Nassau TRACT Teacher Center Courses 

                             AROUND THE REGION 

You're Hired! Now What? The New Teacher's Guide to Success

Audience: New and pre-service Teachers

Dates: 10/16/2023 to 11/10/2023

This course is designed to provide new K-12 teachers with the foundational skills and strategies necessary for success in the classroom. The course covers a wide range of topics, including: Classroom Management, Differentiated Instruction, Classroom Technology, Classroom Engagement, Lesson Planning and Delivery, Special Education, English Language Learners, Professional Development and Growth and Reflection and Self-Care.  (15 CTLE hours)

Co-Teaching On the Go

Audience: All Educators

Dates: 10/10/2023 to 10/26/2023

Learn how to best support your co-taught class with strategies for busy teachers who are often pulled in many directions. In this course we will focus on planning and pedagogical skills needed to facilitate a smoothly run and educationally sound co-taught class virtually. We will focus on how to create a functional working relationship with your co-teacher while not meeting in person and face to face. In addition, this course will explore strategies for organization and planning on the part of both the general education and special education teachers. Co-teaching requires a delicate balance and planning time which is not always readily available and increasingly challenging with a virtual classroom or through distance learning. This course will explore ways to plan and teach in a virtual co-taught setting. In addition we will discuss best practices in co-teaching and strategies that are most effective for helping all students to succeed in a virtual or distance learning setting. (15 CTLE hours)

New Teacher Tips and Tricks

Audience: All teachers

Dates: 10/30/2023 to 11/20/2023

Being a new teacher can be overwhelming. Whether it be building content, creating routines or simply finding the best uses of your limited time, it can be difficult to juggle all of the nuances of this profession at the start of your career. This course is designed to give some helpful tips and tricks that I have learned that have been beneficial to me in my own classroom.  (15 CTLE hours)

Understanding Lagging Skills

Instructor:  Jessica Lattimore  - jlattimorertc@gmail.com Audience: All EducatorsDates: Synchronous Meetings on Wednesday, 10/25/2023 from 4:30-6:30 pm

Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) is an evidence-based model of psychosocial treatment originated and developed by Dr. Ross Greene, and described in his books The Explosive Child, Lost at School, Raising Human Beings, and Lost & Found. Rather than focusing on kids' challenging behaviors (and modifying them), CPS helps kids and caregivers solve the problems that are causing those behaviors. The problem-solving is collaborative (not unilateral) and proactive (not reactive). Research has shown that the model is effective not only at solving problems and improving behavior but also at enhancing skills. In this workshop, you will learn about the Assessment of Lagging Skills and Unsolved Problems (ALSUP). And how to work with students to solve those problems?         (2 CTLE hours)

Mentoring Matters: A Practical Guide to Learning Focused RelationshipsInstructor: Elizabeth Bell  - elizabethbell118@gmail.comLocation: Asynchronous Audience: All EducatorsDates: 11/1/2023 to 12/6/2023

Any teacher will tell you they have learned some of the most influential and productive tools for their profession from a really amazing, seasoned teacher. The relationships we as teachers have with one another really mold how effective and successful our school year can be. Having the tools to cultivate a strong relationship with those expert teachers is invaluable. Mentoring Matters by Laura Lipton holds reference tools for mentors of beginning teachers, this guide offers structures, strategies, and techniques for developing expertise in teaching and launching a career of continuous learning. This reference adds new tools for time efficient, effective learning focused conversations, including templates for problem solving conversations that balance support with learning. Throughout this book study teachers will explore how to become an expert mentor in the field of education.   (10 CTLE hours)

Please note: Asynchronous work dates listed below are simply placeholders for the work of the course. You may complete asynchronous work during hours that work best for you. District approval is needed for in-service credit. 

Computer Science & Digital Fluency Standards - Overview

Instructor:  Cheryl Herman  - cherman@onboces.orgLocation: Asynchronous Audience: K-12 EducatorsDates: 11/8/2023 to 12/19/2023

The NYS CS&DF standards were adopted in 2020. The standards focus on 5 key concepts: Digital Literacy, Impacts of Computing, Computational Thinking, Cybersecurity and Networks and Systems Design. NYS is currently in the capacity building stage with full implementation for all teachers grades K-12 by September 2024. To help teachers investigate strategies and activities to implement the standards, NYS Teacher Centers have developed a 15-hour on line course broken down into 5, 3-hour blocks focused on each of the concepts. You are encouraged to complete all 5 blocks but are not required to do so. Each block is set up in the same format so it will be easy to follow along and complete all of them. *Each block does have its own set of tasks and due dates so please be mindful of this.     (15 CTLE hours)

NYSUT Sticks and Stones-Understanding Implicit Bias and Stereotypes WorkshopLocation: Synchronous- Online Audience: All Educators

This program will be delivered fully online with synchronous meetings on Thursday's October 12th and October 19th from 4:00-6:00 pm.

