Embedded Files
Las Voces de Hawkins: A Collection of our Stories
Las Voces de Hawkins: A Collection of our Stories
Learning Strand: Giving Every Newark Student a Chance
Description of Session: The voices of our bilingual students are many times unheard due to the language barrier. You are invited to come hear about the touching stories students shared during our Hispanic Heritage Celebration. Also learn about the classroom strategies and project based learning students did to find their voice and use it!
Presenter: Ana Couto, Bilingual Teacher, Hawkins Street School
Ana Couto graduated Montclair State University with a certification in bilingual/bicultural education. She currently teaches 3rd-5th grade in the Spanish Bilingual program. Ana Couto feels that teaching Bilingual students is her true calling.
Relevant Audience:
Community Investigators: Pre-K to College
Community Investigators: Pre-K to College
Learning Strand: Empowering Student Voices
Description of Session: This workshop will provide a closer look at how hands-on, discovery-based approaches to learning in our preschool classrooms energize young children's learning as they become part of a community investigating and sharing the findings of their inquiry. It will also encourage discussion and sharing of ideas about how similar approaches can be utilized in all grade levels to ensure that students are prepared for the demands of college education in the 21st century.
Presenters: Lidia Eftimova, Teacher Coach, Office of Early Childhood and Maria C. Ortiz, Teacher Coach, Office of Early Childhood
Lidia Eftimova began her career in education as a teacher of English as a Foreign Language in Macedonia. In the US, she obtained a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, and continued her services as a preschool teacher and then director. Driven to create a greater impact, Lidia stepped into the role of a Teacher Coach with the Office of Early Childhood at the Newark Public Schools where she presently works. Lidia loves reading, swimming, yoga, and spending time with her family and friends.
Maria C. Ortiz studied Elementary Education at Kean University and graduated in 1991. Pursuing her love to work with young learners she continued her education in the early childhood field for the next two years. As an early childhood educator and part of the community she taught children as a lead teacher in the preschool classroom in Newark for 14 years and as a director for 2 years. After 16 years of service in the early childhood field she followed her path and love for teaching others the art to teach and became a teacher coach for the Office of Early Childhood at Newark Public Schools where she continues her work. Maria loves to listen to music, read and spend time with family and friends.
Relevant Audience: All Educators
Balanced Math Instruction
Balanced Math Instruction
Learning Strand: From the Field
Description of Session: This presentation provides an opportunity for educators to observe the implementation of a teaching model called Balanced Math Instruction; that provides students with tools and resources to investigate math ideas, engage in productive struggle, develop plausible solutions and form generalizations about math ideas while the teacher acts a guide or facilitator.
This teaching style will benefit educators as it offers them an opportunity to observe incorporation of different instructional strategies to help students develop problem solving strategies and critical thinking skills.
Presenter: Henry Ogele, Vice Principal West Side High School
Bio: Henry Ogele is currently a Vice Principal at West Side High School and also an adjunct math professor at Kean University. He began his career in Newark Public Schools as a substitute teacher and was soon offered a position as a math teacher at Weequahic High School. Additionally, he completed his undergraduate studies at New Jersey Institute of Technology and was awarded two masters degrees from Kean University.
Relevant Audience: 9-12 Math Instructors
Best Practices for Math and Science
Best Practices for Math and Science
Learning Strand: Empowering Student Voices
Description of Session: The 5th Grade Math/ Science Teacher, Math Coach, and Vice-Principal of Wilson Avenue School will present Best Practices that are integrated between all subjects. The District's Initiative of the Big Investments will be modeled through a Math and a STEM Lesson.
Presenters: Soraya Marques 5th Grade Math and Science Teacher at Wilson Avenue School, Kristen Bucchignano, Math Coach at Wilson Avenue School, Daniella Alvarez, Vice Principal at Wilson Avenue School
Bios: Soraya Marques has been a NPS Teacher for 8 years, this is her first year teaching 5th Grade.
Kristen Bucchignano is currently in her first year as a Math Coach, she has worked alongside Naomi Isaac-Simpson in innovating and implementing best practices for Math Instruction. Mrs. Bucchignano was previously a teacher at Wilson Avenue School for 12 years.
Daniella Alvarez was a 7th and 8th Grade STEM Teacher for 6 years at Wilson Avenue School. She is currently the Vice-Principal for Grades 3-5 and oversees the school's PLTW/ STEM Program.
