Fall 2025 Offerings

5000 - Elementary PE sports season lessons, Wannat, Audience Elementary PE, Virtual, 10/14 3:45-4:45 (CS)

Not just your typical elementary PE class. This course will explain how to set up sports seasons for different sports and use those seasons as lessons for that certain sport. Everything from a combine, draft, to a regular season and playoffs. 

5001 - Elementary Physical Education Instant Activities. K-2 / 3-6, Couto, Audience Elementary PE, Virtual, 10/16 & 10/17, 3:40- 4:40 (CS)

This course will provide elementary phys ed teachers with different strategies to use for instant activities throughout the year. This will be broken down into 2 sessions. K-2 / 3-6.

5002 - Elementary Phys Ed: Using equipment in various ways for various age groups, Couto, Audience Elementary PE, Virtual, 10/22, 3:40- 4:40 (CS)

Elementary physical education teachers will be introduced to new ways to use old equipment for the entire age group we see, K-6.

5003 - Climate Change in Elementary & Middle School Classrooms, Shipman, Audience: Elementary & MS Teachers, Virtual, 10/22, 3:45- 4:30 (CS)

In this BTA course, I will give an overview of the scientific principles that ground our understanding of climate change, which are affecting New Jersey. This course is designed to support teachers in all disciplines who are new to teaching mandated Climate Change curricula instituted two years ago by the State of New Jersey. New Jersey educators have many resources available in all curriculum areas.  In the past two years, I have attended many professional development training sessions, and I will turnkey resources to teachers in all curricular areas.  I will include a primer on the scientific principles that show how the greenhouse gases released by the burning of fossil fuels heat our atmosphere.  I will also share New Jersey climate teaching resources available from many sources that serve teachers in all departments. 

5004 - Basic Hand Sewing, Hernandez, Audience All, In-Person BHS 209, 10/15 & 10/22, 2:55-4:30 (CS)

Basic hand sewing techniques will be taught that can be applied to close up seams that have come apart, and hem skirts or pants. 

5005 - Tips & Tricks on Eureka Math from Pilot Teachers, Tierney & Fries, Audience K-5, Virtual, 10/15, 3:30- 4:40 (CS)

Eureka Math Pilot teachers (grades 1 and 3) will share their experiences, tips, and tricks from a full year of the Eureka Math Squared program. 

5006 - Eureka Math- Q & A [Brookdale ONLY] Gallagher, Audience Brookdale, In-Person Brookdale Media Center, 10/15, 3:35- 4:35 (CS)

Goal: Gather as a group to discuss the 'ins and outs' of the NEW Eureka Math program. Brainstorm strategies for success. Share ideas from my pilot year to support a smooth transition. 

5007 - BOOK CLUB: Building Thinking Classrooms in MATHEMATICS classroom K-12, Roche & Benevento, Audience K-5 Math, Virtual, 11/18, 3:35- 4:35 (CS)

This book club is for elementary educators interested in transforming their mathematics instruction by creating a classroom environment where students think. We will explore the research-based teaching practices outlined in Peter Liljedahl's influential book, Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics, Grades K-12. Through a book club format, we will collaborate to share thoughts and implement strategies

5008 - Prereferral & I&RS - Hibstervention refresher, Roche, Audience Watsessing, & all teachers, In-Person Watsessing MC, 11/11, 3:35- 4:35 (CS)

Creating a Pre-Referral for I&RS and then also creating an I&RS plan within the program 

5009 - Math Discourse: How Student Discourse Can Elevate Your Math Block, Cappello, Audience Grades 2-5 Math, In-Person TBD, 10/23, 3:45-4:45 (CS)

This course will discuss strategies to get students actively engaged in discussions and activities during the math block and immerse them in a math-talk-rich environment.

5010 - Updating the district repertoire archive, Chimento-Tichacek & Truskolawski, Audience Elementary Music, In-Person BHS Mac Lab, 10/29, 3:45- 5:45 (CS)

Teachers work on their individual repertoire lists with track links. Teachers collaborate on concert ideas. Participants upload CDs to Google Drive and upload pre-existing MP3s to a shared folder. Teachers who sign up can help with 1 or both objectives.

5011 - Elementary Theatre Initiative, Doemling, Audience All Interested in Theatre Develop, In-Person BHS Theatre, 10/17, 4-5:30 (CS)

Development of theatre Teacher/Director proficiency in delivering a theatre program for Bloomfield schools.

5012 - Teaching ELLs in a Content Area Classroom, Sconfienza, Audience All, Virtual, 10/15, 3:45- 4:45 (CS)

I will provide background on the English Language Learners in your classroom, strategies that can help you best reach them, and resources to use right away.

5013 - Teaching Math with Children’s Literature, Soncfienza, Audience Math Teachers, Virtual, 11/12, 3:45- 4:45 (CS)

I will discuss the benefits of and strategies for using children's literature in a math classroom, and how it can positively impact your students' understanding of math, not only in an elementary classroom.

