Office of Field Experiences

Professional Development Opportunities

WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY

Spring 2012 FREE WORKSHOPS

FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL
EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS

ELEMENTARY K-8

 

Insights into the Inclusion Classroom

General and special education teachers who are currently in or plan to participate in inclusion classes. 
This workshop will provide clear definitions of the roles general education and special education teachers can hold in a variety of in-class support settings. Participants will self-reflect in order to maximize team potential as well as students’ overall achievements, using elements of Understand by Design and Differentiated Instruction.  Handouts and resources will be provided in this realistic look at the inclusion classroom.

Presenter: Roberta O’Connor Rydell & Linda Kistler

Date: February 1, 2012                                                                  Time: 4 pm – 7 pm

Workshop Number: E120

 

Comprehension Strategies for Grades 4-8

Grades 4-8

Literacy Strategies for explicit instruction of comprehension skills will be modeled. Participants will be given examples of strategies, as well as suggested text selection. Discussion will be encouraged in order to explore how to adapt strategies to readers at different skill levels.

Presenter: Marie Donnantuono Date:                                

February 7, 2012                                                                                Time: 4 pm – 7 pm

Workshop Number: E126

 

Common Core State Standards for Mathematics Teachers: Workshop 2 - Helping Students to Understand Multiplication and Division

Grades 3-5 teachers, learning support teachers and administrators

Learning about multiplication and division are some of the most important topics in the elementary mathematics curriculum. In order to help students to understand the concepts and become fluent in those content areas, the Common Core State Standards made some changes. In this session, you will have opportunity to learn about the changes in the standards, the reasons for the change, and ideas to improve teaching and learning in classrooms through interactive workshop sessions focused on multiplication and division.

Presenter: Makoto Yoshido                                

Date: March 2, 2012                                                            Time: 4 pm – 7 pm

Workshop Number: E083

Seeds + Soil + Sun = a Magical Garden

Grades K-8

This workshop gives life to NJ's nickname, “The Garden State.” Using the Ag Book of the Year Seed, Soil, Sun by Cris Petersen and its teacher's guide, NJ Farm Bureau Women's Committee will present make-n-takes and mini-workshops that bring agriculture to your lessons. Each attendee will receive a bag of ready-to-use materials, including seed sorters, soil jars and a copy of Seed, Soil, Sun and the teacher's guide. All lessons presented are tied to the NJ/FED Core Curriculum Standards and are included on a fruit/vegetable shaped USB drive.

Presenter: Tracy Duffield & Caroline Etsch

Date: March 13, 2012                                                                     Time: 4 pm – 7 pm

Workshop Number: E127

 

 

Using Paper Folding and Cutting to Discover Geometry

Grades 3-7

An intriguing way of adding realism and interest to teaching mathematics is to fold paper and use cutouts. Using paper folding and cut outs is a simple way to illustrate and discover relationships in Geometry. The activities will build understandings and appreciation of learning elementary topics in mathematics.

Presenter: Sandra Alon

Date: April 19, 2012                                                                                                 Time: 4 pm – 7 pm

Workshop Number: E124

 

Enhancing Students Understanding in Mathematics by

Improving the Use of Interactive Whiteboards

Elementary Teachers

Participants will learn exciting ways to engage students in mathematics using their Interactive Whiteboards. We will explore interactive websites and interactive manipulatives that will enhance student learning. Participants will leave with a list of interactive websites for the mathematical standards that they teach.

Presenter: Alisa Shupak

Date: April 25, 2012                                                                        Time: 4 pm – 7 pm

Workshop Number: E134

 

“If You’re Happy and You Know It, Sing a Song!”

Using Music in the Early Childhood Classroom.

Pre-school-Grade 1 

In this workshop, participants will learn new ways to engage children in musical activities. We will sing, learn some new songs, create new versions of old songs, use rhythm instruments, and move to rhythms of a variety of multicultural music. We will practice ways to link music to children’s literature, and to themes and topics that you are exploring in your classroom in social studies, mathematics, and language arts.

