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1. STI - 6211 - ELA Summer Institute

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12

Dates: 5/23/2024 to 9/24/2024

Ensuring that all students develop high levels of literacy requires teachers to make a concerted, coordinated effort to improve students' proficiency as readers, writers, and critical and creative thinkers. As the Scarsdale district continues to review and improve reading instruction and assessment, teachers will benefit from engaging with researchers in the field and discussing the teaching of reading and writing with their colleagues. We are offering the opportunity to attend Summer Institute experiences at either Teachers College at Columbia University (Advancing Literacy) or The Reading Writing Project at Mossflower both of which have been a think tank in the area of literacy for twenty-five years, developing state-of-the-art teaching methods and offering professional development in using these methods.

Through this course, participants will combine information from researchers at the organizations listed above with discussions with colleagues to tailor best practices to the needs of their students. The participants will attend the Summer Seminar, where they will have the opportunity to choose from literacy-based workshops, including argumentative writing, aligning instruction to the NYS Standards, utilizing performance-based assessments, guided reading, nonfiction through text sets, and many more.

2. STI - 6222 - The Mentor Program 2024-25 (All Mentors)

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: Scarsdale Mentors

Dates: 8/26/2024 to 4/30/2025

Over the past thirty-eight years, the Mentor Program has become an integral part of the Scarsdale School District program. This seminar provides systematic support for teachers new to Scarsdale and recognizes and rewards the experience and skill that Mentor teachers bring to new teachers. The program is a rich opportunity for the professional development of expert teachers who are now trained to work with colleagues. This year the Mentors and new teachers will continue to refine and develop the program. This seminar assists the Mentor teacher in defining his/her role and its relationship to the new teacher. Mentor teachers will meet together to identify needs, discuss problems, and seek solutions. Course topics include roles and responsibilities of mentoring, teacher collaboration, and effective communication. Mentor teachers participate in creating this unique program designed specifically to meet the needs of the Scarsdale staff. MENTORS MENTORING NEW TEACHERS MUST ATTEND ALL FOUNDATION SESSIONS WITH THEIR MENTEES.

3. STI - 6223 - The Mentor Support Seminar 2024-25 (Summer)

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: Scarsdale Mentors

Dates: 8/26/2024 to 4/30/2025

This course prepares participants to serve as mentors. Topics include how to provide guidance and support, be an empathetic listener, conduct observations and offer feedback, and manage weekly meetings. Mentors provide a community for one another to discuss issues and develop solutions. By offering this summer schedule we hope to provide greater flexibility for mentors who find meeting after the school day challenging. These dates also include 3 meetings that mentors attend with their mentees as part of Foundations.

4. STI - 6224 - Mentor Support Seminar 2024-25 (Yearlong Version)

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: Scarsdale Mentors

Dates: 8/26/2024 to 4/30/2025

This course prepares participants to serve as mentors. Topics include how to provide guidance and support, be an empathetic listener, conduct observations and offer feedback and manage weekly meetings. Mentors provide a community for one another to discuss issues and develop solutions. These dates also include 3 meetings that mentors attend with their mentees as part of Foundations.

5. STI - 5000 - ST@C Workshop Series - 2024-2025

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: All

Dates: 8/26/2024

ST@C workshops explore aspects of innovation in education. In each ST@C workshop, teachers gain an overview of specific technological and pedagogical tools for the classroom while establishing a professional network for more in-depth study. Scarsdale teachers can choose stand-alone ST@C workshops to use toward STI credits. One STI credit is granted when a teacher has documented 12 hours of contact time in ST@C workshops and submits to the STI office an explanation of how new ideas from ST@C impacted teaching and learning in their classroom. Teachers must register for each individual ST@C workshop online and can offer to run a ST@C course by contacting the STI office. Teachers should only register for this course credit AFTER they have completed 12 hours of ST@C courses.

6. STI - 6000 - ST@C Workshop Series - 2024-2025

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: All

Dates: 8/26/2024

7. STI - 7000 - ST@C Workshop Series - 2024-2025

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: All

Dates: 8/26/2024

8. STI - 6220 - The Mentor Support Seminar: Edgemont 2024-2025

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: Edgemont Mentors

Dates: 8/28/2024 to 6/2/2025

Over the past twenty-two years, the Mentor Program has become an integral part of the Edgemont School District. This seminar provides systematic support for teachers new to Edgemont and recognizes and rewards the knowledge and skill that experienced Mentor teachers bring to new teachers. The program is a rich opportunity for the professional development of expert teachers who are now trained to work with their new colleagues. This year the Mentors and new teachers will continue to refine and develop the program. This seminar assists the Mentor teacher in defining his/her role and its relationship to the new teacher. Mentor teachers will meet together to identify needs, discuss problems, and seek solutions. Course topics include roles and responsibilities of mentoring, teacher collaboration, and effective communication. Mentor teachers participate in creating this unique program designed specifically to meet the needs of the Edgemont staff.

9. ST@C - K-6 Free Book Shop: Treasures New and Gently Used

Program: ST@C

Dates: 8/28/2024 to 8/29/2024

FREE High-Interest Trade Books! Discover a treasure trove of free popular trade books at our open classroom book shop, designed specifically for K-6 teachers. Enhance your classroom library with a wide range of books, activities, and tools to inspire your students, all at no cost! Bring a shopping bag and take all that you would like! Stop by anytime on Wednesday or Thursday between 10:30 - 3:00.

10. STI - 6392 - Articulating Leadership Across Departments 2024-2025

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: SMS Department Chairs

Dates: 8/29/2024 to 6/12/2025

New

Middle School department chairs serve on the Principal's Cabinet and are relied on for a wide variety of responsibilities. We are the leaders of curriculum in our departments as well as being responsible for hiring and supervising the staff in our departments. It is imperative that we have time to collaborate as we try to work with the administration. This year will be a little different as we will have an interim principal and assistant principal so that may bring some unique challenges. Maintaining consistency in our practices ensures that the middle school functions as well as it does.

The department chair serves as an advocate for one's own department while at the same time supporting the wider mission of the school. As a result, healthy and open discussion about school issues must occur regularly. Scarsdale's commitment to educational excellence and evolving state regulations require department chairs to work collaboratively to examine current practices and continue to adapt to changes. The Middle School department chairs, in the role of teacher evaluators, will function as a study group to review various duties including staff observation and evaluation, and progress with school goals. Participants will work across departments to ensure consistent approaches are being utilized. Through this course, the chairs plan to work collaboratively to follow or modify current practices as well as to prepare for upcoming initiatives.

Participants will attend all meetings. The course minutes will provide detail of what was discussed and accomplished.

11. ST@C - 3-5 ELA New Writing Heinemann Flight Navigation

Program: ST@C

Audience: 3-5

Dates: 8/29/2024

Come join us to get an overview of the Heinemann Flight platform! In our time together you will learn how to log into your account and access your new writing units, along with all of the digital components. We will also take a peak at your students digital writing journals and demonstrate opportunities for AI supported feedback. We look forward to seeing you there!

12. ST@C - 3-5 ELA New Writing Heinemann Flight Navigation - Session 2

Program: ST@C

Audience: 3-5

Dates: 8/29/2024

13. STI - 6225 - Financial Literacy for Educators: September 2024 Cohort # 47

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12

Dates: 9/5/2024 to 10/8/2024

This course seeks to build content knowledge and share [free] resources that can help support the mission of integrating a personal finance education into the Scarsdale experience. Teachers will acquire financial literacy skills for themselves and their students through courses on the Next Gen Personal Finance platform (ngpf.org).

Courses offered: Banking & Budgeting, Behavioral Economics, Careers, Consumerism, Credit, Cryptocurrency, Insurance, Investing, Paying for College, The Psychology of Money, Taxes.

Participant responsibilities include:
- 2 STI Zoom sessions, an introduction session and end of course session (in the evening)
- 5 2-hour sessions, courses may be synchronous or on-demand
- Certification exam certificate
- STI project submission

Cohort 47 runs between September 3rd - October 2nd. Courses offered during this cohort are:
Live Courses: Credit, Investing
On-Demand Courses: Behavioral Economics, Insurance

14. ST@C - Zaner Spelling Connections

Program: ST@C

Dates: 9/6/2024

New

This ST@C will provide information useful to launching, planning, and implementing the Spelling Connection materials with your students. We will also discuss highlights for sharing this information at your open house.

15. ST@C - Zaner Spelling Connections II

Program: ST@C

Dates: 9/6/2024

New

16. ST@C - 3-5 ELA New Writing Unit 1

Program: ST@C

Dates: 9/9/2024

New

Join us for an overview of the first writing unit. During our time together we will go over how to administer the on-demand assessment through the Heinemann Flight platform, built in AI support for scoring/feedback, as well as an overview of each bend's purpose. We look forward to seeing you!

17. STI - 6228 - School Nurse Study Group

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: Nurses

Dates: 9/16/2024 to 5/12/2025

Teachers, parents, and students often look to district nurses as resources for advice on health issues that arise in the news or in the schools. Medical information is constantly being updated, and the school nurses require adequate time and opportunity to meet with colleagues to discuss the latest findings in their field. Study group participation provides the nurses a venue to read, listen, and share information that will enhance health office practices.

Participants will choose books, articles, podcasts and documentaries on topics that are relevant to school health office concerns. Through reading, viewing, participating in discussions, and sharing daily-based practice information, school nurses will become better-informed advocates for their students and families.

Participants will create and share a document reflecting on the course content and its impact on their role as a school nurse.

18. STI - 6343 - Foundations of a Scarsdale Education for Tomorrow: High School

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: Scarsdale HS new Teacher

Dates: 9/18/2024 to 5/20/2025

Starting Today

Model lesson plans, constructive feedback on instruction, and tips on school culture and classroom management are all critical in helping new teachers be successful. In Scarsdale, a school-based mentor assists new hires with adapting to school culture and common practices in the first year. In addition, Scarsdale teachers benefit from curricular guidance from department chairs and colleagues. As a teacher grows as an experienced professional in the Scarsdale schools, this Foundations course scaffolds teacher professional development and mentorship in their first years so they can take maximum advantage of the professional resources available to them throughout their careers. Throughout the school year, classroom teachers, mentors, department chairs and administrators will engage each other in an examination of instructional methods, content, curriculum, and student learning and understanding to improve classroom teaching and learning. In the fall, new teachers will receive an overview of the Charlotte Danielson model of teacher evaluation and discuss expectations in the areas of special education, technology, grading, and communication to name a few. The mentor component of the course includes five after-school seminars with mentors and mentees and as well as confidential weekly meetings with the assigned mentor teacher. Curricular guidance is individualized through meetings with colleagues and department chairs.

