Discover first-hand Berks County's vibrant agriculture sector while also learning how your food & fiber is produced! Educators are invited on a 2-day tour of the agricultural industry in Berks County. Each day we'll travel by bus to visit producers, suppliers, and farm markets. We will explore the horizons of agriculture with technology, direct-to-consumer businesses, and niche agricultural products. Assignments will include developing two lesson plans to integrate the course information into classroom learning.

General info: Participants will meet at the Ag Center each day. We will be riding a school bus to visit various farms and agribusinesses in Berks County. We will return to the Ag Center in the afternoon each day. Below is additional information that was used to advertise the course. $100 per person for the 2-day course. Covers lunch each day and transportation to sites.

For more information, please contact Ashley Griesemer, agriesemer@berkspa.gov.

This is a three-topic workshop for paraprofessionals. We will cover Autism 101, Self-Regulation and Zones, and an opportunity to pause and reflect on the experiences from this past year, reset your focus and identify next steps for professional growth.

Objectives:

- Explore key features associated with autism, including communication differences, sensory processing needs, and social interaction and behavior as communication.

- Explore self-regulation for students and adults and practical strategies you can implement.

- Identify areas within your control that influence success and develop focused goals for the next school year. Topic 1 - Participants will explore the importance of clear boundaries to foster a safe, respectful, and effective learning environment.

Please note you can attend any or all Paraprofessional Summer Series trainings.

If you have any questions, please contact Sandy Webber at sanweb@berksiu.org or 610-987-8532.

Professional development sessions are offered for Berks County Intermediate Unit member district staff and staff from organizations supporting students from Berks County member districts. Additionally, sessions are offered for Pennsylvania districts per contracted work that falls under the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Statewide System of Support services. Fees will apply to all other participants as listed in the Frontline registration.

This one-day re-certification training is intended to refresh previously learned skills and maintain trainee compliance with Safety Care standards. Safety-Care training is intended to prepare staff to safely prevent and manage dangerous behavior. Staff learns to intervene professionally and therapeutically using a safe, effective approach designed to prevent or reverse escalation of problem behavior and avoid the use of restraint. Safety-Care de-escalation skills work with individuals who can communicate verbally and those who cannot. Safety-Care is based on an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) model and focuses on removing/reducing environmental consequences that reinforce problem behavior.

Almost all of our students are expected to do some type of "writing.” This full-day workshop will explore ways that paraprofessionals can support students with "getting their thoughts to print”. We will examine how executive function challenges and language development issues can impact the completion of writing tasks. We will also review strategies paraprofessionals can use with students of different ages and abilities.

Objectives:

- Examine the general expectations for writing at different age/grade levels.

- Understand the impact that executive function difficulties can have on students engaging in tasks requiring writing.

- Understand how language development challenges can impact students' writing.

-Review how paraprofessionals can work with partner teachers to establish their role in supporting students with writing

-Review strategies for supporting students with writing tasks

Please note you can attend any or all Paraprofessional Summer Series trainings.

If you have any questions, please contact Sandy Webber at sanweb@berksiu.org or 610-987-8532.

Professional development sessions are offered for Berks County Intermediate Unit member district staff and staff from organizations supporting students from Berks County member districts. Additionally, sessions are offered for Pennsylvania districts per contracted work that falls under the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Statewide System of Support services. Fees will apply to all other participants as listed in the Frontline registration.

-Review the organization of Proloquo2Go

-Review creating "new users” within the app

-Practice editing buttons and creating folders

-Review the "options” menu for lesser used features

-Review exporting messages to other apps for writing

Please contact Sandy Webber, sanweb@berksiu.org, with questions.

Professional development sessions are offered for Berks County Intermediate Unit member district staff and staff from organizations supporting students from Berks County member districts. Additionally, sessions are offered for Pennsylvania districts per contracted work that falls under the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Statewide System of Support services. Fees will apply to all other participants as listed in the My Learning Plan registration.

-Review organization and specialized pages within TouchChat

-Practice adding and editing buttons

-Practice adding pages and linking pages to buttons

-Review exporting messages to other apps for writing

Please contact Sandy Webber, sanweb@berksiu.org, with questions.

