TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN A SUPPORTIVE NETWORK. NEW TEACHER/NEW MEMBER COLLEGIAL CIRCLE New Teachers/New Members to our Untenured Teaching Community will collaborate with other teachers from multiple Westchester school districts for 10 sessions for 1.5 hours each, on the next to last Monday of each school month. Earn one-in-service credit. The purpose of this collegial circle is to collaborate, to enhance deep understanding and to promote open discussion on many of the following subjects: *Shared ideas and materials *The Open School Night presentation *Classroom demographics *Report Cards *Parent conferences *Best practices *A shared passion for teaching and learning *The NY State Learning Standards *The NY State assessments (from a historical perspective) *The teaching of essential skills that are assessed on the NY State assessments *Formative and cumulative data of assessments *APPR *Researched-based strategies and real-life applications *Shared success stories and turning negative experiences into positive experiences *Inspiration and Guidance The core text is: Letters to A New Teacher: A Month- by -Month Guide to the Year Ahead, by Jim Burke. Teachers will also read excerpts from educational journals.

TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE WITH A SUPPORTIVE NETWORK. Second and Third Year Teachers will collaborate with other almost new teachers from multiple Westchester school districts for 10 sessions for 1.5 hours each, on the next to last Monday of each school month. Earn one-in-service credit. The purpose of this collegial circle is to collaborate, to enhance deep understanding and to promote open discussion on many of the following subjects: Shared ideas and materials, the Open School Night presentation, classroom demographics, Report Cards, parent conferences, best practices, a shared passion for teaching and learning, Common Core Curriculum, NY State Learning Standards, NY State assessments (from a historical perspective), the teaching of essential skills that are assessed on the NY State assessments, formative and cumulative data of assessments, APPR, researched-based strategies and real-life applications, shared success stories and turning negative experiences into positive experiences. You will receive lots of inspiration and guidance! If you attended the Collegial Circle for New and Untenured Teachers last year or the year before, this course will be different and very valuable for you.

Exploring the human brain and figuring out how it works brings us right into how learning is a social process. Discover how new ideas in neuroscience are providing insights into how students learn and how to engage them in the classroom. Classes with increased student engagement are using strategies such as group work and peer to peer collaboration. Students are taking the lead in their learning while still following specific curriculum guidelines. We will take a look into classrooms that are using strategies to help students become self motivated and take control of their learning. Each participant will share a classroom plan that lists specific strategies and lesson plan ideas that will put their students in the center of learning.

Starting out a new school is always an exciting time full of promise, new ideas and innovative strategies. In this online course, we will explore effective planning and organization strategies for the new school year. We will look at a variety of websites that can assist you in setting up, planning and transforming your classroom into places where differentiated, social emotional learning can take place. Parent and community involvement and technology integration are all essential components for setting the tone for the school year and will also be explored. At the end of this course, you will have the tools you need to begin the new school year with new and innovate ideas to enhance student learning

The goal of this course is to engage K-5 teachers in hands-on activities, investigations, data analysis and productive, collegial talk that includes collaboration and sharing practices. Participants will gain knowledge of STEAM resources and meaningful activities to integrate concepts of Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics. The class will explore the relevant Next Generation Learning Standards to provide a productive and exciting learning environment that prepares students for ongoing interest in STEAM. Session topics include Bridging STEAM to the Standards; Beginning with Phenomena; Engaging Context Data Integration; Engineering, Design and Technology;, and Designing a 5-E Lesson.

All teachers (teaching for at least 3 years) are invited to participate in this cohort meeting 15 hours in the fall and 15 hours in the spring. As you pursue National Board Certification you will be supported throughout the entire process by a facilitator who is always available to you if you have questions or concerns. You will work alongside other experienced teachers embarking on the same voyage, building a network of colleagues from varied school districts. You will receive assistance in applying for the Shanker grant (requires 4 years working in a single district and secured tenure to apply) to defray the cost of NBCT components. Most of all, you will not be working alone without any guidance or support. New, continuing, retake and renewal candidates are invited to join the cohort. NYSUT ELT graduate credit will be available at a cost TBD.

The Writing Institute for National Board Certification, co-sponsored by NYSUT amd the Lower Hudson Teacher Center Network, was created in response to requests from current National Board candidates to provide a collegial environment to support them in completing their portfolios. Candidates have the opportunity to write, read, and reflect in congenial and supportive surroundings on portfolio entries, either working independently, with partners, or in writing groups. The community of writers and reviewers supports the development of portfolio entries and the peer review of videos of their classroom teaching in regards to the Five Core Propositions of what teachers should know and be able to do and the NBPTS Standards. Recognizing that candidates need time for intellectual stimulation, for reading and writing, and exchanging feedback with their colleagues and the professional learning facilitator, the Writing Institute helps teachers exchange ideas and respond to each other's work, enhancing their awareness of effective practices. This Institute is unlike other gatherings because candidates have the opportunity to discuss and listen to issues particular to their unique work, as their work is unfolding. This program is open only to NBC Candidates and Advanced (Retake) Candidates. Materials: Candidates need to bring a laptop computer, flash drive, classroom videos, written commentary entries, student work, NBPTS portfolio directions, standards, and scoring guide. This will be a hybrid course with two five (5) hour days followed by 5 online hours.