Presenter: Janis Strasser

Date: April 26, 2012                                                                                                Time: 4 pm – 7 pm

Workshop Number: E085

 

Designing and Implementing a Bullying Awareness Program in Your School

Elementary and Middle School Teachers, Counselors, and Administrators

The goal of this workshop is to help educators plan and implement a bullying awareness program in their school and/or district. Topics explored will include defining bullying, collecting data, forming a committee, training staff, designing a program, holding a kickoff, and conducting classroom meetings. The presenters were featured in the May 2010 NJEA Review for their school’s ‘Bullying Awareness’ program.

Presenter: Kathleen Hewins

Date: May 8, 2012                                                                             Time: 4 pm – 7 pm

Workshop Number: E129

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MIDDLE AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

 

Exploring How Primary Sources Can be Used to Foster Critical Thinking

Grades upper elementary, middle and high school

This workshop is the second in a 4-part series. Participants can attend all 4 workshops or select to participate in individual sessions. The workshop will facilitate opportunities for participants to continue exploring the Library of Congress (LOC) resources. Participants will develop an understanding of the role and importance of nonfiction text in the curriculum and how the LOC materials can be used to support classroom instruction and students’ interaction with nonfiction texts.

Presenter: Salika Lawrence & Marie Donnantuono

Date: February 9, 2012                                                                  Time: 4 pm – 7 pm

Workshop Number: E090

 

Using Excel in Science

Grades 6 -12 Science teachers

Come learn how to instruct students in the use of Excel to organize data, manipulate data, do calculations and graph data. All participants should be proficient in the use of this valuable and powerful in their science classes.

Presenter: William Phillan

Date: February 21, 2012                                       Time: 4 pm – 7 pm

Workshop Number: E133

 

PRE-K THROUGH GRADE 12

Can You Remember How Your Teachers Used the Blackboard When You Were a Kid? Times Have Changed!

All levels

Come learn how to improve the use and organization of the blackboard to bolster the thinking and understanding of your students.  Learn many ideas that you can implement in your classroom, which will improve your use of the blackboard and enrich students’ thinking, understanding and note taking skills.

Presenter: Makoto Yoshida                                                         Time: 4 pm – 7 pm

Date: February 13, 2012

Workshop Number: E019

 

¿Habla español? Spanish for Teachers

K-12 educators knowing little or no Spanish, who wish to better

communicate with the Spanish speakers in their classes

Ever wish you could communicate better with the Spanish speakers in your classes? If so, this workshop is for you! Here is an opportunity to brush up on your Spanish and open the lines of communication with limited English proficient students and their parents. No previous knowledge of Spanish is required to pick up the basics.

Presenter: Jean Modig

Date: March 20, 2012                                                                     Time: 4 pm – 7 pm

Workshop Number: E122

Flipping Your Classroom

K – 12 classroom teachers

A flipped class utilizes online videos and podcasts so students can work at their own pace and teachers can have more time to work individually with students in the classroom. The flipped classroom helps students learn independently and engage in their own learning. This teaching method employs elements of Blended Learning and UDL. This model can be used in K-12 and special needs classrooms. Flipped classrooms have become hubs of learning, where the teachers interact individually with every student every day. In this “flipped class” you will learn what it takes to flip your class and discover a hands-on approach to creating your first flipped lesson to be used in your classroom.

Presenter: Chris Graber & Joe Borchard

Date: May 9, 2012                                                                             Time: 4 pm – 7 pm

Workshop Number: E148

 

 

iTunes - Learn Anything, Anytime, Anywhere!

Imagine students touring archaeological sites, watching historical footage, or studying the sound of heart murmurs — whenever and wherever they want. You can use audio and video content from museums, universities, cultural institutions, and public television stations to supplement your curriculum. How is all this possible? Come join us for this workshop where you will investigate the power of iTunes…it gives educators a link to thousands of free pod casts and all the resources available at iTunes University. You’ll have the capability of organizing all your media files (audio & video) into one location/library, which becomes a distribution system for everything from films to labs to audiobooks to tours. It’s an innovative way to get educational content into the hands of your students. And, remember, the Apple iTunes application is available for free for Mac and PC.