19. ST@C - How to use ST@Cs & STIs

Program: ST@C

Dates: 9/19/2024

NewStarting Soon

Are you a new teacher or someone who has questions about ST@Cs and STIs? This class is about the registration process for both ST@Cs and STIs and provides helpful information regarding teaching ST@Cs and STIs

20. STI - 6331 - Reading and Research in the Middle School Science Classroom

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: Grades 6-8

Dates: 9/19/2024 to 5/15/2025

Starting Soon

In this course, participants will actively engage in hands-on activities and collaborative projects that directly align with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the New York State Next Generation Learning Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects. Through immersive workshops, teachers will explore various instructional strategies and lesson plan templates that seamlessly integrate scientific concepts with literacy skills.

Participants will work in teams to analyze and deconstruct the NGSS and literacy standards, identifying cross-curricular connections and opportunities for interdisciplinary learning. They will then design and develop comprehensive curricular units that incorporate engaging scientific investigations, hands-on experiments, and literacy-rich activities such as reading informational texts, writing lab reports, and engaging in scientific discourse.

Classroom simulations and peer feedback sessions will provide opportunities for participants to practice implementing these integrated lessons and receive constructive feedback from their colleagues. Additionally, participants will create assessment rubrics and tools that align with the standards, ensuring effective evaluation of students' scientific knowledge and literacy skills.

21. STI - 6333 - Creating a Choice Board

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12 (all)

Dates: 9/20/2024 to 9/21/2024

Starting Soon

This course will help teachers create a Choice Board using Google Slides. Choice Boards are technology-based and have varied activities to provide additional practice with the knowledge and skills students need to master. Choice Boards may also contain extensions of material covered in class or challenging problems for students who have mastered the material and want to delve deeper into topics. Choice Boards allow students to be exposed to a broader range of activities and task options. These activities/options will be scaffolded and provide differentiated instruction and practice. Because students can choose the activities they would like to do, Choice Boards encourage students to be more engaged in their learning, increase their motivation, and improve their understanding and mastery of the material.

For their final course project, teachers are expected to submit a complete Choice Board they will use in their classroom. They will start their Choice Board during the class meeting time but will need to spend additional time on their own to complete it.

22. ST@C: Educator's Visit to Akshardam Temple, Landmark of Hindu Philosophy, Art and Architecture

Program: ST@C

Audience: K-12 Educators

Dates: 9/21/2024

NewStarting Soon

BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple is the largest Hindu temple in the United States. The site captures thousands of years of inspiring thoughts, values, architecture, and culture from South Asia. Construction began in 2011 and was just completed in 2023.

Saturday, September 21, there will be an educational tour of the grounds including an explanation of the tenets of Hinduism, Indian history, and the growth South Asian population in the NY metropolitan region that contributed to the building of this religous site.

The cost is $20, which you can bring with you.

Carpools will be arranged from Scarsdale to the temple at 110 N Main Street, Windsor, New Jersey.

23. STI - 6344 - Foundations of a Scarsdale Education for Tomorrow: Middle School

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: Scarsdale Middle School New Teachers

Dates: 9/23/2024 to 5/20/2025

Starting Soon

24. STI - 6399 - The College Application Process 2024: Recommendations

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Dates: 9/23/2024 to 10/15/2024

NewStarting Soon

The College Application process impacts every professional in our school district. It is a process that students discuss well before they even enter high school and is part of the fabric of our school culture. In 2011 and 2022, the guidance department offered courses examining the changing landscape of college admissions. This course will continue the conversation with specific attention to the high school teacher's central role in this process: writing letters of recommendation.

In this course, members of the counseling department as well as academic area teachers will discuss best practices in writing recommendations. Participants will review the importance of recommendations in the process, the components of the most effective letters, how to use data from each student to personalize recommendations, and how to manage time efficiently when asked for a letter.

25. STI - 6341 - Building Community at Greenacres Through Picture Books

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-5

Dates: 9/23/2024 to 6/16/2025

Starting Soon

At Greenacres we seek to further build community through the reading and study of common picture books. Each month classes at all grade levels will read and explore a picture book with a theme or topic such as friendship, perseverance, family or courage. Each class will study this picture book and expand their understanding through projects, reflections, illustrations, author studies or close reading of the author's craft. Books can also be used in the many buddy classes further deepening the relationships between older and younger students. Picture books are one of the few things that can be shared from kindergarten to fifth grade. Through this study of a common book as a school, shared understanding and experiences will be developed. There will be a "Book of the Month" bulletin board that displays the title. Classes can add their reflections to the board to further build community.

To begin each session, teachers will share and reflect on how they used the previous month's book with their students. They will show student work and discuss how this book further deepened their student's understanding of the theme highlighted in this book. Then participants will closely study the book chosen for the upcoming month. Teachers will discuss ways they can enhance the reading of the book with their classes through activities and projects with their class. They will collaborate with grade-level colleagues to plan and implement their ideas. Teachers will share test practices around the teaching of reading.

Teachers will produce lessons around the reading of this picture book of the month. They will further their craft as they work collaboratively to plan these lessons and activities. They will reflect on the work they do with their students after they implement these lessons.

26. STI - 6330 - Let's Talk Math

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: Grades 6-12

Dates: 9/24/2024 to 2/5/2025

Starting Soon

As times change, the needs and prior knowledge of our students changes, as does the Regents curriculum. It is therefore important for middle and high school math teachers to meet together to share ideas and experiences, in addition to looking at the 6th to 12th grade math sequence. Knowing where the students are coming from and where they are heading allows our teachers to better tailor the curriculum to the needs of our students. Participants will discuss and share various technologies they are using with their students in class. In addition, it will give an important opportunity for the math teachers to get to know one another since there has been a lot of turnover since the last time this course was offered.

Participants will engage in a variety of activities that include whole group discussions, curriculum mapping, demonstrations of various math software/technologies, and best practices. Participants will walk away with a better understanding of the various math courses and course levels offered at SMS and SHS and with knowledge of new technologies and/or practices they can implement in their classroom.

Participants will write a reflection paper discussing what they learned in this course and at least one new thing they will try implementing in their classroom. Participants will also collaborate on a shared Best Practices document.

27. STI - 6335 - Teacher as Reader: Greenacres 2024-2025

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: Greenacres K-5

Dates: 9/24/2024 to 6/17/2025

Starting Soon

The Teacher as Reader STI course is a building-based book club that meets once a month and is only open to Greenacres teachers. We discuss books that we have read, delving deeply and meaningfully into texts. Reading common books and discussing themes, characters and personal connections builds community and enriches the reading conversations we have with our students. When we as educators place ourselves in the position of learners, we can greater empathize with the young readers in our class and challenge them in respectful and appropriate manners. Teachers share discussion questions prior to each club meeting, and these questions provide a foundation on which discussions are built.

At the start of the course, teachers will participate in the selection of the books we will read for the year. Discussion norms are established surrounding participation, attendance, and general engagement. Participants will read one book per month, generate discussion questions, and participate in extensive conversations surrounding the books. Participants will reflect on their personal growth as a reader throughout the course.

Throughout the year, teachers will read ten books. The culminating assignment is a paper synthesizing their reflections about the books they have read. Teachers may pick discussion questions about which to write more extensively or select a common theme that exists in some of the books.

28. STI - 6336 - Teacher as Reader: Fox Meadow 2024-2025

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-5

Dates: 9/24/2024 to 6/17/2025

Starting Soon

Book clubs encourage critical thinking and deeper engagement with literature. In this course, teachers will spend time reading together, sharing insights and reactions to texts. Connections will be made through their discussions while reading a selection of diverse books. These texts serve both as mirrors and windows of different human emotions, experiences, and cultures. They offer a powerful opportunity to build community, increase empathy, and understand bias and prejudice. Participants will enhance their own reading skills and learn techniques for leading discussion groups with students.

Participants will read assigned books and come prepared to discuss aspects of literary form such as character development, theme, plot, and more. They will gain insight into their point of view by listening to their colleagues' responses to each book.

During the course sessions,10 books will be read and discussed. Participants will answer questions about each book and reflect about their feelings.

29. STI - 6337 - Teacher as Reader: Quality Readers at Quaker Ridge 2024-2025

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-5

Dates: 9/24/2024 to 6/24/2025

Starting Soon

Teachers will gather once a month to discuss a novel. Teachers will decide which books to read for the year. At the monthly meeting, teachers will have a chance to share opinions and ideas about the books read. These meetings will give teachers at Quaker Ridge a chance to meet with each other from around the building that they may not work directly with and build relationships.

The journey of a lifelong reader is a search to gain insight and understanding by reading, talking, and reflecting. By transforming reading into a community event through discussion groups, teachers learn differing perspectives on the same work and gain knowledge of literature, genre, and technique. The commitment to read widely and deeply is an important endeavor for teachers as they model the love of reading and the skills of reading and understanding for their students. Participants will read assigned books and come prepared to discuss aspects of literary form such as character development, theme, plot, and more. They will gain insight into point of view by listening to their colleagues' responses to each book. Participants will enhance their own reading skills and learn techniques for leading discussion groups with students.

Teachers will read a book once a month for the school year. Books will be determined at the September meeting. Each teacher will create their own cookbook. Teachers will choose a recipe that relates to the book in some way. Teachers will write a description of the book and explain how the recipe connects.

30. STI - 6338 - Teacher as Reader: Heathcote 2024-2025

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-5

Dates: 9/24/2024 to 6/17/2025

Starting Soon

The journey of a lifelong reader is a search to gain insight and understanding by reading, talking, and reflecting. By transforming reading into a community event through discussion groups, teachers learn differing perspectives on the same work and gain knowledge of literature, genre, and technique. The commitment to read widely and deeply is an important endeavor for teachers as they model the love of reading and the skills of reading and understanding for their students.

Participants will read assigned books and come prepared to discuss aspects of literary form such as character development, theme, plot, and more. They will gain insight into point of view by listening to their colleagues' responses to each book. Participants will enhance their own reading skills and learn techniques for leading discussion groups with students. For the first session, participants should bring a book read over the summer to share with the group.

Teachers will write a reflection on each of the books we have read over the course of the year.

31. STI - 6339 - Teacher as Reader: Edgewood 2023-2024

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-5

Dates: 9/24/2024 to 6/17/2025

Starting Soon

The journey of a life long reader is a search to gain insight and understanding by reading, talking, and reflecting. By transforming reading into a community event through discussion groups, teachers learn differing perspectives on the same work and gain knowledge of literature, genre, and technique. The commitment to read widely and deeply is an important endeavor for teachers as they model the love of reading and the skills of reading and understanding for their students.

