Events
(tinyurl.com/telescopeRSVP)
What's happening now?
12/13 Library Services Planning Cohort (Launch 12/13)
Join with a group of BPS colleagues to support one of the most crucial elements of teaching: planning. As a librarian, having the unique experience of planning for multiple grade levels can be challenging. In this planning cohort, you will have the opportunity to work with colleagues to familiarize yourself with grade level content and units so that you are able to cohesively plan lessons. The initial date will be a Unit Planning Launch in person session on December 13th from 9-12pm. The group will then meet virtually during the following Tuesdays or Thursdays, 8:30-9:30am or 2:00 - 3:00pm.
11.21 EOC Edcamp Flyer V.2 .pdf11/21 Edcamp for Educator of Color
Being an educator of color can be equal parts rewarding and challenging. Engage in an open discussion about your experiences, needs, and how identity impacts navigating classroom instruction and/or professional spaces. Join us on November 21st from 5:00 to 7:00pm at the Roxbury Community College Alumni Lounge to connect with colleagues from across the district to discuss the question "What does it mean to be an educator of color in Boston Public Schools?" Dinner will be provided. (Flyer | RSVP)
11/18 SLIFE Educator Connect & Share Panel Disussion
Join Us for the SLIFE Educator In-Person Panel Discussion on 11/18 at Boston Teachers Union Hall. Come for dinner, panel discussion, PD hours & more! This is a great opportunity to connect with colleagues, get ideas, and engage in meaningful conversations about best practices for serving SLIFE students and families.
11/15 High School Student-Centered Illustrative Math (IM) Learning Site
High School Illustrative Math (IM) Learning Site: Are you looking to see Illustrative Math (IM) curriculum in action in a high school classroom? This PD is an opportunity to join other educators for a day in a live classroom around a common area of practice. This learning site on 11/15/24 places the question of “How do we implement IM in a high school classroom to create inclusive, student centered math learning experiences?” within the context of a diverse classroom. Come see a Math 3 (11th grade) high school class at the Dearborn STEM Academy, led by Cindy Nguyen, where students are engaging in grade level, complex, IM tasks. After the observation, educators have a chance to think through and debrief with the host teacher around the hows and whys of their teaching practice with follow up coaching sessions for an ALC/PDPs.
Prior Events
11/4 Inclusive Ed. for OpenSciEd (Middle Grades) Inclusive Ed Advanced Course
"How do we implement the OpenSciEd (OSE) curriculum in an inclusive setting so that all students can succeed?" Join for 12 hour district PD. Led by Kristen Cacciatore & Michelle Carroll (Charlestown High School).
11/1 Decoding Educator Voice
(Nov 2024 BTU Newspaper article) After more than 15 years as a teacher, Mike Garland (Grew Elementary) knows good professional development when he sees it. Last spring, he attended a Telescope Network Learning Site at J.F. Kennedy Elementary and it was exactly what he needed. “I couldn't have designed that, even in my best efforts,” he said. “But that was what I had been asking for: this idea of being able to talk with other teachers and see it modeled efficiently, and to be able to ask questions, and a space to hash it out together.” For Garland, the session on . . .
10/29 Elementary Illustrative Math (IM) Learning Site
This is an opportunity to join other educators for a day in a live classroom around a common area of practice. This learning site on 10/29/24 places the question of “How do we implement IM in an elementary classroom to create inclusive, student centered math learning experiences?” within the context of a diverse classroom. Come see a 3rd grade math class, led by Kayla Cantu (3rd grade teacher) and Liz Bishop (ESL Teacher), where students are engaging in grade level, complex IM tasks. After the observation, educators have a chance to think through and debrief with the host teachers around the hows and whys of their teaching practice with follow up coaching sessions for an ALC/PDPs.
10/28 Emergent Literacy Learning Cohort
Emergent Literacy Learning Cohort is designed to create a space for educators from across BPS to come together to strengthen our understanding of how to support and assess literacy acquisition for students with multiple disabilities. Each session will include presentations from school-based educators and will also include some “open space” for participant-led small group discussions. Light snacks will be provided at each session. Open to MD, ABA, II educators. Also open to related service providers, district staff and others interested in joining.
10.24 PLE Night.pdf10/24 Productive Learning Environment Night
Join us on October 24th to discuss the topic "How do I establish a productive classroom learning environment?" This professional learning experience will provide you with the opportunity to see a productive learning environment in action, debrief with the host teacher and share best practices and resources with other BPS colleagues. Open to all, but recommended for early career educators.
10/8 Early Childhood Inclusive Practices Edcamp
Let’s join together for an Edcamp to talk about how to support early childhood students and their educators. On Tuesday, October 8th, the BPS Early Childhood Department and Telescope Network are co-hosting a virtual Edcamp on Zoom from 5:30 to 7:00pm. Teachers, paraprofessionals, and other early childhood educators can share questions and challenges, connect with colleagues from across the district, and discuss solutions.
10/1 One Teacher’s Journey to Peer Leadership
(Oct BTU Newspaper article) On a Tuesday morning back in April, Bang Pham’s fourth-grade students at the Edison Elementary School in Brighton were working to create narratives featuring characters and events that reflected their lived experiences. After an energetic transition, Bang stood in front of his class reading the end of a story he had written about a visit to the Frog Pond when he was about their age . . .
9/30 Early Childhood Phonics Learning Site
This learning site on 09/30/24 poses the question of “How do we implement tier 1 phonics and phonemic awareness instruction to provide access for all learners?” The site will demonstrate the K2 teacher team's approach to answering this question while thinking through integrating different aspects of the phonics and phonemic awareness curricula. After the observation educators have a chance to think through and debrief with the host teachers around the hows and whys of their teaching practice with potential for follow up coaching sessions for an ALC/PDPs
9/25 Spring 2024 Needs Assessment Report
More than 700 educators across the district told us what they wanted and needed to learn next to best support their students. Read about it in our Spring 2024 Needs Assessment Report.
9/23 Secondary OpenSciEd Planning Cohort
Join a group of BPS secondary (6-12) educators to get support with one of the most crucial elements of teaching: the planning. Unpack the OpenSciEd curriculum, plan content units, and reflect on implementation, with the support of expert teacher facilitators. " Led by Michelle Carroll & Amanda Spence (Charlestown High School)
9/23 SLIFE Planning Cohort
Join with BPS SLIFE colleagues for the topic: "How do we plan SLIFE curriculum in an efficient and effective way to meet the needs of our students?" Led by Mayra Da Rocha (Native Lit @ Muñiz Academy), Faustino Ajanel (Math @ Muñiz Academy), & Kimberly Hursh (ESL @ Charlestown High)
9/13
9/13/24 SLIFE Educators Day of Learning
On September 13, 2024, the Telescope Network in Collaboration with the BPS Office of Multicultural & Multilingual Education hosted a SLIFE Day of Learning at the Boston Teacher’s Union. The purpose of this day was to foster collaboration and community among SLIFE educators as well as provide relevant resources for planning, instruction, and advocacy. We delved into the topic of “What are the highest leverage strategies for meeting the diverse needs of our SLIFE students?” We had 95 educators attend the session from 27 different schools/departments across BPS.
Ongoing
2024-25 Peer Observations
One of the best ways to improve your practice is to observe someone else doing similar work. During a peer observation, you can observe a recommended BPS colleague. After the observation, you’ll have time to debrief and set goals to bring back to your own classroom. Feel free to use our resources/templates to observe & debrief with a BPS colleague or complete the RSVP form if you want help finding a connection or facilitating your visit.