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Building Independence with Google Classroom Activities
Any educator would agree that all students learn in their own way, but if there is one similarity amongst all students, it's that practice is key! Students tend to perform better after repeated opportunities for practice coupled with targeted feedback. When you have a large group of students at different skill levels, you can feel overwhelmed with supporting each individual student’s journey. Google Classroom practice sets can be part of the solution. Join us as we walk through how the practice set feature within Google Classroom is just one way you can help your students become a little more independent!
Apps to Support the Exceptional Education Setting
This app-centric course will cover a variety of skills and creation-based apps that are useful in any Exceptional Education classroom. In this session, we will not only cover the functionality of the apps, but also best practices to incorporate them effectively with students, like using iPads as a center for assessment or behavior management tool. This session will also reveal some of the best-kept accessibility secrets to help you reach all types of learners.
Supporting Mentor/Mentee Teacher Partnerships
Creating guidelines and having an open dialogue are two important factors to building a professional foundation between a mentor and mentee, strengthening the relationship. In this course, we will look at how you can build a partnership foundation and utilize technology to collaborate, schedule, and set goals for students.
Making Accessible Print Documents
Even when we are creating documents that will be printed and handed out, there still needs to be a digitally accessible equivalent to ensure accessibility for all. In the course, you will learn why this is so important, and how to create accessible print documents.
Designing Teacher Workshops to Support Teacher Growth
Professional learning should reflect the kind of learning we want to see for our students. Join us for this course as we share best practices for administrators to support teachers’ growth. We’ll explore strategies for engaging adult learners in training workshops and the impacts of different workshop approaches.
Celebrate Student Success Using 3D Design & Printing
As educators, we wear many hats. We are listeners, planners, data collectors, and above all: motivators. In order to motivate our students, we are constantly looking for ways to celebrate their achievements. In this session, we will share ideas for designing prizes and other celebratory items to commemorate your students’ accomplishments for homework completion, attendance, and so much more!
Using Jamboard to Support Writing Stations
Looking for ideas and graphic organizers to support your students thoughts during the writing process? Jamboard can be a great location for research, brainstorming, prewriting, and more. Join us to learn how your students can use Jamboard to organize their thoughts before writing an informative, argumentative, or narrative piece.
Understanding the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
Innovations in science are happening at a rapid rate. Often driven by technology and human ingenuity, these advancements must be supported from the ground up in future working populations to sustain this growth. That's where the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) come in, as strong K-12 science standards can help to prepare students to be college and career ready in the 21st century. Join us to learn about the inner workings of the NGSS and how to read them in a way that can help you to frame engaging science activities.
Administrator Track: Assessment & Student Data
Join us as we explore assessment tools and share best practices for assessments in the first course of our administrator track. Whether you are looking to enhance the formative or summative assessment taking place in your school, we are here to assist as you support your teachers in creating high validity data collection that will guide future instruction and promote student growth.
Assistive Technology (AT) Resources
Teaching students with physical, cognitive, or learning disabilities can be a demanding but rewarding job. Teachers need to think about all possible adjustments and supports that will help these students in the school (and post-school) environment. Having a set of tools ready to go at any time can be the difference between successful lessons and negative experiences. Join us as we explore some great resources for working with students who require assistive technology!
Strategies for Reducing Test Anxiety
Students are often nervous and anxious about upcoming tests. Join our Curriculum Specialists as we take a look at some strategies your students can use to help reduce test anxiety and how you as the teacher can help.
Starting Off Your Year with Google
Google Workspace is a powerful suite of tools that can make the start of your school year easier, more organized, and more collaborative. Whether you're remote or in person, we've got you covered. In this course, we will go over the essentials of using Google tools to make sure that you and your students are starting off the school year on the right foot!
Getting the Most Out of the WAVE Extension
In this session, we will review how to conduct an accessibility test using the WAVE extension and then how to understand the results. This will allow you to find accessibility errors on your site that will need to be fixed.
Using Screencastify to Provide Special Ed Accommodations
Teachers now know a lot more about remote learning and have a pretty good idea of what works and what doesn't. However, you may still be struggling with figuring out how to make your assessments more reliable and accessible for your Special Education students. In this course, we'll cover how programs like Screencastify can help you provide Special Education accommodations — such as the “test-read” option — even when students are not learning in a face-to-face setting.
EdTech Essentials Part 3: Assessment and Goal Setting
Join educator, author, and speaker Monica Burns and the OTIS for educators team for part three of this three-part webinar series that will explore essential EdTech topics alongside actionable tips and favorite tools. Learn about the “value add” of using digital tools for assessment and collaboration with students. In this session, you’ll explore the tools and the strategies for checking for understanding and supporting students along with how to set professional goals and identify next steps for the upcoming school year.
Student Mental Health with GoGuardian
Understanding your students' mental health is critical for their education. GoGuardian can be a useful tool to help you understand how your students are doing by looking at student trends, observing digital behaviors, and connecting with students who may need more support. Join us to see how you can use the features of GoGuardian to check in on student wellbeing.
