Estimated reading time: 14 minutes
What an incredible year it has been for the Advancement Courses’ teACh Team!
The team has been super busy, and over the past few months, we have covered a variety of topics that are super relevant to teachers.
We have discussed:
- what makes Professional Development most effective;
- school administrators and teachers leading post-pandemic;
- our current top picks for children’s books;
- supporting students who have experienced trauma;
- culturally responsive classrooms and components of special education;
- school and district-wide Professional Development options with Advancement Courses.
Let’s take a closer look at each of the events from this past year.
- Let's take a closer look at each of the events from this past year.
- teACh Team Kick-Off — Facebook Live, March 22
- Work-Life Harmony in Teaching — INSTAGRAM Live, APRIL 19
- Helping Students Overcome Trauma — FACEBOOK LIVE, APRIL 26
- 6 Must-Have Books for the Elementary Classroom — INSTAGRAM Live, May 9
- The Future of Education– Facebook Live, May 31
- Cultural Competency in Special Education — Facebook Live, June 6
- Growth for School Leaders — Facebook Live, June 21
- You can score 20% off of your order from advancement courses!
- More Work With Advancement Courses:
- Leading Post-Pandemic — Facebook live, april 6
teACh Team Kick-Off — Facebook Live, March 22
Focus: Professional Development for educators
We talked about the teACh Team and what Juan, Kayla, Todd, and I have been up to, but we also covered some pretty important things like what we love about Advancement Courses:
- That Advancement Courses designs Professional Development for busy, hardworking teachers;
- Credit options can include graduate credit with a university partner (so you’ll receive a transcript) or continuing education based on your state/district requirements (where you will receive a letter of completion);
- There are now 1, 2 and 3 graduate credit courses available;
- Now Advancement Courses offers over 280 graduate-level courses in 20 different subject areas, including: Subject-specific (ELA, math, science, special needs, etc.), Technology, Classroom management, Social-emotional learning, Teacher wellness
- Courses are self-paced with up to six months to complete;
- Course prices include all materials and shipping;
- Feedback and facilitation is provided by experienced instructors;
- Courses focus on developing practical tools that are immediately applicable to your classroom;
- Resources for teachers to use in their classrooms, including downloadable lesson plans, articles and infographics!
Who was there:
- Kayla Dornfeld of Top Dog Teaching Inc
- Juan Edgar Gonzalez Jr. of Teaching 3rd with Mr G
- Todd Nesloney of Todd Nesloney
- and me!
Catch the video replay here: teACh Team Kick-Off
We talked about what we loved most about our experience taking Advancement Courses’ PD, and we shared some highlights from our recent classes.
Find all of the courses here.
Find all of the courses here, and be sure to use code MAMA20 for 20% off of your order!
Events in April
Leading Post-Pandemic — Facebook live, april 6
Focus: Leading Post Pandemic: How does school leadership look different?
We talked about:
- The changes Todd has noticed in students/ teachers / schools where he lives and how will school leadership need to change or adapt to these changes?
- What do school leaders want teachers / families to know?
- What do school leaders need most right now?
- How can families / communities best support them?
- How can schools benefit from a โre-doโ? What changes would you like to see happen?
Who was there: Todd Nesloney & Amy Mascott
Catch the video replay here: Leading Post-Pandemic
Courses we highlighted:
- NEW: The Art of Delegation (3)-> By EOC, youโll be able to delegate in a way that both empowers your staff and propels you toward becoming a more successful leader
- NEW: Communication Essentials for School Leaders (3)-> EOC, youโll have a communication plan tailored to your leadership style and your school communityโs needs.
- NEW: Leadership in Special Education (3)-> current school leaders will learn how to evaluate and coach special ed teachers , how to guide best practices, & the law and legal cases that are impacting sped.
- NEW: 7 Domains of Teacher Leadership (2)-> EOC, you will be equipped to make a meaningful impact on your schoolโs improvement efforts and create more equitable learning environ. For your students.
- NEW: Networking to Strengthen School Leaders (1) -> EOC, Professional Learning Network. Using techniques from the course, youโll be able to build a network of fellow educators who will strengthen your leadership skills and reawaken your passion for your job.