Relevant Audience: Math and Science Teachers in Grades 3-5
Our Growing Mathletes
Our Growing Mathletes
Learning Strand: From the Field
Description of Session: Our hope is that this presentation will inspire teachers to see that the use of data combined with persistence and intentionality can engender real change in our students’ lives. During the presentation we will be going over how we utilized the data to formulate a specific plan and we will be sharing unique instructional strategies and practices we used along the way. During this journey we always referred to data for what our next step should be but we also never neglected forging relationships with students. In building these relationships along with data and best practices, our students have demonstrated growth in all areas and most importantly being high school ready citizens!
Presenters: Michael Pereira, Math Coach, Rafael Hernandez School and Michelle Queiruga, ELA Coach, Rafael Hernandez School
Bio: Michael Pereira is the Math Coach at Rafael Hernandez School. He was raised in Newark and went to school at Wilson Avenue School. He has been with NPS since 2007 and his passion is Middle School Math! According to Michael everyone can have love of math, as long as they come to see its’ real world applicability from an early age!
Michelle Queiruga was born and raised in Newark! She attended Ann Street and East Side High School. She is a graduate of Rutgers New Brunswick. Ms. Queiruga is in her fourth year at Rafael Hernandez School. She joined the staff as a bilingual teacher and is now currently the Literacy Coach. Her students have always loved her strict but fair demeanor but most importantly her passion for teaching on a daily basis.
Relevant Audience: K-12 Math Teachers
Get Creative: Using Art to Promote Student Achievement in Special Education
Get Creative: Using Art to Promote Student Achievement in Special Education
Learning Strand: Giving Every Newark Student a Chance
Description of Session: New Jersey Regional Day School is the only school in Newark’s district that serves students with multiples disabilities from elementary to secondary age. Our students have the least advantages in life, and are tasked with navigating a world that operates differently than they do. In this presentation, I discuss the best practices I’ve employed as an art teacher to promote student success in the face of societal and systemic obstacles.
Presenter: Jacqueline Abend, Art Teacher, New Jersey Regional Day School
Bio: Jacqui Abend is an art teacher for special needs students in Newark, New Jersey. She has a Masters of Arts in Teaching and dual certification in Art Education and Teacher of Students with Disabilities from Montclair State University. In her (very rare) free time, she enjoys working on her own art. She counts learning Spanish, exercising, reading, writing, and the piano among her interests.
Relevant Audience: All Educators
Mindful Teachers
Mindful Teachers
Learning Strand: From the Field
Description of Session: Learning how to develop a personal mindfulness practice that fits your already full schedule will lead to increased life satisfaction, improved productivity, stronger problem solving and a reduction in classroom conflict. We will also discuss introducing mindfulness to children as part of your classroom routine, or as an extracurricular activity.
Presenters: Maria DeSousa, Teacher, Elliott Elementary School
Bio: Maria Desousa has been a Newark Public Schools teacher for more than 15 years teaching mostly middle school, Language Arts. Maria has also founded a nonprofit, Guide to Peace, dedicated to alleviating depression and anxiety with mindfulness and self-care.
Relevant Audience: All Educators
All About Words
All About Words
Learning Strand: Research to Practice
Description of Session: This powerful workshop is grounded in the Language Standards. Participants will fully engage in activities with a heavy emphasis on vocabulary, grammar and sentence structure. Teachers will create text-dependent questions which require students to read closely.
Presenters: Sheryl Sewell, Teacher Coach, Eagle Academy for Young Men of Newark and Mariama Sesay-St. Paul, Vice Principal Science Park High School
Bio(s): Mariama has been a Newark Educator for the last 18 years. Her love of teaching English has guided her through the roles of English Teacher, Teacher Coach, Department Chair, Vice Principal and Special Assistant of Language Arts Literacy. She is currently a Vice Principal at Science Park High School.
Sheryl is a passionate educator who desires to ignite the love of literacy in all. In education for 32 years with roles ranging from classroom teacher, bilingual teacher, Teacher Coach, curriculum writer and much more. She has been a Newark Educator for 26 years and is currently the Teacher Coach at Eagle Academy for Young Men of Newark.
Relevant Audience: 6-12 Literacy Teachers
Activism in the Classroom
Activism in the Classroom
Learning Strand: Giving Every Newark Student a Chance
Description of Session: One of the persistent problems in K-5 education, more specifically, in communities of color, is the potential bias built into standardized testing and curricula which inhibits students from quality education. Students are lacking opportunities to critically think for themselves and do not find the need to challenge the status quo. This presentation will explore ways to incorporate and support activist teaching in the classroom.
Presenter: Elisa Lee, Teacher, Hawkins Street School
Bio(s): Elisa Lee is a 3rd grade ELA teacher from Hawkins Street School and also serves as a mentor teacher for the Newark-Montclair Urban Teacher Residency program. She is dedicated to creating spaces where younger students are able to discuss difficult or controversial topics and is committed to urban and minority education. She believes in serving as a liberated gatekeeper of her school and her community and hopes to meet more teachers who share the same vision.