Professional development sessions are offered for Berks County Intermediate Unit member district staff and staff from organizations supporting students from Berks County member districts. Additionally, sessions are offered for Pennsylvania districts per contracted work that falls under the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Statewide System of Support services. Fees will apply to all other participants as listed in the My Learning Plan registration.

This two day training is intended to prepare staff to safely prevent and manage dangerous behavior. Staff learns to intervene professionally and therapeutically using a safe, effective approach designed to prevent or reverse escalation of problem behavior and avoid the use of restraint. Safety Care de-escalation skills work with individuals who can communicate verbally and those who cannot. Safety Care is based on an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) model and focuses on removing/reducing environmental consequences that reinforce problem behavior.

Any questions, please contact Claribel Reyes at clarey@berksiu.org or 610-987-8425.

Participants will examine the natural overlap between VB-MAPP milestones and key early literacy skills such as listening comprehension, vocabulary development, phonological awareness, symbol recognition, and functional communication. The training will highlight how early verbal behavior skills, such as requesting (mands), labeling (tacts), listener responding, and matching-to-sample, build the foundation for reading readiness and meaningfull engagement with text.

Objectives:

- Gain a basic understanding of the science of reading as it relates to students in low incidence classrooms

- Gain a basic understanding of the VB-MAPP components as the relate to the science of reading

- Explain the relationship between VB-MAPP language milestones and early literacy development

- Use VB-MAPP assessment results to make informed literacy instruction decisions

- Gain strategies to support emergent reading skills through structured teaching, reinforcement, and evidence-based instructional strategies.

- Design instructional activities that integrate communication and early reading skills.

If you have any questions, please contact Sandy Webber at berksiu.org or 610-987-8532.

This is a three-topic workshop for paraprofessionals. We will define the paraprofessional role in student learning, understanding the difference between accommodations and modifications including how to avoid over supporting students, and exploring visual supports for everyday use.

Objectives:

- Review effective collaboration practices, including classroom roles and responsibilities for paraprofessionals.

- Identify the difference between accommodations and modifications and what they mean for student learning.

- Recognize the purpose and benefits of visual supports for all students. Participants will have an opportunity to create resources to take back to their classrooms.

Please note you can attend any or all Paraprofessional Summer Series trainings.

If you have any questions, please contact Sandy Webber at sanweb@berksiu.org or 610-987-8532.

Professional development sessions are offered for Berks County Intermediate Unit member district staff and staff from organizations supporting students from Berks County member districts. Additionally, sessions are offered for Pennsylvania districts per contracted work that falls under the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Statewide System of Support services. Fees will apply to all other participants as listed in the Frontline registration.

Attendance for all three days is required, as each training builds upon the previously taught skills. It is STRONGLY encouraged that classroom teams attend this training series together.

Participants will develop an understanding of and/or demonstrate the following skills:

- Identification of the verbal operants and other concepts

- Create a structured classroom schedule

- Create card sort systems for teaching

- Procedures for intensive teaching (discrete trial instruction)

- Basic mand training

- How to establish cooperation (instructional control)

- Problem behavior management strategies

If you have any questions, please contact Sandy Webber at berksiu.org or 610-987-8532.

If you have any questions, please contact Claribel Reyes at clarey@berksiu.org or 610-987-8425.

Presenters: BSPA Officers

This meeting is only available to those who hold a valid school psychologist certification/credential and/or are currently enrolled in a school psychology training program.

This one-day re-certification training is intended to refresh previously learned skills and maintain trainee compliance with Safety Care standards. Safety-Care training is intended to prepare staff to safely prevent and manage dangerous behavior. Staff learns to intervene professionally and therapeutically using a safe, effective approach designed to prevent or reverse escalation of problem behavior and avoid the use of restraint. Safety-Care de-escalation skills work with individuals who can communicate verbally and those who cannot. Safety-Care is based on an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) model and focuses on removing/reducing environmental consequences that reinforce problem behavior.

