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.

In this online course participants will take a deep dive into the seven NYSED Literacy Briefs that focus on the science of reading. The literacy briefs will be used to strengthen teacher's knowledge of evidence-based literacy practices in PK-12 education and the science of reading to support students' learning and development. By the end of this course participants will have an understanding of the science of reading and will reflect on their instructional environment and practices in their classroom to identify if it supports the SoR research. Teachers will design a literacy plan for their classroom which includes the necessary shifts that need to be made to support the research. PLEASE NOTE: The institute cannot refund a participant once the class has commenced.

Have you ever wondered why some students seem to be able to push through anything that life throws at them, while others shut down as soon as adversity presents itself? Have you ever thought that if you could teach students to "not give up” and to "get back up when knocked down” that you could better reach your learning targets and goals in the classroom? This course will focus on Grit, Resilience, Stress Reduction, Trauma, Learning from Failure and Mindfulness in the classroom. Educators will have the opportunity to implement research based strategies and co-construct knowledge with their peers through interactive discussions. You will develop a full understanding of what it means to be resilient and how we can integrate strategies at both the classroom and building levels. This course is appropriate for all K-12 educators. PLEASE NOTE: The institute cannot refund a participant once the class has commenced.

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.

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.

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 create distraction-free learning environments. You will learn how to implement effective no-cell phone policies and engaging teaching techniques through research-based insights and hands-on activities. Key topics include the impact of mobile devices on student performance, 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 guides effective communication with students, parents, and colleagues to ensure policy success. By the end of the course, 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.

Did you know that the new verbal section of the SAT includes reading charts? ​​This highlights how visual literacy is becoming increasingly important in today's society. The National Arts Education Association defines visual literacy as "the ability to interpret, comprehend, appreciate, use, & create visual media, using conventions as well as contemporary and emerging media, in ways that advance thinking, decision making, communicating, and learning.” Participants in this course must obtain and read the book: The Art of Comprehension: Exploring Visual Texts to Foster Comprehension, Conversation, and Confidence, by Trevor Andrew Bryan which aims to equip teachers with the tools to teach visual literacy across all grade levels and subjects. In addition to the book, we will explore supplemental materials on media literacy to provide a comprehensive understanding of the topic. At the end of the course, you will have a toolbox to teach visual literacy to students across grade levels and content areas. There will be 3 required synchronous Zoom sessions to discuss the books: Tuesday, July 8, 15 and 22 from 10:30am to 12:30 pm. Participants will complete online assignments after each session. PLEASE NOTE: The institute cannot refund a participant once the class has commenced.

Participants will read and discuss various pieces of youth literature that feature LGBTQ characters or themes. We will identify ways to embed these titles into your classrooms or curricula and develop an understanding of the importance of incorporating LGBTQ friendly literature into our schools. We will explore picture books, non-fiction texts, middle grade novels, graphic novels, and YA books. By the end of the course, you will have identified books suitable for your grade level and created a plan to integrate them into your curriculum. Participants will need to have access to various books either through their school library, public library, or virtual libraries. This course will be discussion-heavy and there will be three mandatory Zoom meetings (Tuesday, July 8, 15, and 22 from 1:00-2:00pm) PLEASE NOTE: The institute cannot refund a participant once the class has commenced.

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.

English Language Learners (ELLs) need to have access to K-12 curriculum and be able to achieve the same level of success as their English speaking counterparts. This course prepares teachers to effectively understand ELLs' backgrounds and to differentiate their instructional approach. By providing the skills to differentiate their instruction through multiple modalities, this course gives a practical, classroom ready application of new learning to improve instructional practice. This course is appropriate for both regular and special education educators. PLEASE NOTE: The institute cannot refund a participant once the class has commenced.

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.

In this course, we will unpack effective and practical executive functioning strategies that can have a positive effect on our students' school experiences. Executive functions control and regulate cognitive and social behaviors like controlling impulses, paying attention, remembering information, planning, organizing time and materials, and responding appropriately to stressful social situations. Students have the potential to develop executive functioning skills and, by exploring which functions they need, educators can offer support in a variety of different ways. We will address challenges with time management, organization, self control and consequences of impulsive behavior. Through structure, strategies, and classroom support, executive functioning can have a positive effect on student learning and personal growth. PLEASE NOTE: The institute cannot refund a participant once the class has commenced.

