidelines for Social and Emotional Development and the CASEL competencies for Social and Emotional Learning. The skills, competencies, and strategies utilized in the activities and coursework are research-based. This knowledge base will enable individuals to reach new levels of emotional intelligence by applying these competencies to their personal and professional endeavors.

Participants will develop a toolbox of SEL strategies and create a SEL Portfolio that will serve as a resource tool and guide for implementation. These skills will enhance professional dialogue and effectively blend different, innovative, and practical strategies for implementation.

At the conclusion of this course, participants will have the tools to build bridges by acknowledging past accomplishments, validating what is presently working well, and designing future SEL goals to bring the existing programs to new levels of development. SEL must be an ongoing process and "way of life” to bring about systemic change.

Social Work CEUs provided by Rockland BOCES (additional fee $30 applies).

This 15 hour course will be delivered via google classroom. Registrants will be provided a Rockteach email address to participate. Dates listed are the start and end date.
RTCi/WTCI course

This activity has a required evaluation

  • Max Class Size: 20

12. Best Practices for ENL: The SIOP Model (3/26/25-5/1/25)

Location: Online Only (Online, )

Dates: 3/26/2025 to 5/1/2025

This 15 hour course, which will run through Google Classroom, is designed to prepare educators to teach English New Language students using The SIOP Model. The SIOP Model (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol) is a research-based, instructional model that is highly effective in addressing the academic needs of English learners. This course will include an exploration into The SIOP Model components: Lesson Prep, Building Background, Comprehensible Input, Strategies, Interaction, Practice/Application, Lesson Delivery and Review/Evaluation. Participants will learn how the The SIOP Model works and learn strategies to work with students across all content areas. While there are suggested timelines for work completion, this course does NOT require any synchronous sessions so you may plan your course completion 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 a few days before the start date. RTCI/WTCI course

This activity has a required evaluation

  • Max Class Size: 20

13. Book Study: Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain (3/26/25-5/1/25)

Location: Online (online, ny)

Dates: 3/26/2025 to 5/1/2025


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 the book or ebook prior to the start of the 15 hour course.
RTCI/WTCI course

This activity has a required evaluation

  • Max Class Size: 25

14. Computer Science, Standards and STEM (3/26/25-5/1/25)

Location: Online (online, ny)

Dates: 3/26/2025 to 5/1/2025

New
This 15 hour online course looks at the mandatory Computer Science Standards created in New York State schools and shows you how you can implement them at any level with or without a computer. This course also helps teachers to integrate STEM into the Computer Science standards. Coding is an essential part of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education. It helps students develop critical thinking skills and provides practical applications for scientific and mathematical concepts. This asynchronous course will be delivered in google classroom.

This activity has a required evaluation

  • Max Class Size: 20

15. Executive Functioning Skills to Increase Student Performance (3/26 - 5/1/25)

Location: Online (online, ny)

Dates: 3/26/2025 to 5/1/2025

Executive functioning involves the neurological processes used to consciously control thoughts, emotions and actions so that goals can be set and achieved. When students have deficits in their executive functioning skills they tend to have difficulty grasping concepts, cannot maintain an organized workspace and despite having just heard directions, don't know where to start. In this 15 hr online class we will explore the executive functioning skills that control a student's ability to think metacognitively and also their ability to respond appropriately using their social emotional skills. We will explore the role of the working memory and the essential role it plays in processing, storing and retrieving information, as well as the other necessary skills of task initiation, planning, organization, self-monitoring, impulse control, flexibility and emotional control. We will develop strategies to address our students needs and learn to incorporate strategies to our teaching and learn that will allow students with effective functioning deficits to succeed academically and socially. RTCI/WTCI course

This activity has a required evaluation

  • Max Class Size: 20

16. Online: Yogapalooza: Teaching Kids Yoga and Mindfulness with Confidence (3/26 - 5/1/25)

Location: Online (online, ny)

Dates: 3/26/2025 to 5/1/2025


This 15 hour course, which includes implementation and practice, will provide the tools to bring engaging kids yoga and mindfulness content into your classroom. Even if you can't touch your toes or don't have a yoga mat, you can be skilled and confident sharing yoga with children. With hours of engaging videos, colorful handouts, accompanying classroom favorites for kids yoga, mindfulness activities and the information on development, safe yoga pose techniques and class planning, this is a complete online training for early childhood teachers who want to incorporate the benefits of yoga and mindfulness into their classroom.

