October 9 is a division-wide professional learning day. The following is a sampling of the many offerings on that day. To view and sign up for courses, please log into the PLMS website.
This week’s highlighted courses:
Professional Learning for Kindergarten Paraprofessionals Working with Bilingual and Emergent ELs
How can we effectively meet the needs of our kindergarteners learning English? During this workshop, kindergarten paraprofessionals will learn about principles of effective instruction for EL students and second language acquisition for early emergent bilingual students. Additionally, paraprofessionals will learn how best to support the needs of EL students within the classroom using strategies such as oral language development techniques, pre-literacy activities, vocabulary instruction, building on first language knowledge, and cooperative learning. They will apply their learning by creating activities that they can implement immediately that meet the principles of effective instruction for EL students. #15128
K-12 Fine Arts Fall Workshops
How do we integrate literacy into the Arts in a way that is authentic to what we do and is effective in nurturing students’ ability to communicate in writing? How do we include the voices of our minority students and reflect their cultures in our instruction? How do we make our rooms accessible and welcoming to our students with disabilities? These topics and other instructional priorities will be addressed by ACPS staff and teacher-led workshops. As they register at the beginning of the day, teachers will select from a variety of workshops appropriate for K-12 instructors of visual arts, music, and drama. Afterwards, city-wide PLC teams will meet to explore pressing issues and work on teacher-developed resources. At the conclusion of this workshop, teachers will be able to submit lessons they have created using the Lesson Exchange on the Canvas curriculum website. #15165
Secondary Literacy for Struggling Readers
How is the literacy continuum different at the secondary level for all students, including EL students and students with disabilities? How can we identify struggling readers and support them along the literacy continuum at the secondary level? In this workshop, ELA and EL co-taught teachers will gain an understanding of the literacy continuum at the secondary level, including current research and theory, decoding, morphology, fluency and comprehension. The goal is to empower teachers with the knowledge and tools needed to identify and support struggling readers in ELA, EL and specialized instruction classrooms. #15158
Discovery Education Streaming for Secondary Science and Social Studies
How can teachers use available ACPS resources to develop and differentiate science and social studies lessons? A Discovery Education professional development trainer will lead teachers through an overview of how to access the Discovery Education Streaming resources and use them with the student Chromebooks. These resources support standards-aligned lesson planning, differentiation and assessment. Additionally, teachers will investigate how to customize and implement hands-on, centers-based teaching and explore how to maximize student engagement using Discovery Education Resources. Please bring a charged laptop or Chromebook to this session. #15166
We are also pleased to offer a comprehensive institute for K-5 teachers. The following course features over 80 sessions for teachers throughout the day:
Literacy in a Blended World: Personalize. Customize. Learn by Doing (Open to K-5 Teachers, Librarians, Specialists)
Please review the sections below then register for individual sections to create a full day of professional learning from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
To what extent can literacy connect learning across the elementary day? How can we collaborate to prepare our students for success in a “blended” world, one that is changing constantly in the face of emerging technologies?
Participants will select from a series of short workshops that will focus on learning and applying strategies that offer multiple pathways for enlivening and enriching students’ literacy experiences across all content areas. This day of learning will include flexible opportunities to collaborate, create and use a range of strategies and resources (including technology, print, media and manipulatives) to engage students in learning math, science, social studies, reading, writing and research skills.
The workshop will be held at William Ramsay Elementary School. Shuttle transportation will be offered from remote parking lots. A free flavored water bar and fitness incentives will be offered to all participants who walk a Ramsay Mile during their lunch break or walk to Ramsay instead of taking transportation. Participants should plan to bring lunch, or funds to buy lunch from food trucks that will be on-site. #15139
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