This free 4-hour workshop strengthens team unity by teaching participants to look at the world from a unique perspective, one that takes into consideration how someone's ethnicity, race, ability, and socio-economic background can impact how they experience our society.  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 worldview.

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

*Define microaggressions and identify key characteristics

*Define stereotypes and identify key characteristics

*Identify specific steps and strategies to challenge implicit bias, microaggressions

Rigorous PBL by Design: Book Study with Focus on DiversityInstructor: Greg Conley  - gregoryconley1@gmail.comLocation: Asynchronous & Synchronous Audience: All EducatorsDates: 11/14/2023 to 12/13/2023

This book study is focused on meeting the needs of diverse learners and reaching all students. Project Based Learning allows all students to demonstrate their unique abilities, talents, and knowledge. In his book Rigorous PBL, Dr. Mcdowell illuminates surface, deep and transfer learning to guide teachers towards using the right tools for these identified stages of learning. Participants will engage in learning experiences that motivate students to be curious learners and foster student achievement for diverse learners. (15 CTLE hours)  Book study outcomes are:

*Increase awareness around the tenets of project based learning

*Engage in strategies to foster competent and confident learners

*Create learning environments embrace student culture, identity and experiences

L INC 

(Long Island Network of Teachers Center Programs)

LINC-Advanced Minecraft Education (Minecraft 301 & 401) Audience: Teachers, Assistants, Administrators (All grade level and content areas welcome)Dates: 11/28/2023 to 12/6/2023. In this advanced Minecraft Education workshop we will look at coding, Redstone, commands, special blocks, world creation and management. Looking to take your student's classroom Minecraft experience to the next level? *Participation in Minecraft 101 & 201 is encouraged, but not required. The content of this course will be delivered through synchronous meetings and asynchronous work in Google Classroom.

   Please note: Asynchronous work dates listed below are simply placeholders for the work of the course. District approval is needed for in-service credit. (5 CTLE            hours)

LINC "The New Assistive Tech: Make Learning Awesome for All" Book Study Audience: EducatorsDates: 1/3/2024 to 2/1/2024

This book study will help educators get a better understanding of assistive technology in an educational setting. The author focuses on how to develop a consistent approach for choosing technology to design accessible, inclusive, educational experiences for the benefit of students. Technology is ever evolving as are all successful educators. Each week participants will read required chapters, participate in discussions, and complete activities that can be applied to their classrooms. This class will meet both synchronously (5 hours) and asynchronously (10 hours).

Required Materials:

An electronic copy of the book will be provided "The New Assistive Tech: Make Learning Awesome for All" by Christopher R. Bugaj Participants are required to have a personal Google account to access course materials.  Please note: District approval is needed for in-service credit. (15 CTLE Hours)

LINC-Can't We All Just Get Along? Collaboration and Co-Teaching in the Multilingual Classroom Audience: All EducatorsDates: 1/9/2024 to 2/6/2024

We've all had to work with colleagues, but does it always feel like time well spent? And, in some classrooms, does it feel as though one teacher does too much of the work? In this course, participants will learn collaboration and co-teaching practices that can support multilingual learners. Participants will learn collaboration techniques to plan, teach, and reflect with colleagues. We will also discuss co-teaching models of instruction. Lastly, we will discuss coaching techniques to support our colleagues to reach their goals. As an implementation project, participants will create a co-taught lesson plan relevant for multilingual learners.

              Please note: Asynchronous work dates listed below are simply placeholders for the work of the course. You may complete asynchronous work during hours that                     work best for you.  District approval is needed for in-service credit. (15 CTLE Hours)

LINC-Minecraft EDU 101

Audience: Teachers, Assistants, Administrators (All grade level and content areas welcome)Dates: 1/10/2024 to 1/17/2024

Do you want to get and keep your students engaged in content, while fostering their creative and collaborative sides? Look no further than the number one video game of all time, Minecraft.  Minecraft Education allows teachers to engage students with the best parts of the commercial game, while giving educators the ability to create, monitor, and challenge learners safely. In this 5 hour introductory course, we will look at basic game play, pedagogy for using it with your students, multiplayer, and assessment. The content of this course will be delivered through synchronous meetings and asynchronous work in Google Classroom.