If you're concerned about the emotional toll this world is having on your students (and yourself) this is a magic wand to create calm. This course is self-paced. Instructor Bari Koral is an internationally recognized kids yogi and recording artist with over 20 years of experience working with young children and thousands of educators. Dates listed are the start and end date. The course is available 24/7
RTCi/WTCI course

This activity has a required evaluation

  • Max Class Size: 25

17. Hybrid: Edith Winthrop Teacher Center DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) Spring Book Club March 31 - May 23, 2025 (EWTC)

Audience: All staff, teachers and administrators

Dates: 3/31/2025 to 5/23/2025

Location: Hybrid

This Free class is only open to consortium members. The Edith Winthrop Teacher Center DEI Book Club will be wrapping up its fourth year by reading "Mott Street: A Chinese American Family's Story of Exclusion and Homecoming” by Ava Chin. In New York's Chinatown, Chin discovers a single building on Mott Street where so many of her ancestors would live, begin families, and craft new identities. In this book, she traces the story of the pioneering family members who emigrated from the Pearl River Delta, crossing an ocean to make their way in the American West of the mid-nineteenth century. She tells of their backbreaking work on the transcontinental railroad and of the brutal racism of frontier towns, then follows their paths to New York City. Mott Street uncovers a legacy of exclusion and resilience that speaks to the American experience, past and present. 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 during the three live mandatory Zoom meetings: Thursday, April 10th - 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. (Discussion will be on the Author's Note and Part 1) Thursday, May 1st - 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. (Discussion will be on Parts 2 and 3) Thursday, May 15th - 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. (Discussion will be on Part 4) All participants are required to complete 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.

This activity has a required evaluation

  • Max Class Size: 30

18. ONLINE: Instructional Technology in the Classroom, April 7 - May 18, 2025 (WTCI)

Audience: K-12 Teachers

Dates: 4/7/2025 to 5/18/2025

Location: Asynchronous

In this online course, we will take a look at our 21st century classrooms and how STEAM can give students a chance to be innovative and ready for post-secondary careers. We will explore how steam centers work and how you can create a center in your classroom. Dash and Dot have made their debut in many classrooms and are being used to teach coding and other specific student programs. An Hour of Code has expanded their website and included a plethora of new tools and lesson plans for all levels of learners. At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to implement these new ideas in the classroom and will have the tools to teach students to be 21st century thinkers and create a classroom technology plan. PLEASE NOTE: The institute cannot refund a participant once the class has commenced.

This activity has a required evaluation

  • Max Class Size: 20

19. Hybrid: Big Words Book Study for Tarrytown Teachers, April 27 - May 26, 2025 (EWTC)

Audience: Educators in grades PreK - 5

Dates: 4/27/2025 to 5/26/2025

Location: Online

This 15-hour hybrid (open only to Tarrytown teachers) professional development course centers on Heidi Anne Mesmer's Big Words for Young Readers, a comprehensive guide to teaching young children multisyllabic word reading. Participants will explore effective, research-based strategies for decoding and understanding complex vocabulary, fostering stronger reading skills in elementary students. Through in-depth chapter discussions, collaborative activities, and reflection exercises, educators will gain practical tools for teaching multisyllabic words, improving fluency, and building vocabulary comprehension in early readers. Online meeting dates will be on Thursday, May 1 and Thursday, May 22 from 7:15pm-8:15pm. All other assignments are self paced. PARTICIPANTS MUST ATTEND ALL SYNCHRONOUS SESSIONS TO RECEIVE FULL CREDIT FOR THIS COURSE. 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.

This activity has a required evaluation

  • Max Class Size: 20

20. Hybrid Book Study: Belonging: The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides by Geoffrey L. Cohen April 28 - June 6, 2025 (WTCI)

Audience: Educators or support Staff who work with students grades preK-12

Dates: 4/28/2025 to 6/6/2025

Location: Hybrid

In this course, we will explore the psychological need to have a sense of belonging and how this sense has been eroded in recent times. Course participants will be asked to purchase the book, Belonging: The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides by Geoffrey L. Cohen. We will discuss the causes for this lack of belonging prevalent in today's society and look at specific ways to gain it back. There will be 3 mandatory Zoom sessions on Monday, May 5, 19 and June 2 from 4:30 - 6:30pm to discuss the book. Participants will be asked to complete online assignments after each session. 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. PLEASE NOTE: The institute cannot refund a participant once the class has commenced.

This activity has a required evaluation

  • Max Class Size: 20

21. Online: Creating Independent Problem Solvers, April 28 - June 8, 2025 (WTCI)

Audience: Educators in grades PreK - 12

Dates: 4/28/2025 to 6/8/2025

Location: Online Only

Fostering deeper thinking and greater understanding promotes increased engagement in the classroom. In this online course, we will examine question formulation and exploration as key parts of the problem solving process. In the real world, students will not have access to all the information they need to solve problems - they will be required to sort, decipher and gather it themselves. As class participants, you will focus on all curriculum areas and explore the best problem solving practices in math. Authentic challenges will be introduced as we look at problem solving in action and how your students can think and problem solve outside of the textbooks. With the tools you provide them, students will be able to work out solutions to complex problems that will lead to enhanced student learning and increased student engagement. PLEASE NOTE: The institute cannot refund a participant once the class has commenced.