Relevant Audience: Grades 3-5 Educators
Humanities Lab
Humanities Lab
Learning Strand: Giving Every Newark Student a Chance
Description of Session: During this Humanities Lab workshop we will address the tools we provide for the students that place them in the driver seat of their own education. While traditional teaching takes a step back and becomes strategic parallel teaching through the use of connecting interdisciplinary units. Our strategic plan includes a 4 pillar philosophy that is the driving force towards relevant project based learning experiences.
Pillar One - Interdisciplinary/Collaborative Focus
Pillar Two - Teacher Created, Personalized Content
Pillar Three - Cooperative & Fluid Spaces
Pillar Four - Student Leadership
In this humanities lab the teacher will rely on personalized resources to provide background knowledge while facilitating small group lessons tailored to the student needs. In this session prepare to empower students and learn how to conduct your own Humanities Lab.
Presenter: Brian Klasner, Advisor/ Humanities Instructor, East Side High School
Bio: Ten years ago I walked into a classroom and introduced myself to my soon to be teacher mentor. He was charismatic and funny however, through my previous observations I noticed he only lectured. I immediately started to share all my ideas and projects that I wanted to try out in the classroom. He looked at me smiled and stated, “that’s nice”. He was not afraid of innovation but wanted me to learn how to teach traditionally, master the material, and manage a classroom. I noticed one thing immediately that even though the students responded to my charisma not everyone was writing down notes or performing well on assessments. My mentor told me these students are lower learners and we simply give them different tests. This did not sit well with me and I wanted to teach to the learner.
Einstein stated, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results". The next ten years have been an upward battle to innovate and no longer teach but initiate conversation with students based on interests. In the short version I no longer lecture and I create learning plans depending on the type of learner in the classroom. Standardized education is not the right way to go about learning because there is no standard student to use as an exemplar. This is not a business we are teachers and we invest in people not machines.
Relevant Audience: Educators, 6-12
Pump Up The Volume!: Exploration of STEAM concepts to promote critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, creativity
Pump Up The Volume!: Exploration of STEAM concepts to promote critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, creativity
Presenters: Michele Bernardino, math Coach, and Jill Marotta, math teacher, Abington School (and students!)
Bio: Michele Bernardino is the Math Coach at Abington Avenue School. She began her career at Abington as a 4th grade teacher. Prior to becoming the Math Coach, she taught 5th grade math and her classroom was a district math lab site. In an effort to expose girls to STEAM related fields, Mrs. Bernardino sought funding through a corporate partnership to establish the GEMS Club at Abington Avenue School.
Jill Marotta is the 6th grade Math Teacher at Abington Avenue School. Mrs. Marotta spent the early part of her career as a 4thgrade teacher. During this time, she was a the team leader and teacher mentor to many (including Mrs. Bernardino). Mrs. Marotta has been involved with the GEMS Club since its inception 2 years ago. Her presence as a teacher, mentor, and leader has been invaluable to the group.
Empowering Student Voices: Empowering Student Voices
Description of Session: Participants will explore how to implement classroom strategies and hands-on projects to empower students to find their voice, share ideas and build confidence in the classroom.
Relevant Audience: All Educators
Problem-Based Learning
Problem-Based Learning
Learning Strand: Giving Every Newark Student a Chance
Description of Session: Participants will explore and plan for Problem-Based Learning (PBL), through an interactive presentation guided by students and their teachers, as well as have the opportunity to engage in PBL as a learner. With PBL, students learn about a subject through the experience of solving an open-ended problem. PBL starts with a real world situation or problem, which students address in groups through cooperative and collaborative inquiry.
Presenter: Victor Machado, vmachado@nps.k12.nj.us, East Side High School
Bio: Victor Machado is an ESL teacher at East Side High School and has been a teacher for the past eight years. Prior to teaching he has worked in finance on Wall Street as a bond trader.
Reclaiming My Time!: Social Emotional Learning - Tier II and Beyond
Reclaiming My Time!: Social Emotional Learning - Tier II and Beyond
Description of Session: In today's society, students bring a plethora of challenges to the classroom. Feedback often echoed by educators is that the behavioral needs of our young people require so much attention that valuable time is taken away from quality instruction. What if there was a way to "Reclaim Your Time"? This presentation is intended for educator and educational leaders seeking to develop social emotional programming that promotes staff productivity and student achievement.
Presenter: Tashia M. Martin, MSW, LSW, Special Assistant, Office of Student Support Services
Relevant Audience: School Counselors, Social Workers, Administrators
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