Participants will read assigned books and come prepared to discuss aspects of literary form such as character development, theme, plot, and more. They will gain insight into point of view by listening to their colleagues' responses to each book. Participants will enhance their own reading skills and learn techniques for leading discussion groups with students.

Teachers will answer literal and inferential questions on a Padlet. Teachers are expected to read all required books, attend class as well as participate in the deep discussions.

32. STI - 6340 - Literature Across Boundaries: 2024-2025

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12 (All)

Dates: 9/24/2024 to 6/17/2025

Starting Soon

The journey of a life long reader is a search to gain insight and understanding by reading, talking, and reflecting. By transforming reading into a community event through discussion groups, teachers learn differing perspectives on the same work and gain knowledge of literature, genre, and technique. The commitment to read widely and deeply is an important endeavor for teachers as they model the love of reading and the skills of close reading and understanding for their students. Participants will enhance their own reading skills and learn techniques for leading discussion groups with students.

For our first meeting of the year, we ask participants to come prepared to book talk about a recent or summer read that you would recommend to the class!

Participants will read one book per month and produce a course reflection or course project at the end of the year.

Participants can take this course for 1 or 2 credits.

33. ST@C - Midweek Mindfulness

Program: ST@C

Dates: 9/25/2024

New

It is essential for teachers to practice mindfulness and self-care to maintain a healthy balance between our professional responsibilities and our personal well-being. Finding this time can be challenging so this "Midweek Mindfulness" ST@C is designed to provide you with a midweek pause, allowing you to integrate mindfulness into your routine so that you can recharge for the remainder of the week.

These sessions will include engaging, hands-on activities such as making friendship bracelets, and glitter jars, and enjoying adult coloring pages-all creative exercises proven to promote relaxation and reduce stress. Your renewed energy will help you to navigate the demands of the week with greater resilience and be your best for yourself and your students.

34. ST@C - Revised Math Resources/Summer Work Tutorial

Program: ST@C

Dates: 9/25/2024

This session will familiarize you with the summer program improvement work done on pacing/unit order, enrichment/extra practice, benchmark/unit assessments.
We will also review how to navigate the Elementary Math Website.

35. STI - 6345 - Foundations of a Scarsdale Education for Tomorrow Elementary Level

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: Scarsdale Elementary new teachers

Dates: 9/25/2024 to 5/20/2025

Foundations of a Scarsdale Education for Tomorrow Elementary Level Model lesson plans, constructive feedback on instruction, and tips on school culture and classroom management are all critical in helping new teachers be successful. In Scarsdale, a school-based mentor assists new hires with adapting to school culture and common practices in the first year. In addition, Scarsdale teachers benefit from individualized curricular guidance from K-5 district coordinators in Math, Science, and English Language Arts. As teachers gain more experience in the Scarsdale schools, this Foundations course scaffolds their professional development and mentorship in their first years so they can take maximum advantage of the professional resources available to them throughout their careers. Throughout the school year, classroom teachers, mentors, and helping teachers will engage each other in an examination of instructional methods, content, curriculum, and student learning and understanding to improve classroom teaching and learning. New teachers will receive support for their Math, Science, Reading and Writing curricula from the district coordinators through regular consultations in and out of the classroom and half day professional development workshops. The mentor component of the course includes four after-school seminars with mentors and mentees that address district-wide best practices as well as confidential weekly meetings with the assigned mentor teacher. They will also attend the ST@C Portfolio sessions.

36. STI - 6346 - Foundations of a Scarsdale Education for Tomorrow Special Education Elementary Level

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: Scarsdale Elementary new teachers in Special Ed

Dates: 9/25/2024 to 5/20/2025

Model lesson plans, constructive feedback on instruction, and tips on school culture and classroom management are all critical in helping new teachers be successful. In Scarsdale, a school-based mentor assists teachers new to Scarsdale with adapting to school culture and common practices in the first year. In addition, Scarsdale teachers benefit from individualized curricular guidance from K-5 district coordinators in Math, Science, and English Language Arts. As a teacher grows from novice to experienced professional in the Scarsdale schools, this Foundations course scaffolds teacher professional development and mentorship in their first years so they can take maximum advantage of the professional resources available to them throughout their careers. For Special Education teachers, many of the professional learning opportunities are built into the structures already in place. Team meetings along with workshops and coaching cycles with consultants are incorporated throughout the year. Additionally, while it is important to grow your expertise regarding curriculum knowledge and delivery of instruction, being a SPED teacher adds an additional layer. The preparation and participation in the IEP process, progress monitoring goals and implementation of differentiated instruction adds to the work you do daily with your students. Support will be provided in these areas to ensure success. Throughout the school year, classroom teachers, mentors, and coordinators. will engage each other in an examination of instructional methods, content, curriculum, student learning and understanding to improve classroom teaching and learning. New teachers will receive support for their Special Education, Math, Science, Reading and Writing curricula from the district coordinators through regular consultations. The mentor component of the course includes after-school seminars with mentors and mentees that address district-wide best practices as well as confidential weekly meetings with the assigned mentor teacher.

37. ST@C - SCHOOLOGY Review

Program: ST@C

Dates: 9/26/2024

New

Quick review of Schoology best practices and organization.

38. STI - 6349 - Exploring Cultural Diversity Through Literature

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: All

Dates: 9/26/2024 to 5/8/2025

Teachers in a global community must understand the diverse customs and traditions of their students and colleagues. What better way is there to relate to others than through reading the stories that embed cultural perspective into the lives of real people? Literature selected from across the globe can foster a deep understanding of the racial, ethnic, and cultural groups within the school community, the nation, and the world. Through the reading of selected works of literature and group discussion, participants will learn about the daily lives and perspectives that exist within different ethnic, socio-economic, and cultural groups. Teachers will develop classroom activities that promote empathy, interest, and respect for the global community based upon the readings. The first book for 2024-2025 will be James: A Novel by Percival Everett.

Teachers will read and discuss books that explore diversity. These books will give teachers more opportunities to develop curriculum around this theme. Some of these books, or excerpts, can be used to stimulate class discussion in any subject area.

The group will choose which books to read and discuss. At the end of the course, teachers write a reflection or lesson based on what they read.

39. STI - 6362 -Responsive Classroom: Through the Year at Fox Meadow

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: Fox Meadow K-5

Dates: 9/26/2024 to 5/1/2025

Fox Meadow faculty has engaged in work for the last 2 years to learn and practice the Responsive Classroom approach. Many teachers are practicing Responsive Classroom regularly in their classrooms. Building on the momentum of last year's study group, teachers will join together once again to continue their practice. We will use our time together to share ideas, create resources, and debrief inter-classroom visitations; all to make us and our students stronger!

Teachers will have time to reflect on their experiences in the classroom with like-minded thinkers. They will develop projects/plans for their classrooms such as outlines for morning meetings, lessons that involve academic choice, and plans for behavioral concerns. Teachers will visit each other's classrooms so that they can be a part of times such as morning meetings or closing circles, providing feedback to each other in areas like planning and language choice.

Teachers will become stronger in the RC approach. They will be expected to reflect on their experiences, provide written feedback for colleagues, and visit colleague's classrooms to engage in lesson study.

40. STI - 6398 - Financial Literacy for Educators: October 2024 Cohort # 48

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12

Dates: 9/26/2024 to 11/7/2024

New

This course seeks to build content knowledge and share [free] resources that can help support the mission of integrating a personal finance education into the Scarsdale experience. Teachers will acquire financial literacy skills for themselves and their students through courses on the Next Gen Personal Finance platform (ngpf.org).

Participant responsibilities include:
(1) 2 STI Zoom sessions, an introduction session, and end of course session.
STI Zoom #1: September 26th at 7pm
STI Zoom #2: November 7th at 7pm

(2) 5 2-hour sessions, courses may be synchronous or on-demand. Courses offered during this cohort are:
-Banking & Budgeting
-Cryptocurrency Basics
-Paying for College
-Behavioral Economics
-Advanced Investing (prerequisite: Basic Investing)

(3) Certification exam certificate
(4) STI project submission

After you enroll in Frontline, you will need to:
1. register for a teacher account on NGPF.org using your school email address.
2. register for a course in the Certification Courses section on the NGPF site.

41. STI - 6334 - AI Inquiry Group: High School

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: SHS Grades 9-12

Dates: 9/27/2024 to 5/16/2025

New

During this course, participants will continue to learn about how AI works and the ways it is being used in education and across different subject areas for workflows, study enhancement, engagement, and assessment. Participants will also learn to question the information received from AI tools to check for reliability, accuracy, and bias. Participants will also be confronted by at least two differing points of view on the degree to which AI has a place in schools, as the two course leaders have differing views on whether it is appropriate. The course format will consist of monthly meetings and individual exploration between sessions to observe and gain insight into how teachers and students interact with AI at other levels in our district and/or in other districts to see what we think is appropriate for SHS. There will also be a break in the winter to engage in a K-12 experience to help with understanding throughout the district. Time will also be allocated to reflect and think together about the use of AI in the classroom so we can make recommendations for our colleagues at the high school.

42. STI - 6227 - K-12 Integrated Unit Design - Edgemont

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12 Edgemont

Dates: 9/27/2024 to 11/23/2024

This course is a work session in which teachers will create new integrated units or upgrade current units of study to fit the 21st Century classroom. The goal is to facilitate changes in the way both content and skills are being delivered to enable students to become autonomous learners. It will also allow for teacher work time where they can evaluate ways in which they can increase their own productivity by using technology for communication and collaboration. Teachers will evaluate current technology use in their classroom and explore how to incorporate technology effectively into their teaching to promote student learning and increase engagement.

Participants will take current units of study or create new units where they will integrate different district technology. We will use our feedback protocol to create multiple iterations of their project using instructional feedback from the group.

Course Requirements:
Participants will take current units of study or create new units with usable work samples/instructional materials. They will also create a lesson or unit plan write up.

43. STI - 6351 - Nuts and Bolts of Classroom Environments and Libraries

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-5

Dates: 9/27/2024 to 9/28/2024

One of the most important pathways to helping our students grow into lifelong readers is to ensure that students have books they can read with accuracy, fluency, and comprehension and that they have books that challenge them yet are within reach. Creating a classroom environment and library to support students when they are developing their reading identity behaviors, and habits of mind, will maximize engagement, independence, and reading development.