Presenters: BSPA Officers

This meeting is only available to those who hold a valid school psychologist certification/credential and/or are currently enrolled in a school psychology training program.

If you have any questions, please contact V at clarey@berksiu.org or 610-987-8425.

- Recognize the potential risk factors and warning signs for a range of mental health problems including depression, anxiety/trauma, psychosis and psychotic disorders, substance use disorders, and self-injury.

-Use a 5-step action plan to help an individual in crisis connect with appropriate professional help.

-Interpret the prevalence of various mental health disorders in the U.S. and the need for reduced negative attitudes in their communities.

-Apply knowledge of the appropriate professional, peer, social, and self-help resources available to help someone with a mental health problem treat and manage the problem and achieve recovery.

This two day training is intended to prepare staff to safely prevent and manage dangerous behavior. Staff learns to intervene professionally and therapeutically using a safe, effective approach designed to prevent or reverse escalation of problem behavior and avoid the use of restraint. Safety Care de-escalation skills work with individuals who can communicate verbally and those who cannot. Safety Care is based on an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) model and focuses on removing/reducing environmental consequences that reinforce problem behavior.

Any questions, please contact Claribel Reyes at clarey@berksiu.org or 610-987-8425.

If you have any questions, please contact Claribel Reyes at clarey@berksiu.org or 610-987-8425.

Presenters: BSPA Officers

This meeting is only available to those who hold a valid school psychologist certification/credential and/or are currently enrolled in a school psychology training program.

This one-day re-certification training is intended to refresh previously learned skills and maintain trainee compliance with Safety Care standards. Safety-Care training is intended to prepare staff to safely prevent and manage dangerous behavior. Staff learns to intervene professionally and therapeutically using a safe, effective approach designed to prevent or reverse escalation of problem behavior and avoid the use of restraint. Safety-Care de-escalation skills work with individuals who can communicate verbally and those who cannot. Safety-Care is based on an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) model and focuses on removing/reducing environmental consequences that reinforce problem behavior.

If you have any questions, please contact V at clarey@berksiu.org or 610-987-8425.

Participants will

Identify key staff needed for an effective AAC team and the strengths each brings to the team

Review the assessment process that leads teams to choosing an AAC system

Identify common barriers to successful AAC implementation and discuss strategies to address these challenges

Highlight classroom wide resources that support all staff in implementing AAC

Review a resource to support continued implementation as students move to new classroom settings.

Presenters: BSPA Officers

This meeting is only available to those who hold a valid school psychologist certification/credential and/or are currently enrolled in a school psychology training program.

If you have any questions, please contact Claribel Reyes at clarey@berksiu.org or 610-987-8425.

Presenters: BSPA Officers

This meeting is only available to those who hold a valid school psychologist certification/credential and/or are currently enrolled in a school psychology training program.

If you have any questions, please contact V at clarey@berksiu.org or 610-987-8425.

Attendance for all three days is required, as each training builds upon the previously taught skills. It is STRONGLY encouraged that classroom teams attend this training series together.

Participants will develop an understanding of and/or demonstrate the following skills:

- Identification of the verbal operants and other concepts

- Create a structured classroom schedule

- Create card sort systems for teaching

- Procedures for intensive teaching (discrete trial instruction)

- Basic mand training

- How to establish cooperation (instructional control)

- Problem behavior management strategies

If you have any questions, please contact Sandy Webber at berksiu.org or 610-987-8532.

Presenters: BSPA Officers

This meeting is only available to those who hold a valid school psychologist certification/credential and/or are currently enrolled in a school psychology training program.

This two day training is intended to prepare staff to safely prevent and manage dangerous behavior. Staff learns to intervene professionally and therapeutically using a safe, effective approach designed to prevent or reverse escalation of problem behavior and avoid the use of restraint. Safety Care de-escalation skills work with individuals who can communicate verbally and those who cannot. Safety Care is based on an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) model and focuses on removing/reducing environmental consequences that reinforce problem behavior.

Any questions, please contact Claribel Reyes at clarey@berksiu.org or 610-987-8425.