This activity has a required evaluation

  • Max Class Size: 20

22. Teaching ENL Learners Through Engaging Technology (5/5-6/26/25)

Location: Online (online, ny)

Dates: 5/5/2025 to 6/26/2025

This 15 hour course, which will run through Google Classroom, is designed to prepare educators to teach English New Language students using a variety of engaging technology. This technology will include tools for personalized ELL learning experiences, gamification, VR/AR to support authentic connections, blondeding learning and E-books. While there are suggested timelines for work completion, this course does NOT require any synchronous sessions so you may plan your course completion 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 a few days before the start date.

This activity has a required evaluation

  • Max Class Size: 20

23. Online: The Magic of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in the Classroom, May 12 - June 22, 2025(WTCI)

Audience: Educators in grades K - 12

Dates: 5/12/2025 to 6/22/2025

Location: Asynchronous/Online

New
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.

This activity has a required evaluation

  • Max Class Size: 15

24. Online: Student Engagement and Brain-Boosting Strategies, May 14 - June 24, 2025 (WTCI)

Audience: Educators in grades K - 12

Dates: 5/14/2025 to 6/24/2025

Location: Asynchronous/Online

New
Engage your students in meaningful learning experiences with practical, research-based strategies to boost memory retention and active participation. In this course, participants will explore effective methods for increasing student engagement through active learning techniques, motivation strategies, and classroom design. You will acquire hands-on experience with tools and activities that promote student-centered learning, track engagement, and foster a supportive environment. By the end of the course, you'll have a number of strategies to enhance student interaction and retention in your classroom. This class is perfect for educators looking to create dynamic, impactful lessons for their students. PLEASE NOTE: The institute cannot refund a participant once the class has commenced.

This activity has a required evaluation

  • Max Class Size: 15

25. Online Book Study: Making MTSS Work For All, July 7 - August 3, 2025 (WTCI)

Audience: Grades K-12 Educators

Dates: 7/7/2025 to 8/3/2025

Location: Asynchronous

New
This course may be taken for graduate or inservice credit. In this 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.PLEASE NOTE: The institute cannot refund a participant once the class has commenced.

This activity has a required evaluation

  • Max Class Size: 20

26. Online: Discussions and Questioning to Build Deep Thinking, July 7 - August 3, 2025 (WTCI)

Audience: Educators K-12

Dates: 7/7/2025 to 8/3/2025

Location: Online

New
This course may be taken for graduate or inservice credit. Since the two options are listed separately, please be sure to register accordingly. In this online course, participants will explore how to facilitate classroom discussions through engaging conversations, the role of teachers as coaches during this process and how best to provide a supportive classroom environment when integrating higher order questioning techniques. When we closely examine the value of student participation in small group discussions, we find that students are able to connect with each other's thoughts and opinions and are able to engage in higher level critical thinking. Critical thinking involves logical thinking and reasoning including the following skills: comparison, classification, sequencing, cause/effect, patterning, webbing, analogies, deductive and inductive reasoning, forecasting, planning, hypothesizing, and critiquing. We will examine the link between critical thinking skills and questioning techniques by taking an in depth look at Bloom's Taxonomy and the quote, "Maslow before Bloom.” At the end of the course, you will have the tools needed to transfer responsibility from yourself to your students to speak purposefully, think outside of the box and lead an effective and engaging classroom discussion. Participants will need to purchase the following required text to participate in this course - Walsh, J. A., & Sattes, B. D. (2015). Questioning for Classroom Discussion: Purposeful speaking, engaged listening, deep thinking. Alexandria, VA: ASCD. PLEASE NOTE: The institute cannot refund a participant once the class has commenced.

This activity has a required evaluation

  • Max Class Size: 20

27. Online: Increasing Student Engagement Through Project Based Learning (7/9/25 -8/14/25)

Location: Online Only (Online, )

Dates: 7/9/2025 to 8/14/2025

As educators, we want our students to be successful in the chaotic world outside of our classroom. To develop the skills necessary to succeed in a workplace environment, it is important that we focus on instilling and honing those skills now so that students can thrive after their schooling years. But how do we do this? Through PBL, or Project Based Learning. PBL weaves the 4C's (cooperation, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity) with curriculum to guide students through a journey of exploration and discovery in a format that is timely, relevant, and appropriately challenging. Participants of this course will explore the rationale behind PBL, the correlation between PBL and motivation and engagement, different ways of implementing PBL, and specific research based practices to successfully carry out PBL in your own classroom. If you are ready to transform your classroom teaching and level up this school year for yourself and your students, then this course is for you! This course is an asynchronous course delivered via Google Classroom. A rockteach email address will be provided to participants in this course. RTCi/WTCI course

This activity has a required evaluation

  • Max Class Size: 25