5014 - Fostering Mathematical Mindsets, Sconfienza, Audience All, Virtual, 11/19, 3:45- 4:45 (CS)

I will discuss how to positively impact your students’ mathematical mindset with different strategies and approaches that help combat math anxiety.

5015 - Building Writing ToolKits for Small Groups, Dimeck, Audience K-5 Teachers, In-Person Admin Tech Training Center, 10/22 & 11/11 3:45- 4:45 (CS)

Is preparation throwing a wrench into Writer's Workshop? Not anymore! This BTA will be two sessions: the first session is virtual, second session is in-person. Our first session focuses on how to create a writing toolkit that can be used in your small writing groups. At our second in-person session, teachers will bring in toolkits created for their current unit. This is a time for us to share ideas and materials. 

5016 - Eureka Math Round Table, Herzog, Audience Watsessing, In-Person Watsessing MC, 10/23, 3:35- 5:15 (CS)

Watsessing Staff: We will gather and discuss how your first few weeks have gone implementing the new program. There will be time spent going over the website and the module slides. I will share some tips and tricks from my pilot year as well! 

5017 - Math Intervention Deep Dive, Mele, Audience BMS Math, In-Person BMS Rm 125, 10/14, 3:35- 4:35 (CS)

We are going to look at the data of our students on assessments in LinkIt to see what growth has occurred and determine what we can do to help accelerate their performance. We will focus on the students we currently have in our Math Lab sections.

5018 - Gizmo Recommendations for 3rd-8th, Lewis, Audience Grades 3-5 Science & 6-8 Teachers, Virtual, 10/15, 4-4:45 (ET)

Gizmos can be aligned to science standards. We will go through how to search Gizmos by standard as well as recommended simulations for each standard and each unit per grade. 

5019 - Brisk AI for the K-12 Classroom, Musto, Audience All, Virtual, 10/8, 3:30- 4:30 (ET)

Show teachers how to use this simple AI extension through Google Chrome. Turning YouTube videos and websites into quick guided notes or form quizzes. 

5020 - Quizziz now Wayground, Conte & Herzog, Audience Watsessing, In-Person Watsessing MC, 10/15, 3:35- 5:15 (ET)

How to use the program Quizziz ( which is now Wayground) to bridge classroom realities and curriculum expectations with a platform that's AI-supported. WA Staff only.

5021 - Navigating IMSE LAB, Chern, Audience ELA Interventionists & IMSE Trained SE Teachers, Virtual, 10/29, 3:30- 4:30 (ET)

Participants will learn to navigate the new LAB (formerly IOG+). Get tips for saving time and lesson planning.

5023 - Newsela: Developing Decoding Skills for Older Readers, Johnson & Arnold, Audience Grades 3-12, Virtual, 10/21, 3:30- 5 (ET)

A professional development representative from Newsela will guide participants in understanding how to access and use decodable texts aimed at older readers, as well as highlight the many new tools geared toward enhancing student engagement (Text Leveler, Translation, Graphic Organizer Generator).

5024 - BrainPop Dig Deeper for Differentiation, Shipman, Audience K-8, Virtual, 11/10, 3:45- 4:28 (ET)

BrainPop has new features that make it very useful for many classroom tasks. In this BTA class, find out how to use the leveled reader to differentiate for your students. See the new formats of the quizzes that use higher-level questions to prepare students for state testing. Teachers can differentiate by assigning at three different reading levels, and you can also assign the new vocabulary builder for individual students. The new vocabulary builder supports many learners at their own level. For students who complete work early, view the coding activities available, which are a great extension for go-ahead students. You also have the option to assign Make-a-Movie. The district offers BrainPOP ELL in every grade, so you have support evaluating your students and giving them on-level reading and writing tasks. I will create a PowerPoint with embedded instructions to share with all participants. 

5022 - NotebookLM for Educators: Your New Teaching Sidekick, Luca, Audience Brookdale, In-Person Brookdale MC, 11/11, 3:25- 4:25 (GS)

Learn how to use Google NotebookLM to be your co-pilot in the classroom. This hands-on session will show you how to quickly turn a PDF, website, or article into a quiz, generate differentiated learning materials, and brainstorm new project ideas—all in a fraction of the time. You'll leave with a new AI tool to make your teaching more efficient and your lessons more interactive and dynamic.

5025 - The Teacher's AI Assistant: Gemini for Smarter Lesson Planning, Agens, Audience All, In-Person Admin Tech Training, 10/9, 3:45- 5:15 (GS)

This course is for the busy teacher who wants to save time and streamline their daily tasks. It focuses on using Gemini as a practical, reliable co-pilot to help with the most common and time-consuming parts of the job.

5026 - The Teacher's AI Assistant: Gemini for Smarter Lesson Planning, Agens, Audience All, Virtual, 10/16 3:45-5:15 (GS)

This course is for the busy teacher who wants to save time and streamline their daily tasks. It focuses on using Gemini as a practical, reliable co-pilot to help with the most common and time-consuming parts of the job.