Work-Life Harmony in Teaching — INSTAGRAM Live, APRIL 19
Focus: Work-Life Harmony in Teaching
We talked about:
- How this year of teaching compared to others.
- The hardest thing about maintaining balance for Kayla.
- What components of teaching are most stressful for educators and how families and communities can best support them.
Who was there: Kayla Dornfeld, Rivyn Dornfeld (for a few minutes!), and Amy Mascott
Catch the video replay here: Work-Life Harmony in Teaching
Courses we highlighted:
- NEW: Achieving Work-Life Harmony in Teaching (3)-> By the end of the course, re-thinking work-life balance and instead looking to mesh the two spheres. . . looking at energy in our lives, stress/ trauma/ etc.
- NEW: Self-Care Strategies for Teachers (3)-> By the end of the course, strategies for managing challenging situations, avoiding absorbing stressors, building long-term self-care strategies for all aspects of your life.
- Beyond Survival Mode: Maintaining Your Passion Throughout your Teaching Career (3)-> By the end of the course, looking back at your motivation for joining the profession and help you reawaken your passion which will sustain you throughout your career.
- From Burnout to Creativity: Creating a Path for Teacher Wellness (3)-> By the end of the course, you will be better prepared to manage the stressors inherent to life as an educator to create a path to sustainable wellness
- FEATURED: Stress Reduction for Better Teaching (3) -> By the end of the course, learners will have developed a personal stress profile and stress management portfolio which will help you fully enjoy the greatest job on earth and be healthier for yourself and completely present for your students.
Helping Students Overcome Trauma — FACEBOOK LIVE, APRIL 26
Focus: Helping Students Overcome Trauma with expert Lina Acosta Sandaal
What we talked about:
- How recent events (pandemic/ US politics/ world events) may have impacted Lina’s therapy practice and kids today
- Types of behaviors might parents or teachers observe in students who are struggling
- Strategies that teachers/ schools can use for successfully reaching kids who are dealing with or who have overcome some sort of trauma
- Strategies that families can use for successfully reaching kids who are struggling
Who was there: Lina Acosta Sandaal of Stop Parenting Alone & me
Catch the video replay here: Helping Students Overcome Trauma
Course we highlighted:
- Helping Students Overcome Trauma (3) -> In this course, you will explore the different types of trauma and how they affect studentsโ behavior and academic performance. Youโll learn how to identify conditions such as PTSD and how to help students through natural and healthy grieving processes. In addition, youโll explore strategies for proactively coping with trauma, including creating student-led support groups and peer counseling programs, getting students involved with community outreach programs, and partnering with local and national organizations focused on processing trauma. With the resources and techniques from this course, you will be equipped to create a program that helps your students heal and thrive in spite of lifeโs hardest griefs and tragedies.
6 Must-Have Books for the Elementary Classroom — INSTAGRAM Live, May 9
Focus: Juan and Amy each share 3 of their current favorite books for the elementary classroom
What we talked about:
- Juan’s recommended books: You Have A Voice, by Vera Ahiyya and illustrated by Fabiana Falallo; I Want My Hat Back / We Found A Hat / This is Not My Hat, all by Jon Klassen; After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again), by Dan Santat
- Amy’s recommended books: Always Anjali, by Sheetal Sheth and illustrated by Jessica Blank / Bravo Anjali, by Sheetal Sheth and illustrated by Lucia Soto; Everybody Eats, by Jasmine Crowe; Change Sings, by Amanda Gorman and illustrated by Loren Long
Catch the video replay here: Juan & Amy’s Top Children’s Book Picks
Courses highlighted:
- NEW: Using Diagnostic Assessments to Differentiate Literacy Instruction (3)-> By the end of the course, you will be able to create an equitable reading program that supports students of every background and skill level, including those with learning, memory, and attention difficulties.
- NEW: Culturally Sustaining Literature (1)-> By the end of the course, youโll be able to diversify your classroom literature to broaden your studentsโ understanding of this great big world.
- POPULAR: Understanding Dyslexia (3) -> By the end of the course, you will be able to help meet the unique needs of students who have dyslexia, and also teach them how to channel their strengths for a positive, dynamic learning experience.