    Please note: Asynchronous work dates listed below are simply placeholders for the work of the course. You may complete asynchronous work during hours that            work best for you. District approval is needed for in-service credit. (5 CTLE hours)

LINC-Thinking Maps Book Study: Student Successes with Thinking Maps Audience: EducatorsDates: 1/23/2024 to 2/13/2024

Explore New Pathways for Multilingual Learners, ENL, and Students who learn differently, such as Special Education, Gifted, etc. Student Successes with Thinking Maps (Editors: David Hyerle & Larry Alper) includes case studies showing how to empower students to make their thinking visible using Thinking Maps; a set of 8 visual tools, tied to 8 cognitive processes, used in all content areas and grade levels.

Participate in this book study to learn how educators are applying Thinking Maps to enhance teaching and learning. Differentiating instruction with Thinking Maps is easy and fun! Thinking Maps helps educators level the playing field for all students-particularly those that require additional support. Be inspired. An electronic copy of Student Successes with Thinking Maps will be provided.

   Each session will focus on a different section of the free electronic copy of the book. As a special bonus, the creator of Thinking Maps, David Hyerle, will be joining one of the synchronous sessions. You'll be able to learn straight from the source and ask questions of the author.

   Note that this course has been customized for NYSTC and is being sponsored by Long Island Network of Teacher Centers. It is not a training for Thinking Maps,    

   Please note: Asynchronous work dates listed below are simply placeholders for the work of the course. You may complete asynchronous work during hours that            work best for you. District approval is needed for in-service credit. (10 CTLE hours)

LINC-Thinking Maps Book Study: Pathways to Thinking Schools: Giving Students the Essential Thinking Skills They Need to ThriveAudience: EducatorsDates: 1/24/2024 to 2/28/2024

Join this book study to learn more about the power of Thinking Maps and other concepts aimed at developing cognitive skills and dispositions for thinking in an information-overloaded world. This book study will take participants on a deep dive into the following powerful concepts for short and long term school improvement: Thinking Maps, Dispositions for Mindfulness, and Questioning for Inquiry. Pathways to Thinking Schools provides case studies laying out the pathway to elevate content based instruction supplemented by the development of powerful thinking skills and dispositions.

This book study includes an electronic copy of Student Successes with Thinking Maps.

Each session will focus on a different section of the free electronic copy of the book. As a special bonus, the creator of Thinking Maps, David Hyerle, will be joining one of the synchronous sessions. You'll be able to learn straight from the source and ask questions of the author.

Note that this course has been customized for NYSTC and is being sponsored by Long Island Network of Teacher Centers. This book study focuses on the theory behind and impact of Thinking Maps and other cognitive and metacognitive practices for cultivating critical thinking.

Please note: Asynchronous work dates listed below are simply placeholders for the work of the course. You may complete asynchronous work during hours that work best for you. District approval is needed for in-service credit. (10 CTLE hours)

LINC-Minecraft EDU 201 Audience: Teachers, Assistants, Administrators (All grade level and content areas welcome)Dates: 1/24/2024 to 1/31/2024

Do you want to get and keep your students engaged in content, while fostering their creative and collaborative sides? Look no further than the number one video game of all-time, Minecraft. Minecraft Education allows teachers to engage students with the best parts of the commercial game, while giving educators the ability to create, monitor, and challenge learners safely.

In this second 5-hour course we will focus on teaching with Minecraft Education, Managing multiplayer tutorials and project based learning/assessment.

The content of this course will be delivered through synchronous meetings and asynchronous work in Google Classroom.

Please note: Asynchronous work dates listed below are simply placeholders for the work of the course. You may complete asynchronous work during hours that work best for you. District approval is needed for in-service credit. (5 CTLE hours)

LINC-Teaching in a Digital World Audience: K - 12 EducatorsDates: 4/30/2024 to 5/17/2024

This course will focus on best practices and strategies to implement the new NYS Computer Science & Digital Fluency Learning Standards into K-12 classrooms. In this course, participants will explore Computational Thinking, Networks and Systems Design, Digital Literacy, and Impacts of Computing along with several edtech resources and tools that can support the integration of these learning standards into the classroom. This course is appropriate for all K-12 educators.

The content of this course will be delivered through synchronous meetings and asynchronous work in Google Classroom.

Please note: Asynchronous work dates listed below are simply placeholders for the work of the course. You may complete asynchronous work during hours that work best for you. District approval is needed for in-service credit. (15 CTLE hours)