Learning through movement is an innovative way to increase effectiveness in the classroom, and to stimulate and reach all learners. It is especially effective for kinesthetic learners, as well as students with ADHD, autism and other special needs. Research shows yoga-style movement supports student focus and attention, keeps them engaged and promotes social, emotional and physical health. We are able to offer Learning through Movement classes thanks to a grant from the Greater Capital Region Teacher Center. These courses are taught by Lynne Ogren, a certified Yoga Ed, YogaKids and Integral Yoga Instructor. Participants may take 1 or more courses in the series with no limit. 

All workshop sessions are experiential. They require comfortable clothing, a yoga mat and water. No prior yoga experience necessary. All classes appropriate for grades:

• Focused on Brain-Based Research related to using movement in the classroom

• Explore strategies to use with students before testing and transitions to settle and refocus

• Learn basic postures and breath work to calm or energize students

• Support students with special needs such as autism or ADHD via movement and breath

• Support students' physical and mental well being and self-awareness

5.     Wednesday, February 10, 2010  Cancelled due to weather

  DATE:  Rescheduled for March 3rd, 2010       

         Yoga for Physical Education (Open to physical education teachers    for credit all others for non-credit).

• Use yoga and non-competitive games in physical education and sports setting

• Integrate yoga and movement into phys. ed. curriculum and sports programs

• Support healthy physical activity, body awareness and overall wellness

• Support positive lifelong physical and mental activities

        Click here to register for this course

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770 - Information Literacy 101 for Educators           3 Credits

Instructor:  Paige Jaeger, Coordinator for School Library Services WSWHE BOCES

Do you feel a need to polish your searching skills?  Do the students seem to know more than you?  This generation may be tech savvy, but they are not information literate.  Educators are often information literate, but not tech savvy.  Join us while we look at the basics of information literacy and the 21st Century student.  Come discover new tools and tricks for working with the hyper-connected generation.

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Appropriate for grades 6-12

771 - Infusing Media Into Your Classroom            3 Credits

Instructor:  Paige Jaeger, Coordinator for School Library Services WSWHE BOCES

Wake up your program for the visual generation.  Join us to learn how to design instructional units infused with media fostering higher level thought.  Come and find out what's available for free or in your library, available 24-7, for your students to create "knowledge products."  Brainstorm units of instruction to foster engagement through digital media.  Copyright in the digital age will be discussed as well as teaching students "ethical use" of information and media.

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772 - 4Es of Energy                                              6 Credits

Instructor:  Frank Winters

Intended for Grades K-6 teachers

Do you know the 4E's of energy???  This interactive workshop promotes an understanding of energy's relationship with the environment, our economy, efficiency AND the all-important "E" - education.  You will use hands-on activities to explore energy forms and sources, global climate change and actions we can take to address the energy challenges we face.

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773 Energy Trilogy                                        6 Credits

Instructor:  Frank Winters

Intended for Grades 7-12 teachers

Energy - we all depend upon it every day, but what are the consequences for the global community's growing demand for it??  This interactive workshop will highlight the Energy Trilogy - how economics, efficiency and environment relate to the energy challenges before us.  Don't miss this exciting opportunity to introduce your students to the impacts of their energy use and explore actions we can take to make a difference.

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774 Art Classes at the Tang                           6 Credits

Instructor:  Ginger Ertz

There will be discussions on the value of the museum field trip to supplement the curriculum and how it can support the learning standards.  We will discuss and practice Visual Thinking Strategies, the methodology we use to allow students to make their own meaning from the artwork on exhibit, how it promotes critical thinking skills by allowing students to articulate their responses to the art, defend their opinions with visual evidence from the piece we are looking at together, and how they build on each others’ ideas, challenge each others’ opinions, and hold differing responses in equal esteem as we continue the facilitated discussion.  We will use the work currently on exhibit at the Tang Museum as our "laboratory" for the discussions.

