Summer 2024 Courses

One of the main functions of the Erie Catt Teacher Center is to provide professional learning opportunities for educators (teachers, teaching assistants, teacher aides, and all other school-related professionals). ECTC sponsors classes to support State educational initiatives and partners with other Centers to extend opportunities.

Responsibilities

Teachers who wish to take an ECTC course must register online.
Attend and complete all requirements for classes in which you have successfully enrolled.
Upon completing the course, participants are required to complete our Course Evaluation Form.
If you are unable to participate in a course after you've registered, you must notify ECTC two weeks prior by contacting Joe Winiecki at 716-805-3125, jwiniecki@e2ccb.org.

Erie-Catt Teacher Center Registration Policy

Registration Fee Policy

A Registration Fee of $1 per hour is charged for each Course
(Example: Greatest ECTC Course Ever - 15 hours: Registration Fee = $15)

Please follow the policy below to ensure a smooth registration process:

Complete one online registration form for each course you would like to register for (i.e., if you register for two courses, please complete two registration forms).
Make payment to E2CC BOCES (check or money order) by the payment due date below - one check for each course (this will enable us to return checks if a course does not run or you would like to drop out of a course before the withdrawal deadline). If the name on the check does not match your registration name, please add a note with the payment. Please write the course name on the memo line. Follow this procedure for each course you register for.
Send your payment via US Mail to: Erie-Catt Teacher Center, c/o Joe Winiecki, 3000 Schoolview Road, Eden, NY 14057
- OR -
Inter-School Mail to: Erie-Catt Teacher Center, Eden GLP, c/o Joe Winiecki
Confirmation - After you register online you will receive an email that we received your registration (at the email address indicated on the registration form(s) you submitted). Once the Erie-Catt Teacher Center receives your payment (check or money order), we will confirm your course participation to the email address you provided. We will send a course reminder email a week or two before the course start date.
Refunds - Registration refunds will be issued in the following ways: Payment(s) will be returned or a refund will be sent if the course fails to run. Payment(s) will be returned or a refund will be sent if you request to withdraw from the course a minimum of 2 weeks before the start date. No Refund will be given if you do not complete the course. No refund will be given if you withdraw within 2 weeks of the start date of the course. Regarding additional sections: Payment(s) will be returned if you are on a waiting list and additional section(s) of the course are not scheduled. Once additional dates are scheduled for the additional section, you will have additional time to reply to express your desire to attend or withdraw.

As always, contact the Center if you have questions.

Course Registration Information

Individuals may register for as many courses as they like. Individuals will be notified of the status of their course registration(s). Individuals should complete one form for each class they would like to register for and make payment before the deadline date. Multiple course registrations cannot be put on a single form. Contact the Center if you have questions: 716-805-3125 - or email: jwiniecki@e2ccb.org.

If you are interested in a course and your District requires prior approval, please seek that prior approval now. Obtaining prior approval now will reduce registration issues. In some situations, educators register and drop courses due to their District not approving the course, or not approving the course in a timely fashion. We appreciate your consideration of this matter.

Summer 2024 Course Registration Form Link

Summer 2024 Course Registration OPENS on May 13th, 2024

Summer 2024 Course Registration CLOSES on June 5th, 2024

Summer Course Registration Fees are Due by June 11th, 2024 (or sooner)

SUMMER 2024 COURSES

SECTION 1

7/1/24 - 7/21/24

Compassion Fatigue Awareness: Resilience in Professional Practice

Mykal Karl 15 Hours Online 7/1/24 - 7/21/24

Avoid symptoms of burnout by understanding your own stressors and the practical treatments to lessen them. Learn how to leverage the power of self-regulation, intentionality, and perpetual maturation to combat Compassion Fatigue. Rate your own level of compassion satisfaction and leave with tools to increase your professional resiliency.

Diversity, Equality & Inclusion-Let’s Open Our Minds!

Kathy Halter 15 Hours Online 7/1/24 - 7/21/24

Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion is a practice designed to make people of various backgrounds feel welcome and ensure they have support to perform to the fullest of their abilities in the workplace and classroom. During this 15-hour workshop, we empower our minds and hearts so that we are a little more prepared to reflect, think, and dialog toward educational equality in the classroom and workplace.