Presenter: Laurence Gander

Date: March 1, 2012                                                                                                Time: 4 pm – 7 pm

Workshop Number: E139

 

 

Dynamic Teaching with Interactive Whiteboards (IWB)

In this workshop you will learn important “reveal technique” strategies that help prompt critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. You will learn to exploit the wide range of multimedia-rich features and resources available in SMART Notebook 10. You will also learn how to incorporate real-time assessment, differentiate instruction for varied learners, and build collaborative projects. You’ll examine dozens of ideas and examples of interactive whiteboard use in various subject areas in the K-12 classroom -- Math, Science, Social Studies, Languages, Arts, Music, and more. You will gain confidence working with SMART Notebook tools in creative ways via a pedagogy-first approach to teaching with an IWB. The SMART Board educator network, online lesson sharing websites, video tutorials and presentations, and other opportunities for teachers to learn and exchange ideas will also be covered. You are strongly encouraged to bring a laptop (or tablet) with wireless capability. Instruction will be on a SMART Board, though lessons and strategies will be demonstrated using SMART Notebook 10.

Presenter: Chris Graber & Joe Borchard

Date: April 3, 2012                                                                           Time: 4 pm – 7 pm

Workshop Number: E144

 

Using the iPad to Enhance Learning & Facilitate

Communication for Students with Special Needs.

The iPad is a revolutionary technology that is changing the way educators present information in the 21st century classroom. The multi-sensory design of the iPad appeals to all learning styles and is an ideal tool for students with special needs. In this workshop, educators will learn about a variety of applications (apps) that address academic skills such as reading, writing, mathematics, and science. Communication apps designed for individuals with limited functional communication abilities will also be explored. The presenter will highlight Proloquo2Go and iCommunicate, as well as other apps designed to enhance language development. Strategies for implementation and best practices will be discussed. Attendees are encouraged to bring an iPad for a hands-on learning experience that will transform their teaching strategies.

Presenter: Christine Besko

Date: April 16, 2012                                                                                                 Time: 4 pm – 7 pm

Workshop Number: E138

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRINCIPALS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS

 

CHANGE: The Six-letter Word We Have Learned to Fear

Principals and other School Administrators

Leave this workshop after having examined the key factors associated with effective change in schools and the actions that could result in cynicism, pain and fear when implementing change. You will gain an understanding of the critical importance of addressing transition issues when managing change. Participants will engage in simulations and other collaborative activities that will demonstrate the issues associated with effecting positive change. This workshop is designed for school administrators with the objective of supplying insight into the practical steps that leaders can take to maximize the chances of success when initiating change. The goal is to help principals and other administrators understand how they can improve their skills to become change agents. The session will examine the importance and benefits of leading transitions as a critical step in successful change and empowering teachers to have more control of and being more responsible for changes in their schools.

Presenter: Kevin Walsh

Date: April 17, 2012                                                                                                Time: 4 pm – 7 pm Workshop Number: E150

 

ALL REGISTRATIONS WILL BE PROCESSED ONLINE! Register early to guarantee your enrollment. Registrations are accepted until the classes are full. Teachers from schools in the PDS network must identify the school and note that they are a faculty member of a PDS in order to register for the free workshops WEB REGISTRATION: https://www.wpunj.edu/cpe If you experience difficulty registering online, please call for assistance (973-720-2354). Be sure to include daytime and evening telephone numbers as well as your e-mail address so that we can notify you in case of program cancellation. You may now pay online by credit card or electronic check. Once your registration and payment are processed, you are automatically enrolled. No confirmation will be sent to you. Plan to attend your workshop or conference as scheduled. You will be notified if the workshop or conference is cancelled or if there is a change in schedule.