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775 Independent Literacy Approach in Kindergarten          6 Credits

Instructors:  Jessica Orden and Lindsay Speranza

Independent Literacy Centers Approach in Kindergarten

Independent literacy centers allows the teacher to provide interventions for students who fall below the benchmark on an IAP while the other students are working independently.  It also allows the teacher to differentiate instruction for all students to meet their individual needs.  We will share the centers format, management system and interventions that can be done with students who scored below the benchmark.  We will share several independent centers that can be used in the classroom with students.  Resources and materials will be provided so teachers can create the materials for their classrooms.

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Appropriate for ELA 7-12

776 Get Up Out of That Seat!  Solutions for a Dynamic Classroom     2 Credits

Instructor:  Kathryn Flanders

Researchers have discovered that movement can be an essential component of the student learning experience.  A block schedule comprised of longer teaching periods offers educators the opportunity to incorporate various instructional modes into a single lesson.  Getting students up and moving, actively engaged in the learning process, involves dynamic lesson design.  Participants will engage in activities designed to facilitate class discussion and the instruction of vocabulary, literary terms, and poetry.  This workshop will model a variety of exercises to engage learners socially, intellectually, and physically.

Please bring a list of 10 vocabulary words.  Lesson design will incorporate selections from units of literature study.

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Appropriate for 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th grade language arts teachers

777 Writer's Notebook                                         6 Credits

Instructor:  Candace Calvin

How to fit writing into a day that is already jam packed!  Writer's notebooks become a place for students to practice writing, find ideas, and practice what they know about spelling and grammar.  It is a place to brainstorm topics, play with leads and endings, tweak a new revision strategy or test out a genre for the first time.  It is the place to organize all the mini-lessons on genre, punctuation, and capitalization so they are readily available during writing.  Bring a spiral notebook or a composition book and you will leave this course with your own writer's notebook ready to use in your classroom.  

Each teacher will need a spiral, or composition notebook, and a pen.

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778 Differentiated Instruction 100:  Elementary Educators Grade 3-5 

Instructor:  Kathleen Skellie, Olivia Sutton, Matthew Conrick and Tina Hayes

6 Credits

Differentiated Instruction 100: Elementary Educators Grade 3-5

Each session meets for two hours (3:45-5:45)

 Location:  Greenfield School

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779 Mapping 101

Instructor: Lynne R. Wells Ed.D, Educational Consultant       6 Credits

"Curriculum Mapping 101:  Improving Student Achievement"

This course will run over three sessions.  Each session will be two hours in length for a total of six professional development hours.  The sessions will focus on the following content:  Establishing the reasons to map, Laying the Foundation, Clarifying the Elements, Hooking it with the Standards, Aligning the Components, Thinking Systemically:  A HUB for School Improvement.  Teachers will have an opportunity to learn common terminology, review quality maps, as well as map themselves.  Feedback on their maps will be provided.

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780 Advanced Mapping

Instructor:  Lynne R. Wells Ed.D, Educational Consultant             6 Credits

Curriculum Mapping:  Purpose, Possibilities, and Practices

This course will run over the courses of three sessions.  Each session will be two hours in length for a total of six professional development hours.  The session will focus on all of the efforts in creating curriculum maps is to assist the specific learners in our care.  Teachers will have the opportunity to check their work to see if the developmental characteristics are evident in their curricular choices.  The stage and age of the learners is a central consideration.  Teachers will have an opportunity to improve student performance by reading and reviewing their maps as collaborative professionals.  We will inform and change our maps based on what our learners need us to work on for them.

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781 Assessments                                     4 Credits

Instructor:  Dr. Nicole Catapano and Liz Fisk – WSWHE BOCES Data Analysis Services

Introduction to Assessment: Why, What and How

Why do we assess students? What is the purpose of each type of assessment and does our classroom offer a balanced approach to assessment? In this interactive session, participants will discuss the purpose of assessment and identify which methods are best for different learning targets.