Enhancing Students with Special Needs Communication in the Classroom

Heather Kerr-Puleo 15 Hours Online 7/1/24 - 7/21/24

This course will focus on increasing students with special needs communication in the classroom. It will cover information about language skills (receptive/expressive/social), language processing disorders, and tips on how to increase student’s communication in the classroom and throughout the school day. The course is run on Google Classroom.

Exercise & Movement for Students & Teachers

Melissa Hartnett 15 Hours Online 7/1/24 - 7/21/24

Teachers and students have very high demands, and these demands continue to increase. There are some things out of our control, but finding activities to help improve mental health is something we can have some control over. Statistically, there has been an association between physical activity and mental well-being. When an individual’s mental well-being is more positive, they can perform better at school, their job, and in life. There are many workout programs out there and many ask the question, “Where do I start?” In this course, you will explore and complete numerous workout programs for yourself and your students, as well as learn about the benefits of each of them. You will then develop a workout routine for yourself and a workout routine to implement in your classroom. You will explore workouts on YouTube, as well as look at different apps (many of these programs give you a free trial, so you don’t need to subscribe unless you really like it). This course is taught by a personal trainer who has obtained certification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

Increasing Rigor and Relevance

Peter Herman 9 Hours Online 7/1/24 - 7/21/24

The Rigor/Relevance Framework is a tool developed by the International Center to examine curriculum, instruction, and assessment. The class will allow you to take your lesson/activities through a vetting process to increase its rigor and relevance to your students’ lives so that true learning and ownership can take place. It can be used in the development of both instruction and assessment. In addition, teachers can use it to monitor their own progress in adding rigor and relevance to their instruction and to select appropriate instructional strategies for differentiating instruction and facilitating higher achievement goals.

“Leading and Managing a Differentiated Classroom” 2nd Edition-Tomlinson and Imbeau - Online Book Study

Karen Waugaman 15 Hours Online 7/1/24 - 7/21/24

In this 15-hour book study, teachers reflect on their current knowledge of differentiation and what they believe the roadblocks are. They will go on to reflect on their belief system as a teacher and their vision for differentiation while reading the corresponding chapters in the book. Tied into Chapters 4 and 5, they will reflect on the benefits of learning environment and management using differentiation. Going with Chapters 6 and 7, participants will reflect on their yes/but reasons and why and how to work around them. As their final assignment, teachers will write either a differentiated unit/lesson plan or an anecdotal piece about how they will incorporate differentiation. The ECTC has a limited number of course books for loan to those who confirm their registration. Contact the Center to be put on the list to borrow a copy of the book.

Tackling the Motivation Crisis–Mike Anderson - Book Study

Jonathan Erwin 15 Hours Online 7/1/24 - 7/21/24

Students’ motivation is at an all-time low. This asynchronous online book study will examine some of the things that are wrong with the way educators attempt to motivate students to behave responsibly, as well as to learn and perform academically. Author Mike Anderson goes on to offer alternative approaches that work much better than the carrot-and-stick approaches we’ve used for decades. The ECTC has a limited number of course books for loan to those who confirm their registration. Contact the Center to be put on the list to borrow a copy of the book.

SECTION 2

7/22/24 - 8/11/24

Embracing Artificial Intelligence as an Educator

Kathy Halter 15 Hours Online 7/22/24 - 8/11/24

For our students, (AI) Artificial Intelligence is going to be part of their world. As educators, that means we are embarking on new territory. Let’s take the next 15 hours to get a basic understanding of AI and its implications as educators.

First in Math Program Introduction

Jennifer Kibler 15 Hours Online 7/22/24 - 8/11/24

The First In Math online math program is a supplemental program that is available to all schools free of charge. This course will provide an overview of the program to all K-6 teachers. Participants will learn how to get started in the classroom, monitor student growth, suggest content to students, recognize student achievements, focus on fact strategies and matching assessments, focus on word problems, and motivate students with the fun and exciting games offered through the program. Teachers will begin by setting up the class account if their school is not already set up. Then they will learn about and have students participate in areas that match their grade level (K-2 World, Math Facts, Very Important Facts, Skill Sets, Know and Show Word Problems, Computational Thinking World, Measurement World, etc.) If your school is not set up, you will receive a demo account.

