This is "hybrid" course for Algebra 2 Honors and Precalculus Honors students combines face-to-face instructional meetings with student prior knowledge and self-study skills to deliver a full year honors curriculum in five weeks. provides all the skills necessary to support the successful completion of Honors Precalculus and/or AP Calculus. The face-to-face instructional periods take place three days a week for 5 weeks. ...more »
At this moment many students that have learning disabilities or cognitive disibilities spend part of their k-12 education learning about the world of work. They learn this by taking work based learning classes that allow them to go to work for part of their school day and earn credit toward a high school diploma or a certificate of completion. Many of these students require a job coach so they can be successful. This ...more »
Literacy skills have been emphasized in the Common Core as skills that cross disciplines; however, many teachers seem uncomfortable with their own understanding of these skills and/or are proceeding by simply attaching a standard to activities they've always done instead of placing the skills of the standards first and collaborating with teachers for both horizontal and vertical scaffolding. How can we reshape our thinking ...more »
Ten-minute take aways are short, meaningful professional development sessions designed to introduce a skill, strategy, or activity to teachers. As an instructional leader, I believe it is my responsibility to have an awareness of the needs of my teachers and to find the most effective ways to share a variety of best practices to meet their needs. I will share ideas for how to present short, meaningful professional ...more »
Every day there are amazing things happening in our classrooms. One of my goals is to ensure that there are opportunities for my teachers to observe one another, share strategies, and collaborate. I would often hear talk of peers wanting to observe one another but rarely was there ever follow through. My instructional coach and I created "Classroom Connections", the opportunity for our teachers to make a connection ...more »
I have begun discussions with my central administration about creating hybrid positions within the district in order to help support a number of different initiatives that we have on-going. For instance, we are piloting a teacher evaluation system this year, and it goes live next school year. Between the administrators also having a new evaluation program, there is simply not enough capacity to support teachers learning ...more »
As of May 2015, Mount Holyoke College in partnership with the National Network of State Teachers of the Year will be launching a new program to support and develop teacher leaders nationally. This program is built around the Teacher Leader Model Standards, the Teacher Leadership Competencies, and the National Board Five Core Propositions. Teachers will be able to earn stackable certificates as they work on building personal ...more »
Sometimes beginning teachers do not have the support system of a mentor, or a PLC, or an immediate colleague, to help them create innovative teaching. Immediate inspiration could be achieved by the "I.N.S.P.I.R.E. Nation Network" and could be the uncomplicated resource to help new teachers find the help they need, immediately. District Professional Learning departments simply create a "go-to" online site on their main ...more »
As the Common Core Standards is implemented, early childhood educators are concerned that alignment of the developmentally appropriate curriculum may be jeopardized by inappropriate assessment practices. We want to use authentic learning experiences that are concrete and developmentally appropriate, followed by appropriately authentic assessment. No 'standardized assessment' - one right answer - bubble sheets' for young ...more »
Teachers of many years experience are valuable resources at the university level for teacher preparation programs and research in best practices, developmentally appropriate assessments, and many more areas of national concern. Career pathways must be established and made readily available so that these teachers who have sustained a career in the classroom may advance to support the education of teachers and the development ...more »
There are many components to teaching in an urban environment outside of curriculum and classroom management. Many teachers entering urban education lack the knowledge of family background, family and community struggles, community dynamics, and how to assist families in their academic, social, and emotional journey. In order to better prepare and retain urban teachers, a scaffolded mentoring and professional development ...more »
Societal rules, basic etiquette, and the definition of respect should be a mandatory workshop at the high school freshman level (or earlier). It is the moral choices, a family support system, and knowledge of different cultures that divide our society. As we see less familial guidance, it is the responsibility of the village to teach our new generations. As educators we strive for all of our students to succeed, but ...more »