In this intensive 12-hour course, participants will delve into the fundamentals of establishing and maintaining a classroom library that both aligns with curriculum goals and nurtures a diverse range of reading identities. Throughout the sessions, educators will gain insights from the pedagogy and groundbreaking research of leading literacy experts such as Pat and Jim Cunningham, Freddy Hiebert, David Pearson, and Nell Duke. These insights will inform the hands-on workshops where participants learn to evaluate student reading needs, curate a varied collection of texts, and strategically organize books to maximize student engagement and access. The course will also cover the integration of decodable and leveled books, techniques for incorporating high-interest and culturally affirming texts, and the establishment of effective reading routines. Collaborative activities will guide participants in creating sample library layouts, devising book rotation schedules, and designing interactive reading activities that promote student independence and enjoyment. Additionally, teachers will collaborate to create actionable classroom projects like personalized reading challenges or student-led book reviews, equipped with new strategies to enhance their literacy instruction and seamlessly integrate these practices into their existing curricula.

44. STI - 6370 - International Institute of Restorative Practice: Restorative Practice for Educators Part 1

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12 (all)

Dates: 9/27/2024 to 9/28/2024

New

Building and strengthening relationships and community is a critical component of school culture and is fundamental to teaching and learning. Restorative practices are an essential process for creating a positive learning environment, building social capital, and resolving relational issues. The International Institute for Restorative Practices Graduate School created a course that is internationally recognized and based on the research of Donald Nathanson, Silvan Tomkins, and John Braithwaite. This training is meant for K-12 teachers, school staff, and administrators.

During this two-day introductory experience, participants will learn the fundamental theory and practices for engaging with students, staff, and parents in their school setting from an IIRP-trained facilitator. The course teaches how to build proactive discussion skills which results in a decrease in behavioral issues and conflicts. Topics include the importance of being explicit about practice, how to set high expectations while being supportive, and ways to build community in your setting. We will discuss giving direct feedback, asking questions that foster accountability, and utilizing effective methods to resolve common conflicts. When issues occur, restorative practices coupled with traditional conflict-resolution approaches have better outcomes than traditional approaches alone.

You will learn to apply the restorative practices continuum, understanding which restorative processes are best for achieving certain goals or responding to particular situations. We will focus on facilitating "circles," an essential process for creating a positive learning environment and school culture. Circles can be used proactively and responsively to build social capital, sustain relationships, address social problems, and respond when harm occurs. Participants will spend time planning restorative elements that can be infused into any curriculum and daily lesson and used in their schools immediately.

45. STI - 6229 - Responsive Classroom: Through the Year at Heathcote

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-5 Heathcote Faculty who have taken Introductory Responsive Classroom

Dates: 10/1/2024 to 5/6/2025

New

Responsive Classroom is a student-centered, social and emotional learning approach to teaching and discipline. It consists of a set of research, and evidence-based practices designed to create safe, joyful, and engaging classrooms and school communities for both students and teachers. Heathcote teachers have participated in Responsive Classroom courses through the STI. This year-long course will allow teachers to work together, to refine their knowledge and support each other as they implement their new skill base in their classrooms.

Teachers will work together to develop and implement strategies to build a sense of community within Heathcote classrooms and Heathcote School, encompassing a feeling that each person belongs to the group, brings strengths and weaknesses, and has something unique and special to contribute. This is essential to students' social emotional growth and development, self-esteem, ability to make and sustain friendships, and acceptance of self and others. Teachers will collectively explore resources to build classroom community: new books such as 80 Morning Meeting Ideas and Energizers, along with previous resources First 6 Weeks of School and The Power of Our Words.

Teachers will implement Responsive Classroom in their classes and will demonstrate their learning and use of the approach and the impact on their classroom community in the form of a written reflection, photos, student work, lesson plans and notes, etc.

46. STI - 6352 - Building STEAM Skills: Ceramic Tile of Sicily

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12

Dates: 10/1/2024 to 10/22/2024

Closed

This interdisciplinary class integrates history and art. Ceramics are the hallmark for all sedentary cultures. By studying ceramic art, we can better find similarities in cultures between seemingly disparate peoples. Understanding the culture and art of others is the basis for living in an independent world.

In this course, participants will learn the history of ceramic art in Sicily. We will study the colors, patterns, and materials Sicilian artists have used, while understanding how these images, patterns, and motifs are driven by surrounding Moorish, Greek, and Roman art. Participants will create their own designs using underglaze to decorate tiles in the traditional Sicilian style. Additionally, we will research other surrounding cultures to compare and contrast motifs and symbolisms. By the end of the class, participants will have numerous tiles reflecting in a variety of cultures.

All participants will design & paint at least eight separate tiles, each based on traditional Sicilian art and a particular culture they choose. Most will be focused on traditional Sicilian work, however, they will be encouraged to compare those designs with surrounding cultures at various times in history. They will then have to document the process and write a paper on what they learned, made and how this will influence their teaching.

There is a $35 materials fee for this course which sent this directly to the STI with your tuition payment.

47. STI - 6353 - The Reggio Emilia Study Group: Explorations in Teaching and Learning Grades K-12

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12

Dates: 10/1/2024 to 5/6/2025

The Reggio Emilia study group is a vibrant forum where educators come together to explore and discuss contemporary issues in teaching and learning. Drawing inspiration from the rich tradition of innovative educational practices developed in Reggio Emilia, Italy, and other creative pedagogical approaches from around the world, this group catalyzes professional growth and collaborative inquiry.

Meeting monthly, the study group delves into educational topics, including playful learning, using materials and loose parts in writing and narrative development, creative and innovative teaching strategies, and alternative assessment tools. These sessions are designed to keep participants engaged with the latest trends and to inspire the integration of new ideas into their teaching.

Members will work closely together, fostering a supportive environment where they will share experiences and insights. This collaborative spirit is further strengthened through visits to different classrooms and schools, allowing participants to observe and deepen their understanding of the Reggio Emilia approach in diverse educational settings. These visits also provide an opportunity to explore how documentation-a core element of the Reggio philosophy-can be used to guide and enhance teaching practices.

In addition to these explorations, the group will enrich its learning experiences by visiting local museums, art galleries, and other cultural institutions.

A highlight of the study group's activities is the annual visit to Reggio Emilia, Italy. This trip allows participants to immerse themselves in the Reggio Emilia approach firsthand, attend conferences, and engage with educators at the forefront of this innovative educational movement. The experience provides valuable insights that participants can bring back to their practice, further enriching the study group's collective knowledge.

This course can be taken for 1, 2, or 3 credits

48. ST@C - Midweek Mindfulness -Session 2

Program: ST@C

Dates: 10/2/2024

New

49. ST@C - Notability Review

Program: ST@C

Dates: 10/3/2024

New

Review on some ways teachers can use Notability with their students

50. STI - 6371 - Reading and Writing Workshops and the TC Saturday Reunion

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-8

Dates: 10/4/2024 to 10/5/2024

New

Teachers College Reading and Writing Project at Columbia University has been a think tank in the area of literacy for over thirty years, developing state of the art teaching methods and offering professional development in using these methods. Our partnership with TC has offered teachers access to up to date research and professional development in the area of literacy. Participants in this course will use the TC Saturday Reunion Trail Guide to determine a theme of study that will support their ELA goals for teaching and best practices.

On Friday afternoon, teachers will outline a plan of action and create a timeline of benchmarks . On Saturday, participants will attend the virtual TCRWP Saturday Reunion at Teachers College where literacy educators from across the globe come together to learn. It is a fast-paced day, brimming with workshops that can help you find horizons to work towards, whether your focus is on higher-level comprehension, content area literacy, units of study in writing, assessment-based instruction, increasing student engagement, or bringing books to life. Teachers will determine and revise and reflect upon teaching practices guided by their focus areas of professional development over the course of the weekend.

51. STI - 6355 - Teachers Writing Workshop

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12

Dates: 10/8/2024 to 12/10/2024

The purpose of this course is to continue developing a professional writing community in our district. Writing and sharing are key elements to a reflective teaching practice. Course participants will craft original stories in a writing workshop where they will reflect, share, and engage in creative writing exercises designed to help the writer develop her/his voice and stamina. This experience will put participants in the learner's chair and offer insights on how to tease out possibilities from someone with abundant creative potential -- like each one of us.

This storytelling class is a writing workshop for adults. Teachers will participate in a professional writing community where we will write together and talk about writing, so that we can trust and learn from one another. Educators will work on short and longer format pieces and craft them with the guidance of constructive feedback from a supportive writing community. This course will include 9 hours of online writing workshop sessions and 3 hours of independent writing.

Participants will write short original pieces that will culminate in a longer form story that will be shared in a published document.

52. STI - 6356 - Elementary ELA Collegial Research Group

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: Scarsdale Elementary teachers K-5

Dates: 10/8/2024 to 6/3/2025

The Teacher-Researcher Collegial Group brings together teacher-leaders from across the district to share and engage in action-research. Teachers will set goals based upon current challenges and problems of practice and study our students, while implementing classroom practices, and engage in peer reflection. In addition to the five days teachers will be working together in classrooms studying with a TCRWP leaders Natalie Louis and Brooke Geller, this course will focus on supporting the development of the teachers' literacy knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge, developing exemplary practices so that the group can research students, implement classroom practices, and reflect together.

53. STI - 6358 - Executive Functioning Advanced at Greenacres

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-5

Dates: 10/8/2024 to 1/21/2025

Many students who forget assignments, are disorganized, can't complete long-term projects, have trouble focusing, and experience difficulty with change, often have weak executive functioning skills. These students need to be taught explicit skills to become successful in school and in life after school. This course will take the EF skills that have been taught and integrate them into their teaching and classroom management.

The executive functioning skills targeted in my curriculum include: planning, organization, time management, task initiation, working memory, metacognition, self-control, sustained attention, flexibility, and perseverance. You will work throughout the year to build an effective EF curriculum. I will give you an in-depth lesson plan to follow with all the resources you need each week. You will be amazed at how easy it is to follow the lessons and how much fun your children will have. You will see your students using these skills all year long and improving their learning. You may also see some improvements in your own EF skills. Teachers will work together to develop and implement strategies to build Executive Functioning within their Greenacres classrooms. Each session I will introduce the upcoming lesson and will have a presentation from lower and upper elementary teachers demonstrating how they implemented and integrated EF skills in their classroom.

At the beginning of each session, we review the previous skill and exchange feedback. Then, I introduce the next skill with an in-depth lesson plan and links to many resources. Finally, I will give you the hands-on activity to be used the following week. All the resources are digital. The teachers must commit 30-40 minutes a week to teaching Executive Functioning.