A Guide to a Healthier Teacher & Student: Macros & Nutrition

Melissa Hartnett 15 Hours Online 7/22/24 - 8/11/24

Do you find yourself struggling to make healthy food choices … and with the most effective approach to teaching students about healthy foods and snacks? Do you want to help them with this life skill (and help yourself)? Have you ever felt that you struggle with nutrition? You may sometimes feel like you (and your students) can’t give it your/their all while at school (and in life) - and it may be because you have questions about nutrition. There are so many fad diets out there, but unless you can commit to something for the rest of your life, you will be back to where you started. As teachers, we talk about the importance of our students eating well-balanced meals but tend to forgo this for ourselves. This wellness course will teach you how to achieve a healthier lifestyle through nutrition, specifically counting macros. The instructor is a certified nutrition coach through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. You will be taught about the basics of and how to track macros. The instructor will look at food logs and give encouragement to help you feel more accountable. Nutrition coaching can be very beneficial but can cost a lot. You will learn about this lifestyle change and how you look at food (and the instructor will help you calculate your macros). You will feel better about yourself and have more energy to perform better while teaching. You can modify what you learned about eating healthy to whatever grade level you teach! **This course requires a Facebook account to access a specific group regarding macros. Some assignments will be shared on Google Classroom while others will be shared via email, so participants don’t have to share personal information about their nutrition with the whole class. This is a no-judgment class.

Reaching and Teaching Children Exposed to Trauma by Barbara Sorrels, EdD

Karen Waugaman 15 Hours Online 7/22/24 - 8/11/24

As early childhood professionals, teachers play a key role in the early identification of maltreatment and unhealthy patterns of development. We are also the gateway to healing. We will discuss tools and strategies to connect harmed children and start them on the path to healing. Although this book is geared toward younger learners, strategies can be applied to K-12. The ECTC has a limited number of course books for loan to those who confirm their registration. Contact the Center to be put on the list to borrow a copy of the book.

Social Emotional Learning in the Classroom & Therapy

Heather Kerr-Puleo 15 Hours Online 7/22/24 - 8/11/24

This course is an introduction to Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in the classroom and/or therapy rooms. It will cover information about SEL, the benefits of using SEL with the special education population, and includes tips/tricks on how to use this in classrooms and therapy to help enhance everyday learning for our students!

Sticks and Stones - Implicit Bias, Stereotypes, and Microaggressions - NYSUT

Winiecki/Baldwin 15 Hrs Hybrid (4 hrs in person at the Erie-Catt Teacher Center 7/24/24 from 9 am - 1:30 pm - 30 min lunch on your own / 11 hrs online) 7/22-8/11/24

Learn how to promote social unity and increase cultural awareness in your school and community by attending this new NYSUT workshop for members and local affiliates. The goal is to bridge cultural divides and make our schools and communities more welcoming and inclusive places for people of all abilities and backgrounds by helping participants see beyond their own personal worldviews.

SECTION 3

8/12/24 - 9/1/24

Becoming the Math Teacher You Wish You'd Had - Part 1

Darlene Rombola 15 Hours Online 8/12/24 - 9/1/24

K-12 Math Educators: Online and fully asynchronous. Mathematicians describe mathematics as "playful," "beautiful," and "creative." Students sometimes describe math as "boring," "useless," and even "humiliating." In Becoming the Math Teacher You Wish You'd Had, Tracy Zager helps teachers close this gap by making math class more like mathematics. Join us in a rich conversation about what mathematicians do and the mathematical habits they possess. In Part 1 we will read and discuss Chapters 1-4. We will also engage in supplemental activities to help deepen our understanding of the habits of mind of mathematicians. Together we will move towards authentic, delightful, and robust teaching and learning of mathematics and student success. You must have access to the book Becoming the Math Teacher You Wish You'd Had by Tracy Zager. The ECTC has a limited number of course books for loan to those who confirm their registration. Contact the Center to be put on the list to borrow a copy of the book.

Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults Book Study (by Kimmerer)

Mykal Karl 15 Hours Online 8/12/24 - 9/1/24

Drawing from her experiences as an indigenous scientist, botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer demonstrated how all living things―from strawberries and witch hazel to water lilies and lichen―provide us with gifts and lessons every day in her best-selling book Braiding Sweetgrass. Adapted for young adults by Monique Gray Smith, this new edition reinforces how wider ecological understanding stems from listening to the earth’s oldest teachers: the plants around us. Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults brings indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and the desire to understand diversity to every educator, from elementary to secondary, from science to the arts. This book is a paradigm shifter. The ECTC has a limited number of course books for loan to those who confirm their registration. Contact the Center to be put on the list to borrow a copy of the book.

First in Math Games for Grades K-2

Jennifer Kibler 15 Hours Online 8/12/24 - 9/1/24

The First In Math online math program is a supplemental online program that is available to all schools free of charge. Demo accounts will be provided to any teachers who do not already have school accounts. This course will provide game overviews and explorations for Kindergarten,1st, and 2nd grade teachers. The class will be divided into 8 sections that match areas of the online program: 1) An Overview; 2) Just the Facts, Very Important Facts, and Practice Gyms; 3) Skills Sets; 4) Know and Show Word Problems; 5) Measurement World; 6) Computational Thinking; 7) Bonus Games 1; and 8) Bonus Games 2. As teachers explore each area, they will watch videos/read directions for each game and try out the game in student mode. Participants will learn the focus content for each game, determine which games best support the learning in their classroom/current program, gain skills needed to introduce games to their students, and conclude the class with their own chart of selected games that best match their curriculum.

Getting Started With Canva

Kathy Halter 15 Hours Online 8/12/24 - 9/1/24

There are now many tools that allow you to make all sorts of professional-looking graphics, but my favorite one right now is Canva! Let's take the next 15 hours to learn and explore all possibilities for your classroom. It's fun, easy and has so many classroom applications! A final project is required.

Mental Health: Helping Students with Anxiety and Depression

Mark Hanes 15 Hours Online 8/12/24 - 9/1/24

Mental health issues are increasing among adolescents, and schools are recognizing the need for mental health education. This course will help educators learn more about anxiety and depression, dispel common myths about these disorders, and identify risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems.

What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Dr. Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey

Karen Waugaman 15 Hours Online 8/12/24 - 9/1/24

Through deeply personal conversations, Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce Perry explore how what happened to us in early childhood influences the people we become. They challenge us to shift our focus from "What's wrong with you?" to "What happened to you?" In this book study, we will focus on understanding behavior but also trauma's effects on our own lives. It is a subtle shift in our approach to trauma in our own lives and in how we work in the classroom that will help us clear a path to the future. The ECTC has a limited number of course books for loan to those who confirm their registration. Contact the Center to be put on the list to borrow a copy of the book.

Instructional Materials Creation Workshops (formerly titled "Working Wednesdays") - AVAILABLE IN ALL SESSIONS

Instructional Materials Creation Workshops (formerly titled "Working Wednesdays") are an opportunity for you and your colleagues to come to the Center and work to create classroom materials, curriculum, lessons, etc. Use our Ellison Dies, our Poster Maker, Book Binder, and/or Laminator to create and preserve the materials for classroom use. You will receive CTLE credit hours for the number of hours you work in our Center. The dates are July 11, 16, 17, 24, 25 and August 1, 6, 7, 13, 14, and 28, from 8:00 am - 2:00 pm. These dates/times are subject to change. Hours can be accumulated throughout the summer. Because each individual's hours may vary (you will pay for your total hours upon completion - $1 per hour). CTLE Certificates and Superintendent verification letters will then be issued. We look forward to seeing you!

Click to Download the Course Roadmap or Evaluation Rubric