Assessment Planning

In this hands-on session, participants will review a current unit plan and engage in an assessment planning activity. Discussion will focus on the topics addressed in the “Introduction to Assessment” session as well as student involvement in the assessment process. Participants are asked to bring materials from the first session and a copy of a current unit plan for the discussion.

Section 1 is for Elementary

Section 2 is for Secondary

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Appropriate for Physical Education Teachers

782 Strength & Conditioning in Physical Education                 4 Credits

Instructor:  Craig Durant

This course will provide technical skills necessary for teaching physical education students in the weight room.  Included in the course will be the use of Training Cards and also the facilities in our community where students may choose to work out.  Exercises that will be taught include, Squat, Bench Press, Power Clean, Glute Ham Raises, St. Leg Dead Lifts and our selector machines.

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783 MLA 7 and NoodleBib                          2 Credits

Instructors:  Tenaya Bannon, Deborah Titolo

How can you help your students become ethical users of information?  Were you aware that the Modern Language Association's (MLA) standards and requirements have changed?  When your students leave here and attend postsecondary institutions, they will be required to properly acknowledge any sources they use for information.  In addition, the secondary school libraries now subscribe to NoodleBib, which, with guidance, can help students correctly format their list of works cited.  Come to this two-hour class to learn the new MLA requirements, how to use NoddleBib, and how to help your students fulfill this basic research component.

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784 Maximizing Database Research                     2 Credits

Instructors:  Tenaya Bannon, Deborah Titolo

Do your students rely on the internet too much for research?  Would you like to help your students learn to effectively search the wonderful selection of databases available to them through the high school and the public library?  Come to this session and you'll also enhance your own content knowledge while learning ways to develop innovative research projects for your students.

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Appropriate for Social Studies grades 4-12

Please register for the Saratoga National Historical Park staff development courses on this web-site AND follow directions below on how to participate

VISIT YOUR NEAREST NATIONAL PARK

AND EARN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CREDITS!

 Saratoga National Historical Park, site of the Turning Point of America’s War for Independence, will be offering two opportunities this year for teachers to visit the site, and earn continuing education (personal development) credits. This programs are offered free of charge.

785 Saratoga National Historical Park             3 Credits

Program 1: WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?         

The War for Independence as a civil war

When: Wednesday, 24 March 2010; 4 p.m. through 7 p.m.

Where: Saratoga Battlefield, Stillwater, NY

 What: Join a ranger guided tour of the Battlefield, highlighting the experiences of local families, their choices and consequences during the War for Independence. This is followed by a classroom presentation at the Battlefield Visitor Center about the civil war aspects of the Revolutionary War. Three hours credit. Note: Light refreshments provided.

How to participate: Contact Park Ranger Joe Craig by email at joe_craig@nps.gov or by phone at (518) 664-9821 ext. 226 before Saturday 13 February, 2010.

786 Saratoga National Historical Park- Teacher Personal Development Opportunities                        6 Credits

Program 2: A WELL-ORDERED CAMP      

An Historic Immersion Program for Teachers

at Saratoga National Historical Park

When: Friday/Saturday 30-31 July 2010 (Rain date 31 July/31 August) 5 pm through noon the following day

Where: Saratoga Battlefield, Stillwater, NY

What: Experience firsthand some of the life of a soldier during the Revolutionary War! Learn to march, drill and encamp as the troops did in 1777. Stay overnight in the historic and scenic Saratoga Battlefield. Help the park assess the program for future offering to school groups. Six hours credit. Note: Food provided for the program. 

How to participate: Due to the nature of the program, registration is limited to 12 participants.

Sign up at the March 24th Program, or contact Park Ranger Joe Craig by email at

joe_craig@nps.gov or by phone at (518) 664-9821 ext. 226 beginning 25 March.

Please contact Scott Singer at Maple Ave. for any further information.

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Appropriate for Collaborative Teachers/All educators

787 Co with it!   Direct Collaboration                       6 Credits

Instructor:  Kris Meys

"If the mountain won't come to Mohammad, Mohammad must go to the mountain."  Late 1500's:  If things do not change the way you want them to, you must adjust to the way they are.