Final Project will be examples of student work in EF or the teacher's lesson plans in EF for the year.

54. ST@C - Incorporating Responsive Classroom into ELA and Math

Program: ST@C

Dates: 10/9/2024

During our time together we will share insights and best practices for incorporating the Responsive Classroom approach into your math and ELA lessons. You will leave the session with simple next steps that you can implement immediately.

55. STI - 6348 - Wellness In and Out of the Classroom

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-5

Dates: 10/9/2024 to 1/22/2025

Research shows that teacher mindfulness and mental well-being lead to increased performance, self-compassion, and resilience, as well as reduced stress and burnout. Professionals receiving mindfulness interventions also experience less emotional exhaustion and increased job satisfaction. Studies similarly demonstrate the connection between teacher well-being and student learning. For example, decreases in teacher stress and burnout lead to increases in student social-emotional intelligence, academic learning, and empathy. As a result of completing this course, teachers will identify practices and methods that positively contribute to stress reduction and emotional wellness. They will learn how to bring more mindfulness and wellness work into their own lives and the lives of their students.

Each session will begin with a short meditation or yoga practice to come together and settle in as a community. We will then delve into the benefits, history/philosophy and experience of wellness practices such as yoga, meditation, nature walks, artistic expression, mindful movement, and journaling. Teachers will explore both theory and practice. Participants will learn about a variety of applications in the classroom and how to apply mindfulness and wellness in all areas of their lives, both in and out of the classroom. Upon completion of the course, participants will present a lesson or unit that incorporates wellness practices. Teachers will reflect on the readings and practices studied in the course, noting which practices were most effective to the teacher, and how he/she can incorporate the practice into his/her life

56. ST@C - Progress Reports

Program: ST@C

Dates: 10/10/2024

New

This session is designed to help newer teachers and teachers who would just like a review of the progress reports process using infinite campus.

57. STI - 6347 - Phenomenon Toolkit to Support Next Gen Science

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-5

Dates: 10/10/2024 to 2/6/2025

Are you ready for the next earthquake, eclipse, or hurricane? This course will help teachers prepare to guide students through an understanding of natural phenomena to capitalize on children's curiosity. It will help teachers take advantage of those moments when events outside the window are far more exciting than anything going on in our classrooms. Participants in this course will be prepared to turn moments of potential distraction and chaos into meaningful lessons within the existing curriculum and based on Next Gen Science Standards.

Session 1 will focus on how to organize and include Single Concept Field Trips in the school day.
Session 2 will focus on how to take a "Long Look" at a concept in a few minutes each day to look for patterns and trends in the natural world.
Session 3 will focus on identifying and researching citizen science projects.
Session 4 will focus on a sustainable approach to teaching the engineering design process.
Session 5 will focus on looking at cross-grade connections in the Next Generation science standards to create "Buddy Classes" with a sustainability focus.
Session 6 will focus on recording skills, measurement, and creating collections.

In each session, participants will work together to create a shared document of possible experiences and lessons, as well as complete a reflection on the session and a plan to incorporate new information to enrich the existing curriculum.

58. STI - 6359 - Exploring the Professional Shelf: How to Manage Student Anxiety in the Classroom

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: 9-12, open to include 6-8

Dates: 10/10/2024 to 12/5/2024

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problem in childhood and adolescence with lifetime prevalence rates ranging from 10% to 30%. Some students who have anxiety disorders may experience distress during tests or other educational activities while still accessing those activities. What do teachers need to better understand anxiety and how to help their students manage the stress and anxiety they experience? A growing body of scientific research shows that accommodating behavior encourages avoidance, which actually fuels continued anxiety. How can educators provide a balance of acceptance, support, and confidence? Working from the framework of Eli Lebowitz's SPACE training and book, "Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD" participants will be armed with a better understanding, appreciation, and strategies to help manage and support students with anxiety.

Participants will spend the course sessions discussing and processing the concepts discussed in Eli Lebowitz's book. Specifically, the conversation will focus on how to better understand anxiety, the school and home connections, and how to develop strategies to work with students and colleagues in managing our own responses. The course will both provide support and an opportunity to brainstorm specific helpful vs. unhelpful accommodation strategies, including worksheets and practical suggestions.

Participants will be required to read the book, "Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD" by Eli Lebowitz, PhD. Additional brief readings may be provided. Participants will have to produce a reflection paper at the end of the course.

The purchasing and cost of the book are the participant's responsibility.

59. STI - 6360 - Keeping Current with Middle Grade and Young Adult Literature

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: 3-12

Dates: 10/10/2024 to 6/12/2025

Research shows that the two most important instructional design factors influencing reading motivation and comprehension are access to books and personal choice of what to read. This course is critical for students because it will support their teachers in reading and coming to know a wealth of fresh, new middle-grade (readers aged 8-12) and young adult (readers aged 12-18) literature. The course will support teachers in bringing these titles into their classrooms and their instruction.

This course is designed for educators (teachers, librarians, coordinators, administrators) to study current trends and titles in middle-grade (readers aged 8-12) and young-adult (readers aged 12-18) literature.

Not only will participants read MG & YA books of their choosing, but they will also study research related to trends in format and genre. An emphasis will be placed on classroom application in the form of book recommendations and readers' advisory. Another aim of the course is to support educators in conversations about books that may be perceived as controversial.

Participants will:
-Read at least one book per month and produce a book evaluation
-Read at least one professional article per month and respond to a discussion thread
-Film at least two student-facing book talks
-Complete a case study of at least one reader

60. STI - 6361 - Exploring the Professional Shelf: Equity by Design - Delivering on the Power and Promise of Universal Design for Learning

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12 (all)

Dates: 10/10/2024 to 1/23/2025

Our classrooms are becoming more diverse every year. In every desk sits a unique learner whose best path to success is as unique as the student is. Teachers strive to meet the needs of all learners, yet traditional curriculum and lesson design are based on the "average” learner. What exactly is the average learner? Does one exist? Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework that enables teachers to design lessons that eliminate barriers to learning for all learners. UDL is predicated on the idea that every student has the capacity to become an "expert learner” when lessons provide multiple means of representation to acquire knowledge, multiple means of expression to demonstrate their understanding, and multiple means of engagement to tap their interest, motivate, and challenge them. Neuroscience indicates that the brain utilizes 3 networks for learning: affective ("why”), recognition ("what”), and strategic ("how”). Each principle of UDL is linked directly to one of the 3 networks.

In this course, we will explore the text Equity By Design: Delivering on the Power and Promise of UDL by Mirko Chardin and Katie Novak. We will also explore the newly published 3.0 UDL Guidelines that provide "a set of concrete suggestions that can be applied to any discipline or domain to ensure that all learners can access and participate in meaningful, challenging learning opportunities.” Teachers will be empowered to meet the diverse needs of every learner and have a wealth of resources to get them started.

Course Requirements
-Attend all course meetings
-Read Equity By Design: Delivering on the Power and Promise of UDL, plus other supplementary materials
-Lead the group in a discussion of one portion of the book
-Project: re-envision and redesign a unit of study (or write/create a reflection) using the principles of UDL.

NOTE: Each participant will need to obtain a copy of the book prior to the start of class.

61. STI - 6394 - Building Community through Music 2024-2025

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12

Dates: 10/15/2024 to 6/10/2025

New

The purpose of this course is to show teachers how choral music fosters collaboration, listening skills, and provides a community bonding experience that promotes wellness and inclusion. Teachers from all buildings and levels will learn about choral arrangement and music education from district music teachers as they assume the role as performers in an ensemble. Teachers will gain a greater appreciation for music so they can more easily integrate the arts into their own teaching practice as they build connections across the district for future work across disciplines and grade levels.

Music teachers will lead monthly rehearsals as teachers learn repertoire over the course of the semester, with a final product of a public performance. In this course, participants will learn the fundamentals of vocal technique, program selection, and performance practice in addition to experiencing singing music across a variety of genres, styles, and decades.

62. STI - 6342 - Study Group: Examining Grading Philosophies and Practices (in the Middle Grades)

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: Grades 6-8, The group will focus specifically on the middle grades, but educators K-12 are invited to participate.

Dates: 10/16/2024 to 5/28/2025

This course will run as a study group for educators interested in learning about, discussing, and implementing alternative approaches to grading, providing feedback to students about their learning, and reporting student learning and growth. Alternative approaches promote student and teacher wellness and well-being while providing transparency to parents and stakeholders. There is an emphasis on learning over numbers; feedback, goal setting, and individual improvement are promoted rather than numerical comparison.

Participants in this course will read about and discuss topics such as standards-based grading, portfolio and narrative grading, specifications grading, contract grading, mastery grading, holistic grading, and "ungrading," to name a few. We will discuss how feedback and grading can align to shift our students' focus from the number to the learning and how we can refine our practices to focus on student and teacher wellbeing, greater consistency and transparency, and student individual improvement.

We will examine the way formative and summative assessments inform grading, but our focus will remain specifically on how we grade (ie. assign numbers/letters to student work) and communicate learning and growth through those grades and other feedback. Participants will be encouraged to pilot at least one (new to you) approach to grading.

The group will focus specifically on the middle grades, but educators K-12 are invited to participate.

As evidence of learning, teachers will pilot an alternative grading practice to provide feedback on at least one assignment and reflect on how students synthesized and responded to that feedback. While we will provide readings and ideas for resources, participants will be asked to bring their own resources and ideas to sessions to share with the group, which accounts for 1/3 of our meeting time.

63. STI - 6357 - Teacher as Reader: Edgemont

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: Edgemont Teachers K-12 (all)

Dates: 10/16/2024 to 5/14/2025

In Teacher as Reader, we gather once a month to discuss a book (either a novel or a work of creative nonfiction) and explore how it affected us personally and as educators. We also discuss craft and points of view and how they work in the text. Reading can be a profound way to deepen our empathy and understanding of others' experiences and it can also help us reflect on our own lives. Our discussions expand our understanding of the texts, and help us to build community as a staff. The books are selected to prompt interesting discussion and to expose us to a variety of perspectives. The experience of reading and discussing has also fed into the curriculum, with some books making their way into the English curriculum.

In this course, we will read and discuss books. The discussions can serve as a model for how to have open-ended, inquiry-based discussions with students. We also have opportunities to write reflections about the books, and to learn about what inspired the writing of the books.

The final project will invite participants to connect their reading with their work as an educator in some way. Participants can respond creatively, in a written reflection, lesson plan, or a visual art project with a reflection.