- POPULAR: Phonics: Foundations of Literacy (3) -> By the end of the course, learners will be equipped to create highly effective and engaging lessons in basic, intermediate, and advanced phonics to prepare students to be excellent readers and communicators.
The Future of Education– Facebook Live, May 31
Focus: Where do we go from here? What do teachers need in order to stay in this profession?
What we talked about:
- The biggest change you have noticed in students in the past two years;
- How parents and families have changed in the last two years;
- Changes youโve noticed in your colleagues;
- What needs to happen to keep people in this profession;
- What can be done to best support educators and what little steps can families and communities take to help.
Catch the video replay here: Future of Education Replay
Courses we highlighted:
- NEW: Forming Community Partnerships to Access Educational Resources (1 grad credit)-> By the end of the course, youโll have a practical plan to drive more educational opportunities for your students through the power of community partnerships
- FEATURED: Stress Reduction for Better Teaching (3)-> By the end of the course, you will be able to fully enjoy the greatest job on earth and be healthier for yourself and completely present for your students.
- NEW: Maximizing Teacher Success Through Small Group Collaboration (1) -> By the end of the course, you will explore the value of professional learning communities (PLCs) for teacher improvement and student learning. You will investigate how to cultivate and manage these communities and also examine strategies for improving communication and dealing with confrontation if it arises. Finally, you will explore how to effectively leverage the online space for flipped professional development (PD) in small groups in order to maximize your teacher development.
- POPULAR: Motivating Unmotivated Students (Research and Practice)(3) -> By the end of the course, examine learning approaches, the concepts of growth mind-set and grit, and the importance of encouraging academic risk. In addition, youโll learn how to set up your classroom physically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually so the environment itself is motivating to your students..
Cultural Competency in Special Education — Facebook Live, June 6
Focus: Amy and guest experts Lisa Quinonez & Lisa Lightner talk about Cultural Competency in Special Education
What we talked about:
- Before we get into culturally responsive special education classrooms, letโs talk about some essential components in the special education classroom. Lisa L can you share some things you look for in special ed classrooms? // Lisa Q what else might you add to this list?
- What canโor shouldโfamilies notice that their studentโs classroom is missing one of these elements?
- Now letโs move into clarifying what culturally responsive teaching is. We know that CRT is research-based approach to teaching that connects studentsโ cultures, languages, and life experiences with what they learn in school. These connections help kids develop higher-level academic skills and overall more rigorous curriculum.
- How do we make sure that our special education classrooms and curriculum are culturally responsive? What elements need to be present?
- Again, what are some things that families can do if they notice that these components are not present?
Catch the video replay: Cultural Competency in Special Education
Courses Highlighted:
- NEW: Cultural Competency in Special Education (3)-> By the end of the course, you will have the self-reflection and pedagogical skills you need to continually grow and respond to the needs of your special education students.
- FEATURED: Implementing Culturally Responsive Teaching Strategies (3)-> By the end of the course, you will have the self-reflection and pedagogical skills you need to continually grow and respond to the needs of your special education student.
- NEW: Addressing Ableism in Schools (1) -> Weโve come a long way in ensuring students with disabilities receive the education they deserve. Advances in research, regulation, and funding have led to increased awareness and resources for Kโ12 classrooms across the country. However, many educators arenโt aware of the ongoing issue of ableism: that is, the discrimination and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that people with typical abilities are superior. Using the tools from this course, you will be able to create a classroom culture of respect, rapport, and inclusivity, and ensure your students are more culturally competent classmates and citizens.
Growth for School Leaders — Facebook Live, June 21
Focus: Todd and Brad Clark, Senior Director of Advancement Courses, discuss how school leaders can focus on continuing their own growth while also growing their teams.
Catch the video replay: Growth for School Leaders
Resources highlighted:
- Online Professional Development for Schools and Districts: Education has changed, perhaps forever. With a suite of 100% online professional development courses, Advancement Courses is here to help you face the challenges, from teacher training and retention to improving online instruction.
You can score 20% off of your order from advancement courses!
Now is a great time to learn something new.
Find all of the courses here.
More Work With Advancement Courses:
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