5027 - The Teacher's AI Assistant: Gemini for Smarter Lesson Planning, Agens, Audience All, Virtual, 10/23, 6:30-8 (GS)

This course is for the busy teacher who wants to save time and streamline their daily tasks. It focuses on using Gemini as a practical, reliable co-pilot to help with the most common and time-consuming parts of the job.

5028 - Beyond the Basics: Sparking Creativity with Gemini in the Classroom, Agens, Audience All, In-Person Admin Tech Training, 11/13, 3:45- 5:15 (GS)

This course is designed for teachers who are ready to move past the fundamentals and use AI to create fresh, innovative learning experiences. It's about using Gemini as a creative partner to design projects and activities that get students excited about learning.

5029 - Beyond the Basics: Sparking Creativity with Gemini in the Classroom, Agens, Audience All, Virtual, 11/20, 3:45- 5:15 (GS)

This course is designed for teachers who are ready to move past the fundamentals and use AI to create fresh, innovative learning experiences. It's about using Gemini as a creative partner to design projects and activities that get students excited about learning.

5030 - Beyond the Basics: Sparking Creativity with Gemini in the Classroom, Agens, Audience All, Virtual, 11/24, 6:30-8 (GS)

This course is designed for teachers who are ready to move past the fundamentals and use AI to create fresh, innovative learning experiences. It's about using Gemini as a creative partner to design projects and activities that get students excited about learning.

5031 - How to Teach MLs, Ortiz, Audience All, Virtual, 10/21 & 10/28, 3:45- 4:45 (OT)

This course will help provide concrete ways to teach MLs in all grades. Ideas, connections, and various forms of communication will be demonstrated.

5032 - Conferencing in STEAM: How to scale Elementary Reading Instructional Practices, Bsales, Audience All, In-Person BHS 204, 10/28 & 11/18, 3- 4 (OT)

This course will help teachers build confidence in their ability to use Conferencing as an instructional strategy. Based on the principles described in "How's It Going" and my book chapter about conferencing in STEM, I will help teachers understand how Conferencing can be used in the classroom. Often used as an Elementary School Writing strategy, this instructional strategy can be used in all content areas. There will be time to discuss teachers' experience with the strategy, what works for them, and how they can implement this strategy in the classroom to... build relationships, assess student understanding informally, scaffold instruction, find teachable moments, identify student and class misunderstandings, and much more!

5033 - How to Create a Safe Environment for LGBTQ+ Students, Schiavone, Audience All, Virtual, 10/29, 4- 5 (OT)

The course will discuss ways to create a safe environment for LGBTQ+ students, statistics, news, and relevant terms. 

5034 - Parent Teacher Conferences & Report Cards 101 *New(er) Staff*, Cappello & Dimeck, Audience Elementary Teachers in Years 1-3, In-Person TBD, 10/21, 3:45- 4:45 (OT)

This BTA is for elementary staff in their first three years of teaching. We will be discussing parent-teacher conferences while sharing materials and resources to provide a meaningful conversation. We will also look at the district's standards-based report card and provide strategies to help teachers feel confident when assessing their students.

5035 - Treating Medical Issues and Emergencies, Kissane, Audience Brookdale, In-Person Brookdale MC, 10/22, 3:25- 4:25 (OT)

This training is designed to equip staff with the essential knowledge and skills to confidently and effectively respond to common medical emergencies in a school setting. Led by the school nurse, this hands-on session will provide practical guidance on the proper use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and the administration of critical allergy and seizure medications.

5036 - Motivation in the Classroom, Sconfienza, Audience, All, Virtual 10/22, 3:45- 4:45 (OT)

I will provide strategies like math money, our mantra, class jobs, and tickets that help me manage my classroom and motivate my students in real-world ways.

5037 - Elementary PE puzzles and strategy games, Wannat, Audience Elementary PE, Virtual, 10/16, 3:45- 4:45 (SE)

This course will go over different ways to incorporate puzzles into the gym and go over different strategy games that go along with that. 

5038 - K-6 - Sp. Ed Articulation & Collaboration Network, Roche, Kahn & Favato, Audience K-6 Spec Ed, Virtual, 10/23, 3:35- 5:35 (SE)

Build community in our elementary Special Education department by getting to know one another. We can discuss and validate the experiences of our colleagues through discussion and discourse, outlining our wins and losses, and helping one another problem-solve and strengthen our "teacher toolboxes" with additional resources and learning new techniques and skills to help our students learn and grow even more!

5039 - Transforming Middle School Math Standards to an IEP Goal Session 1, Rodriguez, Audience BMS Spec Ed Math, In-Person BMS 125, 10/30, 3:40- 4:40 (SE)

7th and 8th-grade special education math teachers will collaborate to transform middle school math standards into IEP goals and objectives.

5040 - H41 Transforming Middle School Math Standards to an IEP Goal Session 2, Rodriguez, Audience BMS Spec Ed Math, In-Person BMS 125, 11/20, 3:40- 4:40 (SE)

7th and 8th-grade special education math teachers will collaborate to transform middle school math standards into IEP goals and objectives.