The available technology that today's educators are able to utilize allows for student-led discussions that increase collaborative learning. In this course, you will have an opportunity to explore several of the free to use apps and participate and develop your own assignments for each app. All of these free-to-use applications work in any classroom. Educators will develop 21st century learning experiences that improve student learning outcomes for all students. PLEASE NOTE: The institute cannot refund a participant once the class has commenced.

Social and emotional learning, when embedded in the classroom (and in the school) curriculum, can have many positive student outcomes. It can reduce aggression and emotional distress among students, can increase collaborative classroom interactions, can improve self confidence and can lead to improved student learning. We will examine the five (5) keys to social emotional learning and look at how it translates to the classroom culture and to classroom management. We will view videos, read articles and explore various strategies that will work with our students. We will focus on self and social awareness, self-management, relationship skills, responsible decision making and how we can apply best practices in our classrooms. PLEASE NOTE: The institute cannot refund a participant once the class has commenced.

Twenty first century learners must know how to be critical thinkers. We will examine ways to refocus our teaching so students can become more active learners. In turn, we can become more effective facilitators: empowering our students to find their voices and demonstrating their understanding and knowledge of the subject at hand. We will examine our current teaching styles and reflect on ways to start making changes. We will also look at our assessment tools (e.g. Flubberoo) which have some flaws, making it hard to gain information on critical thinking. Instead we will create meaningful assessments that will effectively measure student learning. At the end of this course, you will have a better understanding of the components of a student-centered classroom and the tools you need to put it into practice. PLEASE NOTE: The institute cannot refund a participant once the class has commenced.

Participants in this hybrid course will be asked to read and discuss various pieces of youth literature that are recent American Library Association (ALA) award winners. We will explore the Jane Addams Peace Awards and the Walter Awards from We Need Diverse Books. Throughout the class, we will discuss the various literature pieces and identify ways to incorporate these titles into classrooms or curricula. Participants will explore picture books, non-fiction texts, middle grade novels, and graphic novels. You will need to have access to these resources through your school, public, or virtual libraries. By the end of this course, you will have developed strategies for effectively integrating these books into your curriculum. There will be THREE MANDATORY IN-PERSON MEETINGS: Tuesday - Thursday, July 29, 30 and 31 from 10:00am - 1:00pm at a Greenburgh CSD location - TBD. PLEASE NOTE: The institute cannot refund a participant once the class has commenced.

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 create distraction-free learning environments. You will learn how to implement effective no-cell phone policies and engaging teaching techniques through research-based insights and hands-on activities. Key topics include the impact of mobile devices on student performance, 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 guides effective communication with students, parents, and colleagues to ensure policy success. By the end of the course, 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.

This online course will equip K-12 educators with innovative strategies to improve their teaching practices through systematic self-reflection and integration of artificial intelligence (AI)/technology tools. Participants will explore methods for effective reflective journaling, utilize data and student feedback, and harness AI to enhance lesson planning and classroom management. Educators will engage in peer observations, technology-enhanced reflection, and develop actionable plans to refine their instructional approach. By the end of this course, educators will be adept at using reflection and technology to foster a more effective and fulfilling teaching experience. PLEASE NOTE: The institute cannot refund a participant once the class has commenced.

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 online course (Grades 4-12) will explore how picture books enhance instruction across various subjects, including Special Education, ENL, Science, Social Studies, ELA, Art, Guidance, Music, Science, and Math. Participants will examine strategies to foster critical thinking, cultural awareness, and interdisciplinary learning through articles, podcasts, library exploration, and online resources and will be asked to share and comment on each other's lessons. Guidance will be provided on how to use picture books to improve content mastery, spark inquiry, and engage diverse learners, culminating in an opportunity to curate an instructional book collection and lesson plans. By the end of this course, participants will understand the benefits of using picture books in their classrooms, curate a list of books with accompanying lesson plans, and apply strategies to guide students through prereading, during-reading, and post-reading activities. PLEASE NOTE: The institute cannot refund a participant once the class has commenced.