64. STI - 6364 - Growing a Math Professional Learning Community at Greenacres Year 3 (24-25)

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-5 Greenacres

Dates: 10/16/2024 to 5/2/2025

At Greenacres, we seek to continue to develop a Professional Learning Community in the area of mathematics. After two years of teaching Reveal Math, teachers had opportunities to reflect on their practice and the implementation of the program. Looking forward, we would like to continue this work as teachers build on their foundational knowledge to enhance their practice by differentiating instruction and collaborating with colleagues on and across grade levels.

This course will provide teachers with an opportunity to build on the work they have done the last two years while looking forward. We will work on the development and enhancement of our teaching of Reveal Math thoughtfully and collaboratively. We will continue to work to develop the activity-based portions of the lessons, as well as focus on differentiation for all students. We will also focus on the Reveal Math games and how we can use the games to enhance our lessons and student understanding.

Teachers will continue to study the units in the Reveal Math program. Participants will have opportunities to collaborate with colleagues to deepen their understanding of lessons and units across the year. Participants will have opportunities to engage in discussions that will focus on reflective practice, lesson study, and student assessments. Participants will have opportunities to prepare and create materials to meet the needs of their students. Teachers will work on our annual Greenacres Math Day/ Math Week which has been one of the most anticipated events here at Greenacres involving all faculty and staff.

Course participants will engage in reflective practice with colleagues on and between grade levels. Anecdotal notes, a reflective journal and a compilation of math resources and supplemental materials will be generated as an outcome of the collaborative sessions. Participants will also participate in the planning and development of the Greenacres Math Day 2025.

65. ST@C - Gmail Inbox Intervention

Program: ST@C

Dates: 10/17/2024

New

Are you overwhelmed by your inbox? Do you want to clean it up and put in strategies before we get to deep in the school year? Well this ST@C is for you! Participants will learn quick hacks to make their Email process smoother and more efficient.

66. STI - 6354 - Reflective Practice Seminar 2024-2025

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12

Dates: 10/17/2024 to 3/27/2025

New

When teams of teacher practitioners meet and reflect together on the core issues of effective teaching and learning, they can promote positive change in the classroom and in the school culture. The goal is to build a community of learners among colleagues through an examination of shared activities common to all subject areas and grade levels.

In this yearlong course, participants will look collaboratively at concrete examples of teacher and student work examining and applying various protocols for reviewing student work. Teachers will observe in each other's classrooms and are encouraged to participate in activities designed to understanding the culture of a school. The group meets twice a month; members will develop a set of reflections on their work with students and colleagues. Members also will complete a set of peer observations as the year progresses.

Participation in all class sessions and completion of coursework fulfills requirements for Professional Performance Review (Option A) for the 2024-2025 academic year. Documentary films will be used to examine teaching strategies in a variety of scenarios.

67. STI - 6366 - Facing History and Ourselves

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: 6-12

Dates: 10/17/2024 to 3/13/2025

New

Facing History and Ourselves provides educators with rich resources and successful strategies to enrich the teaching of history and literature. It also provides a framework for educators to create brave spaces for students to challenge their thinking, ask provocative questions, and discuss timely and controversial issues. This workshop will include an introduction to Facing History and its scope and sequence, as well as the resources available to teachers. The presenters will show how they adapt and apply Facing History materials and strategies to their curricula. This workshop is designed as an introductory or refresher course to Facing History and is geared toward middle school and high school classrooms.

Participants will learn about the framework for Facing History and its online resources, and how to apply the teaching strategies to selected text. Participants may have outside reading with an accompanying activity prior to each class. Participants will actively engage with a variety of text and strategies to explore how both can be used and or modified to fit the needs of their students. Participants will use the Facing History resource, Holocaust and Human Behavior, as a reference text and consider how the study of human behavior, specifically the examination of identity and choices, can be applied to a multitude of units of study. Participants will examine how explicit and implicit biases shape the individual and society, and make connections to how past events inform attitudes and behaviors in today's world.

Participants will produce a reflection and/or a lesson plan/unit of study incorporating Facing History resources and teaching strategies. Participants will choose a unit of study that is part of their curriculum and plan some lessons that incorporate Facing History resources and strategies.

68. STI - 6367 - Building STEAM Skills: Sustainable Fashion

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12 (all)

Dates: 10/17/2024 to 2/27/2025

New

Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without! Do you know how to sew? Do you want to learn? Working conditions and wages in the fashion industry are often abominable and the industry encourages the use and disposal of garments at an astonishing rate. Participants in this course will learn about issues of sustainability in the fashion industry, and obtain the skills to envision and create useful and beautiful garments from existing materials. Learning to sew, envision, and create is at the heart of creativity and sustainability and will give participants an artistic and productive outlet as we learn patience, develop fine motor skills, reduce stress, and make the world a better place!

The course will begin by teaching participants how to follow a simple pattern and create several projects that can be done with students. The primary focus will then be on upcycling existing garments. Participants will learn to hand sew, use a sewing machine, and experiment on fabric with paint, bleach, and embroidery. We will take a field trip to explore local resources and gather materials. Participants will complete a plan to incorporate sewing into the school day and a reflection on the creative process as both teacher and learner.

Participants will create upcycled garments as well as a possible plan to incorporate sewing into the school day. Everyone will be asked to complete a reflection on the creative process as both teacher and learner.

There is a $20 materials fee which should be paid directly to the STI with your tuition payment.

69. ST@C - Getting to Know Star Assessment

Program: ST@C

Dates: 10/21/2024

New

In this session for K-5 teachers, you'll learn how to navigate the Star interface and utilize its key features, while also exploring both the teacher and student views. Additionally, you'll discover how to generate and interpret initial reports to gain valuable insights.

70. ST@C - Fluency

Program: ST@C

Dates: 10/23/2024

This session will discuss the difference between fluency and automaticity, the district philosophy on the development of fluency, and how it aligns with current research. The session will also provide ways to enhance fact fluency practice in the classroom and will provide resources.

71. STI - 6365 - Google Classroom and More

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12 (all)

Dates: 10/23/2024 to 1/22/2025

New

In this course, participants will experience Classroom both as teachers and as students. Participants will join the Classroom and participate in discussions, utilize the Practice Sets, engage in video activities, submit assignments, and revise and resubmit assignments as if they were students. They will also experience the grading feature as a student and teacher. This experience will enable teachers to appreciate and understand how their students view and experience Google Classroom. It will also enable them to troubleshoot issues and concerns that may arise for their students. Furthermore, participants will learn how to use a variety of other Google applications and extensions (e.g. Drive, Docs, Slides, Sheets, Forms, Calendar), as well as online tools (e.g. Screencastify, Quizlet, Quizizz, Kahoot, EdPuzzle) in conjunction with Classroom. Finally, participants will learn how to sync the grades on Classroom with Infinite Campus.

Note: This course is designed for people who already have some knowledge of Classroom and the Google Suite.

Course Requirements:
1. Attend all sessions.
2. Join the STI Classroom, complete assignments, revise and resubmit assignments, create Practice Sets, video activities for classroom use, assignments, comment on, grade, and return assignments, facilitate discussions, and post announcements.
3. Present a lesson or project using one or a variety of the tools available through Classroom.

72. STI - 6397 - AI Inquiry Group: Middle School

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: SMS Grades 6-8

Dates: 10/23/2024 to 5/14/2025

New

During this course, participants will continue to learn about how AI works and the ways it is being used in education and across different subject areas for workflows, study enhancement, engagement, and assessment. Participants will also learn to question the information received from AI tools to check for reliability, accuracy, and bias. Participants will also be confronted by at least two differing points of view on the degree to which AI has a place in schools, as the two-course leaders have differing views on whether it is appropriate. The course format will consist of monthly meetings and individual exploration between sessions to observe and gain insight into how teachers and students interact with AI at other levels in our district and/or in other districts to see what we think is appropriate for SMS. There will also be a break in the winter to engage in a K-12 experience to help with understanding throughout the district. Time will also be allocated to reflect and think together about the use of AI in the classroom so we can make recommendations for our colleagues at the high school.

73. STI - 6332 - Writing Units of Study: Unboxing and Preparing to Teach the New Writing Units of Study - Grades 3-5

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: Grades 3-5

Dates: 10/24/2024 to 6/12/2025

In this professional development course focused on the new writing units of study, educators will participate in monthly sessions to deeply explore and prepare each unit for classroom implementation. These sessions include the initial unboxing of new elements such as DEI, AI, grammar, and spelling, hands-on workshops for practical application, collaborative planning to integrate units into existing curricula, and peer feedback to refine teaching strategies. Following classroom implementation, reflection meetings will assess the impact on student learning. The course is designed to align closely with the school's curriculum, ensuring that the new units enhance educational goals and are immediately applicable, thus providing continuous professional growth and a community of practice for all participants.

As part of their ongoing development, teachers will be required to engage in peer reviews within their schools, contribute to online professional forums, and keep up with essential readings on current educational practices related to writing instruction. This approach ensures that the course outputs are practical, directly applicable, and continuously evolving to improve everyday teaching and learning outcomes.

74. STI - 6373 - DIY Literacy - Expanding our Thinking on Literacy and the Tools We Use

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12 (all)

Dates: 10/25/2024 to 10/26/2024

New

This course is essential in helping students build independence as they grow as readers and writers. Teachers will study and create literacy tools based on the work of Kate Roberts and Maggie Beatie Roberts (DIY Literacy). Kate and Maggie have videos, blogs, books, and many other resources to support this work.

Teachers will collaborate to create digital and paper-based tools to use in the their teaching. These tools will support student progress and independence.

Teachers will create tools (charts, microprogressions, bookmarks, demonstration notebooks) to support their students in literacy. Teachers will create digital and/or paper-based tools. Teachers will reflect on how they will integrate the use of these tools into their reading/writing curriculum.

75. STI - 6374 - Human Rights Across the Curriculum

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: SMS

Dates: 10/25/2024 to 10/26/2024

New

Human Rights Day has been an integral learning experience at Scarsdale Middle School for over twenty years. This year, we will have a different format for Human Rights Day at the middle school. Teachers will collaborate in pairs to create 90-minute-long activities that both teach students about a need and provide a hands-on activity for students to interact with that need. Through this STI, we hope to include as many teachers as possible in planning for student activity and service learning projects.

The course will begin with example lessons showing a combined learning and action piece, which will help teachers see the type of activity to create for Human Rights Day. We will then dive into grade-wide themes. Teachers will pair off and collaborate on a lesson that will address the grade-wide theme, including a learning piece, and a hands-on activity. The goal is to create lessons that promote learning through action.