Utilizing Google Workspace for Summer Reading
Ready to transition your summer reading program to a more digitally-based process? In this course, we'll share tips on using different applications within Google Workspace (formerly G Suite for Education) to structure a summer reading program and push out materials. We'll also share book lists and reflection activities to keep students reading during the summer months and prevent that summer slide!
Using Microsoft Teams for School PLCs
Just because teaching may look a little different right now, doesn’t mean that professional learning communities (PLCs) can’t continue! Join us as we explore how Microsoft Teams allows you to connect with others on your grade level or subject area while following a hybrid or remote learning model. We’ll also share how to use Microsoft Teams to build off one another’s ideas and how to easily share files and data with others in your PLC.
Creating Virtual Calming Rooms
In times of stress, it is important to have outlets and coping strategies. This is often managed with calming techniques, mindfulness, and dedicated spaces for relaxation. What happens if your students are not physically present in school? In this course, we will go over how to offer social and emotional support and build emotional management skills in your students, whether you are teaching traditionally, hybrid, or remote. Digital calming spaces can be a great resource for students of all ages.
Expanding ELL Vocabulary Through STEM
Are you struggling to find the right tools to bridge the gap between STEM and ELL vocabulary? We know that teaching ELLs outside of the English classroom can be challenging, but communicating through STEM subjects can make it that much easier! In this session, we'll discuss strategies to increase acquisition of academic English language through STEM and NGSS across all grade levels. We will also learn how STEM literacy and English Language Learner literacy can be used productively together.
Using Google Meet to Record Screencasts and Daily Messages
During times of remote learning, how can we share important information with our classes? Google Meet allows us to create daily screencasts and messages! In this session, we’ll take you through the steps of setting up a Google Meet on a daily basis and go over some different strategies for recording screencasts. We will also explore how Google Meet can help students and parents stay up-to-date with assignments, announcements, and daily lessons.
Whether you're in the classroom or at home, engaging learners in the primary grades is essential to developing strong skills. Help provide at-home activities and assignments, share news and events, and post resources for your K-2 students and their parents using Schoology. We'll share tips and tricks for getting you started. As well as some engaging activities and resources!
Using Raz-Kids in Your K-5 Classroom
Looking for a way to monitor your students’ at-home reading and ensure that they are selecting appropriately leveled books? Encouraging and monitoring reading can be a struggle, especially when we aren’t able to meet with students face-to-face. In this course, we’ll explore Raz-Kids, a leveled library of books that can be shared with your K-5 students, and all its features that will help you excite your students to read, progress monitor and so much more during times of remote learning or over the summer vacation!
Creating Role-Playing Interviews with Flip
Note: Flipgrid is now Flip! There have been many updates to the functions and look of the platform. In this session, you will notice some differences between the video and the current version of Flip. We are aware of this and are working on updating our courses to reflect these changes.
If you're looking for new ways to engage students, join us to explore how Flip (formerly Flipgrid) can be used for role-playing interviews! From book characters to influential scientists, mock interviews can be a great way for students to learn about any subject while building presentation skills and creative thinking abilities. In this course we'll look at some ways that role-playing can be used and how Flip can streamline the process.
Limiting Screen Time: Offline Activities to Continue Learning
Did you know that "screen time" is now an official word in the dictionary? Today's students are all too familiar with screen time, and with recent transitions to remote learning, teachers (and parents) are looking for learning alternatives that limit the time students are spending on devices. Join us as we share some tactile activity ideas and assignments that students can complete offline and submit digitally later on!
Co-Teaching Remotely with Microsoft
Whether you're within the walls of the classroom or connecting with students and other educators remotely, Microsoft provides the tools you need to support classroom management and keep students engaged with high-quality instructional materials and activities. Microsoft has a number of education tools from Office 365 to Teams that can support co-teaching during remote instruction situations. Join us as we walk through some of the Microsoft tools to help support collaborative teaching during distance education.
Using Pear Deck for Google Slides
Join us as we walk you through the basics of Pear Deck. We'll start with how to install this add-on from the Google Workspace for Education Marketplace and then show you how to use it to transform your Google Slides presentations to increase student engagement and understanding of instructional material. We’ll also explore how you can use Pear Deck to create formative assessments that will engage every student in your class and give you a better understanding of which students are stuck, who’s ready for more, and what’s confusing them!
Writing for Effective Translation
New York City parents and families come from diverse backgrounds and sometimes, communicating with them effectively can be a challenge. It's essential for inclusive websites and communication systems to provide effective translations. This session will share tips for ensuring an accurate reading level, matching subjects, and appropriate relative pronouns depending on the platform.
Introduction to SMART Notebook
New to SMART Notebook? Curious to learn how it can help you take your teaching to the next level? Join us as we help you get started with the software. In this course, we’ll share a number of helpful techniques including how to take advantage of pre-made templates to create lessons with ease, how to import outside presentations and materials into your SMART Notebook, and how to link the files you create to the Internet to push out to your students!
