Professional Development Opportunities for Teachers

Workshops Sharpen Teaching Skills in Math, Technology, Reading and WritingSummer is the perfect time for teachers to sharpen their skills and get fresh ideas for next year. Cindy McKinney, our academic excellence coordinator, is putting together this year’s IMPACT Conference, professional development workshops that offer educators the chance to expand their instructional techniques in math, technology, reading, and writing.Cindy McKinney says, “Our goal is to bring as many teachers together to collaborate on the best ways to teach critical thinking skills in the classroom.” Whether you’re looking for new math ideas or technology integration, these workshops offer something for every teacher. Math Mania will inspire teachers to use math stations and give them practical resources for next year’s classes. Teachers will also have the chance to examine their math curriculums and identify areas where they are and are not meeting current standards. Math Mania is offered on June 13. Tech Lab is an exciting way to expand your tech savvy skills. Teachers will learn how to use social media apps like Twitter and Instagram to enhance learning and engage students. In Google Classroom, instructors can set up a classroom and organize assignments. Seesaw empowers students to document what they’re learning through a digital portfolio of pictures and video. Weebly allows teachers to easily set up a classroom website. Tech lab will be offered on June 14 during two sessions at 8:30 or 10:30. You can pick which program interests you. Close Reading develops the ability to analyze a text critically. Reading expert Sandy Adams will offer techniques and a sample lesson plan on close reading activities for grades 3-12 on June 15-17. The workshop gives teachers the opportunity to plan activities that foster a critical analysis of the text. They will also have the chance to evaluate curriculum based on current standards so that students can gain the depth of knowledge they need when reading. The All Write Consortium provides professional development in literacy with emphasis on the interconnectedness of reading and writing instruction. This conference is offered on June 23-24 at Warsaw High School. The first 15 teachers to register will attend the conference and choose a specific reading and writing component to implement in their classroom. Regular dialogue between group members will create valuable support for developing new ideas in the classroom. Teachers who want to focus on curriculum mapping this summer will have several opportunities to gain feedback or spend time mapping. Stop in the ACE room any time from 9-3 on June 20, 27, July 18 and 25.These professional development workshops offer teachers the chance to enhance and sharpen their skills in the classroom. Cindy adds, “My hope is that teachers will take what they have learned back to their classrooms and create more engaging learning experiences for their students.”PGP’s are offered for all workshops and vary depending on the hours. For more information on workshop times or details, check out the schedule on the IMPACT overview.To register for a workshop, sign up online.