We hope faculty members walk away with actionable lessons for use on Human Rights Day. These lessons could include speakers, creating art projects, movie clips, or many other things that promote learning through action.

76. STI - 6375 - NYC as a Resource: Historical Walking Tour of Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12

Dates: 10/25/2024 to 10/26/2024

New

New York City is a resource with unending possibilities for fieldwork experiences for teachers and their students. The "NYC as a Resource" category of STI classes allows teachers the opportunity to model experiential education, conduct research and document their learning as they would do with their students. Through these courses, teachers visit the sites and scenes of the events that have shaped the region as they deepen their understanding of and their interest in history and curate resources to share with students. Based on the course, lesson plans can be created in multiple subject areas and across the grade levels.

Participants in this course will learn about the history of one of NYC's most popular neighborhoods and will provide teachers with information pertaining to themes in Native American history, gentrification, art history, and more. Teachers will explore the history and evolution of Williamsburg, Brooklyn beginning with its purchase from the Lenape in 1638 by the Dutch West India Company and continuing to its current iteration as the hipster capital of the world.

The class will meet at Quaker Ridge on Friday and in Brooklyn on Saturday for the walking tour.

77. STI - 6376 - Let's Make Anchor Charts

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12

Dates: 10/25/2024 to 10/26/2024

New

Anchor charts are a great visual resource for students to be able to refer to within a classroom. The visual resource can help a student remember a strategy or rule. It is important for teachers to be able to make anchor charts to support any units of study.

During this 2-day course, teachers will create anchor charts to be used for student reference that will support the curriculum areas being studied within the classroom. All supplies for this course (chart paper, crayons & markers) will be provided by the course coordinator. Teachers are also welcome to bring their own supplies as well.

Teachers will take a photo of each anchor chart created during the course. Teachers will create a Google Slideshow to display the photo and brief summary explaining how the anchor chart will be used in conjunction with a curriculum area. Teachers should also include a reflection slide.

78. STI - 6377 - Tenure Portfolio for Edgemont Teachers

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12 (all)

Dates: 10/25/2024 to 10/26/2024

New

This course is personally tailored to support all teachers as they begin OR continue to build their portfolios. Participants will reflect on their teaching practices and learn ways to organize their artifacts using Google Slides, Docs, or Sites. Through collaboration and reflection, participants will develop several ideas for artifacts and implement strategies to organize and present their teaching journey in a meaningful and effective way. By the end of this course, participants will have a solid understanding of Edgemont's teaching standards and a portfolio-in-progress.

Participants will have plenty of work time to organize artifacts and build their portfolios. This course is helpful for any teacher, no matter how much or little they may have worked on their portfolio. We will review the Edgemont teaching standards to gain a deeper understanding of each strand, brainstorm ideas, and inspire each other by sharing our teaching practices. We will look at exemplar portfolios as well as strategies for organizing and presenting information. Come join and get your portfolio started or finished!

Teachers will share the part of their portfolio that they worked on during the course.

79. STI - 6350 - AI Fundamentals to Frontiers

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12 (all)

Dates: 10/26/2024

In the AI Foundations to Frontiers: A Journey for Teachers course, participants will engage four modules and a lesson overhaul project that directly connect AI concepts to classroom applications. Each module is designed to build on the previous one, starting with the fundamentals of AI and advancing to complex applications and ethical considerations.

*Introduction to AI and its Educational Applications: Teachers will start with the basics of AI technology, including key terminology and principles. They'll explore case studies demonstrating AI's role in enhancing personalized learning and assessment tools. This foundation will help them understand the potential of AI in education.

*Data Literacy and Bias Exploration: Participants will engage in activities to develop data literacy skills, crucial for understanding how AI works. They'll analyze datasets to identify potential biases and learn strategies to mitigate these biases in AI applications. This session aims to cultivate a critical lens through which teachers can evaluate AI tools and help raise students awareness regarding the assets and drawbacks to AI tools.

*Developing AI-Enhanced Lesson Plans: Educators will apply their learning by redesigning an existing lesson plan that incorporates AI tools. They'll either use AI to address diverse learning needs and to foster skills like critical thinking and problem-solving or use AI with the students to enhance learning.

*Environmental/Ethical Considerations and Responsible AI Use: The Module will focus on the ethical implications of AI, including privacy concerns and the impact of automation on future employment. Participants will discuss and develop guidelines for ethical AI use in their classrooms, preparing them to lead thoughtful discussions with students about these critical issues.

The remaining work will be done asynchronously in a collaborative format.

80. STI - 6378 - Workshop for Senior Options Steering Committee 2024-2025

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: SHS

Dates: 10/28/2024 to 5/19/2025

New

Every year Scarsdale High School's Senior Options Steering Committee supervises, organizes, reviews, and revises the Senior Options Program. Teaching staff on the Senior Options Steering Committee must reevaluate program policies, forms, and logistics. The case load of mentors and students changes annually; therefore, the Steering Committee must develop new strategies, train new mentors, and supervise new students. Each member on this committee acts as a Case Manager to the mentors of seniors to oversee their caseload and make sure the requirements of the program are being met.

From September to February, participants meet monthly to review the previous year's program evaluations, to assess the outcomes, to make revisions, and to recommend policy changes, where called for, as directed by committee reflection. From March through June, participants meet at least twice monthly to introduce the revised program to mentors and students. Steering Committee members also work independently with individual mentors and students on project choices and proposal writing. Spring meetings involve individual caseloads and subcommittee work. Committee members must also read and approve caseload proposals by the end of the third quarter. During the Senior Options experience, meetings focus on problems specific mentors and students may have in preparation for presentations, on critiquing the ongoing work of the program, and on presenting ideas for reevaluation.

Attend meetings and become a Case Manager with assigned mentors and students. Fulfill the requirements of being a Case Manager.

81. ST@C - Progress Monitoring at SMS - Session 2

Program: ST@C

Dates: 10/29/2024

New

Special Educators will engage in research-based discussions around progress monitoring, develop progress monitoring systems that work for their students, and track student progress throughout the year toward annual goals in IEPs.

82. STI - 6396 - Elementary Generative AI Inquiry Group

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: Grades K-5

Dates: 11/7/2024 to 5/1/2025

New

During this course, participants will learn how Generative AI works and the ways it is being used in education and across different subject areas for workflows, study enhancement, engagement, and assessment. Participants will also learn to question the data received from Generative AI tools for reliability, accuracy, and bias. The course format consists of six meetings as well as individual exploration time between each session to gain insight into and experience with how teachers and students are interacting with Generative AI at the elementary, middle school, high school level and beyond. This Elementary Generative AI Inquiry Group STI is one of three courses running simultaneously at the district this year, the others being run at the MS and HS. The courses will culminate in the spring with participants from all levels getting together for a mega inquiry session. Please join us!

83. STI - 6393 - Let's Talk World Languages - AI Focus 2024-25

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12 Scarsdale

Dates: 11/14/2024 to 4/24/2025

New

In part because of the difficulty we have finding the time to meet across divisions, we view this STI course as an opportunity to build relationships with colleagues in other schools in the district and beyond. For the upcoming school year, we will pay particular attention to the increasing challenges posed by rapid technological developments such as AI and ChatGPT. We will strive to demonstrate to students that GPTs are powerful tools that can only be used effectively when certain foundational learning has already taken place. Our world language department continues to explore alternative assessment strategies. We continue to implement original and adapted integrated performance-based assessments as well as cumulative exams with structure and vocabulary as important assessments in each of our advanced and honors levels. This course will continue to serve as a professional space for experimentation and inquiry with colleagues. We will strive to strengthen alignment and communication among our colleagues throughout the district.

For the culminating project, each participant will share curriculum work or revised assessments that could be viewed as culminating assessments.

84. STI - 6372 - Engaging Students in Mathematical Thinking Through the Use of Games

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-5

Dates: 11/15/2024 to 11/16/2024

New

This course is designed to help teachers strengthen critical thinking and problem-solving skills, help students develop a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts, and allow students to apply strategies through games. Teachers will collaborate to share, design, and create math games for their classrooms.

This course dives into the world of mathematical games. We will explore a variety of games to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, fluency, and core mathematical concepts. Through playful competition and collaboration, teachers will discover the underlying pedagogy behind games and embedded strategies. Teachers will build a game toolbox that addresses the mathematical concepts developed in their grade-level curriculum. In addition, time will be allotted to create and organize materials.

Teachers will make games and contribute to a Padlet which will be accessible on the Elementary Math Website.

85. STI - 6379 - Building STEAM Skills: Woodworking

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12

Dates: 11/15/2024 to 11/16/2024

New

Students at Scarsdale Middle School participate in a range of hands-on activities through their quarterly related arts classes. This course provides teachers with insight into what it is like for students to engage in hands-on, experiential learning and broaden the possibilities for interdisciplinary connections.

Participants will use three different exotic and domestic hardwoods to design a uniquely patterned heirloom breadboard or serving tray. This edge grain board provides a rich opportunity to learn about the power and hand tools found in the Middle School workshops. Teachers will discuss the different species of wood and how to create a beautiful food-safe finish. Each participant will also make and jar their own beeswax emulsion to keep their project beautiful.

Participants will be challenged to create a visual portfolio with reflection writing about their experience. A material fee will be determined.

86. STI - 6380 - Financial Literacy for Educators: Investing

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12 & Support Staff

Dates: 11/15/2024 to 11/16/2024

New

Teachers are preyed upon by financial salespeople. Learning to choose a 403(b) vendor is not part of formal teacher education and it is easy to be confused when presented with a long list of vendors and investment options. In this course, we will teach you to take control of your retirement investments without the help of a high-fee financial salesperson. You will walk out with a 403(b) and/or 457(b) plan with a low-fee vendor, an understanding of how your money is invested within the plan, and how to manage retirement investments going forward. Teachers will create either a reflection that compiles their course learning OR a project that can be used to share out new learning to other STA members or students.

87. STI - 6381 - Picture Books in a Weekend

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12 (all)

Dates: 11/15/2024 to 11/16/2024

New

Picture books are a treasure trove of stories, information, and learning opportunities. In this course, teachers will spend the weekend with the Scarsdale Elementary Librarians learning about what is new in picture books. Teachers will have the opportunity to explore picture books independently by browsing new titles from all five libraries as well as learning directly from the librarians as they highlight important titles and trends from the last few years. Teachers will leave this course with new ideas and resources to use in their classroom with students based on the books that are read and presented in the course.