Creating a Personal Needs Profile
Are you looking to individualize the testing experience? Do you want to enhance access to the standardized testing administered to your Special Education students? The abundance of accessibility features can be overwhelming for teachers. In this course, we’ll provide guidelines to help you select appropriate, individualized accommodations rather than make a group decision for your class — just in time for testing season!
Technology to Support T-TESS: Domain 2 - Instruction
This is the second of a four-session series reviewing the Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System. Join our Curriculum Specialists as they help you to incorporate technology into the second standard of T-TESS, Instruction. The T-TESS is a set of standards with the purpose of reviewing teacher performance to inform the training, appraisal, and professional development of teachers. From demonstrating knowledge of resources, content, and pedagogy, to designing student assessments, our Curriculum Specialists will guide you through their favorite websites, platforms, and software programs for Instruction!
Technology to Support T-TESS: Domain 1 - Planning
This is the first of a four-session series reviewing the Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System. Join our Curriculum Specialists as they help you to incorporate technology into the first standard of T-TESS, Planning. The T-TESS is a set of standards with the purpose of reviewing teacher performance to inform the training, appraisal, and professional development of teachers. From demonstrating knowledge of resources, content, and pedagogy, to designing student assessments, our Curriculum Specialists will guide you through their favorite websites, platforms, and software programs for Planning!
District and School Performance Improvement Strategies
In the effort to improve student achievement and learning outcomes, it is essential for any school or district leader to know the methods and measures used for evaluating success. From unwrapping state standards, to developing academic intervention and enrichment programs, school and district leaders must understand how to design programs that will lead to improved achievement in the classroom and beyond. This series of administrator sessions will identify some successful strategies to enhance performance improvement initiatives in schools and districts.
The primary goal of every school or district is to ensure that students are well-prepared and ready for life beyond the K-12 academic program. Creating successful middle and high school programs that will increase graduation rates and prepare students for college and career readiness are essential to this process. This series of administrator sessions will provide information and strategies that can be used to support school or district efforts to promote early college awareness.
Do you find your students drifting away to a dream land during the day? Students have a limited attention span and getting students to refocus once they start day dreaming can be hard. Join our Curriculum Specialists as we explore some activities for mindfulness to help your students be fully present and aware of what is happening in your lesson.
Organizational Design and Improvement Strategies
When Designing School and District Improvement Strategies, it is Vital to Align all of your Educational Plans and Priorities Under One Large Umbrella. The Development of a Strategic Plan that Establishes Goals and Expectations, Identifies Program Strengths and Weaknesses, and Aligns Revenue and Resources into One Cohesive Document is a Necessary Tool in this Process. This Series of Admin Sessions will Focus on Key Strategic Planning Questions that can Guide the Design and Development of a Strategic Plan that Addresses Your Current Reality; Identifies Your Desired Outcomes; and Aligns Your Action Plan(s), Revenue, and Resources to School and District Priorities, Goals, and Expectations.
Technology to Support the Danielson Framework - Domain 4
Teachers face countless choices daily when it comes to their students, lesson planning, parent interaction, and the environment of where learning takes place. With a profession as challenging as teaching, self reflection is beneficial for teachers as it presents opportunities for growth. Thinking about what works, and why it works as well as what didn't work and why it didn't work plays an integral role in the development of becoming a better teacher and role model for students. Join our curriculum specialists as we go through strategies for reflecting on teaching, maintaining accurate records, communicating with families, participating in the professional community, growing and developing professionally, and showing professionalism all while creating engaging lessons for our students and keeping students informed, motivated, and improving performance. As the final session of our "Technology to Support the Danielson Framework" series comes to a close, we will help support you as you juggle the many responsibilities assigned to you.
Technology to Support the Danielson Framework - Domain 3
Are you struggling to engage your students in learning? Do you ever ask yourself, "How can I bring this complex content that MUST be taught...to life for my students?" If you answered yes to all these questions, then you're in the right place! Our Curriculum Specialists will guide you through a variety of resources and technology to support Domain 3 of the Danielson Framework, Instruction, where their focus will be to provide strategies for improving your communication with students, introduce different techniques for questioning and discussion, and enhance your flexibility and responsiveness during any type of lesson. Here in Domain 3, teachers execute the plans that they previously created in Domain 1: Planning and Preparation. This domain is considered the "heart" of teaching and we are more than excited to support your passion for instruction as we boost students' passion for learning!
Technology to Support the Danielson Framework - Domain 1
In this first of four-session series, we'll explore how you can best incorporate technology resources to demonstrate your effectiveness of various components of Domain 1 of The Danielson Framework. The Danielson Framework is a constructivist set of instructional components aimed at helping teachers in four domains: Planning and Preparation, Classroom Environment, Instruction, and Professional Responsibilities. From demonstrating knowledge of resources, content and pedagogy, to designing student assessments, our curriculum specialists will guide you through their favorites websites, platforms, and software programs for Planning and Preparation!