This course offers a hands on approach to Direct Collaboration in the classroom.  It shows a side by side comparison of a local business competing in a Global market;  in contrast with the challenges of providing a Global education within our classrooms.  The course discusses methodology and creativity in teaching an extremely divers population of students.  Best Practices are incorporated into several role playing activities.  This course is not limited to collaborative teaching teams; however, teams are encouraged.

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788 National Board Certification Awareness               1 Credit

Instructor:  Maureen Shiland, Fran Lohnes, Charlotte Naples

Come and find out about National Board Certification!  National Board Certification focuses on the teacher and his/her classroom practice as measured against high and rigorous standards.  In this one hour session participants will receive an overview of the National Board Certification process.  Topics will include funding, support and a description of what the certification process entails.  This is a great professional development opportunity!

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Appropriate for middle school teachers

789 Using Found Poetry to Enhance Reading and Writing Skills in the Classroom                                                         2 Credits

Instructor:  Paul Madison                                  

Found poetry is a reading/writing activity in which students study a selection of prose with the eye of a writer.  When writing found poetry, students identify the specific words in a selection that convey the most significant details,  meaning and emotional impact.   Students then work with these words to create a poem of their own.  This class will include participation in model lessons as part of the presentation.  Participants will then discuss the various ways found poetry can be used to improve students' ability to read critically and write effectively.  (Questions? pmadison@nycap.rr.com)

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Appropriate for middle school teachers

790 Using Simple Poetry to Enhance Writing and Thinking Skills in the Classroom                                                           2 Credits

Instructor:  Paul Madison

This class will give examples of how form poetry such as Cinquains and "I Am" poems can be used to help students explore ideas and think critically.  Ideas generated through poetry can be expanded into essays, reports, summaries, character sketches or narratives.  Form poetry can even be used effectively as an alternative to the traditional essay question in testing situations.  This approach created interesting test questions and often elicits knowledgeable and interesting student responses-a bonus for both students and teachers!  Cinquains can also be used as a useful tool in teaching elemental concepts of editing and revision.  This class will include participation in model lessons as part of the instruction.

(Questions? pmadison@nycap.rr.com)

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Appropriate for middle school ELA teachers

791 Introductory Classroom Lessons for Writing Free Verse Poetry

Instructor:  Paul Madison                                                 2 Credits

This course takes a look at some introductory lessons in writing free verse poetry.  The first lesson introduces the student to non-rhyming poetry by posing the question, "Why is non-rhyming poetry considered poetry and not prose?"  In the subsequent lessons brainstorming, discovery writing and editing activities are used to help students explore the characteristics of free verse poetry and descriptive prose.  By the end of the unit students create free verse poetry of their own with an emphasis on editing included as a major component of the creative process.  This class will include participation in model lessons as part of the instruction. (Questions? pmadison@nycap.rr.com)

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Appropriate for grades 6-12 teachers and guidance staff

"Train your Brain for Peak Performance"       3:30-4:30

Michael Nerney, a consultant in Substance Abuse Prevention and Education will present on adolescent brain development and athletic/scholastic performance.

"Optimal Performance and Health for Life"       4:30-5:30

Dr. Paul Arciero is a Skidmore Professor and expert in nutrition, exercise physiology and optimal health research, will present on healthy eating strategies to nourish the body and mind throughout the school day for "Optimal Performance and Health for Life"

Thursday, March 18, 2010

High School Auditorium

No pre-approval necessary, please be sure to sign in at the workshop as that is how you will be credited.

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Appropriate for grades 6-12 teachers

792  21st Century Learning Skills with the Kuenzels

Instructors: Charles and Margaret Kuenzel                                    2 Credits

Find out what skills employers want and need from our students in order to be successful in college and the workplace after graduation.  Find how you can enhance your student's education by infusing these skills into the normal lesson plans of your classroom.  These skills will help to make a student more successful and marketable in the 21st century.

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