In-Person and Virtual Synchronous Seminars
Constructivist Teaching and Learning - Participants will explore how students learn when they “build” the learning for themselves (3 hour)
Crafting a Learning Community for Classroom Discussions - Effective and powerful classroom discussions do not just occur; they require a learning community that fosters their development. The use of different types of norms, selected scaffolds, and knowledge of the stages and continuum of classroom discussion are explored. (3 hour)
Creating a Culturally Responsive Classroom - Culturally responsive instructional practices honor and support this diversity, connecting learning to students' cultural and linguistic background while building on prior experiences. As a result, educators create an inclusive environment that is accessible and relatable to all students. (3 hour)
Designing Effective Instruction and Learning for English Learners - The five high-leverage principles presented in this seminar synthesize the work of leading scholars and educators and reflect basic practices that can improve teaching and learning for English learners across the content areas. Participants will examine evidence-based instructional strategies that can be incorporated into daily lesson plans and routines as well as determine effective ways to teach and assess both language and disciplinary content. (3 hour)
Differentiated Instruction: Connecting With All Learners - This session raises awareness of research that supports instructional differentiation and examines the basic elements of two differentiation models. The seminar addresses the planning, teaching and learning aspects of differentiated instruction that all teachers may experience. (3 hour)
Differentiating Instruction - Participants will discuss developing an array of strategies for sharing differences, identifying similarities, and embracing diversity with the learning environment. (1 hour)
Educating English Learners in Elementary Classrooms - This seminar, designed for elementary teachers, focuses on language acquisition and the challenges ELLs at different proficiency levels face in the mainstream classroom. Teachers will experience a variety of research-based strategies and modifications and learn how to apply them in lesson plans that foster the academic achievement of ELLs in their classes. (3 hour)
Effective Questioning - In this seminar, participants will explore the different purposes of questioning, classify questions according to purpose, and better understand Bloom’s Taxonomy and Webb’s Depth of Knowledge. (3 hour)
Establishing Inclusive Classrooms Where Newcomer ELLs Thrive - Newcomer students are recently-arrived immigrants representative of a range of languages, cultures, school experiences, literacy skills, and immigration circumstances. Guided by Eight Promising Practices, participants will learn ways to create an inclusive classroom for newcomer ELLs with spaces that embrace the voices of linguistically diverse communities and provide pathways for authentic learning opportunities.
Growth Mindset, Growing Minds to Achieve Success - This seminar explores how to develop an environment that encourages a growth mindset, discusses growth vs. fixed mindset. (3 hour)
Identifying Individual Differences - Teachers will identify gaps in students’ interest, experience and ability that challenge student learning and then identify strategies to bridge those gaps. (1 hour)
Including English Learners: Strategies for Academic Success - In this seminar, participants explore four research-based recommendations for engaging English learners in subject area instruction. Participants will view real life classroom examples and experience practical hands-on activities that can be applied across grade levels and content areas. (3 hour)
Increasing Comprehension of ELLs for SRPs - This seminar will familiarize participants with who our English language learners are and the challenges that they face as they acquire a new language. Participants will have the opportunity to examine how critical culture is and its impact on an English learner’s identity as well as explore strategies for making information more comprehensible and accessible to ELLs. (3 hour)
Instructional Supports for English Language Learners - Geared for general education teachers, this seminar will help participants design effective content-area instruction while they explore research-based strategies, instructional guidelines and resources for helping ELLs succeed. (3 hour)
Language Acquisition and Learning - Through exposure to research literature and information on language acquisition theory, you will gain a deeper understanding of the intersection of language and learning. Educators will be guided to reflect on how language development affects instruction and learning in their own classrooms. (3 hour)
Meet Individual Needs - Participants will discuss how to create a culture of learning, utilizing multiple methods to meet individual student needs. (1 hour)
Planning for the Success of ELLs in Content Classes - This seminar provides the opportunity to examine research-based strategies and approaches that assist ELLs in meeting rigorous grade-level standards through a step-by-step breakdown of the lesson planning process that includes scaffolded language and content objectives. (3 hour)
Planning Goals and Instructional Goal Setting - Participants will discuss setting goals in planning and instruction to address the challenges in differentiating learning goals. This session will help clarify concepts and provide participants an opportunity to practice the process. (1 hour)
SIFE Success: Know Your Students and Strategies! - Help! I have a newcomer in my classroom! What should I do? Teachers can start by taking this foundational seminar on Students with Interrupted Formal Education (SIFE) students and spend time exploring characteristics of SIFE students to better serve their needs in the classroom. (3 hour)
Teaching Students to Ask Questions - Participants will be introduced to, and work closely with, a protocol proven to encourage active classroom involvement and the development of questioning skills in students. (3 hour)
SRP Seminar: Cognitive Strategies and Engagement - This seminar delves into multiple strategies for educators to create that rich learning environment and motivate our 21st century students. (3 hour)
SRP Seminar: Learning Preferences: Four Styles for Success - In this seminar participants will examine four learning preferences or modes: kinesthetic, tactual, auditory and visual. Through a variety of experiential activities participants will assess their own comfort levels in the four modes and rate their learning strengths in each.
SRP Seminar: Poverty and its Effect on Learning - This seminar provides an overview of how to engage students dealing with poverty. (3 hour)