Teachers will log all of the books they read and brainstorm ideas for how they could integrate each book into their classrooms whether as read-alouds, for independent or group projects or to inspire some hands-on activities. Teachers will also reflect on how the class has changed their view on how to use picture books in the classroom

88. ST@C - Number Line Tutorial

Program: ST@C

Dates: 11/20/2024

This session provides a mini tutorial on the use of the open number line. It will provide games and routines to develop strategies to add and subtract using the open number line as a model.

89. ST@C - Progress Monitoring at SMS - Session 3

Program: ST@C

Dates: 11/25/2024

New

90. STI - 6368 - Crafty Mindfulness

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12

Dates: 12/6/2024 to 12/7/2024

New

For the last few years, both mindfulness and sustainability have become increasingly important in our district and our world. This course addresses both topics by encouraging teachers to dip into their creativity and create art as a mindful experience and using recycled materials to do that. During this course teachers create their own work of art at their own pace in a relaxing and supportive environment. Teachers use old dust jackets and books that have been discarded from the QRS library.

During this course, teachers will create a piece of artwork for their classroom inspired by the artwork that has been created in the Quaker Ridge Library. The act of creating and using one's imagination is a mindful activity that we all too often neglect as adults. The teacher's will use recycled materials such as the dust jackets and books that have been weeded from the QRS library. The QRS library has over 40 works of art that have been created this way and can serve as inspiration for the teacher's own projects.

The teacher will produce their work of art, which in the past has included self-portraits, decoupaged furniture, bulletin board displays, book character maps, etc. The teachers will also submit a reflection on the process of making the artwork and how the mindful and creative activities helped them understand themselves and their students better.

91. STI - 6369 - K-12 Integrated Unit Design - Intermediate - Edgemont

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12 Edgemont

Dates: 12/6/2024 to 1/11/2025

New

This course is a work session in which teachers will create new integrated units or upgrade current units of study to fit the 21st Century classroom. The goal is to facilitate changes in the way both content and skills are being delivered to enable students to become autonomous learners. It will also allow for teacher work time where they can evaluate ways in which they can increase their own productivity by using technology for communication and collaboration. Teachers will evaluate current technology use in their classroom and explore how to incorporate technology effectively into their teaching to promote student learning and increase engagement. Teachers should have taken K-12 Integrated Unit Design prior to taking this level.

Participants will take current units of study or create new units where they will integrate different district technology. We will use our feedback protocol to create multiple iterations of their project using instructional feedback from the group. Teachers will learn new techniques from the previous course to add higher level technology and PBL projects into their units.

Participants will take current units of study or create new units with usable work samples/instructional materials. They will also create a lesson or unit plan write up.

92. STI - 6382 - New York City as a Resource: Grand Central Neighborhood Built by Titans of Industry

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12

Dates: 12/6/2024 to 12/7/2024

New

This course examines the impact of a political decision-making process that transforms the Grand Central neighborhood with consequences for the city in the nation. Teachers will research primary source documents as they track the monumental shifts that occurred over the last century in transportation, technology, sociology, science, art, architecture, and economics in the Grand Central area and beyond.

Through multimedia resources including documentary film, photographs, books, primary source documents, internet resources, a guided walking tour, and discussion, participants will examine the Grand Central neighborhood as a study of change over the last century. Instruction will model the case study approach to facilitate the integration of an event into enriching and meaningful lessons for students in technology, science, math, art, architecture, sociology, and economics. Highlighted in the walking tour will be Grand Central Terminal, The Chrysler Building, Rockefeller Center, the NY Public Library, and the Daily News Building, along with the East 42nd St. area. The course will focus on attributes of the Beaux-Arts, Art Deco, and Neo-Gothic architectural styles as they are featured in these buildings. The historical time frame in which each style was en-vogue in America will also be emphasized. We will also be touring the NYC library and Rockefeller Center.

There will be a $20.00 fee which should be given to the STI with the tuition.

93. ST@C - Progress Monitoring at SMS - Session 4

Program: ST@C

Dates: 12/10/2024

New

94. STI - 6384 - Organize Your Google Drive

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12

Dates: 12/13/2024 to 12/14/2024

New

Over the past several years, this year more than ever, Google has become the main source of sharing and organizing resources for teachers. As more information and resources are shared or created digitally, it is essential for teachers to develop a streamlined way to organize and find these resources. Having the ability to quickly find what you need, will not only save time, but will enable teachers to be more efficient in planning and executing lessons/units. Work smarter, not harder.

Does finding a doc or folder in your drive cause you anxiety? This course is designed to help teachers learn quick and easy tips to organize everything in your drive or on your desktop. Participants will learn how to create new folders, shortcuts, share with colleagues and more. As part of the course project, teachers will take a screen shot of their google drive before and after the course. Teachers can also describe how they chose to organize their google drive in a typed reflection. This may include what folder they chose to create and how they plan to continue to use their google drive to help plan and share resources with colleagues. As outside work, teachers will continue to organize their drive and find resources to fill existing/new folders.

95. ST@C - Math & Social Emotional Learning

Program: ST@C

Dates: 12/18/2024

This session will delve into building belonging in math class through the development of social emotional learning competencies. Activities and examples will be provided.

96. STI - 6385 - Create to Learn with Digital Media

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12

Dates: 1/10/2025 to 1/11/2025

New

This is a playful media literacy class designed to introduce tech learners of all experiences to a spectrum of media creation tools for storytelling, expositions, and general merrymaking. This course is meant to shed light on how online content authors create media that can hold our attention, shape our behavior, and influence our beliefs. Learners of all ages need to develop skills for decoding the media content they routinely consume online. In each session, teachers will practice analyzing media (videos, song lyrics, news reports, etc.), preparing them to spot the difference between fact, fiction, and disinformation.

Participants will better understand how to decode media messages and the intent of the content author by learning the techniques to create digital media content. We will use tools such as WeVideo, Adobe Express, Canva, Google Workspace, and more. These tools will help participants design with graphics, video, sound, and text to create content that engages, entertains, persuades, and informs a potentially global audience. Teachers will practice techniques for properly overlaying media elements such as sound, visuals, and text to tell stories and shape behaviors and perceptions. In the end, they will be better informed to help young learners understand how media messengers are influencing the way they see themselves and their world.

Teachers will create various media projects and post them to a shared online resource, so examples are visible to a district audience.

97. STI - 6390 - Google Forms and Spreadsheet Systems

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12

Dates: 1/10/2025 to 1/11/2025

New

This course will delve into building systems with Google Sheets and Google Forms, allowing participants to leverage the power of these tools to automate processes and use data. The class format will feature a breakout model to enable participants to either join workshops that interest them or to continue to work on projects with coordinator support. Workshops will be generated based on participant needs but could include topics such as automatically creating documents from a form, using variables, automating emails, and more. This class will help teachers already familiar with Google Sheets and Forms to build systems that will streamline their practice.

Participants should have a basic working knowledge of Google Sheets and Forms. Participants will have started a Google sheet system by the conclusion of the course.

98. ST@C - Progress Monitoring at SMS - Session 5

Program: ST@C

Dates: 1/13/2025

New

99. STI - 6383 - Gamify Your Classroom

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12

Dates: 1/17/2025 to 1/18/2025

New

This course will explore games that can be brought into the classroom to enhance student learning. Gamification can transform your classroom environment into a fun and engaging space, turning regular classroom activities into a game. Participants will learn different games that are suitable for their grade/class as well as create a new unique game for their students. They will also understand how incorporating games into the classroom promotes student learning and deepens understanding of the subject matter.

Participants will explore a variety of board games and card games-- both old and new-- to discover games that would work in their classrooms. Participants will also brainstorm ways in which these games can be adapted for their specific grade and/or content area. Many games, such as Taboo, Rapid Recall, and Bingo, can be adapted for classroom learning. By thinking creatively, collaborating with colleagues, and playing these games with one another, participants will discover how to use gamification elements to enhance student learning and improve engagement while still addressing goals and standards.

Teachers will create a running Google Doc highlighting the games they have learned about as well as adaptations they can make to have it suit their classroom/grade. On top of this, the culminating project will entail teachers adapting a game for their needs and creating a unique game of their choice to fit their needs.

100. STI - 6386 - Organization for Educators

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12

Dates: 1/21/2025 to 4/1/2025

New

As the demands of work increase, teachers feel incredibly stressed. One way to combat that stress is by creating structure and predictability in our everyday lives. Research shows that organization can help balance and promote efficiency in school and at home.

The purpose of this course is to help teachers create a more organized system(s) that promotes efficiencies both at work and at home. Participants will gain a variety of strategies, techniques, and tools that focus on organizational skills. We employ a DIY/make-it work for your approach. Through collaborations and the sharing of experiences, participants will broaden their awareness of how to organize aspects of their home and work life that will in turn help to alleviate the stressors that they may experience. The primary focus for this course will be on the "Before" and "After" approach (aka the transformation).

Participants must attend all sessions in person. You will create a Google slide show presentation showcasing before and after photos for a total of 12 slides and one reflection slide in response to a given prompt. You will be expected to organize one thing from your home life and one thing from your school life each month that highlights the work that you are doing. There will be 2 hours of independent work organizing your work and home life projects. Participants will also be expected to find a social media or print media that focuses on tips or tricks for organization (Instagram, YouTube, Podcasts, professional journal articles, etc.) that will also be shared with their colleagues as additional resources they can walk away with.

101. STI - 6387 - Exploring SAMR model and ISTE standards in the Hybrid Learning Environment

Program: Scarsdale Teachers Institute

Audience: K-12

Dates: 1/24/2025 to 3/1/2025

New

This course is a work session in which teachers will create new units or upgrade current units of study to fit the hybrid learning environment. The goal is to facilitate changes in the way both content and skills are being delivered to enable students to become autonomous learners. It will also allow for teacher work time where they can evaluate ways in which they can increase their own productivity by using technology for communication and collaboration. Teachers will evaluate current technology use in their classroom and explore how to incorporate technology effectively into hybrid learning to increase engagement and productivity using the SAMR model and International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards. The SAMR model provides a technique for moving through degrees of technology adoption to find meaningful uses of technology in teaching. SAMR is an acronym for Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition.

Participants will learn about both the SAMR model and ISTE standards. The model and standards provide concrete examples of how to develop 21st century learning experiences that build autonomy among their students.

Participants will take current units of study or create new units with usable work samples/instructional materials that can be used in the hybrid learning environment. They will also create a lesson or unit plan write up. This course can be taken for either 1, 2, or 3 credits. It will be adjusted if not taken for the full three credits.

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